Looks like I am mostly alone here, but I thought the Annual was garbage. First, we have another mysterious ancient society. Don't we already have the Inhumans and the Atlanteans? It's just clutter to introduce a new one. Second, I have no problem with humor, but this was just a series of gags and cliches. One of the students says, "can I be the first to say 'help'?" That isn't humor, that's just lame farce. And then we have the ending, where the kids decide to stay down there (presumably only to be eaten by giant worms, etc.) Nonsense. Finally, we have an absurd history for the Mole Man, who could have been a really interesting character, as the first story-line had intended. He makes a gun out of carmelized sugar! Sure, that's almost funny, but this is not Peter Porker the Spectacular Spider-Ham. For me, the real brilliance of the Ultimate line is its willingness to create more sophisticated stories and characters with depth--to make super-heroes of real flesh and blood, not of candy canes and cheese wiz. If this is an indication of what is to come, I can only say Mr. Millar and Mr. Land, I will sorely miss you.
