Ultimate Power
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Ultimate Power is a nine-issue comic book limited series published by Marvel Comics. The series is a crossover that ties the Supreme Power universe into the Ultimate Marvel universe, and is written by Brian Michael Bendis, J. Michael Straczynski, and Jeph Loeb with art by Greg Land.
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[edit] History
This signifies the first complete Ultimate Universe crossover, i.e. the first crossover that integrates all current ongoing series as well as the first crossover that spans another already existent Marvel Universe. Creators have hinted[citation needed] this will have lasting effects on status quo in both universes, while Wizard Magazine has stated one character will not return to his or her original universe.
[edit] Plot
[edit] Issue One
The Fantastic Four battle the Serpent Squad when the Squad attempts a break-in at Project Pegasus in Devil's Point, Wyoming. During the battle, the Thing is injured and mocked as a freak, reminding Reed Richards that he is still unable to reverse Ben Grimm's transformation into the Thing.
Reed then requests S.H.I.E.L.D. funding for inter-dimensional research, stating that he wishes to send data retrieval constructs into every other dimension he can find. He proposes this on the basis that "it's time we start figuring out the space we live in", but S.H.I.E.L.D. director Nick Fury refuses funding, saying that the project is just an attempt to cure Ben Grimm - and citing various recent incidents as reasons why it's a time for "regrouping", not exploring. Fury also bans Reed from attempting the project on his own.
Despite this, Reed sends five of his constructs into other dimensions, including the N-Zone. Later, as the team view prototypes for Fantastic Four action figures, the top of the Baxter Building is ripped away. Invisible Woman uses her force fields to protect the team and the toy company representative, but when she clears away the rubble, they are surprised by the sudden appearance of a group of costumed superhumans - the Squadron Supreme.
[edit] Issue Two
The cover for the second issue focuses on the Ultimate Fantastic Four as the major Marvel presence and Hyperion, Power Princess, Nighthawk, Blur, Inertia, Nuke, Arcanna and Shape as the Squadron Supreme presence.
The second issue picks up right where the first one left off. The Squadron Supreme slugs it out with the Fantastic Four on the new roof of the Baxter building. A nearby web-swinging Spider-Man with Kitty Pryde notice the fireworks and investigate, joining the Fantastic Four against the Squadron Supreme, all of whom can only speak in garbles and cannot fully control themselves. When Kitty summons the X-Men to assist, Nick Fury and the Ultimates descend upon the fighters, declaring them all under arrest. However, the Squadron resists until the X-Men arrive to assist the Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, and Ultimates. The Squadron Supreme "adjust" to their new dimension, and Hyperion can finally declare their intention: they are here to arrest Doctor Reed Richards for crimes against humanity, much to the amusement of the Ultimate heroes. Invisible Woman asks what he's done, and Nighthawk angrily shouts "He's destroyed our world! He's destroyed everything!" It is then that Zarda reveals one of the devices Richards sent into the N-Zone.
[edit] Issue Three
This issue begins with a flashback to the events in the Supremeverse that led to the crossover; One of Mr. Fantastic's devices entered the Squadron Supreme's reality and somehow attracted an unknown alien species to their Earth, which began to alter the atmosphere detrimentally. The Squadron Supreme used the data on the device to invade the Ultimate Universe.
The comic returns to the present as Hyperion demands Reed Richards return with them, solve the problem and stand trial for crimes against humanity. He agrees and disappears with the Squadron in a flash of light. The issue ends with Nick Fury resolving to rescue him.
[edit] Issue Four
The heroes of the Ultimate universe are all looking into the sky the S.H.I.E.L.D Hellicarrier, before Nick Fury explains his plan - Since Reed's equipment has been destroyed, they're going to board the Hellicarrier and find someone who could trace the energy signature left by the Squadron's teleportation to their home dimension... At which point, Spider-Man points out that Thor could just use Mjolnir to trace the signature of the teleportation & teleport them all there in the Hellicarrier, much to the chagrin of Nick Fury but impressing everyone else. The combined forces of S.H.I.E.L.D., the X-Men, the Ultimates Spider-Man & the remaining members of the Fantastic Four, set out to rescue Reed.
Elsewhere, a distraught Reed is trying to figure out a) how the disaster happened and b) how to stop it, only to be asked by a mocking Dr. Emil Burbank what it feels like to be up there with Stalin & Hitler. After lashing out in anger, Reed receives an electric shock for his trouble.
Back on the Hellicarrier, a call goes out for Nick Fury, but he isn't responding. Captain America asks Shadowcat to locate him, and she does, conversing with an unknown figure about how they can't let Mr. Fantastic examine one of his probes - The speech in the conversation hints that Fury & the unrevealed party did something to the probes. Fury goes to leave and sees Kitty who explains why she was there.
Hyperion stands guard over Earth, in case the Ultimate heroes come for Reed. This turns out to be the case, as Hyperion notices their arrival. The issue closes with Thor & Hyperion charging at one another.
[edit] Trivia
There have been multiple references to Mark Gruenwald and his creations, such as in the first issue when the Ultimate version of Wendell Vaughn appeared as an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., and when the Thing asked if he had the Serpent Squad's "Serpent Crown", Vaughn simply replied that it was top-secret information classified under the "Gruenwald Doctrine".
In issue #2, a theater with the word "Indiana" written on the marquee is seen in the background. This real-life theater is the "Indiana Theater" located in Terre Haute, Indiana, where Land once lived.
