All Life Ends With Age Of Ultron #1 On The Wednesday Run – March 6, 2013

For some of us, it’s been a long winter. Certainly, those that live in the north-eastern United States have had enough of the snow, the ice, the cold, the sleet and the wind to last a lifetime. There have been days, over the last few months, where I’ve actively wondered when I had last seen the sun.

But you know that the days are getting just a little bit longer and that the temperature is getting just a little bit warmer, when you start hearing about the big event titles that Marvel and DC Comics have in store for readers during the spring and summer months.

Oh, the best weather days of the year must be here, now! For today, Marvel Comics, first out of the publishing gate with a universe-altering storyline, releases Age of Ultron #1.

And the return of the villainous Ultron means the end of all earthly life. Naturally!

Age of Ultron #1

Written by: Brian Michael Bendis

Illustrated by: Bryan Hitch

Published by: Marvel Comics

I’m not even going to pretend that I know all about Ultron or the Age of Ultron storyline. I know of the character, but I don’t really know who he is or why he’s got such a beef with mankind. I grew up reading DC Comics. Ask me about the Anti-Monitor, Brother Blood, Eclipso or Starro the Conqueror.

What I do know about Age of Ultron is that Marvel Comics has teased the series since November of last year, utilizing binary code in advertisements to set fans into a frenzy. Ultron is an artificial intelligence, like the Terminator, but on C++ steroids (or some other intricately powerful programming language). He’s a walking, talking, killing automaton with a particular aversion to members of the Avengers.

Written by Marvel Comics stalwart, the acclaimed Eisner award-winner, Brian Michael Bendis, Age of Ultron is a 10-issue series, published every other week (thrice a month in March and April). Art duties on the series will be split between favourites Bryan Hitch (issues one through five), Brandon Peterson (issues six through eight), as well as Carlos Pacheco. That draw, combined with the extreme publishing schedule, should see a fast and furious story with lots of action, big explosions, injured (or, Heaven forbid, dead) heroes, with the future of humanity on the line. People will be talking about the series all spring. It’s the kind of comic that film producers seem to like to get their hands on these days. And with The Avengers just beginning a film a franchise, reading Age of Ultron might just give you a leg up on what could be happening in Avengers 2 or Avengers 3.

So make the run to your local comic book shop today and pick up Age of Ultron #1. Impress your family and friends over dinner when talk about the next Avengers film invariable starts up.

And get a little taste of the summer at the same time. Better, warmer weather is here, people! Never mind the explosions.

Every Wednesday, JP makes the after-work run to his local downtown comic book shop. Comics arrive on Wednesdays you see and JP, fearful that the latest issue will sell out, rushes out to purchase his copy. This regular, weekly column will highlight a particularly interesting release, written in short order, of course, because JP has to get his – before someone else does!