Writer: Deniz Camp
Art: Juan Frigeri, Federico Blee, Neeraj Menon, VC’s Travis Lanham, and Dike Ruan
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price:$4.99
Reviewed by: Anonymous
Release Date: May 21st, 2025
THE ULTIMATE FRACTURE! Dissent destroys the Ultimates as a disagreement long developing between two members of the team leads to a devastating departure!
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THE DISPATCH
In Ultimates #12, Deniz Camp delivers a thunderclap of emotional intensity and ideological rupture, shaking the foundation of Marvel’s Ultimate Universe reboot in one of the most riveting single issues of the year. This chapter lives up to its name, splitting the team at its core and redefining what unity—and division—means for Earth’s mightiest reimagined heroes.
The long-simmering tension between two powerhouse members of the Ultimates—without spoiling names—finally boils over, and Camp doesn’t shy away from the fallout. What’s so impressive here is how grounded the conflict feels, rooted not in clichéd superhero misunderstandings, but in real, human disagreements about power, responsibility, and the cost of compromise. Camp has a knack for weaponizing ideology in a way that feels organic to both character and story, and this issue turns that skill into a dagger that cuts through the team’s fragile alliance.
Artist Juan Frigeri turns in some of his most dynamic and emotionally resonant work yet. The action crackles, but it’s the character beats that leave the deepest impression. A silent panel midway through the issue—just a stare, no words—is more devastating than any explosion. Frigeri captures the heartbreak behind the break-up, showing us the pain behind clenched fists and unsaid words.
The pacing is sharp, building with a sense of dread until the inevitable blowup crashes through the narrative like a seismic event. The issue doesn’t end with a triumphant splash page—it ends with silence, consequence, and the sickening feeling that the Ultimates may never recover from this moment.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Ultimates #12 is a powerhouse issue—bold, thoughtful, and emotionally bruising. Deniz Camp proves once again that superhero stories can be both epic and intimate. The fracture in the team might spell doom for the Ultimates, but for readers, it’s a triumph of storytelling. This is the best kind of comic: one that punches you in the gut and makes you thank it for doing so.