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The Ultimates
Cover of The Ultimates #1, with Doom, Giant-Man, Thor, Captain America, Sif, Iron Lad and Wasp.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
Schedule	Monthly
Format	Ongoing
Genre	Superhero
Publication date	June 2024
No. of issues	9
Main character(s)	Ultimates Hulk
Creative team
Created by	Based on The Avengers by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby)
Written by	Deniz Camp
Artist(s)	Juan Frigeri
Letterer(s)	Travis Lanham
Colorist(s)	Federico Blee
Editor(s)	Wil Moss Michelle Marchese

The Ultimates is an ongoing comic book series about the Ultimates, part of the Ultimate Universe imprint, written by Deniz Camp and illustrated by Juan Frigeri. It began publication in June 2024. The series follows events in the aftermath of the "Ultimate Invasion" storyline. The series is part of the new Ultimate Universe timeline, which puts several Marvel characters in a radically altered sociopolitical status quo, including elements of alternate history, and follows Tony Stark / Iron Lad as he assembles a covert ops network, dubbed the "Ultimates", to fight back against the Maker's Council and take back their world.

Editorial history

The limited series Ultimate Invasion by Jonathan Hickman introduced the Ultimate universe, a fictional universe distinct from the standard Marvel Universe. Three ongoing comics were released afterwards, set in this continuity: Ultimate Spider-Man, Ultimate Black Panther and Ultimate X-Men. The Ultimates, the fourth ongoing comic, is written by Deniz Camp with illustrated by Juan Frigeri. The comic's plot continue the main storyline of Ultimate Invasion and the one-shot Ultimate Universe (2023). At the time of the series announcement, Camp said "The new Ultimates line is the most exciting superhero 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 superhero team concept; from the grand and operatic to the small and personal, Ultimates will feel like no Avengers or Ultimates comic ever before".

Plot

Although the Maker was imprisoned at his city-dome thanks to Howard Stark, it would open again 18 months later, and his Council still rules the world. Iron Lad, leader of the Ultimates (Doom, Sif, Thor, and Captain America) initially plans to distribute superpower catalysts called "Origin-machines" among several individuals to allow them become heroes and gradually turn the tides against the Council, in hopes of achieving numbers similar to those of Earth-616. The plan works only with a few cases, and so they start recruiting in person. Their first two recruits were Giant Man and the Wasp, followed by retrieving the original Human Torch and successfully rescuing America Chavez from a Council loyalist called Midas. After traveling to Monster Island in the Pacific, Thor, Sif and Iron Lad meet She-Hulk, and recruit her under the pledge of helping her people, who suffer from the effects of radiation due to a mass contamination event caused by the Gamma Bomb. Her recruitment leads Hulk (a member of the Council) to monitor more closely the activities of the Ultimates. Captain America later meets and recruits Charli Ramsey, a Native American who took the weapons and identity meant for Clint Barton as their own after he refused his mantle.

The full team assembles for the first time after Tony is led towards a Damage Control facility supposedly containing prisoners of the Council, which turns out to be a trap. Hulk displaces them to K'un-L'un to kill them at will, attacking with his Immortal Weapons and revealing himself as the Iron Fist. Doom, who had stayed at their Triskelion satelite, hurriedly locates the group and teleports them back, but by time he does so, Iron Lad is mortally wounded by Hulk, leading him to be confined to a healing machine after their return, while the team deals with the aftermath and reconsiders their approach.

Team roster

Reception

Chase Magnett from ComicBook.com acknowledges how the comics narrative approach differs from the original series, with a deeper focus on its story, ensemble of characters, and set-up for future stories.

David Brooke from aiptcomics.com says that the creators fundamentally understands superhero comics while reworking the characters in new ways, stating that the series is one of the most exciting superhero comics of the year.

References

1. "The Ultimate Universe's Mightiest Heroes Assemble in 'Ultimates' #1". Marvel Comics. February 22, 2024. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
2. Nnamdi Ezekwe (April 18, 2024). "The Avengers are Running Out of Time to Save the Marvel Universe in New Trailer". CBR. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
3. The Ultimates (2024) 1-5.
4. The Ultimates (2024) 6-7.
5. Connolly, Spencer (July 13, 2024). "ULTIMATES Confirms Full Roster of Marvel's New, Modernized Avengers (Powers & Origins Explained)". Screen Rant. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
6. Adams, Tim (July 11, 2024). "Marvel's Ultimates Recruit a Young Avenger to Their Roster". Comicbook. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
7. ^ Dodge, John and Cronin, Brian (September 13, 2024). "Every Member of Marvel's New Ultimates, Revealed". CBR. Retrieved December 24, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
8. Wood, Robert (November 2, 2024). "Marvel Is Reinventing Its First Ever Superhero, But This Character-Defining Piece of Lore Is Officially Still Intact". Screen Rant. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
9. Chase Magnett (May 28, 2024). "The Ultimates #1 Advance Review: Finding Heroes in a Fallen World". ComicBook.com. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
10. David Brooke (May 28, 2024). "'Ultimates' #1 is an ambitious, awesome start". Comicbook.com. Retrieved December 11, 2024.

External links

• Official website

• 2024 comics debuts
• Superhero comics
• Ultimates
• Ultimate Universe
• Alternate history comics