Issue 17 is easily on the level of its predecessor in terms of story and character. Overall its one of the best issues in the series. Read Full Review

This comic is imposter syndrome on a cosmic level and study in self-forgiveness in coping with trauma. I love the bond that Camp and Noto create between Doom and Ant-Man, and it's nice to see these human moments as the Ultimate line almost reaches its crescendo. Read Full Review

Despite a slightly slower pace and some minor artistic haste, Ultimates #17 is a powerful, dark, and utterly fascinating character piece. It's a compelling look at a man trying (and tragically failing) to rebuild the family he lost, reminding us that sometimes the greatest battles are fought within the mind. Read Full Review

I really enjoy Notos art and visual style. It just felt out of place tonally for the story being told in this issue. It was more lighthearted than I think the dark, somber tone of the story deserved. Read Full Review

The Ultimates #17 is a haunting, beautifully restrained chapter that turns away from grand battles to explore the broken soul of a man once called a hero. Deniz Camp and Phil Noto deliver a quiet powerhouse of an issue, one that uses absence, of family, of hope, of light, to devastating effect. As Ultimate Endgame looms, this story reminds us that even in defeat, Doom's humanity burns faintly but fiercely against the Maker's shadow. Read Full Review

I love all the alternate designs for the Fantatstic Force and how he twists the four main archetypes. I'll be happy to see these characters return in the larger Ultimate Endgame. Not to mention the emotional gut punch of depicting the emptiness in Doom's life via the empty outlines of the rest of the Fantastic Four. It's a clever visual metaphor. Read Full Review

As good of a character spotlight this is for Ultimate Doctor Doom, The Ultimates #17 suffers from the series continued narrow focus. There is a constant feeling that we are missing the rest of the Ultimates in this series. Read Full Review

The Ultimates #17 proves that intellect without rhythm makes for dull storytelling. Dooms riveting characterization keeps it from collapsing entirely, but everything else feels disjointed. Too many ideas, too little cohesion. Marvels Ultimate line deserves better than these cosmic ruminations disguised as progression. If this series wants to lead into the showdown with the Maker, it needs a pulse first. Read Full Review

Deniz Camp is a genius

Plot
They show how Reed Richards from this alternate universe was tortured by The Maker, another version of Reed Richards, to turn him into Doctor Doom. The Maker constantly humiliated him and kept him as his slave.

Doom sees the possibility of changing the past to recreate the Fantastic Four, as The Maker eliminated them one by one by messing with time. Doom's pain leads him to create Project 4, where he brings together several potential candidates to become the Fantastic Four. His tests began with mice and then with humans by artificially injecting them with cosmic radiation.

Doom wants to form this team to defeat the Maker.

This comic is narrated at different moments in Reed/Doom's life, where the past and present intertwine.

Doom says goodbye to the Ultimates to form his team. Tony Stark understands, although being fused with the Immortus Engine makes him predict the future, making their conversations complex.

Reed/Doom exacts his ultimate revenge, recreating the Fantastic Four and somehow undoing what the Maker did.

Art
With firm lines that show everything in detail, Noto's art has a unique imprint that respects the classic designs of all the characters while still feeling contemporary.

Summary
The tragic story of how the Maker transforms Reed Richards into Doom, but Reed will somehow get revenge more

Good issue. Looking forward to seeing how this pulls together in the finale.