# Ultimate Universe

The Ultimate Universe is an imprint of comic books published by Marvel Comics beginning in 2023; the imprint is overseen by writer Jonathan Hickman. It reimagines several classic Marvel characters in a new fictional continuity, after Hickman and artist Bryan Hitch's Ultimate Invasion limited series depicted The Maker (the Reed Richards of Earth-1610) shaping a new world in his image, resulting in Earth-6160, a new Earth preceded by alternate history.
While it shares its name with the earlier Ultimate Marvel imprint that ran from 2000 to 2015, it is not a direct reboot. While the original Ultimate Marvel started by updating the origins of Marvel Universe characters in a then-modern but recognizable Earth-1610, the Ultimate Universe (Earth-6160) features entirely new interpretations of Marvel characters set in a radically-altered sociopolitical status quo caused by the Maker.

## Publication history

The original Ultimate Marvel imprint ceased to be published in 2015, and was destroyed in-story in the Secret Wars crossover, with Maker being transferred to Earth-616, the Prime Universe. Writer Donny Cates used the character during his run in the Venom comic book, with the character trying to restore and return to his original universe. At the end of the story arc, Maker returned to a devastated part of the Ultimate Universe, and later hinted he was planning an invasion of the main Marvel Universe. However, Cates had to pull out of writing the series because of a car accident that left him with six months worth of memory loss with the project given to Jonathan Hickman instead. Hickman had worked with the Maker character in the original Ultimate imprint and wrote the aforementioned Secret Wars crossover.
Hickman started the project with Ultimate Invasion which he took on another path ignoring both the original Ultimate Universe and the plots in Venom Vol. 4. It shows instead Maker moving to a new alternate universe called Earth-6160 and changing it with extensive time travel to prevent the existence of most superheroes and make himself its unquestionable leader. By the end of the story, Maker is defeated and trapped inside The City with Iron Man / Howard Stark and a variation of Kang the Conqueror, with The City scheduled to open up in 24 months. The Maker's Council, a shadow government that manages international relations in a "power behind the throne" style, remains a threat as the new comics that follow are set within such background. Howard's son Tony Stark continues his work to take the world back while taking on the name of Iron Lad.
The first comic was Ultimate Universe #1, a one-shot from Hickman and Stefano Caselli that further developed the context in which the comics of the line will take place. The flagship comic of the line is Ultimate Spider-Man, by Hickman and Marco Checchetto. In contrast with the original Ultimate Spider-Man comic, it stars an adult Peter Parker who is married to Mary Jane Watson and has two kids before he becomes Spider-Man. Hickman said that he was inspired by the version of the character seen in the film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.
Writer Bryan Hill, who had previously worked on Blade, will write Ultimate Black Panther with Caselli. The comic will be about Black Panther defending the continent of Africa from Lord Khonshu and Lord Ra. Hill said "I was invigorated by this opportunity because in addition to my immense respect for Jonathan Hickman's detailed storytelling, the idea of shepherding this bold new take on Black Panther in this event gives me a platform to do the kind of broad, epic, storytelling I've always wanted to do in comics. My influences range from the history of Black Panther comics, to Ryan Coogler's incredible work with the recent films, to Frank Herbert's world-building capacity of Dune. This is something people won't expect, in the best of ways, and full credit to Marvel and editors Wil Moss and Michelle Marchese for bringing this creative possibility to me."
Peach Momoko, from Demon Days: X-Men, will write and illustrate the new Ultimate X-Men comics. Armor will be the main character, and the X-Men will be tied to folklore and magic. Momoko said "I am very honored to be a part of the new Ultimate Universe. I am very careful in delivering the unique X-Men mutant elements while still being true to my vision and voice. I am also very proud (and surprised) that I was given enough freedom from C.B. Cebulski and Jonathan Hickman to create a brand-new X-Men character. It might not be the normal portrayal of a superhero... but, just like with my Momoko-verse stories, I am excited to introduce everyone to this new world."
In February 2024, it was announced that Deniz Camp and Juan Frigeri would write and illustrate The Ultimates, which will follow Iron Lad, Doom, Thor, Sif, Giant-Man, and the Wasp as they band together to fight back against the Maker's Council and take back their world while gaining new allies along the way. Camp said "The new Ultimates line is the most exciting super hero 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 super hero team concept; from the grand and operatic to the small and personal, THE ULTIMATES will feel like no Avengers or Ultimates comic ever before! That's our ambition, anyway; tune in to find out if we succeed."
Marvel Editor C.B. Cebulski announced at the 2024 San Diego Comic-Con that there would be a future one-shot comic titled One Year In, with a recap of everything that happened during the previous year in the Ultimate Universe. He also announced a new ongoing series to be released in late 2024 or early 2025, with no details about the name or characters from the comic. At the 2024 New York Comic Con, it was announced the book would be Ultimate Wolverine by Chris Condon and Alessandro Cappuccio with the official synopsis reading "In order to maintain control of their corner of the Maker’s world, three members of his council – Magik, Colossus and Omega Red – deploy their most lethal asset: The Winter Soldier! But WHO is the weapon behind the mask?".
The Free Comic Book Day 2025 one-shot issue for May 3, 2025 will feature a prologue for the limited series Ultimate Spider-Man: Incursion, which first issue will be published on June 4, 2025. The story features Miles Morales trying to save his sister Billie, after she was accidentally transported from Earth-616 to Earth-6160.

## Premise

Due to the Maker's tampering of Earth-6160's timeline, most real-world countries ceased to exist in the setting of this fictional universe, and the world is divided in areas ruled by members of the Maker's Council. North America is ruled by Howard Stark and Obadiah Stane; this is the setting of Ultimate Spider-Man and The Ultimates. The fictional country of Wakanda, located in Africa, is retained; this is the setting of Ultimate Black Panther. Japan and parts of China are ruled by Sunfire, Viper and Silver Samurai; this is the setting of Ultimate X-Men. Most of Asia is ruled by Colossus, Magik and Omega Red; this is the setting of Ultimate Wolverine. Europe, ruled by Captain Britain, South America, ruled by Emmanuel da Costa, and India, ruled by Hulk, do not have dedicated comics.
The first issue of Ultimates Vol. 4 reveals the restructured map created by the Maker's Council. It is shown that the North American Union has been redistributed with Henri Duggary ruling its east coast.
The background of the global status quo is explained further through Howard Stark's history files. The Maker arrives in 1963, establishing the City in Latveria and selling himself as an engine of progress. With no heroes to oppose him, he aids in orchestrating the assassination of John F. Kennedy and starts reconfiguring the United States and the rest of the world, eroding national identities and independence in favor of continental empires. He deals, overtly or covertly, with all external threats that traditional superheroes would otherwise handle in other Earths, like Galactus or the Kree–Skrull War. The central government of the United States is dissolved, while corporations start to supersede the old political order. Companies such as Stark/Stane, Oscorp, and Roxxon become essential parts of the internal functioning of the technocratic Union. Politics in its regular form is replaced by a series of manufactured conflicts in a form of war economy practiced between power blocs controlled secretly by the Maker and his Council. The Soviet Union is superseded by a form of Tsarism led by the Rasputin family, three clans unite and form the Harada-Yoshida Alliance in Japan, while other regions face similar systemic changes as the Maker consolidates his influence over the incorporated nation-states and their leaders.
Due to the alterations of world history, there are also social changes. The origins of many heroes and the initial beginning of a Heroic Age are averted. Since Mutants have no central figures to guide them, their political movements are wiped out, leading them to be seen as a fringe presence and an unrecognized minority, dispersed, and scattered while a few are coopted by the system. The Punisher becomes a notorious historical figure due to his actions on the streets while his symbol is used by militias in the modern day. The Savage Land is industrialized and all prehistoric life is extinct after a violent takeover by a group of mercenaries under Roxxon's command in the 1970s, an event called the "Savage Land Revolt". The Maker is regarded as an Imperator, or de facto ruler of the Earth, because he's recognized as the only one equipped to keep the public safe from global threats and being regarded as disseminating technological advances on a regular base, using the organization H.A.N.D. as a secret police.
The Maker is unable to avert certain events, despite using some to his advantage. After the Castle Gamma project of the North American Union tests the "Banner-Ulam Gamma-Bomb" over an island on the Pacific Proving Grounds and causes the creation of the Hulk, he is led towards personal "enlightenment" and becomes the leader of an order of monks called The Children of the Eternal Light, turning into a key figure on The Maker's Council. The testing also causes a mass contamination event (inspired by the real-life incident of Castle Bravo) that affects the island's flora, fauna and population, leading to the unpredictable gamma mutations of Lejori Zakaria and her fellow natives. It's also established that several major corporations serve the Council's interests as proxies, one example being Roxxon as part of Emmanuel da Costa's profile.
Later, H.A.N.D's acronym and role in the Maker's new world order is fully revealed, showing its full name as the "Heroic Anomaly Neutralization Directorate". Implied to be a reorganized S.H.I.E.L.D, Nick Fury is established as serving as its Director and having played a part in eliminating or imprisoning several heroes, enabling atrocities such as the Inhuman Genocide during the Maker's rise to power, with the agency itself also becoming his propaganda and disinformation apparatus. It's established that Duggary rules over Avalon, the Rasputins also have control over Limbo, while Emmanuel Da Costa serves as the Black King of the Hellfire Club. Mutants are seen by the Council as assets, with the Eurasian Republic created to be a centralized hub for them while Hi No Kuni tries to harness its own Mutant population into an army through a religious front called "The Children of the Atom". At the Republic, its Directorate X clones a fallen specimen back to life to act as their "Winter Soldier" against rebel factions such as the Opposition, a united coalition of mutants and humans.

## Publications
### Ongoing series

| Title | Writer | Artist | Colourist | Debut date |
| Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 3 | Jonathan Hickman | Marco Checchetto | Matt Wilson | January 10, 2024 |
| Ultimate Black Panther Vol. 1 | Bryan Hill | Stefano Caselli | David Curiel | February 7, 2024 |
| Ultimate X-Men Vol. 2 | Peach Momoko | Peach Momoko | Peach Momoko | March 6, 2024 |
| The Ultimates Vol. 3 | Deniz Camp | Juan Frigeri | Federico Blee | June 5, 2024 |
| Ultimate Wolverine Vol. 1 | Chris Condon | Alessandro Cappuccio | Bryan Valenza | January 15, 2025 |

### Limited series

| Title | Issues | Writer | Artist | Colourist | Debut date | Conclusion date |
| Ultimate Invasion | #1–4 | Jonathan Hickman | Bryan Hitch | Alex Sinclair | June 21, 2023 | September 27, 2023 |
| Ultimate Spider-Man: Incursion | #1–5 | Deniz Camp Cody Ziglar | Jonas Scharf | TBA | June 4, 2025 | TBA |

### One-shots

| Title | Writer | Artist | Colourist | Debut date |
| Ultimate Universe | Jonathan Hickman | Stefano Caselli | David Curiel | November 1, 2023 |
| Free Comic Book Day 2024: Ultimate Universe/Spider-Man | Deniz Camp Zeb Wells Al Ewing | Juan Frigeri Ryan Stegman (pencils), JP Mayer (inks) Iban Coello | Federico Blee Sonia Oback Frank D'Armata | May 4, 2024 |
| Ultimate Universe: One Year In | Deniz Camp Chris Condon | Jonas Sharf Alessandro Cappuccio | Mattia Iacono Bryan Valenza | December 11, 2024 |
| Free Comic Book Day 2025: Amazing Spider-Man/Ultimate Universe | Deniz Camp Joe Kelly Cody Ziglar | John Romita Jr. Jonas Scharf | TBA | May 3, 2025 |

### Related material

* Timeslide (December 25, 2024)

## Collected editions

| # | Title | Material collected | Format | Pages | Released | ISBN |
| Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 3 |||||||
| 1 | Married With Children | Ultimate Spider-Man (2024) #1–6 | TPB | 168 | 10 Sep 2024 | 978-1302957292 |
| 2 | The Paper | Ultimate Spider-Man (2024) #7–12 | TPB | 136 | 18 Mar 2025 | 978-1302958282 |
| 3 | Family Business | Ultimate Spider-Man (2024) #13–18 | TPB | 136 | 23 Sep 2025 | 978-1302958299 |
| Ultimate Black Panther Vol. 1 |||||||
| 1 | Peace And War | Ultimate Black Panther #1–6 | TPB | 152 | 11 Oct 2024 | 978-1302957308 |
| 2 | Gods And Kings | Ultimate Black Panther #7–12 | TPB | 136 | 15 Apr 2025 | 978-1302958237 |
| 3 | TBC | Ultimate Black Panther #13-TBC | TPB | 136 | 14 Oct 2025 | 978-1302958244 |
| Ultimate X-Men Vol. 2 |||||||
| 1 | Fears And Hates | Ultimate X-Men (2024) #1–6, material from Ultimate Universe (2023) | TPB | 160 | 5 Nov 2024 | 978-1302957315 |
| 2 | Children Of The Atom | Ultimate X-Men (2024) #7–12 | TPB | 136 | 27 May 2025 | 978-1302958336 |
| 3 | TBC | Ultimate X-Men (2024) #13-TBC | TPB | 136 | 11 Nov 2025 | 978-1302958343 |
| The Ultimates Vol. 3 |||||||
| 1 | Fix The World | Ultimate Universe (2023); The Ultimates (2024) #1–6; material from Free Comic Book Day 2024: Ultimate Universe/Spider-Man | TPB | 192 | 4 Feb 2025 | 978-1302957513 |
| 2 | All Power To The People | The Ultimates (2024) #7–12; Ultimate Universe: One Year In | TPB | 168 | 16 Sep 2025 | 978-1302958183 |
| Ultimate Wolverine Vol. 1 |||||||
| 1 | The Winter Soldier | Ultimate Wolverine #1–6 | TPB | 144 | 16 Sep 2025 | 978-1302962050 |
| Other |||||||
| | Ultimate Invasion | Ultimate Invasion #1–4 | TPB | 192 | 26 Mar 2024 | 978-0785194736 |