Related
This last yr , Marvelcompletely proved me wrong by bringing back an enterprise I did n’t believe would ever decently return in the figure of theUltimate Universe . Mainstream comics publishers try a lot of different things , and sometimes you just go " that ’s not lead to sour , " but I ’m more than happy to have been proven wrong .
I really did n’t consider that Marvel ’s unexampled Ultimate Universe would be a success - right up until it was . The original Ultimate Universe , commence with 2000’sUltimate Spider - Man#1 by Brian Michael Bendis , Mark Bagley , Art Thibert , Steve Buccellato , and Richard Starkings , re - ideate Marvel ’s mythos as though they began in the then - present moment . For Spidey , this intend that Peter Parker was a recognizably nerdy adolescent deal with the teen issies of the early 2000s . For other Good Book , it meant interact directly with real politics .
The challenge for Marvel in revive the line for the mid-2020s would n’t be retroflex this formula , butmaking it feel contemporary in its own way without leaning too heavily on the original . Marvel ’s young Ultimate Universe , which also start with January 2024’sUltimate Spider - Man#1 by Jonathan Hickman , Marco Checchetto , Matt Wilson , and Cory Petit . This sentence , Peter was reinvent not as a contemporary stripling , but as a husband and father , sail Modern responsibility afterward in his life-time .
Marvel’s New Ultimate Universe Surprised Me with Its Runaway Success
But I’m Not Complaining
The new universe was n’t stark at first . Before the unveiling of the newUSM , the initiative began with the miniseriesUltimate Invasionby Hickman , Bryan Hitch , Andrew Currie , Alex Sinclair , and Joe Caramagna . WhileUltimate Invasionwasn’t the critical success perhaps expected of Hickman , I personally like it more than most . Iwantedthis universe to prosper , but I retrieve that other writers would have worry solve inside Hickman ’s framework of a secretive dystopia command by supervillains .
It ’s overnice to be faulty sometimes .
I also incorrectly assumed that Hickman would take the reins for a new mass ofTheUltimatesand continueUltimate Invasion’slarger plot . or else , Hickman was announce as the author forUltimate Spider - Man . It ’s decent to be ill-timed sometimes , specially chip in the wild success ofUSM .
How Do You Make Spider-Man Feel Contemporary in 2024?
By Embracing Character Over Plot
Why does 2024’sUltimate Spider - Manwork?Instead of the original Ultimate Universe ’s teenaged hero , this Peter Parker is a middle - aged father struggling with the feeling that he ’s meant for greater things , if only he was unfearing enough to exchange . That ’s the put-on , right there . Hickman ’s still dealing with the meta - plot introduce inUltimate Invasion , but now it ’s just the framework for a story that ’s focused on quality above all else . Sure , the ledger switch on the fan excitement about a version ofSpider - Man who ’s still matrimonial to Mary Jane , but this premise is n’t just slothful fan - service .
The first six issues ofUltimate Spider - Man- a story subtitled " Married with Children " to really forge it home - are uncommitted now , both digitally and in a collected version from Marvel Comics .
The other half of the book ’s success is how it play with expectations and is n’t afraid to keep fans on their toes . No - one in comics is good at manipulating buff emotions than Hickman , and that ’s a massive compliment . I could proffer anticipation , like : surely this series is going to drink down Uncle Ben , or maybe J. Jonah Jameson , or one of Peter ’s child ! SurelyHarry Osborn is headed down a villainous course , and so are this universe ’s Doc Ock and Venom ! But only Hickman and his collaborators know for certain , and they ’re not telling . I opine we ’ll just have to keep reading with bated breath .
Marvel’s New Ultimate Universe Debuts the Strangest Teens of All
I’m Talking about the X-Men, Of Course
Two more books followed in this initial Ultimate wafture with the tough line of following Spider - Man - includingUltimate go - Men , which became my favorite leger of the entire tune . Helmed by writer - artist Peach Momoko , and with a book adaptation by Zack Davisson and letters by Travis Lanham , I ’ve see readers draw the Holy Writ as manga - inspired or a " young grownup " comic , but these labels feel reductive when looking at the whole . Focusing on a radical of young female zep in this world ’s Japan , this book has a timber that matches nothing else at Marvel and holdsthe potential difference to fetch in the mythical " new Marvel reader"like few other comic strip .
In the Ultimate Universe ’s 2024 handout schedule , Ultimate Black Panthercame next , and while I do n’t have as much to say about it , that ’s not a knock on its timbre . By Byran Edward Hill , Stefano Caselli , David Curiel , and Cory Petit , the first collected book ofUltimate Black Pantheris usable now from Marvel Comics .
In a fashion , Momoko pulls off the same magic trick as Hickman . There are plenty of familiar ten - Men component here , but presented in an entirely new setting . The big difference is thatMomoko herself has stated that she did n’t have a monolithic indecorum with the X - Menbefore take on the project . This strangeness works to the book ’s welfare . Momoko still draw references from across the dealership but does so unclouded by expectations both inner and outside . Someone who know the X - Men inwardly and out would n’t be capable to write this book as it stands now , and we ’d be all the poorer for it .
Created in 2000, the Ultimate Marvel imprint redesigned the entire Marvel Comics universe with a new set of origin stories and relationships. The reboot reinterpreted Marvel continuity from scratch in an attempt to simplify and update the company’s 60-year history for modern audiences. With famous comic book writers such as Brian Michael Bendis, Warren Ellis, and Mark Millar at the helm, the Ultimate universe (named Earth-1610 within the Marvel multiverse) lasted 15 years and provided plenty of inspiration for the MCU.
This World’s Ultimate Problems Require the Ultimate Team
The UltimatesHas Become One of Comics' Most Acclaimed Current Title
Then there ’s the unexampled version ofTheUltimatesby Deniz Camp and Juan Figeri . The original 2002Ultimatesby Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch was a massive success , directly act upon the MCU ’s Avengers , so there were high expectation for this Bible , especially since it launched later than the other titles . The originalUltimateswas emblematic of early 2000s comic strip , with jittery political comment that was n’t as clever as it thought it was , eventually devolving into a near - parody of itself the further the original Ultimate Universe plodded along .
A new Ultimates leger was always going to have political commentary , peculiarly afterUltimate Invasion , but it need a smart writer . as luck would have it , Camp was available . With Frigeri , Camp has build on the alt - history thatUltimate Invasiononly hint atto create a squad whose struggle are informed by a distorted version of actual - cosmos injustice .
Deniz Camp is quickly becoming one of comics ' most acclaimed new writers . For more , watch out his creator - owned series20th Century Menwith Stipan Morian and Aditya Bidikar , and be on the smell - out for his forthcoming DC title : Absolute Martian Manhunterwith Javier Rodríguez , available spring 2025 from DC Comics .
InThe Ultimates , She - Hulk ’s story mimics the horror of actual - life sentence nuclear testing , and Hawkeye is an endemic American who fights off a new generation of colonizers contaminate their native land . artistic creation reflects life , and the newUltimatestitle isa cutting condemnation of our own world even as it exhibit heroes stepping up to unsex problemsin a way of life we can only desire for .
The Ultimate Line Is a Massive Success, and It’s Largely Thanks to the Art
Artists at the Tops of Their Games Grace These Pages
Part of the line ’s success is thatits books have systematically great fine art , a quality that ’s surprisingly easy to underrate in comics . Ultimate Spider - Man’smain artist , Checchetto , mess up up workingalongside author Chip ZdarksyonDaredevil . Now , Checchetto bestow a naturalistic style and killer design aesthesia to Spidey . Momoko ’s watercolour art inUltimate X - Menis outstanding and does justice to the big emotion of her young protagonists . There ’s at least one second per emergence where I seat back and mutter words I ca n’t repeat here because of the see-through skill on display .
When Marvel launched the original Ultimate Universe back in 2000 , it made everything the most uttermost , including its heroes . Here ’s the 10 strongest !
Meanwhile , Ultimate Black Panther’sartist , Stefano Casilli , has never quite got the critical efflorescence he deserve , specially for the physicality of his figurework . Caselli has also designed many of the Ultimates for the one - shotUltimate Universe#1 . Frigeri get the reins forThe Ultimatesandhas cause systematically better since I first run into his work inInvincible Iron Man(not that he was a slouch there either ) . That does n’t even mention the slew of other smashing artists involved , from Phil Noto to David Messina to dyke Ruan and more .
The Ultimate Universe Proves That Creators Need Freedom
Big Swings Makes for Great Marvel Reading
The common screw thread throughout all these titles is that their Maker have a vast amount of originative freedom , which can often feel like a rare commodity in bighearted 2 funnies . There are spate of " Elseworld"-style comics that finger like the Almighty are only 5 degree off from mainstream canyon , whether thanks to their own intent or editorial limitations . You ask risk - pickings at all levels , and fortunately this descent is built on nothing but large risky swings . As the newUltimate Universeheads into year two with young book around the corner -includingUltimate Wolverine- I ca n’t look to see what comes next fromMarvel’sbest new initiative .
The latest matter of theUltimate Universeline are usable now from Marvel Comics .
Created in 2000 , the Ultimate Marvel imprint redesign the total Marvel Comics universe with a Modern exercise set of rootage stories and relationships . The reboot reinterpreted Marvel continuity from scratch line in an attempt to simplify and update the ship’s company ’s 60 - year history for modern interview . With famous mirthful book author such as Brian Michael Bendis , Warren Ellis , and Mark Millar at the helm , the Ultimate universe ( named Earth-1610 within the Marvel multiverse ) endure 15 years and provided plenty of inspiration for the MCU .
Summary
Created in 2000, the Ultimate Marvel imprint redesigned the entire Marvel Comics universe with a new set of origin stories and relationships. The reboot reinterpreted Marvel continuity from scratch in an attempt to simplify and update the company’s 60-year history for modern audiences. With famous comic book writers such as Brian Michael Bendis, Warren Ellis, and Mark Millar at the helm, the Ultimate universe (named Earth-1610 within the Marvel multiverse) lasted 15 years and provided plenty of inspiration for the MCU.
