Ultimate Universe

The Ultimate Universe is an imprint of comic books published by Marvel Comics beginning in 2023; the imprint is overseen by writer Jonathan Hickman. It reimagines several classic Marvel characters in a new fictional continuity, after Hickman and artist Bryan Hitch's '' Ultimate Invasion'' limited series depicted The Maker (the Reed Richards of Earth-1610) shaping a new world in his image, resulting in Earth-6160, a new Earth preceded by alternate history.

While it shares its name with the earlier Ultimate Marvel imprint that ran from 2000 to 2015, it is not a direct reboot. While the original Ultimate Marvel started by updating the origins of Marvel Universe characters in a then-modern but recognizable Earth-1610, the Ultimate Universe (Earth-6160) features entirely new interpretations of Marvel characters set in a radically-altered sociopolitical status quo caused by the Maker.

Publication history

The original Ultimate Marvel imprint ceased to be published in 2015, and was destroyed in-story in the ''Secret Wars'' crossover, with Maker being transferred to Earth-616, the Prime Universe. Writer Donny Cates used the character during his run in the ''Venom'' comic book, with the character trying to restore and return to his original universe. At the end of the story arc, Maker returned to a devastated part of the Ultimate Universe, and later hinted he was planning an invasion of the main Marvel Universe. However, Cates had to pull out of writing the series because of a car accident that left him with six months worth of memory loss with the project given to Jonathan Hickman instead. Hickman had worked with the Maker character in the original Ultimate imprint and wrote the aforementioned ''Secret Wars'' crossover.

Hickman started the project with '' Ultimate Invasion'' which he took on another path ignoring both the original Ultimate Universe and the plots in ''Venom'' Vol. 4. It shows instead Maker moving to a new alternate universe called Earth-6160 and changing it with extensive time travel to prevent the existence of most superheroes and make himself its unquestionable leader. By the end of the story, Maker is defeated and trapped inside The City with Iron Man / Howard Stark and a variation of Kang the Conqueror, with The City scheduled to open up in 24 months. The Maker's Council, a shadow government that manages international relations in a " power behind the throne" style, remains a threat as the new comics that follow are set within such background. Howard's son Tony Stark continues his work to take the world back while taking on the name of Iron Lad.

The first comic was ''Ultimate Universe'' #1, a one-shot from Hickman and Stefano Caselli that further developed the context in which the comics of the line will take place. The flagship comic of the line is ''Ultimate Spider-Man'', by Hickman and Marco Checchetto. In contrast with the original ''Ultimate Spider-Man'' comic, it stars an adult Peter Parker who is married to Mary Jane Watson and has two kids before he becomes Spider-Man. Hickman said that he was inspired by the version of the character seen in the film '' Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse''.

Writer Bryan Hill, who had previously worked on ''Blade'', will write '' Ultimate Black Panther'' with Caselli. The comic will be about Black Panther defending the continent of Africa from Lord Khonshu and Lord Ra. Hill said "I was invigorated by this opportunity because in addition to my immense respect for Jonathan Hickman's detailed storytelling, the idea of shepherding this bold new take on Black Panther in this event gives me a platform to do the kind of broad, epic, storytelling I've always wanted to do in comics. My influences range from the history of Black Panther comics, to Ryan Coogler's incredible work with the recent films, to Frank Herbert's world-building capacity of ''Dune''. This is something people won't expect, in the best of ways, and full credit to Marvel and editors Wil Moss and Michelle Marchese for bringing this creative possibility to me."

Peach Momoko, from ''Demon Days: X-Men'', will write and illustrate the new '' Ultimate X-Men'' comics. Armor will be the main character, and the X-Men will be tied to folklore and magic. Momoko said "I am very honored to be a part of the new Ultimate Universe. I am very careful in delivering the unique X-Men mutant elements while still being true to my vision and voice. I am also very proud (and surprised) that I was given enough freedom from C.B. Cebulski and Jonathan Hickman to create a brand-new X-Men character. It might not be the normal portrayal of a superhero... but, just like with my Momoko-verse stories, I am excited to introduce everyone to this new world."

In February 2024, it was announced that Deniz Camp and Juan Frigeri would write and illustrate '' The Ultimates'', which will follow Iron Lad, Doom, Captain America, Thor, Sif, Giant-Man, and the Wasp as they band together to fight back against the Maker's Council and take back their world while gaining new allies along the way. Camp said "The new Ultimates line is the most exciting super hero comics event in years, and it's humbling to be a part of it! We are reinventing these classic characters and archetypes to be as surprising and vital as when they were first introduced. Our Ultimates is an evolution not just of the Avengers, but of the whole super hero team concept; from the grand and operatic to the small and personal, THE ULTIMATES will feel like no Avengers or Ultimates comic ever before! That's our ambition, anyway; tune in to find out if we succeed."

Marvel Editor C.B. Cebulski announced at the 2024 San Diego Comic-Con that there would be a future one-shot comic titled ''One Year In'', with a recap of everything that happened during the previous year in the Ultimate Universe. He also announced a new ongoing series to be released in late 2024 or early 2025, with no details about the name or characters from the comic. At the 2024 New York Comic Con, it was announced the book would be '' Ultimate Wolverine'' by Chris Condon and Alessandro Cappuccio with the official synopsis reading "In order to maintain control of their corner of the Maker’s world, three members of his council – Magik, Colossus and Omega Red – deploy their most lethal asset: The Winter Soldier! But WHO is the weapon behind the mask?".

The ''Free Comic Book Day 2025'' one-shot issue for May 3, 2025 will feature a prologue for the limited series '' Ultimate Spider-Man: Incursion'', which first issue will be published on June 4, 2025. The story features Miles Morales trying to save his sister Billie after she was accidentally transported from Earth-616 to Earth-6160.

Premise

At the beginning of " Ultimate Invasion", the Maker orchestrates an elaborate escape from his imprisonment in Earth-616, ultimately building a portal to another universe, Earth-6160. Upon arrival in 1963, he uses his knowledge of future events and technology to seize control of the world, eliminating and torturing potential opponents to his regime. He deals, overtly or covertly, with all external threats that traditional superheroes would otherwise handle in other Earths, like Galactus or the Kree–Skrull War. He also forges alliances and helps to install figures to depose heroes and figures opposed to him, such as when he assists Loki in taking control of Asgard and other realms.

Politics in its regular form is replaced by a series of manufactured conflicts in a form of war economy practiced between power blocs controlled secretly by the Maker and his Council. There are no known democracies left, and most states are personally dominated by small families, as with Hi no Kuni, the Eurasian Republic and others. When faced with threats, the Council utilizes their near-total control over local political and economic organizations to harass and confront dissidents; the Maker himself runs an advanced secret police organization known as H.A.N.D, which rapidly targets and annihilates dissenters.

Due to the alterations of world history, there are also major social changes. The origins of many heroes and the initial beginning of a Heroic Age are averted. Since Mutants have no central figures to guide them, their political movements are wiped out, leading them to be seen as a fringe presence and an unrecognized minority, dispersed, and scattered while a few are coopted by the system. The Punisher becomes a notorious historical figure due to his actions on the streets and his symbol is co-opted by fascist paramilitary groups. The Savage Land is industrialized and all prehistoric life is extinct after a violent takeover by a group of mercenaries under Roxxon's command in the 1970s, an event called the "Savage Land Revolt". By 2023, the Maker has fully transformed the world into a series of political spheres controlled by his political allies and their vassals, integrating several superheroes and existing regimes while installing neo-feudal regimes in major parts of the world. These entities make up his Council.

The modern world is ultimately organized as such:

* North America was reformed into the North American Union, a technocratic successor state to the United States which is controlled by a corporation called Stane/Stark Industries run by Obadiah Stane and Howard Stark; after the death of Stane and Stark trapping himself in The City with the Maker, the polity is secretly divided up by other members of the Maker's Council. Otherwise, the country appears largely run by a collection of corporations, such as Roxxon and Oscorp, who have assumed control of critical civil functions such as electricity and healthcare. This is the main setting for ''Ultimate Spider-Man'' where it is shown that Wilson Fisk is a shadow governor in New York City and a recurring setting for '' The Ultimates''.
* Latin America is dominated by the Society of South America, run by the Hellfire Club under Emmanuel da Costa.
* Europe is run by the European Coalition, itself dominated by Henri Duggary, a French aristocrat who controls Avalon. Duggary also de facto controls the Eastern Seaboard of North America after the division of the North American Union, assuming responsibility for its local leaders where Wilson Fisk works for him.
* Africa is dominated by the Upper and Lower Kingdoms, based in Egypt. Both Kingdoms are governed by Lord Ra and Lord Khonshu. Wakanda, which has remained largely isolationist, remains outside of their control. This is the setting for '' Ultimate Black Panther''.
* Russia and parts of Central Asia are governed by the Eurasian Republic, currently geopolitically antagonistic to much of the rest of the world. Russia has reverted back to the Tsarist autocracy and is ruled by the Rasputin Family (consisting of Colossus, Magik, and Omega Red). The Republic is designated by the Maker as the primary ward for mutants which its government attempts to use as weapons for secret police units. This is the setting for '' Ultimate Wolverine''.
* South Asia and Southeast Asia are under the jurisdiction of the Children of Eternal Light, a faux-Buddhist martial arts cult led by the Hulk.
* Much of metropolitan China, Korea, and Japan are governed by Hi no Kuni which dominated by an bloc of three clans called the Harada-Yoshida Alliance (consisting of Emperor Sunfire, Viper, and Silver Samurai). This is the setting for '' Ultimate X-Men''.
* Central Asia and Latveria fall within the bounds of The City, a technologically-advanced fortress solely controlled by the Maker. Due to his political power, it is also the ''de facto'' capital of the world.

At the end of " Ultimate Invasion", the Maker attempts to have Howard Stark and Doom (Reed Richards) construct a time machine for him, called the Immortus Engine, hoping to use it to consolidate his control over the world in perpetuity. Deeply repulsed by the global system the Maker has constructed, Stark instead weakens his defenses, allowing for a cataclysmic battle started by Kang to close The City shut, potentially trapping the Maker inside for two years with Stark also being trapped. With the Maker absent, the ensuing political ripples of his absence allow for the emergence of organized defiance to the world order and his regimes. In particular, the Ultimates emerge as an effective guerilla army, undermining global regimes while recruiting the worst victims of the global order to resistance. Maker's Council begins to break into in-fighting, with individual states beginning to launch unauthorized contingencies in the hopes of reinforcing their powers. These frictions serve as the overall background for the individual series.

Characters

Publications

Ongoing series

Limited series

One-shots

Related material

* ''Timeslide'' (December 25, 2024)

Collected editions

See also

* Absolute Universe by DC Comics
* Energon Universe by Image Comics and Skybound Entertainment
* Valiant Beyond by Valiant Comics and Alien Books

Notes

References

External links

Official trailer

{{Marvel Comics

Ultimate Universe
2023 comics debuts
Alternate history comics
Comic book reboots
Comics set in New York City
Marvel Comics imprints
Marvel Comics dimensions