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Ultra: 7 Days #1-8
Ultra: Seven Days
In Spring City, where super-heroes blur the lines between law enforcement and celebrity, Pearl Penalosa, a.k.a. Ultra, is a workaholic. At the prestigious agency, Heroine Inc., she has earned a legion of fans, a nomination for "Best Heroine of the Year" and a perfect life. Well, almost perfect. A chance encounter with a mysterious fortune teller prophesizes true love for Pearl within seven days.
232 pages, Paperback
First published May 17, 2005
9 people are currently reading
452 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Luna
180 books189 followersJONATHAN LUNA co-created and illustrated THE SWORD, GIRLS, and ULTRA (all Image Comics) with his brother, Joshua Luna. He co-created and illustrated ALEX + ADA with Sarah Vaughn. He wrote and illustrated STAR BRIGHT AND THE LOOKING GLASS (Image Comics). His work also includes the art for SPIDER-WOMAN: ORIGIN (Marvel Comics), written by Brian Michael Bendis and Brian Reed.
Jonathan was born in California and spent most of his childhood overseas, living on military bases in Iceland and Italy. He returned to the United States in his late teens.
Writing and drawing comics since he was a child, he graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design with a BFA in Sequential Art.
He currently resides in Northern Virginia.
Jonathan was born in California and spent most of his childhood overseas, living on military bases in Iceland and Italy. He returned to the United States in his late teens.
Writing and drawing comics since he was a child, he graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design with a BFA in Sequential Art.
He currently resides in Northern Virginia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
November 17, 2014
An interesting combination of a superhero comic and an episode of Sex in the City.
Not only do I like that this was something different, but the execution was really rather good. The emphasis was on the story and the characters, not the action. That made me give a damn about the story even though I had no previous experience with the heroes in question at all.
Worth your time if you're into comics, or superheroes, or Sex in the City. But if you hate two of those three things, you'll probably want to steer clear.
Not only do I like that this was something different, but the execution was really rather good. The emphasis was on the story and the characters, not the action. That made me give a damn about the story even though I had no previous experience with the heroes in question at all.
Worth your time if you're into comics, or superheroes, or Sex in the City. But if you hate two of those three things, you'll probably want to steer clear.
November 28, 2015
SPOILERS
I can't say this with one hundred percent authority since I haven't read every comic book out there, or even a lot of them, but I feel pretty confident in saying this is one of the worst. The only reason I read it was because my brother gave it to me and said it was good. And I was like, "Well, I generally hate comics, but whatever. I'll give it a shot."
I shouldn't have bothered. This was a sexist piece of garbage. Apparently all superheroines do in their spare time is talk about men and agonize about being single. And when they're hounded by the media, all the media wants to know is whether the superheroines are single and celibate. There were magazine-style interviews between chapters, and in one of them Ultra was asked about her recent breakup: You seriously put off dating after the breakup. Do you just hate men now?
Yeah, the only reason a woman wouldn't be dating is because she HATES MEN.
And then when Ultra herself decides to start a relationship with a dude, she thinks she loves him after literally one night (the fortune teller said she would find true love within seven days, so you can sort of understand, right?). Of course, he takes advantage of her fame status and sells the story of their one-night stand to a celebrity rag. So, after being upset about this and incompetently saving the world (she can't function properly after being betrayed like that, obviously), she jumps right into a relationship with another dude at the very end. Because that worked out so well the first time.
To make matters worse, this was rife with racial and classist stereotypes. Every "menial" worker talked like an uneducated hick. The first black man to appear (as a very minor side character) said "Aww sheeeit." I wouldn't have known Ultra was Latina if it hadn't been mentioned once or twice, because her skin was so white and she looked like every single other female character. Also, a very lame joke was made involving the name Jesus when Ultra wakes up in the hospital. My god. And the portrayal of the gay men... I just can't.
On top of it all, the art was bad. And there was no plot. I have no idea what the point of this was.
Anyway, this was a piece of crap. I don't recommend it.
I can't say this with one hundred percent authority since I haven't read every comic book out there, or even a lot of them, but I feel pretty confident in saying this is one of the worst. The only reason I read it was because my brother gave it to me and said it was good. And I was like, "Well, I generally hate comics, but whatever. I'll give it a shot."
I shouldn't have bothered. This was a sexist piece of garbage. Apparently all superheroines do in their spare time is talk about men and agonize about being single. And when they're hounded by the media, all the media wants to know is whether the superheroines are single and celibate. There were magazine-style interviews between chapters, and in one of them Ultra was asked about her recent breakup: You seriously put off dating after the breakup. Do you just hate men now?
Yeah, the only reason a woman wouldn't be dating is because she HATES MEN.
And then when Ultra herself decides to start a relationship with a dude, she thinks she loves him after literally one night (the fortune teller said she would find true love within seven days, so you can sort of understand, right?). Of course, he takes advantage of her fame status and sells the story of their one-night stand to a celebrity rag. So, after being upset about this and incompetently saving the world (she can't function properly after being betrayed like that, obviously), she jumps right into a relationship with another dude at the very end. Because that worked out so well the first time.
To make matters worse, this was rife with racial and classist stereotypes. Every "menial" worker talked like an uneducated hick. The first black man to appear (as a very minor side character) said "Aww sheeeit." I wouldn't have known Ultra was Latina if it hadn't been mentioned once or twice, because her skin was so white and she looked like every single other female character. Also, a very lame joke was made involving the name Jesus when Ultra wakes up in the hospital. My god. And the portrayal of the gay men... I just can't.
On top of it all, the art was bad. And there was no plot. I have no idea what the point of this was.
Anyway, this was a piece of crap. I don't recommend it.
August 22, 2016
After some days, I still don't know what to write, really. What I end up saying comes from someone who did not grow up reading superhero comics, and usually does not read them. Actually, "Comics" is a word I only use because I'm writing in english. In my own language, "banda desenhada" is the direct translation of "bande dessinée". And I used the acronym BD to refer to comic books all my life. And the BD I read had (almost) zero superheroes. It might be strange for someone who grew up in the country of Marvel Comics, but in my personal experience comics does not translate immediately to superheroes. I was already a grown up, when a friend offered me his (portuguese translated) Marvel comic collection, before moving to another country, and I do have to say that after several years I only read a few Wolverine and most are still left unread (At the time the art felt very "in-my-face" and the stories very hysterical and boring).
That being said, the first season of Heroes I watched it as it aired. And movies like
Super
and Alter Egos confirmed what Watchmen (and even Hancock) had alerted me to: the superhero metaphor was being desconstructed, played with, used subversely. What I reacted to with suspicion, that is already brilliantly summarized in the names "superhero", "superhuman", "supermen", "superwomen"was being looked at from all angles, reinvented, mocked, revamped. The superheroines, I had already noticed, were getting some tendencies, reflecting a defeat of the crude exploitation that in the first decades of the 20th Century men did not, generally, hesitate to pursue and women (and men), generally, still did not oppose in big enough numbers or with wide enough visibility or impact. But I had not seen a work of the narrative stature, with the political implications, and wit of Watchmen - I read it after watching the film.
This work by the Luna Brothers, seems to come in the tradition of reinventing, rethinking the stereotypes and gender roles reflected in comics about heroines. It is filled with irony and empowers (if not women - that can be argued) the characters themselves. The characters are put in a set up where their sexuality and place as role models is vigorously scrutinized. The narrative makes superheroines media superstars and uses that device as a way to analyse the pressures that creates in the lives of the characters. It's a simple device and it has its limits. It uses the same logic that creates a filter to look at the post-modern life of a woman saying that: she is expected to be at the same time a super-mum and a top executive, a publicly respected wife and a talented high libido lover, someone who can make cold fast decisions and be a charitable loving member of the family and the society. It is a dual logic that looks at the tensions and views women under a linear narrative. It has its merits and its problems.
We get to look at superheroines as superstars.
My ignorance of the contributions of many artists and writers, many of them women, that have been reinventing the superheroine for the last decades is in it self, a superignorance. Supermoman, the character, has been subverted, revamped, rehabilitaded, her former self used only vaguely as inspiration for contemporary stories. And I even fail to give examples of others, like Wonder Woman and... can't even remember the names, and will confess that I have not read a single story of those classics. Many narratives and characters have been put to print, changing and challenging stereotypes and I reaffirm my early point. I did not grow up reading superhero comics. So, this did not have the same impact on me.
It did feel as if the writers were showing their respect for the characters. I wouldn't say this is girl power stuff. Because there is vulnerability and conflict and bad decisions and things that are opaque. But, if the expression makes any sense, this seems like "character power stuff". The Luna brothers created and reinforced some tiques and mannerisms that allow us to reflect on how the characters are set up, even on the exploitation of the sexuality of the characters. One of the main themes is precisely the exploitation of their sexuality. But the superheroines have agents (that advise them) and the image is something that they, the superheroines and the agents, "use". So, that use is exposed, it is arguable. As much as the use of a sexualized image of a female surfer, or another female athlete, for instance - to refer to someone, in our reality, that has is in top shape and has a public profile. Today, when we visit an instagram account of a female athlete and see how sexualized it is, it is open for debate, how the image is owned by the athlete and at the same time it is exploited. It is not as clear as when men decided for women how they should behave and what to do with their bodies. The tension was deslocated. Men do not own women anymore. There is a whole establishment, that creates rules for what is supposed to be expected, and women (men too) are in conflict with how much they can control of their private life, how much gets out of control. They know that sexualization can be part of the game (or at least the use of one's image) and sometimes choose to use it. But it can get out of control, too.
Ultra understands we live in a more complicated, interesting world. And that having equal rights guaranteed by the law doesn't immediately makes everyone happy, poor people do not get rich by decree, women do not immediately star earning more and getting more top jobs. Sexuality does not immediately become a place where power should not matter.
That being said, the first season of Heroes I watched it as it aired. And movies like
Super
and Alter Egos confirmed what Watchmen (and even Hancock) had alerted me to: the superhero metaphor was being desconstructed, played with, used subversely. What I reacted to with suspicion, that is already brilliantly summarized in the names "superhero", "superhuman", "supermen", "superwomen"was being looked at from all angles, reinvented, mocked, revamped. The superheroines, I had already noticed, were getting some tendencies, reflecting a defeat of the crude exploitation that in the first decades of the 20th Century men did not, generally, hesitate to pursue and women (and men), generally, still did not oppose in big enough numbers or with wide enough visibility or impact. But I had not seen a work of the narrative stature, with the political implications, and wit of Watchmen - I read it after watching the film.
This work by the Luna Brothers, seems to come in the tradition of reinventing, rethinking the stereotypes and gender roles reflected in comics about heroines. It is filled with irony and empowers (if not women - that can be argued) the characters themselves. The characters are put in a set up where their sexuality and place as role models is vigorously scrutinized. The narrative makes superheroines media superstars and uses that device as a way to analyse the pressures that creates in the lives of the characters. It's a simple device and it has its limits. It uses the same logic that creates a filter to look at the post-modern life of a woman saying that: she is expected to be at the same time a super-mum and a top executive, a publicly respected wife and a talented high libido lover, someone who can make cold fast decisions and be a charitable loving member of the family and the society. It is a dual logic that looks at the tensions and views women under a linear narrative. It has its merits and its problems.
We get to look at superheroines as superstars.
My ignorance of the contributions of many artists and writers, many of them women, that have been reinventing the superheroine for the last decades is in it self, a superignorance. Supermoman, the character, has been subverted, revamped, rehabilitaded, her former self used only vaguely as inspiration for contemporary stories. And I even fail to give examples of others, like Wonder Woman and... can't even remember the names, and will confess that I have not read a single story of those classics. Many narratives and characters have been put to print, changing and challenging stereotypes and I reaffirm my early point. I did not grow up reading superhero comics. So, this did not have the same impact on me.
It did feel as if the writers were showing their respect for the characters. I wouldn't say this is girl power stuff. Because there is vulnerability and conflict and bad decisions and things that are opaque. But, if the expression makes any sense, this seems like "character power stuff". The Luna brothers created and reinforced some tiques and mannerisms that allow us to reflect on how the characters are set up, even on the exploitation of the sexuality of the characters. One of the main themes is precisely the exploitation of their sexuality. But the superheroines have agents (that advise them) and the image is something that they, the superheroines and the agents, "use". So, that use is exposed, it is arguable. As much as the use of a sexualized image of a female surfer, or another female athlete, for instance - to refer to someone, in our reality, that has is in top shape and has a public profile. Today, when we visit an instagram account of a female athlete and see how sexualized it is, it is open for debate, how the image is owned by the athlete and at the same time it is exploited. It is not as clear as when men decided for women how they should behave and what to do with their bodies. The tension was deslocated. Men do not own women anymore. There is a whole establishment, that creates rules for what is supposed to be expected, and women (men too) are in conflict with how much they can control of their private life, how much gets out of control. They know that sexualization can be part of the game (or at least the use of one's image) and sometimes choose to use it. But it can get out of control, too.
Ultra understands we live in a more complicated, interesting world. And that having equal rights guaranteed by the law doesn't immediately makes everyone happy, poor people do not get rich by decree, women do not immediately star earning more and getting more top jobs. Sexuality does not immediately become a place where power should not matter.
October 30, 2023
A graphic novel with a female superhero, by the guy who co-wrote that awesome Alex + Ada, Vol. 1 series?: You'd expect great things! This is lazy, sexist, and written for frat boys.
Problems are obvious in the first scene when the characters (a blonde, a brunette, and a redhead, because how else are you supposed to tell hot girls apart?) compare their sexual exploits and rib each other in an interaction that only happens in drunken college football fan's wet dreams. Here, and throughout the book, they and other female superheroes call each other "harlot," "slut," "bitch," "whore," "hoe," and more. I recognize that we're talking about people with superpowers in some kind of alternate earth, but these women still have jobs. They have families. Their world is no so different from ours that it would be unrecognizable; these women aren't women, by definition, based on *every single other woman I've ever interacted with*. Not only did this book apparently not have a single female beta reader, it seems obvious that whichever writer was the driving force behind these characters never interacted with a woman, like, ever. No women talk like this. No friends interact like this. These characters do not represent anything that looks like a real-life woman.
In my approximately 3 minutes of internet research, one of the lauded points about this book is that the primary character, Pearl is Latina. It isn't a super-big point in the book, but it's there. But no one can hold her up as an example of Latinxs being represented in graphic novels or the superhero genre, because she is such a joke. It would be like a man holding up a brown-haired version of a Barbie and wondering why I'm not happy that "she looks just like me."
I'm really disappointed, because the pacing was awesome and the art was amazing. There were a couple of scenes when at least two of the characters almost had personalities and growth. Unfortunately, when they're not talking about work, the three female characters talk almost exclusively about guys in general, guys in particular, or themselves in relation to relationships with guys. They occasionally talk (disparagingly) about other female side characters. I'd have to say this fails the Bechdel Test.
Also a big fail is the would-be boyfriend, who (spoiler?) takes post-date photos of a sleeping, naked Pearl and sells them to a tabloid, along with private information and a totally false version of the events of their date. Pearl gets angry and goes to look for him, but gets distracted by saving the world, which hates her now because she's a skank. Other characters point out his actions were wrong, but the general feeling is a boys-will-be-boys shoulder-shrug; no other characters seek him out, no one suggests legal action against him, and he just fades into the background in favor of the real point of the story-- helping Pearl find "true love." There's also a short scene where the loser date meets a sketchy guy in a car, who pays for the photos and makes references to taking Pearl down, but there's no information, prior to or after this scene, that would justify the sketchy guy's motivation to make her "burn."
Avoid.
Problems are obvious in the first scene when the characters (a blonde, a brunette, and a redhead, because how else are you supposed to tell hot girls apart?) compare their sexual exploits and rib each other in an interaction that only happens in drunken college football fan's wet dreams. Here, and throughout the book, they and other female superheroes call each other "harlot," "slut," "bitch," "whore," "hoe," and more. I recognize that we're talking about people with superpowers in some kind of alternate earth, but these women still have jobs. They have families. Their world is no so different from ours that it would be unrecognizable; these women aren't women, by definition, based on *every single other woman I've ever interacted with*. Not only did this book apparently not have a single female beta reader, it seems obvious that whichever writer was the driving force behind these characters never interacted with a woman, like, ever. No women talk like this. No friends interact like this. These characters do not represent anything that looks like a real-life woman.
In my approximately 3 minutes of internet research, one of the lauded points about this book is that the primary character, Pearl is Latina. It isn't a super-big point in the book, but it's there. But no one can hold her up as an example of Latinxs being represented in graphic novels or the superhero genre, because she is such a joke. It would be like a man holding up a brown-haired version of a Barbie and wondering why I'm not happy that "she looks just like me."
I'm really disappointed, because the pacing was awesome and the art was amazing. There were a couple of scenes when at least two of the characters almost had personalities and growth. Unfortunately, when they're not talking about work, the three female characters talk almost exclusively about guys in general, guys in particular, or themselves in relation to relationships with guys. They occasionally talk (disparagingly) about other female side characters. I'd have to say this fails the Bechdel Test.
Also a big fail is the would-be boyfriend, who (spoiler?) takes post-date photos of a sleeping, naked Pearl and sells them to a tabloid, along with private information and a totally false version of the events of their date. Pearl gets angry and goes to look for him, but gets distracted by saving the world, which hates her now because she's a skank. Other characters point out his actions were wrong, but the general feeling is a boys-will-be-boys shoulder-shrug; no other characters seek him out, no one suggests legal action against him, and he just fades into the background in favor of the real point of the story-- helping Pearl find "true love." There's also a short scene where the loser date meets a sketchy guy in a car, who pays for the photos and makes references to taking Pearl down, but there's no information, prior to or after this scene, that would justify the sketchy guy's motivation to make her "burn."
Avoid.
August 13, 2014
Pearl Penalosa is one of the most popular superheroes in Spring City. She spends time with her friends, but doesn't have much of a social life. Her last relationship was over 2 years ago. The public adores her, and they want to see her happy. Even kids ask her, "why don't you have a boyfriend?" It's tough to balance your work (saving the world) and your personal life. This book collects the 8 issues of Ultra: Seven Days. Pearl is a wonderfully realized character and has a unique voice. She's under a lot of pressure, and usually ends up working (i.e. saving people) on her days off. But she has to be perfect, she's a minority, of a minority, of a minority (hispanic, female, and a superhero) and doesn't want to let people down. So when her superhero girlfriends push her to meet someone, it takes a lot of cajoling, but she eventually goes along. This book has been described as a superhero Sex in the City, and I think that speaks to how well the Luna brothers have captured Pearl's everyday life. I also admire that they did the 8 issues they had planned and then ended it, even though it was popular and moved on to other things. Great story, great art, I don't know how they could've executed on this idea any better. 5.0/5.0!
April 10, 2012
I could probably write an entire essay on this book, but I won't. What I will say is that the Luna Bros are an amazingly talented and visionary duo who have yet to do anything that is even remotely close to mediocre. In 'Ultra', we get a bold new world that mirrors and mimics our own, lampoons advertising and consumerism, deals on a very real level with human connections and emotions, betrayal, sex, love, death, celebrity and the modern condition. It really is nothing less than a grand piece of priceless art. What we have here is soemthing the Hernandez Bros would have written if they turned their attention toward the super-hero genre. Beats out all other series like it, including 'Powers'.
Grade: A
Grade: A
February 15, 2009
Ultra (Pearl Penalosa) – former law enforcement, Aphrodite (Olivia Arancina) – former supermodel, Cowgirl (Jennifer Janus) – daughter of Spring City's mayor. Told in magazine exposes and story panels. A fortune teller starts off the action and we're left to watch how her predictions play out. While we learn a little bit about Liv and Jen, most of the story focuses on Ultra, who is supposed to find her true love in the next 7 days. She's not sure she believes in this kind of thing, but when opportunity presents itself Pearl jumps. Unfortunately, the guy she falls for (on the first date, no less) is a normal, and he tells all to the media who make Pearl out as some kind of sexual pervert (a far cry from her usual, albeit unintentional, celibate celebrity self who's been used as a model for society). It stands to hurt her professionally as well as personally, but she takes things in stride. Then she receives a visit from her former superhero lover, Mr. Steel, and remembers why they broke it off (though, you can tell that he, at least, still has feelings for her). She's about to turn in her superhero license and give up on love when she meets a guy from a coffee shop. And there the story ends, and we're left wondering what she does next. Does she stay a superhero? Does she find true love? Can superheroes and normals actually have a relationship? Or are these like other celebrity relationships? You have to be one to truly understand what your partner is going through? There's also an unresolved storyline with Jason (the jerk who tells all). You get the feeling that his decision to sell his (and Ultra's) story to the highest bidder wasn't entirely his. Has he also been hired as an assassin? That particular thread isn't picked up again, however, by the end of this collection.
I liked the combination of storytelling and magazine ads/articles. There were a lot of cover spoofs, and a lot of spoofs in general. The inside look at the girls' lives was a superhero edition of Sex and the City. It was really entertaining. Despite the lack of resolution, I wasn't disappointed. I felt like the Luna Brothers gave me enough action, entertainment, story, and art. And they struck a good balance between wordiness and visual storytelling. I don't particularly like the cover of this collection – I think their art is much better in other places (pictured here). Their style is generally very simple – continuous single-line drawn figures, depth and detail and shadow added when the panels are colored. They don't go in for a heavy line or descriptive hatching/shading. The superheroines are likable, too - Pearl's the tough tomboy, Liv is the hot, hot, nymphomaniac, and Jen is the good girl dating the good guy (who's obviously gay). Turns out she's obviously gay, too. Fun. This is definitely the best thing I've read so far by the Luna Brothers.
I liked the combination of storytelling and magazine ads/articles. There were a lot of cover spoofs, and a lot of spoofs in general. The inside look at the girls' lives was a superhero edition of Sex and the City. It was really entertaining. Despite the lack of resolution, I wasn't disappointed. I felt like the Luna Brothers gave me enough action, entertainment, story, and art. And they struck a good balance between wordiness and visual storytelling. I don't particularly like the cover of this collection – I think their art is much better in other places (pictured here). Their style is generally very simple – continuous single-line drawn figures, depth and detail and shadow added when the panels are colored. They don't go in for a heavy line or descriptive hatching/shading. The superheroines are likable, too - Pearl's the tough tomboy, Liv is the hot, hot, nymphomaniac, and Jen is the good girl dating the good guy (who's obviously gay). Turns out she's obviously gay, too. Fun. This is definitely the best thing I've read so far by the Luna Brothers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 31, 2010
I'd heard some interesting things about this, but I'm afraid I couldn't get past the art. It looked like Jon Luna just traced stock photos from advertisements. The characters were all dead-eyed with the wide, laughing mouths you expect from billboards. It was simplistic without being elegant. There was no style to it, just very rudimentary and lifeless. It was like seeing sex dolls carefully posed to stand in for real people. Maybe I'll try it again in a while and see if the story's any good.
My Suggested Reading In Comics
My Suggested Reading In Comics
February 6, 2013
Imagine a society where superheroes not only exist, but are indistinguishable from any other big-ticket celebrity. Sure, they save lives and fight evil, but they do it with an agency at their back and a vast marketing engine at their disposal, and spend their off-hours dodging paparazzi and attending award banquets. It’s hard enough for a normal person living that sort of life to keep their sanity; how does a superhuman manage it?
This is exactly the kind of oddball comic that I’ve been drawn to lately, being a mix of genre parody, character drama, and good old-fashioned superhero book. Despite the dangerous villains and weird outfits, Ultra reads almost like a spandex-clad romantic comedy. The concept of the book is perfectly executed. The comic itself is broken up by interstitial parodies of popular magazine covers, feature articles, and advertisements, all of which feature one of the three main characters. Going in, I thought there would be plenty of traditional “superhero” action, but that was mostly relegated to one issue; the majority of the book plays with the notion of being a celebrity versus being “just a girl,” and manages to effectively satirize both superhero tropes and Hollywood while doing so.
The artwork is clean and consistent, almost to the point of excess. The character art recalls the glossy, airbrushed photography that pervades celebrity media, which works nicely with the theme. However, all three of the main characters use the same range of facial expressions (a strange teeth-baring half-smile, in particular), which makes the character art feel a little colder and more boilerplate than I think it is meant to be. Also, there are a few moments in the art and dialogue that trend a bit towards fan service. Most of the book seems free from the problems one would expect from two men writing about the daily lives of three women, so these little bones thrown to the typical comic-reading audience stand out a bit.
All told, this is actually a pretty great limited series. The parody is broad while the plot itself is remarkably subtle and thoughtful. The artwork could be better, but it’s still attractive and serves its purpose. The book is just the right length, and the added content is a great diversion. Definitely worth checking out.
This is exactly the kind of oddball comic that I’ve been drawn to lately, being a mix of genre parody, character drama, and good old-fashioned superhero book. Despite the dangerous villains and weird outfits, Ultra reads almost like a spandex-clad romantic comedy. The concept of the book is perfectly executed. The comic itself is broken up by interstitial parodies of popular magazine covers, feature articles, and advertisements, all of which feature one of the three main characters. Going in, I thought there would be plenty of traditional “superhero” action, but that was mostly relegated to one issue; the majority of the book plays with the notion of being a celebrity versus being “just a girl,” and manages to effectively satirize both superhero tropes and Hollywood while doing so.
The artwork is clean and consistent, almost to the point of excess. The character art recalls the glossy, airbrushed photography that pervades celebrity media, which works nicely with the theme. However, all three of the main characters use the same range of facial expressions (a strange teeth-baring half-smile, in particular), which makes the character art feel a little colder and more boilerplate than I think it is meant to be. Also, there are a few moments in the art and dialogue that trend a bit towards fan service. Most of the book seems free from the problems one would expect from two men writing about the daily lives of three women, so these little bones thrown to the typical comic-reading audience stand out a bit.
All told, this is actually a pretty great limited series. The parody is broad while the plot itself is remarkably subtle and thoughtful. The artwork could be better, but it’s still attractive and serves its purpose. The book is just the right length, and the added content is a great diversion. Definitely worth checking out.
August 13, 2015
Content Notes for this book: fire, major injury, death, creepy dudes being creepy, sexual harassment
This just wasn't good. The art wasn't bad, but wasn't good. The characterizations were definitely not good. The storyline was not particularly good. The lesbian? DEFINITELY not good. The one thing I'll give the Luna Brothers (note: "brothers" implies they are both men, this will come back later as important) is that female superheroes would DEFINITELY be this sexually harassed/objectified/stalked/etc. in the real world. So kudos for realistically portraying how crappily we as a society treat women (actually it's probably worse than they portrayed, but I wanted to give them *something*).
But here's the thing, they DON'T do a good job of portraying how women actually are. The friendships that Pearl, Olivia, and Jennifer have with each other felt REALLY false. So this is definitely where the "brothers means men means not women" thing comes up. SO MANY guys think they have a handle on women. But they can't write a realistic woman to save their lives. And the Luna Brothers basically fall into that camp. And they wrote a whole 8 issue story basically all about women. And the problem is, in an industry as male-dominated as graphic novels/comics, stories like Ultra will be considered "good" because at least it *does* focus on women. In general (excluding graphic novels) I read slightly more women than men (and don't have to particularly work for the ratio I have) so I would say that I'm pretty good at seeking out women's voices naturally. In graphic novels I... do not have those numbers. And it is DEFINITELY (at least partially) because women just aren't getting any real/good writing gigs. And Ultra being out here being mediocre and just *not how women are* then adds to the noise in the noise:message ratio.
And let's not get me started about the lesbian thing. Which just. No. Not handled at all well. Nope.
This just wasn't good. The art wasn't bad, but wasn't good. The characterizations were definitely not good. The storyline was not particularly good. The lesbian? DEFINITELY not good. The one thing I'll give the Luna Brothers (note: "brothers" implies they are both men, this will come back later as important) is that female superheroes would DEFINITELY be this sexually harassed/objectified/stalked/etc. in the real world. So kudos for realistically portraying how crappily we as a society treat women (actually it's probably worse than they portrayed, but I wanted to give them *something*).
But here's the thing, they DON'T do a good job of portraying how women actually are. The friendships that Pearl, Olivia, and Jennifer have with each other felt REALLY false. So this is definitely where the "brothers means men means not women" thing comes up. SO MANY guys think they have a handle on women. But they can't write a realistic woman to save their lives. And the Luna Brothers basically fall into that camp. And they wrote a whole 8 issue story basically all about women. And the problem is, in an industry as male-dominated as graphic novels/comics, stories like Ultra will be considered "good" because at least it *does* focus on women. In general (excluding graphic novels) I read slightly more women than men (and don't have to particularly work for the ratio I have) so I would say that I'm pretty good at seeking out women's voices naturally. In graphic novels I... do not have those numbers. And it is DEFINITELY (at least partially) because women just aren't getting any real/good writing gigs. And Ultra being out here being mediocre and just *not how women are* then adds to the noise in the noise:message ratio.
And let's not get me started about the lesbian thing. Which just. No. Not handled at all well. Nope.
August 30, 2015
My first introduction to the Luna brothers, Ultra is what is needed to make superheroes relevant to modern readers. More about character than plot, lacking the traditional starry-eyed adolescence, but without any post modern rancor... this is a story of modern women with real power in a world similar enough to ours that the way it incorporates supers into society reflects the way we treat movie and sports stars.
It has the issues of any books written by men trying to present strong women, but not being able to avoid the middle school sex humor, but it does make Jen, Liv and Pearl seem real enough. As always Jonathan Luna's figures are difficult to tell apart... they all are just lacking enough detail to make them look individualistic, but his framing and storytelling are very strong.
A good book and an excellent way to get the non-comic reader hooked on something new.
It has the issues of any books written by men trying to present strong women, but not being able to avoid the middle school sex humor, but it does make Jen, Liv and Pearl seem real enough. As always Jonathan Luna's figures are difficult to tell apart... they all are just lacking enough detail to make them look individualistic, but his framing and storytelling are very strong.
A good book and an excellent way to get the non-comic reader hooked on something new.
February 25, 2011
Really liked this book by the Luna Brothers. This is one of the first comic series I read on my iPad. I had been thinking about getting the book for a long time, but didn't want any more paper comics. The Luna Brothers artwork is beautiful, with a blend of cartoony style and film techniques (blurring the background when the focus of the 'camera' is in the foreground', etc.)
The story follows Ultra, one of the most popular superheroes in a world where superheroes are part of the mainstream pop culture. She has to simultaneously fight crime/supervillains while trying to have a dating life, all without ending up as a trainwreck on the cover of National Enquirer.
Love the concept of having for-profit superheroes and how they would be woven into the fabric of our society.
The story follows Ultra, one of the most popular superheroes in a world where superheroes are part of the mainstream pop culture. She has to simultaneously fight crime/supervillains while trying to have a dating life, all without ending up as a trainwreck on the cover of National Enquirer.
Love the concept of having for-profit superheroes and how they would be woven into the fabric of our society.
May 30, 2011
Sometimes I found it to be a little heavy on the romance aspect instead of the action, but I still loved it. I've been on a comic kick lately and I'm forcing myself to expand past Batman. The characters were gorgeous and I loved how humanizing they were despite the fact that they were superheroes. I'm a little disappointed that Jen and Pearl didn't end up together, but I understand the fact that that may have ended up in a ruined friendship so I respect where that was taken in the long run. The girls were all so wonderful and the artwork in this book is ASTOUNDING. I love the Ads, I love the creativity behind the "interviews". It's unique and well thought out in those respects. I wish there was more of Ultra somewhere, I honestly do.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 2, 2014
A snapshot of the life of celebrity superhero Ultra with even quicker looks at the lives of her two superhero friends Aphrodite and Cowgirl. I liked the magazine articles at the end of the issues more than the overall story; however, the story does have a lot to say about the current celebrity stalker-paparazzi culture we have. It also made comments re: why female superheroes are always so sexed up with their skimpy outfits...of course, they're also scantily clad here.
I would be interested in reading more -- what happens next with Ultra. Does she leave the celebrity superhero life behind her? Does she find true love or does she really just find herself? And why did she break up with Captain Steel?
I would be interested in reading more -- what happens next with Ultra. Does she leave the celebrity superhero life behind her? Does she find true love or does she really just find herself? And why did she break up with Captain Steel?
July 10, 2007
it's sex and the city with stupid outfits.
oh wait....
well they also have super powers.
enjoyable. but it's a chickflick.
a chickflick that can kick your ass.
oh wait....
well they also have super powers.
enjoyable. but it's a chickflick.
a chickflick that can kick your ass.
March 30, 2016
super heroine slice of life story
October 24, 2018
Reference to 47! Screw the story, it's getting 5 stars just for that. But in all seriousness, it's a fun story that truly deserves it. Contrary to what the covers suggest, this comic is not about superheroes. It's about friendship and love, celebrities and regular people, living life and having fun. Sure, it features superpowered individuals, but almost as an afterthought.
If I could criticize something, it's the main character's innocence and sincerty. I find it hard to believe that people can fully open up so quickly to strangers. Pearl's date and night spent together with the guy she meets seem too much like a high school movie. Midway through the story it becomes clear why the guy is behaving like he is. At that point it's only a matter of time until Pearl finds out.
There are plenty of laughs to be had in this comic, from the quirky friendship between Ultra and her two girlfriends, to the superhero business, to Ultra's dating experience. There is so much sarcasm between the three girfriends you need an excavator to scoop it up. It's beautiful and worth reading for anyone who enjoys comedy!
Three friends visit a fortune teller after a night on the town. Jennifer is told that her actions will be paid in kind, Olivia is told that she will suffer a loss and Pearl is told she will find true love. As they exit the parking spot they are hit by a truck, so they chalk it up as Olivia's loss. Later on Pearl meets a guy, so her friends are certain that the fortune tellers's words are becoming reality. Oh, and the three are superpowered, but it's definitely not what the comic is about.
If I could criticize something, it's the main character's innocence and sincerty. I find it hard to believe that people can fully open up so quickly to strangers. Pearl's date and night spent together with the guy she meets seem too much like a high school movie. Midway through the story it becomes clear why the guy is behaving like he is. At that point it's only a matter of time until Pearl finds out.
There are plenty of laughs to be had in this comic, from the quirky friendship between Ultra and her two girlfriends, to the superhero business, to Ultra's dating experience. There is so much sarcasm between the three girfriends you need an excavator to scoop it up. It's beautiful and worth reading for anyone who enjoys comedy!
Three friends visit a fortune teller after a night on the town. Jennifer is told that her actions will be paid in kind, Olivia is told that she will suffer a loss and Pearl is told she will find true love. As they exit the parking spot they are hit by a truck, so they chalk it up as Olivia's loss. Later on Pearl meets a guy, so her friends are certain that the fortune tellers's words are becoming reality. Oh, and the three are superpowered, but it's definitely not what the comic is about.
July 14, 2024
Ultra: Seven Days dive into a glitzy, drama-filled world of super-heroes who are gracing magazine covers and dealing with paparazzi. It’s really like a fun hybrid of Sex and the City and The Avengers with its action, romance, and a hefty dose of drama.
Pearl Penalosa, also known as Ultra, is not just any superhero - she’s a celebrity, a public figure, and a workaholic with no private life. The story kicks off when a fortune teller tells Pearl she’ll find true love within seven days. The week that follows is interesting, to say the least.
I liked how the story explored the personal lives of superheroes, their vulnerabilities, and the challenges of living under constant scrutiny. It was refreshing, especially that Seven Days in not a cynical superhero reconstruction. Sure, some sope opera moments of the story may not appeal to everyone, but I surprisingly didn’t mind them. I kinda dug all the relationship dramas.
Ultra’s friends and fellow superheroes, Cowgirl and Aphrodite, add flavor to the story with their powerful personalities and colorful storylines. The dynamic between the characters is at the heart of the story and ranges from camaraderie to conflict.
And now, the art. I like Luna’s clean lines, and attention to detail. It’s a clear, stylish aesthetic that works well for me (and it’s my third Luna Brothers’ omnibus this month).
Seven Days isn’t groundbreaking or plot-focused. In theory, I shouldn’t enjoy it, but I found it engaging and charming. And really, who can resist a good superhero romance with a side of existential crisis? Certainly not me.
Pearl Penalosa, also known as Ultra, is not just any superhero - she’s a celebrity, a public figure, and a workaholic with no private life. The story kicks off when a fortune teller tells Pearl she’ll find true love within seven days. The week that follows is interesting, to say the least.
I liked how the story explored the personal lives of superheroes, their vulnerabilities, and the challenges of living under constant scrutiny. It was refreshing, especially that Seven Days in not a cynical superhero reconstruction. Sure, some sope opera moments of the story may not appeal to everyone, but I surprisingly didn’t mind them. I kinda dug all the relationship dramas.
Ultra’s friends and fellow superheroes, Cowgirl and Aphrodite, add flavor to the story with their powerful personalities and colorful storylines. The dynamic between the characters is at the heart of the story and ranges from camaraderie to conflict.
And now, the art. I like Luna’s clean lines, and attention to detail. It’s a clear, stylish aesthetic that works well for me (and it’s my third Luna Brothers’ omnibus this month).
Seven Days isn’t groundbreaking or plot-focused. In theory, I shouldn’t enjoy it, but I found it engaging and charming. And really, who can resist a good superhero romance with a side of existential crisis? Certainly not me.
July 3, 2018
"Ultra," the Luna Brothers' debut, is a "Sex and the City and the Superheroes" trifle that follows Pearl Penalosa (Ultra), a Hispanic female superhero of undetermined Hispanicity, and her two besties: Jennifer Janus (a.k.a. Cowgirl because... she dresses country?) and Olivia Arancina (Aphrodite) who is SUCH a Samantha. While on a girl's night out, an unimpressive fortune teller crystal ball prophecies that Ultra will find true love within 7 days, and somehow the characters all take this extremely seriously, even though the fortuneteller is openly coked up.
The reader won't take anything seriously, but the art is pleasant, even as it consistently beats the writing, which is best labeled as "amiable" (We all need to see more caped folk, male and female, just being nice to each other and catching up over lunch.) The covers mimic those of famous mags: Maxim, Time, Wired, Rolling Stone, Vogue... and I may be forgetting a couple since it was an 8-issue run. In the brevity lies the problem: "Ultra" hints at larger serious issues of commercialism, (what happens when superheroes go fully corporate?) but the breezy story never even intends to tackle them.
The reader won't take anything seriously, but the art is pleasant, even as it consistently beats the writing, which is best labeled as "amiable" (We all need to see more caped folk, male and female, just being nice to each other and catching up over lunch.) The covers mimic those of famous mags: Maxim, Time, Wired, Rolling Stone, Vogue... and I may be forgetting a couple since it was an 8-issue run. In the brevity lies the problem: "Ultra" hints at larger serious issues of commercialism, (what happens when superheroes go fully corporate?) but the breezy story never even intends to tackle them.
May 14, 2024
Read this as a passing fan of the Luna brothers' comics output and it was mostly just okay. Set up as a rom-com meets superheroes, Ultra follows three heroines - Ultra, Aphrodite and Cow Girl who take a break from their day job of superheroics to instead pursue romantic interests and build their social lives. Yes, it's very Sex and the City, but the Luna bros do some pretty interesting things to keep it from being a full blown pastiche of the rom coms. The world of Ultra has some intriguing aspects to it as it builds out how superheroes are viewed, and it's a grounded take similar to that of The Boys. But the story itself fizzles out quickly as the light-hearted misadventures don't do enough to fill out an entire eight issues of story. It's not as novel as some of their other works together, and even the artwork isn't as tight either. There are moments of casual sexist tropes that don't quite feel like satire, so the reading experience does come off as awkward at times. Not one of their strongest outings together I'm afraid.
November 3, 2022
This is a good novel. The story focuses on super heroes but from a different kind of perspective, one where having powers makes you a celebrity who saves the world on a regular basis. Being a super celebrity comes with the usual loss of privacy and critical feedback, but also endorsements and being paid lots of money to do heroic acts. But at the core of the story all the "super heroes" are just people with the same fears, needs and weaknesses, they just can fly and lift heavy objects. I liked the approach the Luna Brothers took and would recommend this for anyone looking for a comic that is a little different.
February 8, 2021
a mix between superheroes, watchmen and sex in the city. but for me a failed mix. The plot could have been good but it does not delve into the situations or the characters; and although it is not bad, its touch of humor only made me smile on 2 occasions and I did not even laugh. With this anhanced and an improvement in the drawing I would recommend it. As for the drawing, all the characters look the same :/
April 12, 2022
Um pouco como trazer a realidade de ser uma super-heroína para o mundo normal.. na verdade, são três, mas há mais.. e que ser super-herói é um trabalho e por isso, há agentes, são pag@s e quando estão de folga, não vão ajudar, pois há mais a trabalhar. E sim, por dentro de um super-herói há um ser humano. O traço do desenho é bom e a história algo diferente do que estou habituada no mundo das super-heroínas.
September 23, 2018
The story was not super interesting. Three super heroines go to see a fortune teller. One of them is told she will find true love within seven days. Which her best friend is very happy about because her being single for a while Is apparently unacceptable. But what really ruined it for me is the main characters calling each other “slut”, “harlot” and “retarded” and even using a rape joke.
August 25, 2021
This was not good. The authors clearly thought they were smashing the patriarchy here but instead they stroked their own egos while writing their idea of how women “are.” The art was lazy, the story was unfulfilling, and the characters were pitiful.
July 11, 2017
I liked this a lot more the first couple times I read it, but yesterday it just came across as trite, juvenile, and boring.
November 6, 2017
The artwork was so-so. the facial expressions really need work butttt the storyline and dialogue were amazing
January 25, 2019
Love Luna Brothers' books, but this one is a little painfully dated upon re-reading. Some very funny parts and the ending still kept me guessing a bit. Art great as always.
May 23, 2020
Complete and utter crap! Don’t do it, just put it down and walk away.
August 13, 2020
Pretty much the epitome of guys writing girls. I can't think of a single person who talks the way any of the characters in this book do.
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