It’s a shame that Ultimate Invasion is being overshadowed by the events unfolding in Fall of X and the new push for G.O.D.S., Jonathan Hickman’s next project, as the series is offering compelling questions that don’t have obvious answers. That’s exactly the case with this week’s ULTIMATE INVASION #3, which pulls the curtain back on The Maker’s carefully curated universe and we see the power structure controlling this new world order.

To achieve a sense of world peace, we discover the individual regions have agreed to rotate which group is seen as evil in order to concentrate the world’s ire. With this set up, they are able to control their populations from realizing their own governments are evil and corrupt. That reveal offers an interesting moral & ethical question on how far should those with power should go to ensure a peaceful existence for their societies. However, in true Hickman fashion, an additional layer of subterfuge is apparent because the reader knows these new world leaders are really only doing The Maker’s bidding. Whatever power they think they wield is only really allowed by The Maker’s choosing. If he were to change his mind tomorrow, he could (and would) create an entirely different political structure.

These dynamics unfold throughout the issue as Howard Stark, embodying the reader throughout the process, is brought into the inner circle of world leaders. He’s apprehensive as he learns more and we get some clues through a conversation between him and Tony, but Hickman doesn’t offer a clear indication as to what Howard plans to do with his new knowledge. As Tony pleads with him to bring down The Maker, Howard reminds him not to mistake “right and wrong for good and evil.” I actually prefer this approach as Howard’s perspective on the current situation is so fascinating and mimics the duality presented here.

The issue’s epilogue revealing Kang as the mastermind behind the previous issue’s battle and The Maker’s main adversary was spoiled by an incorrect solicitation — the tease for this issue was actually meant for the next issue — so it didn’t carry the weight it was likely intended to. It’s a bit weird to see Kang playing this role here as he’s also playing a major role guiding the action in Jed MacKay’s Avengers run. We don’t know which version of Kang this is so there is time to explain that discrepancy.

In contrast to the action scenes in the last issue, Bryan Hitch’s designs allow this issue to play out like an episode of a top-notch political thriller. Even though this issue is heavy on dialogue, Hitch and the rest of the art team, including inker Andrew Currie and colorist Alex Sinclair, keep you at the edge of your seat with their approaches. A variety of angles are included to reflect things being shaken up for Howard and make readers feel like they don’t have a solid grasp on what’s going on. Characters’ facial expressions are equal parts evocative and sinister. They also continue to utilize a yellow hue that acts as a metaphor for a shiny bright light trying to distract from what’s really happening. Joe Caramagna’s lettering work is put to the test on this dialogue-heavy issue and he handles it masterfully.

For being the third part of a four-part series, ULTIMATE INVASION #3 feels like we’re only starting to understand the premise of Jonathan Hickman’s plans for an Ultimate Universe reset. With only the finale to go, this issue left me with the feeling that we’ll get one of two endings: we’re either heading for an extremely rushed conclusion that’s a let down or we won’t be getting much of a conclusion at all and these four issues will have served more as a launching point for other stories rather than being a self-contained one in and of itself. I’m hoping for the later, but with so much else going on at Marvel, I’m worried it’ll be the former.

Rating: 8/10