If by downloading, you mean stealing, then yes, I have heard of downloading. I do not prefer to steal from people, so I actually buy a product and, as it goes on, decide if I would like to continue to purchase it. At this point, I will not be purchasing the series any longer. Thanks for your concern.

MANIA: As the editor, when you’re reading something you might not think is the best of ideas, do you let the writer go with it or do you use your position to have something you think needs changed, changed? Have you ever had to do anything like that with the Ultimate line?

MACCHIO: I can’t recall any specific incidence, but if a writer hands me something that just doesn’t work I will let him know and we’ll discuss and debate it and, hopefully, reach a point of compromise. While I do have the final say on the content of an Ultimate title, I try not to be insistent as that makes for an unhealthy atmosphere. The one place I might really put my foot down is regarding continuity. I don’t want anyone coming in and violating what’s been established because they can’t be bothered to research or they think their story is more important so we need to violate continuity. But I’m rarely if ever in that situation because I discuss things with my talent before it would ever get to that stage.

I realize Macchio is stressing continuity here, but honestly, how could he read this stuff and think it “works?” Jeph Loeb couldn’t have done a worse job on this book if he set out to completely destroy it. The over-the-top cliche dialog and pension to bring in “guest stars” with no respect to plotting is more suited to Superman/Batman or Hulk (2) than Ultimates. Those books are at least intended to include a younger audience which cares less about intelligent writing and precludes the creative team from peddling soft-porn as art.

Have you heard of downloading? I like to read this title just so I can tear it apart with mockery, too, but I wouldn’t buy the damn thing and send the message that I’m okay with Marvel giving us crap like this. Download it. If you buy it, you’re part of the problem.