This week's comic book expectations... oh, and the Lakers are horrible

What a pathetic half of basketball. It's halftime at Game Six of the NBA Finals, so I figured I would type up these expectations as fast as I can. Although, it sure seems like the game is over already. Good thing nobody holds leads int he NBA, right? By the way, Stuart Scott needs to stop making Fave-Five jokes with Dwayne Wade. But I digress.

Here's a first on the blog: For me, this week's top theme comes from the ULTIMATE UNIVERSE.

That's right, send your sweaters to the folks in Hell, they need them about now.

Two Ultimate titles are coming out this week, and each has a load of momentum behind it. The most surprising book of last month turned out to be Ultimate X-Men. After years of horrible stories, new writer Aron Eli Coleite injected a Red Bull into the title, and the result was a great story featuring a new drug that amps up mutant abilities to the max. As Ultimate X-Men #95 picks up, a bunch of the X-Men have decided to take this drug, and it seems that Cyclops is either going to be joining them or leading them. Most importantly, the book feels fun again -- and isn't that what we look for in a good Ultimate Universe book?

Ultimate Fantastic Four #55 is also set to pick up on a load of momentum. Much like Ultimate X-Men, the Fan Four suffered through a little while of sub-par stories, only to rebound with a FANTASTIC arc featuring Ultimate Thanos (and, I think that storyline is coming out on TPB this week too, so look for it). In this issue, we're going to learn more about Ultimate Salem Seven, Ultimate Agatha Harkness (who now seems to be IN CHARGE of the Baxter Building), and we'll maybe even get to see more of the problems Reed and Sue are having. Amazing but true, these two issues have me pumped up.

And, speaking of Marvel's First Family, Secret Invasion: Fantastic Four #2 comes out this week as well, continuing on the tangent that began in "Secret Invasion #1." Reed is off doing things in the main "SI" book, as is Sue, leaving Ben and Johnny alone with the kids in the Baxter Building -- which was sent into the negative zone. And, if being in the negative zone wasn't bad enough -- you just know annihlus is going to show up -- it turns out a VERY familiar Skrull is the one sent to target the Fan Four. Does a Mrs. Johnny Storm ring a bell? This is exactly the sort of story we were looking for, so pick it up and enjoy it.

This week a new story arc in "Wolverine" also begins, with Mark Millar and Steve McNiven at the helm for Wolverine #66. Now, I am no fan of Millar, as is no secret, but this story does sound promising, since most Wolverine stories of this sort tend to be at least entertaining. Basically, all the heroes have fallen, and Wolverine is still around. Now, he has to come out of hiding and go help some injured hero friends. See, I told you this was a very familiar story-type for Wolverine. Still it's worth a look.

Finally, I mentioned a couple of books earlier that had unsuspected momentum, well put this next title in that list: Justice League of America #22 follows Dwayne McDuffie's best two issues on the title, and could go for the hat trick here. Red Tornado is finally going to be put in that semi-human body -- but, apparently that little Amazo flu he had to start the series has not quite healed. Red Tornado has the potential to be the second most powerful member of the JLA, so it's always fun to see what happens when he has to fight the whole team. This issue should be pretty strong, and McDuffie is starting to gain my trust.

That's about it, a little bit of a slow week, but I'll see you right back here tomorrow with the Buy Pile Report all the same.