The story so far: Ultron waged war on Earth from the future, sending his drones to conquer the world in our present. In a last ditch attempt to reverse these catastrophic events, a small surviving band of heroes led by Captain America headed into the future to fight Ultron. Wolverine on the other hand had a different idea - go back in time, kill Hank Pym - Ultrons creator - and change the present that way. No Hank Pym, no Ultron to conquer the world. Sue Storm tagged along with Logan as they travelled to the past, killed Hank Pym, and went back to the present. But of course things are now changed. While there is no Ultron ruling the world, there is a cyborg Tony Stark and his army of Starkbots who now watch, Big Brother-like, over the world. And thats not all - the Avengers are no more! In their place are vaguely familiar characters who're different from their alternate universe counterparts calling themselves the Defenders (though some like Doctor Strange, Thing, Wolverine and Hulk havent changed). Now we catch up with Logan and Sue as theyre held captive aboard a Starkguard Carrier being interrogated... The Age of Ultron ended a couple of issues ago so Im not sure what this series is really - the Age of Stark? Age of Bendis? Age of Confusion? Because it sure as hell aint Ultron! Anyway we find out more about this new alternate present with Stark telling us about something called the Latveria-Asgard wars where he was ripped in half and how Morgana Le Fey is his and the Defenders mortal enemy, trying as she is to constantly destroy them. So now that Wolverine and Sue are safely in custody after being attacked senselessly by the Defenders in the last issue, Tony gets Xavier and Emma Frost (who looks like shes had a major boob job) to psychically download their entire memories and watches their past reality appear on a series of screens. Yet despite now knowing everything there is to know about them, he has them chained to chairs and begins interrogating them. Actually he just talks to Wolverine, tells him a bit about his life and world, and then spends the rest of the time asking Wolverine if he tried this solution or that solution instead of simply going back and killing Hank Pym. This is a pointless cycle of questions that simply kills time without advancing the plot one iota nor helps you understand why Stark is even bothering with this laughable interrogation in the first place. Having treaded water long enough, Bendis throws Morgana Le Fey and her army of Doctor Doombots with rams horn helmets riding dragons at Stark and the Defenders and lots of pointless fighting ensues. Thats the whole issue.
So all we found out really was that there were a few things different with this world - which is to be expected given that Wolverine changed the timeline - and little else beyond that. Im not sure what the storyline is anymore. Its gone from stopping Ultron to... what exactly? They did stop Ultron - so, what now? As if to underline the chaotic nature of the plot, the promo for the next issue shows Wolverine fighting alternate universe Wolverine. Thats what Age of Ultron has wound up becoming - its gone from an insane robot taking over the world to two guys who cant die stabbing each other. DC take note - this is how you do WTF comics! There are 3 more issues left (#9 , #10, and an epilogue) and it doesnt seem like were going to get a satisfactory conclusion to this event - Im not even sure were going to see Ultron once! I think this Event will go as far as it needs to in order to lead into Marvels next Event - Infinity - and then just stop arbitrarily. So even though issue #8 is yet another disappointing comic in this incredibly stretched-out Event, I wouldnt get your hopes up that its going to get better in the next couple of issues. Id say its par for the course to have Angela show up in issue #10 - why not? This story stopped making sense a long time ago. Bendis - enough with the endless time-travel storylines and try something original instead! Seriously, All-New X-Men and Age of Ultron both have time-travel as key components in their plots - is that really the best youve got? Are we going to see time travel figure into Guardians of the Galaxy next? Age of Ultron #8 features a lot of pointless dialogue, uninteresting alternate universe superheroes, and a non-existent plot featuring typically flashy/dreary superhero action between characters you've just been introduced to and therefore have little invested in - simply put, this is a stale and boring comic in a mini-series thats no longer interesting. Roll on Infinity.
Age of Ultron #8 by Brian Michael Bendis and Brandon Peterson is out now at your local comics shop and online at Comixology and Marvel Unlimited