Mike Carey’s run on UFF introduces many of the classic FF villains, but the main focus of the run is Thanos and the cosmic cube.
They are introduced in his first arc, which puts the FF in the middle of a galactic war. The art by Pasqual Ferry is very good, he has a very clean but at the same time artistic style. I am not crazy about the colors though, they look too digital.
The next arc is about Diablo, and it takes place in the past. There wasn’t much to like here, but at least it looked opposite to the previous arc: futuristic/alien vs 18th century Europe. Mark Brooks drew this arc.
Silver Surfer comes in the following arc. This is where Reed’s obsession for the cosmic cube starts to damage them. Psycho-Man almost subjugates the entire human race, but thanks to Richard’s cunning he’s defeated. Pasqual Ferry was again on the art and it suits him perfectly.
Next there’s the arc about Crimson Dynamo and Red Ghost. Honestly I thought this felt more like a fill in arc before the big climactic arc. In the fact it starts and ends with the cosmic cube.
Four Cubed is the final confrontation with Thanos, who finally gets in posession of the cube. But Richards managed to deceive him and in the end saves the day again. This is when Top Cow started to produce the look of the book. Tyler Kirkham has the perfect Top Cow art style, but it’s not very original or exciting for me.
The last arc again felt like a tacked on arc, as if they needed one more arc before the events of Ultimatum. This one is about Hydra and Namor.
Overall I wasn’t crazy about Carey’s run. They were an ok blend of sci-fi and superhero, but nothing too original. Ferry’s art was spectacular, but everyone else was just fine. This was definitely the less intersting Ultimate ongoing, so it’s good that they’re cancelling it soon.