The Ultimates: Dead Man Walking
Issue: #15
Writer: Mark Millar
Pencils: Bryan Hitch
Inker: Paul Neary
Colors: Laura Martin

The Ultimates not currently in New York City are being called in for a briefing on the media revelation that Bruce Banner is the Hulk. Tony Stark as Iron Man is assisting some of the European Super-Soldiers in raising a downed submarine, accompanied by sniping between Natasha and Jarvis. Pietro and Wanda are in Venice, Italy on a trip down one of the canals.

The group, minus Banner, Thor and Hawkeye, meet at the Triskelion. Fury sums up the situation, interrupted briefly by Hawkeye’s late arrival, and tells them that Banner is going to be offered up for trial. Given the events of the past few weeks, Fury declares that the evidence points to Thor being the person who released the news to the press. Captain America decides to deal with the situation in his usual style.

Forcing his way into a NYC nightclub, Cap confronts Thor and accuses him of leaking Banner’s identity to the press. Thor denies the claim. His followers attack Cap, but before the situation escalates, Thor stops them and apologizes. He tells Cap that he suspects his brother, Loki, of engineering the leak. Cap cuts him off and storms away.

Meanwhile, Bruce Banner and Charles Xavier appear to be walking along a beach as Banner recounts some of his earlier life, but we see that the scene is just a mental illusion Xavier is providing, and that both men are still in the Triskelion. Xavier tells Banner to contact him mentally if the Hulk tries to reappear, and leaves. Hank Pym comes in for a visit soon after. He and Banner discuss the upcoming trial and likely outcome, and Pym comments that the Ultimates team is changing – more of them are Black Ops members and military, and the non-conformists are being phased out. The issue closes with a panel of Fury overhearing the conversation with a deeply thoughtful expression on his face.

Submitted By: Seldes Katne