Plot
"Fix The World" (#1–6)
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 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. The first recruits were Giant-Man and the Wasp, joining to help the team successfully defeat Captain Britain's forces in battle. Seventeen months are remaining before The City opens. [3]
Following this, they retrieve the original Human Torch from a Damage Control facility. [4]
They then storm the White House to rescue America Chavez from a Council loyalist called Midas. Sixteen months are remaining before The City opens. [5]
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 that affected her tribe. Her recruitment leads Hulk (a member of the Council) to more closely monitor the activities of the group. Fifteen months are remaining before The City opens. [6]
As Doom works on Project 4 where he tries to find the right cosmic radiation frequency on different groups of four laboratory mice. Iron Lad learns more about Doom's history where Maker sabotaged the flight where Johnny Storm burned to death, Ben Grimm was found dead in a quarry, Susan Storm dying of an illness that Franklin Storm blamed Reed for, and his torture into becoming Doom when he was placed in Maker's custody. Afterwards, Doom states that he'll be ready to help the team. When it comes to the day when four rats don't get killed by the right cosmic radiation frequency, Earth-6160 will have its Fantastic Four. Fourteen months are remaining before The City opens. [7]
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. Hellfire Club's Black King/Maker's Council member Emmanuel da Costa talks with Hulk about the attacks on Roxxon in which he is an investor in. Hulk tells Emmanuel to leave the Ultimates to him. Thirteen months are remaining before The City opens. [8]
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. Twelve months are remaining before The City opens. [9]
"All Power To The People" (#7–12)
After their devastating battle in K'un L'un, the team takes time off to recuperate. Captain America and Human Torch visit an old pub from Cap's childhood to discuss who will lead the team in Iron Lad's absence. Thor and Sif plan to instigate a revolt across the Nine Realms to dethrone All-Father Loki in Asgard. America Chavez defends protestors during an independence rally in Guatemala, vaporising hostile H.A.N.D agents. Hawkeye continues their crusade against Roxxon and the council by blowing up a shipment of weapons headed to Africa to help in the war. Giant-Man and the Wasp visit a memorial ceremony for those lost in the Stark satellite attack on the event's anniversary, questioning their role and actions.. Eleven months remain before The City opens. [10]
While on a mission, 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 resulted in a temporal scattering of many members of the Guardians, including America. While America refuses to join their efforts in finding other Guardians, Captain Marvel leaves her with a temporal flare to signal the Guardians if they are needed. Star-Lord warns Doom that if the world is left in their hands, either him or Iron Lad will cause unimaginable suffering. Ten months remain before The City opens. [11]
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 gave him his super-strength and unbreakable skin. Iron Lad visits him, welcoming him to the Ultimates and offering to break him out; Luke refuses, saying that he can do more good for the Ultimates inside the prison system. He leads a successful prison revolt against the facility which had tortured him since he was young. Back in the present, Luke leads another takeover, this time of Gordium Correction Facility with fellow inmate Danny Rand. As they triumph over their enslavers, the inmates declare "All Power to the People!", and Cage prepares to head to another prison and run the same cycle. In the epilogue, She-Hulk monologues to an unconscious Iron Lad about pain. After she walks away, Tony's eyes open. Nine months remain before The City opens. [12]
A month later, Captain America leads Human Torch, Ant-Man, the Wasp, and Hawkeye to storm "Castletown", a militia camp controlled by the fascist Red Skull Gang. The team has received intelligence that Namor, a former teammate of Cap and Torch's, is being held there. After breaking in, they fight with the Skulls and their leader the Grand Skull; he reveals that Namor was killed when Atlantis was overthrown by Attuma though his body would not decompose. John Walker, a member of the Skulls, also joins the fray having been empowered by one of the Stark Boxes. The Ultimates win against Grand Skull who says despite this loss, he will continue to serve as a symbol and inspiration. The team buries Namor by sending his body to sea, hoping to spark an Atlantean revolution. Captain America and Human Torch come to a surprising conclusion about the Skull's identity after hearing his true voice. Iron Lad integrates the Immortus Engine into his body, stabilising him while he nurses back to full health. Eight months remain before The City opens. [13]
Thor and Sif return to the Nine Realms, with the goal of spreading a revolution. The pair visits Nidavellir which has turned from the home of Dwarves and divine industry to an overworked factory. Dwarves Brokk and Eitri fashion them invisibility cloaks for their oncoming war. Thor and Sif spy on Valhalla, where they find the daughter-Queen Hela ruling over an army of the undead. In Alfheim, the "origin of stories", H.A.N.D has infiltrated the ranks of the Light Elves, forcing them to write propaganda for the Council. Vanaheim has been left untouched by Loki's new regime, so the Vanir who inhabit it refuse to join up with Thor and Sif's cause. In Jotunheim, Thor battles the Frost Giants provoking Loki to return to his homeland. Sif uses this to free his servant Idunn and spread word of the revolution. In Niffleheim the rebels meet Volstagg, Fandral, Hogun, and Heimdall. Loki marches his armies against the Vanir while Thor's own forces make war against him. Thor also makes a deal with Surtur, to burn down Asgard. In an epilogue, Iron Lad awakens and asks Doom to explain a horrifying image retrieved by the Immortus Engine: the Hulk standing victorious over the Ultimates' corpses. Seven months remain before The City opens. [14]
On the H.A.N.D. Cumulo-Carrier, the latest Life Model Decoy of Nick Fury is filled in by a member of the Ultimates regarding the team's latest meeting. On the Triskelion, Iron Lad assembles the entire network to discuss their recurring nightmare: Hulk slaughtering the entire team. Iron Lad reveals that originally, the team was massacred during their K'un L'un encounter. However, Doom used the Immortus Engine to reverse time and save the Ultimates in-turn violating their agreement to not use time travel. Doom has also been using Project 4 as a cover-up to break the Maker's temporal barrier and change the past. Despite initial argument between Doom and the rest of the team, they eventually agree on a new strategy. Captain America, reflecting on his time fighting the Skulls, says the network needs to expand and act as a symbol more than an army. And Doom, reflecting on what Star-Lord told him, agrees the network must act more like a team. Iron Lad declares Ultimates 3.0. Back with H.A.N.D, Nick Fury thanks his informant as we see him face-to-face with the Wasp. Six months remain before The City opens. [15]
Issues #13-17
Due to the side effects of the Immortus Engine being fused to him, Iron Lad has been seeing a lot of future outcomes and didn't hear Wasp come in when she asks about the Buenos Aires mission. Iron Lad is standing in front of the blackboard with the words Ultimates 3.0 on it. Iron Lad and America Chavez attend different secret rallies telling them that they are all Ultimates and asks if they want their future back. At the Red Skull stronghold at Mount Johann, Iron Lad leads the attack on the Red Skull Gang where Captain America is unable to get information on where Grand Skull is. The Ultimates Network (or UltNet for short) enables people to learn the truth about their world. Iron Lad even does a virtual teach-in on how to make a Molotov cocktail. Human Torch takes his leave from the Ultimates to go on a mission to "start a fire" as Wasp secretly watches them. On Monster Island, its inhabitants are held back at gunpoint by A.I.M. as four of the Immortal Weapons deal with the Megafauna. This is watched from afar by Iron Lad and She-Hulk. When Iron Lad asked God for help, he is told that the Gods make war on a large scale with the Nine Realms hanging in the balance and that they can't answer any mortal prayers. Luke Cage has inspired all the prison uprisings in the North American Union as Iron Lad, Luke Cage, and Danny Rand teach a class in one of the prisons. With Captain America teaching combat strategies and tactics, Doom teaching science and theory, and Luke Cage teaching civics and politics, Iron Lad uses the Immortus Engine's powers to allow time inside the barrier to pass faster at a ratio of 6-to-1 upon being inspired by The City. Iron Lad returns to the Triskelion to meet his copies as Wasp continues watching. Five months remain before The City opens. [16]
At a Roxxon facility, Captain America and Hawkeye do a stakeout as Hawkeye begins his attack. At Roxxon's headquarters, its CEO Rex Bonhurst talk about how to handle the Ultimates who are threatening their earnings with fellow business community members Nicodemus West of Alchemax, Justine Hammer of Hammer Weapons, #1983: Scientist Supreme of A.I.M, and Oubliette Midas of Midas Inc. They talk about the Ultimates destroying their stuff, stealing their stuff, the "Ultimates" app, the Ultimates paralyzing Oubliette's father, and causing prison riots across the country. Rex then has his secretary Tiffany send the associate of their silent partner in. In comes Emma Frost who runs the Frost School for Wayward Children. Using her mind powers, Emma shows them Captain America and Hawkeye having taken down all the guards. They are then ambushed by Wanda Maximoff and Pietro Maximoff who start to cause problems for Captain America and Hawkeye. Emma Frost explains that she found them in a Eurasian weapons lab where they were bred like dogs. While noting that they are just kids, Captain America does a tactic to break the ground where he proceeds to knock out Wanda. Hawkeye then fires an explosive arrow at a pipeline that causes Pietro's friction shield to be affected by the fire. Emmanuel da Costa and his son Roberto hear about what happened as Emmanuel mentions that he'll miss the electric jolt he got from Pietro's blood. After experiencing the flashback, Emma Frost notes that her school lost Wanda and Pietro. Then she uses her powers to kill the business community members except for Oubliette. Emmanuel mentions in a telepathic chat with Emma that any one of them would've taken his position. While planning to plant the deaths to the Ultimates, the White King will supply new leaders for the companies. When asked by Oubliette on why she was spared, Emma states that she has potential unlike what her father claimed. Back at the Roxxon facility, Hawkeye and Captain America look at the unconscious Wanda and Pietro where Hawkeye asks if the Ultimates take prisoners. Four months remain before The City opens. [17]
It all started 10,000 years ago when Shen Qi was the 8th wielder of the Iron Fist move. He led the Immortal Weapons and the forces of Heaven in a victorious battle against the endless demon legions of the 8th City. Following that battle, Shen Qi renounced performing violence. After some meditating in the K'un-L'un Forest, he was greeted by an assortment of seekers, aesthetics, holy men, students, teachers, peasants, priests, prostitutes, merchants, farmers, and warriors from K'un-Zi, Tiger Island, Peng Lai, the Kingdom of Spiders, Z'Gamo, and the Under City where they all want to learn from the "Awakened One". He spoke a lot about things like self-extinction, the condition of the world, violence for entertainment's sake, and performing various miracles done with chi. The people considering him a god did not bode well to the Xian as Shen Qi died in battle against them. When his followers gathered around him, Shen Qi's final words to them is that he will return one day. In the present, Shen Qi's story has been told by Iron Man to Giant-Man, She-Hulk, and Danny Rand as they heard of Shen Qi's reincarnation and that Hulk hasn't been able to find him as Hulk had heard that Shen Qi is the Ultimate Iron Fist. They arrive at a ruined village where Uranium Brother #235 is fighting warriors that are protecting the reincarnated Shen Qi. As Iron Lad came with Gamma Dampeners this time, the Ultimates work to defend Shen Qi from Uranium Brother #235. When Giant-Man steps on Uranium Brother #235, he gets wounded in the foot when Uranium Brother #235 goes through it. Danny Rand then goes near Shen Qi who knows his name. After being hit by a Gamma Dampener, Uranium Brother #235 is beheaded by She-Hulk while vowing to go after Hulk. Three months remain before The City opens. [18]
A girl named Wren Montgomery explains to her parents why she wasn't in school. She recalls the day when her six-grade teacher Mrs. Walters was taken from her job by H.A.N.D. Agents. Then Wren recalls the day when her best friend Mia had grown gills on the side of her torso. Mia's parents claimed that what Mia had was a disease. After seeing the news of the Ultimates where Giant-Man stepped on Henri Duggary's soldiers, Wren started getting involved with the UltNet as she informed the delivery man Jeremiah, her neighbors, and a homeless man about the truth on what the Ultimates were doing and what Maker and his Council has done. At this time, her parents were displeased that Wren was getting involved with the UltNet. Wren kept quiet about the Ultimates and attended different Ultimates supporter meetings waiting for the H.A.N.D. Agents to interfere. Wren took part in a lot of UltNet activities like doing an Ultimates Forever tagging on a wall, playing the Star-Spangled Banner in mall, providing a diversion so that Hawkeye can take down a high-ranking Roxxon executive that was passing through town, hid someone that she thinks was Captain America in her basement, and bombing a location owned by Maker's Council. When Wren's parents plead for her to stop, Wren brought up what happened to Mrs. Walters and Mia. Just then, H.A.N.D. Agents attack as her parents are killed alongside others who have been using her UltNet. Wren dodges the H.A.N.D. Agent attacks as one of them is shot by one of Wren's neighbors. Wren is given a gun as she continues running. When a H.A.N.D. Agent cuts off Wren's left hand, the homeless man shoots the H.A.N.D. Agent and makes a tourniquet for her injury as the delivery man Jeremiah gives her a ride. Jeremiah states that H.A.N.D. now knows who Wren is and that she will have to go underground as he plans to get her injury tended to. When Wren asks how, Jeremiah states that there is more to the movement which is bigger as they will fix the world. Two months remain before The City opens. [19]
