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 | |
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. [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 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]
Although the Maker was imprisoned at The City 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, so they start recruiting in person. Their first recruits were Giant-Man and the Wasp, and the group successfully defeats Captain Britain's forces in battle. Following this, they retrieve the original Human Torch and rescue 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 gamma 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 group. Captain America meets and recruits Charli Ramsey, a Native American who took the equipment meant for Clint Barton as their own after he refused his mantle. [3]
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 all, attacking with his Immortal Weapons and revealing that he wields the Iron Fist. Doom, who had stayed at their Triskelion satellite, hurriedly locates the group and teleports them back. By time he does so, Iron Lad is mortally wounded by Hulk, leading him to be confined to a healing machine while the team deals with the aftermath and reconsiders their approach. Thor and Sif plan to instigate revolt across the Nine Realms to start a rebellion against All-Father Loki in Asgard. The team splits as Captain America and Human Torch discuss on who will lead them in Tony's absence. One month later, the Ultimates meet the Guardians of the Galaxy members Captain Marvel, Star-Lord, Ultimate Nullifier, and Cosmo Starstalker, who come from the 61st Century and seem to know America Chavez, who doesn't remember them. Captain Marvel shares some of their memories, revealing the group comes from Earth-6160's original timeline that was erased by the Maker. While America refuses to join them in 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]
Character | Name | Joined in |
---|---|---|
Doom | Reed Richards | Ultimates, vol. 3 #1 (June 2024) [5] |
Iron Lad | Tony Stark | |
Thor Odinson | ||
Sif | ||
Captain America | Steve Rogers | |
Wasp | Janet van Dyne | |
Giant-Man | Hank Pym | |
America Chavez | Ultimates, vol. 3 #2 (July 2024) [6] | |
She-Hulk | Lejori Joena Zakaria | Ultimates, vol. 3 #3 (August 2024) [7] |
Hawkeye | Charli Ramsey | Ultimates, vol. 3 #5 (October 2024) [7] |
Human Torch | Jim Hammond | Ultimates, vol. 3 #6 (November 2024) [8] |
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. [9]
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. [10]
Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars, commonly known as Secret Wars, is a 12-issue American comic book crossover limited series published from May 1984 to April 1985 by Marvel Comics. The series was written by Jim Shooter, with art by Mike Zeck and Bob Layton. It was tied in with a similarly named toy line from Mattel and a role-playing game of the same name from TSR, Inc.
The Avengers are a team of superheroes appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist/co-plotter Jack Kirby. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1. Labeled "Earth's Mightiest Heroes", the original Avengers consisted of Iron Man, Ant-Man, Hulk, Thor and the Wasp. Captain America was discovered trapped in ice in issue #4, and joined the group after they revived him. The Avengers are an all-star ensemble cast of established superhero characters from the Marvel Comics portfolio. Diegetically, these superheroes usually operate independently but occasionally assemble as a team to tackle especially formidable villains. This in contrast to certain other superhero teams such as the X-Men, whose characters were created specifically to be part of their team, with the team being central to their identity. The Avengers were created to create a new line of books to sell and to cross-promote Marvel Comics characters.
Kang the Conqueror is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in Fantastic Four #19 as Rama-Tut, an adversary of the Fantastic Four, before being reinvented as Kang in The Avengers #8, an adversary of the Avengers. A time-traveler, several alternate versions of Kang have appeared throughout Marvel Comics titles over the years, such as Rama-Tut, Immortus, Scarlet Centurion, Victor Timely, Iron Lad, and Mister Gryphon.
The Ultimates is a fictional superhero team appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics and created by writer Mark Millar and artist Bryan Hitch, which first started publication from The Ultimates #1, as part of the company's Ultimate Marvel imprint. The series is a modernized re-imagining of Marvel's long-running Avengers comic-book franchise, centering around a task-force of super-humans and special agents organized by the U.S. government to combat growing threats to the world. The tale chronicles their progress as they bond and slowly learn to work together, despite their differing natures and personalities.
Ultimate Marvel, later known as Ultimate Comics, was an imprint of comic books published by Marvel Comics, featuring reimagined and modernized versions of the company's superhero characters from the Ultimate Marvel Universe, later known as the Ultimate Universe. Those characters include Spider-Man, the X-Men, the Ultimates, the Fantastic Four, and others. The imprint was launched in 2000 with the publication of the series Ultimate Spider-Man and Ultimate X-Men in 2001, followed by The Ultimates and Ultimate Fantastic Four in 2002 and 2004 respectively providing new origin stories for the characters. The reality of Ultimate Marvel is designated as Earth-1610 as part of the Marvel Comics Multiverse.
Iron Lad is a fictional superhero character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is an adolescent version of Kang the Conqueror, armed with a bio-metal suit that responds to mental commands. He is named after his ancestor of the same name.
The Wrecking Crew is a team of four supervillains—the Wrecker, Bulldozer, Piledriver and Thunderball—appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. While not featured on the cover, the Wrecking Crew's first appearance is in The Defenders #17.
The Wrecker is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.
Ulik is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He usually appears as an adversary of Thor. Ulik was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, and first appears in Thor #137.
Thor was created by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber and Jack Kirby. There had been multiple alternative versions of Thor, both in the main continuity as well as alternate stories. The character is based on the Norse deity Thor.
The Ultimates is a 2002-2004 thirteen-issue comic book limited series written by Mark Millar with art by Bryan Hitch. The series introduces the titular Ultimates, the Ultimate Marvel incarnations of the Avengers.
The Iron Patriot is a patriotism-themed exoskeleton used by several fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.
The Avengers are a superhero team created by Marvel Comics that appear in comic books. Aside from comics, the Avengers appear in various forms of media such as in novels, television shows, movies, videogames and stage shows.
Thor Odinson is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, based on the god from Old Norse religion and mythology, Thor (Þórr). Created by artist Jack Kirby, writer Stan Lee, and scripter Larry Lieber, the character first appeared in Journey into Mystery #83 (1962) and first received his own title with Thor #126 (1966). Thor is an adaptation of the deity of the same name from Norse mythology, and many aspects of Thor's character are based on his mythological counterpart. Comic books featuring Thor have been published across several volumes since the character's introduction.
Iron Man is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is the Ultimate Marvel version of the superhero Iron Man, who first appeared in the fourth issue of Ultimate Marvel Team-Up, written by Brian Michael Bendis and drawn by Mike Allred. He later appeared in the Ultimates and often appears in other Ultimate Marvel titles.
The Maker is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writers Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Millar and artist Adam Kubert, while his Maker identity was created by Jonathan Hickman.
Goliath is a superhero comic book identity in Marvel Comics.
"Avengers Assemble" is an American comic book crossover storyline written by Jason Aaron with art by Bryan Hitch, Aaron Kuder, and Javier Garron, published in 2022 by Marvel Comics. The story, while serving as the final story of Jason Aaron's Avengers that ties into his Avengers Forever series, involves the Avengers teaming up their Prehistoric selves and alternate versions of themselves to fight against Mephisto's army and a multiversal version of Masters of Evil who plan to wreak havoc on the multiverse. The event overall received mixed reviews, with critics criticizing the inconsistent art, the writing, and the story.
Ultimate Invasion is a four-issue American comic book limited series written by Jonathan Hickman, drawn by Bryan Hitch and colored by Alex Sinclair. The first issue was published by Marvel Comics on June 21, 2023. The storyline shows Maker manipulating a new Earth called Earth-6160.
The Ultimate Universe is an imprint of comic books published by Marvel Comics beginning in 2023. Reimagining several classic Marvel characters in a new fictional continuity, Jonathan Hickman and Bryan Hitch's Ultimate Invasion limited series depicted The Maker shaping a new world in his image, resulting in Earth-6160, a new Earth preceded by alternate history.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)