In the early 2000s, Marvel comics started the “Ultimate” line. This was a series of comics that were brand new and, in their own way, removed the universe from the main run of comics. Some of the new series in this lineup consisted of the usual heavy hitters you would expect. Comics like Ultimate Spider-Man, X-Men, and the Fantastic Four were just a few of the new series introduced. While this universe was popular, it eventually kind of imploded on itself due to some mismanagement and poor writing behind the scenes. Now though, two decades later, Marvel is reviving this Ultimate stamp with a brand new universe. And it’s excellent.
The New Ultimates
So this new series starts with Ultimate Spider-Man. Just like it did all the way back in 2000. This new series couldn’t be further from the original Ultimate version. The main goal of the original Ultimate comics was to have fresh, modern takes on old characters. Ultimate Spider-Man was a 15-year-old kid that got his powers in 2000 instead of 1962. It was a lot more modern. The new Ultimate Spidey? It changes up the formula even more so.
Peter Parker is a full-on adult with a wife and kids. He gains his spider powers in adulthood, which just makes for some great drama and character writing. It’s a really cool twist on the story. Speaking of twists of the original story, look at the other series in the new Ultimate Universe, and you’ll find that. Ultimate Black Panther has a very interesting setup, being similar to the MCU’s version but also having many references to Moon Knight’s lore and world. This is just half of the books that are being published in this imprint.
An All-Star Lineup
Next is Ultimate X-Men. This might be the most experimental book Marvel has put out in a while. This series is deeply steeped in Japanese culture and mythology. One can find that out just by looking at it. Peach Momoko, the author and artist, has a distinct style that deeply echoes that of Japanese manga and anime. It is really incredible to read; it is unlike anything out there in Marvel’s current portfolio. It’s very well written as well. Certainly the most different out of all of the series in comparison to the original, but that’s perfectly fine.
Lastly, the Ultimates are the lynchpin of the universe. This series is about Tony Stark in this universe and his efforts to establish a super-powered team to save the world. There are so many interesting twists on characters in this world. Reed Richards is Doctor Doom, Captain America is pretty much what you would expect, and the Hulk has a really dark, interesting twist in terms of that character’s origin. This writer really can’t say enough good things about these series.
Will the New Ultimates Stay?
The big question is the longevity of this series. The last universe lasted roughly a bit over a decade. Now, how long will this one last? Who knows. It’s really up to the writers and how they plan their stories. The problem with the last Ultimate line of comics was that the stories just got slowly worse and worse as time went on. Not counting Ultimate Spider-Man, of course, but that series was an outlier.
When it comes to this new series, one can only hope for the best. The comics have been great, and these creative teams have really been chipping away at them since the start of this year. So maybe in a year or two this writer will revisit this topic. As of now, it really seems like this new universe is here to stay. For the foreseeable future, anyway, and that’s okay. Life is beautiful because it ends, not because it is eternal. These comics are great, and fans can only hope they’ll stay that way.
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