Ultra: Seven Days by the Luna Bros. REVIEW

Well! Yesterday I finished another TPB by the Luna Brothers. This was their first comics work, an eight issue mini series that garnered a lot of acclaim when it was released in 2004. I thought the book was great, and I'm a bit disappointed that I didn't pick up the series when it first came out. The characterization, concept, and art really came together in this work with only a few minor setbacks.

Books with Character
I am a sucker for good characterization. This is what makes it for me in a book, novel, movie, or any other storytelling medium. Luckily, Ultra has great characterization in spades. Characters remain consistent throughout this collection and they change and grow as the series progresses. The pacing with which the story was told was excellent. It read more like a good drama than a superhero book, and that's always a welcome change.

The Concept
The concept of Ultra is unique and a no-brainer. Someone really should've thought of this before (if they have, forgive me.)! The superheroes & heroines in this story are treated more like they would be treated in real life - as celebrities. They have the tabloids, sponsors, ads, talk show circuits and even their own awards ceremony for their performances. Spot on Hollywood, baby!

The Plot Thins
Here lies my only qualm with this collection. While both the concept and characterization were awesome, the story felt very contrived. It was okay, but it felt... wrong or incomplete. The Bros. went to all this trouble to set up these believable characters in this believable world, only to make the major events... not that major. We start out very reserved, and then there is some intrigue, but that never really pays off in the way that you want it to. One could argue that the plot was not really the point in the story, and rightly so, because the focus was definitely on the vignette of Pearl Pendalosa, but the experience could have been made perfect if the plot felt as if it mattered. The plot was okay, it just wasn't up to par with the rest of the aspects of the book.

The Final Say!
While I definitely enjoyed this book in its entirety, the plot was a small misstep in my opinion, thereby earning a very respectful 8/10 on the Richard White scale of JUDGEMENT! I highly reccommend this book to anyone who enjoys comics or characterization, especially any friends that may need to relearn their love for the sequential arts. Wink wink, nudge nudge, Drew.