Millar stated in Pop Culture Shock that this arc reflected contemporary issues, ranging from hyper-powered countries like the US, preemptive strikes, the rising world-wide anti-American sentiment in the wake of the Neo-Conservative Bush Doctrine, and the "rogue nation" classification and the fear of backlash in form of nuclear Armageddon.

My own belief is that there'll be a couple of nuclear attacks in the States, the multinationals will move elsewhere, the American economy will completely collapse and make the 30s look like the 80s and the Middle East will be occupied by drafted teenagers from your home town.

[2] One year after the end of The Ultimates, public opinion has turned against the team, after they're deployed to fight in the middle eastern nation of Iraq.

Opinion is turned further against them after it is leaked by a mole in the team, that Bruce Banner is the Hulk, is responsible for hundreds of deaths, and that S.H.I.E.L.D.

Janet quickly grows tired of Steve, and the way that they only ever visit old folks, and starts secretly seeing Hank Pym, her ex-husband again.

Thor confides in his friend Volstagg, who was not actually there, making everyone think he is insane, and bringing credibility to Golmen's claims.

Pym, as Ant-Man, joins a street-level superhero team, known as The Defenders, who are mostly miserable jokes, who lie about knowing Doctor Strange.

They are led by Valkyrie, a blonde girl, who likes Thor, snores loudly and lies about being a kung-fu expert, despite really only being an orange belt.

The other members are Nighthawk, Son of Satan, Black Knight, Hellcat, Power Man, and Whiz Kid, all of whom are similarly jokes and failures.

The Defenders attempt to stop teenagers from stealing cigarettes and make fools of themselves, failing miserably, with Nighthawk nearly dying, and being thrown in the ICU.

The group is revealed to be The Liberators, a team of anti-American multinationals, led by Colonel Abdul Al-Rahman, an Iraqi super soldier, furious at the Ultimates mission in Iraq, he was turned into a super-soldier by Russian scientists, and wields a lightsaber-like weapon.

Stark, dejected after Natasha was outed as a spy, nearly falls into a depression, before immediately laying his eyes on a random woman, and getting over it.

He praises Millar's writing of the classic heroes and states that the "inclusion of current-day politics" improves the storyline.

Powers praised with art, however, stating that Bryan Hitch's "artwork has definitely been one of the main elements that will make this series memorable.