ULTRAMAX #1, from Source Point Press on May 25th, 2022, follows Travis Holden, the man who killed the famous superhero Red Hawk. Can Travis survive prison long enough to testify or will he be better off on Death Row?
The Details
- Written By: Doug Wood, Michael Pickard
- Art By: Michael Pickard
- Colors By: Warnia Sahadewa
- Letters By: Michael Pickard
- Cover Art By: Michael Pickard
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Release Date: May 25, 2022
Was It Good?
ULTRAMAX #1 is a standard, run-of-the-mill prison story about a new inmate with a target on his back the size of Texas… and a world with superpowers. Well, not exactly superpowers because every inmate wears a power-suppression collar, but the story is set in a world where supervillains and heroes duke it out.
The plot is a little more interesting because the main character is responsible for killing the world’s greatest hero, the hero that captured most of the prison’s inmates. In short, the prisoners want to kill Travis Holden for the reputational boost rather than revenge, and that’s something you don’t see in your standard, run-of-the-mill prison story.
Wood and Pickard work in all the prison tropes you’ve come to expect – clique gangs, weasels who can get you anything for a price, abusive guards, and hallway shanking. For a prison story set in a superpowered world, there’s almost nothing superpowered going on… so far. That’s a net positive because the lack of whimsy and wonder keeps the story grounded in gritty realism, even when an unruly prisoner is over 6 feet tall and has a bulldog’s head.
The pacing, dialog, and plot development are excellent. You learn what you need to know about the main character and his growing circle of supporting characters very quickly without lengthy exposition, and the twist (of course, there’s a twist) tells you there’s more to this story beyond survival.
Pickard’s artwork in this issue is serviceable. The linework is loose and sketchy, the character anatomy sometimes looks a little distorted, and there’s an overall lack of polish to the visuals. Nearly half the panel backgrounds have no background at all. In fairness, this is a character piece, so there’s no need to have big, sprawling sets and eye-popping visuals, so the art gets the job done.
The significant down point in the art is the lack of distinction between some of the characters. When everyone is wearing the same orange jumpsuit, it’s important to make each character look distinctive from the neck up. Too many characters look too similar, and it gets confusing.
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What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We begin with a prison transport arriving at the Ultramax prison to drop off its newest resident. Travis Holden was convicted for his participation in the murder of Red Hawk, a prominent superhero who put most of Travis’s future fellow inmates in the same prison. not only must Travis contend with abusive guards who’re furious about what Travis has done, but he must survive the gauntlet of rough prisoners looking to make a name for themselves by killing the man who killed Red Hawk.
Before the first day is over, Travis has more than a few bruises, a few cracked ribs, and friendly acquaintances who might have a hidden agenda. We conclude the issue with a deadly hallway, a secret deal, and a familiar face.
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Final Thoughts
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ULTRAMAX #1 is a well-done prison story with a unique, superpowered twist. The writing, pacing, dialog, and expected prison story tropes are all excellent. The art is average to above average for a character piece, but some characters look too similar, adding a hint of confusion to the story.
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