The Ultimates (2024)
| The Ultimates | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| Schedule | Monthly |
| Format | Ongoing |
| Genre | |
| Publication date | June 2024 |
| No. of issues | 9 |
| Main character(s) | Ultimates Hulk |
| Creative team | |
| 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.[1] 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.
The series has garnered acclaim for its radical reinvention of the Marvel mythos, political messaging, writing, and its development of the Ultimate Universe.
Editorial history
[edit]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".[2]
Plot
[edit]Although the Maker was imprisoned at The City thanks to Howard Stark, it will open again in 18 months, and his Council remains in control of the World. Howard's son, Iron Lad, works with Doctor Doom to form the Ultimates Network, aiming to combat the Maker's Council and restock the world with heroes before The City re-opens. They use the Immortus Engine to time travel and find the frozen body of Captain America. They also venture to Asgard and free Thor Odinson, whose rule over Asgard was overthrown by Loki and the Maker, and are joined by Thor's captor Sif. They break into The City to steal information about many of the lost heroes, only to be caught and attacked by some of the Council.
The Maker's Council then hacks into a Stark satellite, destroying several blocks in Manhattan in a terrorist attack framing Iron Lad as the perpetrator. The Ultimates, now seen as international fugitives, initially plan to distribute superpower catalysts called "Origin-Machines" to several individuals who were blocked from becoming heroes, and gradually turn the tide against the Council. The plan works in only a few cases (such as Spider-Man) with many resulting deaths from superpower-related accidents. Therefore, they decide instead to search for potential heroes and recruit them in-person.[3]
The first recruits were Giant-Man and the Wasp, joining to help the team successfully defeat Captain Britain's forces in battle. Following this, they retrieve the original Human Torch from a Damage Control facility. They then storm the White House to rescue America Chavez from a Council loyalist called Midas. After traveling to Monster Island in the Pacific, the Ultimates meet She-Hulk, who agrees to assist the Ultimates in major conflicts in exchange for Iron Lad finding a cure for the effects of gamma radiation. Her recruitment leads The Hulk (a member of the Council) to more closely monitor the activities of the group. Finally, Captain America meets and recruits Charli Ramsey, a Native American who took the bow and arrow meant for Clint Barton as their own, and has been attacking several Roxxon facilities.[3]
The full team assembles for the first time after Tony finds a Damage Control facility supposedly containing prisoners of the Council, which turns out to be a trap. Hulk uses a teleportation spell to bring the team to K'un-L'un in order to kill them. He and his gamma-injected Immortal Weapons attack the Ultimates, as Hulk utilizes the Iron Fist and breaks She-Hulk's hand. Doom, who is back at their Triskelion satellite, hurriedly locates the group and uses the Immortus Engine to teleport them back. By the time he does so, Iron Lad has been mortally wounded by Hulk, leading him to be confined to a healing machine while the team deals with the aftermath and reconsiders their approach.[4]
The team splits as Captain America and Human Torch discuss who will lead them in Tony's absence. Thor and Sif plan to instigate revolt across the Nine Realms to start a rebellion against All-Father Loki in Asgard. America Chavez defends protestors during an independence rally in Guatemala. Hawkeye continues their crusade against Roxxon and other environmentally destructive companies. Giant-Man and the Wasp visit a memorial ceremony for those lost in the Stark satellite attack on the event's anniversary.[4]
One month later, the Ultimates meet the Guardians of the Galaxy including members Captain Marvel, Star-Lord, Ultimate Nullifier, and Cosmo Starstalker. They hail from the 61st Century and seem to know America Chavez, but she doesn't remember them. Captain Marvel shares some of their memories, revealing the group comes from Earth-6160's original timeline, where a much larger roster of Guardians had been able to create a Utopia. However, the Maker's scheme resulting in a temporal scattering of many members of the Guardians, including America. While America refuses to join their efforts to finding other Guardians, Captain Marvel leaves her with a temporal flare to signal them if they need them, while Star-Lord warns Doom that either him or Iron Lad will cause unimaginable suffering to trillions.[4]
Meanwhile, Luke Cage has been transferred from Seagate Prison to the Gordium Correction Facility. During his time at Seagate a year prior, Luke Cage received an "origin machine" that gives him his super-strength and unbreakable skin. Iron Lad visits him, welcoming him to the Ultimates; Luke says that he can do more good for the Ultimates inside prison than out. Back in the present, Luke leads a takeover of Gordium Correction Facility with fellow inmate Danny Rand, before being moved to another prison to continue his revolution. She-Hulk talks to Tony in his healing machine about the pain they have and to not give up the fight. After She-Hulk walks away, Tony's eyes open.[4]
Team roster
[edit]| Character | Name | Joined in |
|---|---|---|
| Doom | Reed Richards | Ultimate Universe #1 (November 2023) |
| Iron Lad | Tony Stark | |
| Thor Odinson | ||
| Sif | ||
| Captain America | Steve Rogers | Ultimates, vol. 4 #1 (June 2024)[5] |
| Wasp | Janet van Dyne | |
| Giant-Man | Hank Pym | |
| Human Torch | Jim Hammond | Free Comic Book Day 2024: Ultimate Universe/Spider-Man (May 2024) |
| America Chavez | Ultimates, vol. 4 #2 (July 2024)[6] | |
| She-Hulk | Lejori Joena Zakaria | Ultimates, vol. 4 #3 (August 2024)[7] |
| Hawkeye | Charli Ramsey | Ultimates, vol. 4 #5 (October 2024)[7] |
| Power Man | Luke Cage | Ultimates, vol. 4 #9 (February 2025) |
Critical reception
[edit]| Ratings | ||
|---|---|---|
| Issue | AIPT | Comic Watch |
| #1 | 10/10[8] | 10/10[9] |
| #2 | 9/10[10] | 10/10[11] |
| #3 | 9.5/10[12] | — |
| #4 | 9/10[13] | 10/10[14] |
| #5 | 8.5/10[15] | — |
| #6 | 9/10[16] | — |
| #7 | 8.5/10[17] | — |
| #8 | 8.5/10[18] | — |
| #9 | 8.5/10[19] | — |
Chase Magnett from ComicBook 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.[20]
David Brooke from AIPT 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.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ "The Ultimate Universe's Mightiest Heroes Assemble in 'Ultimates' #1". Marvel Comics. February 22, 2024. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b The Ultimates Vol. 4 #1-5. Marvel Comics.
- ^ a b c d The Ultimates Vol. 4 #6-9. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Connolly, Spencer (July 13, 2024). "ULTIMATES Confirms Full Roster of Marvel's New, Modernized Avengers (Powers & Origins Explained)". Screen Rant. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
- ^ Adams, Tim (July 11, 2024). "Marvel's Ultimates Recruit a Young Avenger to Their Roster". Comicbook. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
- ^ a b 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) - ^ a b Brooke, David (May 28, 2024). "'Ultimates' #1 is an ambitious, awesome start". AIPT. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
- ^ Jebel, Dustin (June 5, 2024). "The Ultimates #1: How Far They've Come". Comic Watch. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
- ^ Brooke, David (July 10, 2024). "'The Ultimates' #2 reveals a truth about America". AIPT. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
- ^ Jebel, Dustin (July 11, 2024). "The Ultimates #2: White House (Taken) Down". Comic Watch. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
- ^ Brooke, David (August 14, 2024). "'The Ultimates' #3 is a good reimagining of the Hulk's origin". AIPT. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
- ^ Brooke, David (September 4, 2024). "'The Ultimates' #4 is a tragic one-shot tale". AIPT. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
- ^ Jebel, Dustin (September 6, 2024). "The Ultimates #4: The Power of Four". Comic Watch. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
- ^ Brooke, David (October 9, 2024). "'The Ultimates' #5 reminds us this team is the rebellion". AIPT. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
- ^ Brooke, David (November 6, 2024). "'The Ultimates' #6 is a gripping and intense fight comic". AIPT. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
- ^ Brooke, David (December 4, 2024). "'The Ultimates' #7 offers strong character development and emotional depth". AIPT. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
- ^ Brooke, David (January 1, 2025). "'The Ultimates' #8 reveals the awesome Ultimate Marvel cosmic". AIPT. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
- ^ Brooke, David (February 5, 2025). "'The Ultimates' #9 shines a light on the prison system". AIPT. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
- ^ Chase Magnett (May 28, 2024). "The Ultimates #1 Advance Review: Finding Heroes in a Fallen World". ComicBook.com. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
External links
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