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.
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 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 decide to no longer use the Immortus Engine and 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 Bruce Banner / 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 uses the Imortus Engine to teleport them back. By the 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. Meanwhile, Luke Cage has been transferred from Seagate Prison to the Midas Group-owned Gordium Correction Facility. One day, he meets fellow inmate Danny Rand who punched a knife-wielding inmate in self-defense. During his time at Seagate in 2024, Luke Cage got an "origin machine" transported to him that gives him his powers and unbreakable skin. In the present when Luke Cage was about to be shot by a firing squad for a prison break attempt, their bullets couldn't harm him. Back in 2024, Iron Lad visited Luke Cage at Seagate who welcomes him to the Ultimates and is told by Luke that he can do more good for the Ultimates inside prison as he won't be free until everyone is free. Back in the present, Luke has led a takeover of Gordium Correction Facility. The news of the prison riot at Gordium Correction Facility reaches its third day is broad as 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 | |
| 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] |
| Human Torch | Jim Hammond | Ultimates, vol. 4 #6 (November 2024)[7] |
| 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.
- ^ The Ultimates Vol. 4 #1-5. Marvel Comics.
- ^ 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 c 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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