In this review of The Ultimates #24, The Hulk finally engages in the foreshadowed battles against Shen Qi and She-Hulk.
THE ULTIMATES #24
Written by: Deniz Camp
Art: Juan Frigeri
Main Cover: Dike Ruan
Variant Covers: Juan Frigeri, InHyuk Lee, Marcos Martin, ACO, Pere Pérez, Mark Bagley
Page Count: 32 pages
Release Date: 5/27/26
This review contains spoilers
The Ultimates #24 begins at K’un-Lun, where a meditating Hulk receives word on the latest of The Ultimates. Shen Qi’s army has arrived and begun to surround Hulk’s fortress.
Unfazed, the Hulk asks for updates on his other territories. He learns that She-Hulk has severely damaged his infrastructure on Monster Island, seemingly connecting with the gamma seeped into the land. Joining her is The Wasp, willing to die to rectify her betrayal. Lejori is dominating the battle because the gamma-enhanced organisms of the island have sided with her.
Bruce steps out to confront Shen Qi, but is easily defeated. Despite being in a child’s body, Shen Qi recalls the techniques of his past lives and uses his speed to control the battle. He rips out Shou-Lao’s heart from Hulk’s body, regaining his status as the Immortal Iron Fist, before sending Banner to Monster Island.
The island and its inhabitants help She-Hulk, but Bruce overpowers them. Reflecting on the meaning of strength, Lejori loses to Banner until Hank Pym arrives with an army of ants. Ant-Man declares that despite her betrayal, The Wasp is still his wife and he won’t leave her on her own.
Hulk breaks through the ants, and batters She-Hulk. Despite being cornered, Joena rapidly gains strength from the nearby gamma. She counters and pummels the Hulk to death, while declaring that strength is nothing more than a means to an end. A means to gain freedom.
Analysis
Federico Blee utilizes a color palette on the darker side, fitting with the overall color scheme of The Ultimates series and its bleak themes. This is contrasted nicely with the visibly bright sky when Hulk is confronted at Monster Island, a foreshadowing of the dawn his defeat will bring. Deniz Camp’s dialogue supports this well, as Bruce boasts about how much of the world he controls from the shadows, even though the story’s characters label him a tyrant.
Monster Island is a really cool and symbolic name for a place hosting the battle between Hulk and She-Hulk. The themes of being perceived as a monster and subverting that trope are so integral to the Hulk from 616. But here in the darker 6160, being a monster is welcome. Hence why the final battle between the two is one of the most brutal in Marvel history. Juan Frigeri’s art does it justice, as I found myself slightly grimacing at some of the panels.
On the topic of fights, it’s super fun to see a Hulk who’s nimble and frequently utilizes martial arts based kicks. Little details like this are what made the 6160 so enjoyable, because they allowed us to read the things/actions Marvel usually couldn’t portray. It’s delightful to see the final issue of The Ultimates end true to that feeling, with both its violence and its unorthodox portrayal of characters.
The only slight criticism I have is that if I had to choose, I would have rather concluded The Ultimates with the plot from issue 23. The Ultimates #24 concludes well, and hits hard because of the connection Camp has established between the audience and Lejori. Her emotional arc pays off. But a big part of The Ultimates #24 was the conclusion of Shen Qi’s arc, a character who didn’t appear all that much throughout the series compared to Thor.
In my opinion, the Ragnarök ending also provides a grander scale and a more poetic conclusion for the series’ themes and the heroes’ fight against The Maker. The payoff against The Hulk’s injustices is great, but the powerlessness against The Maker has been the more compelling theme throughout the series.
Final Thoughts
Some of the most brutal hits in Marvel Comics history provide a strong emotional pay-off for She-Hulk and bring The Ultimates series to an end. Despite lacking in a grander scale ending, it’s a worthy conclusion nonetheless.
