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The Ultimates by Deniz Camp, Vol. 1: Fix the World
As the new Ultimate Universe continues to unfold, its mightiest heroes gather to from a new superhero team - the ULTIMATES!
Six months ago, Tony Stark, a.k.a. Iron Lad, sent Peter Parker a radioactive spider to set him back on the course to become Spider-Man. Since then, Stark, Captain America, Doom, Thor and Sif have begun to do the same for others, building a network of super-powered heroes hungry for change. Now they must band together to destroy the Maker’s Council and restore freedom and free will to a world ruled from the shadows! Together they are the Ultimates! But when Cap reckons with the Maker’s dismantling of nations by visiting the White House, it leads to a massive brawl with the deadly Midas—who’s been holding a superhuman hostage as a power source! The search for answers will lead the Ultimates to…She-Hulk!
Collecting ULTIMATES (2024) #1-6, ULTIMATE UNIVERSE #1 and material from FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2024: SPIDER-MAN/ULTIMATE UNIVERSE.
Six months ago, Tony Stark, a.k.a. Iron Lad, sent Peter Parker a radioactive spider to set him back on the course to become Spider-Man. Since then, Stark, Captain America, Doom, Thor and Sif have begun to do the same for others, building a network of super-powered heroes hungry for change. Now they must band together to destroy the Maker’s Council and restore freedom and free will to a world ruled from the shadows! Together they are the Ultimates! But when Cap reckons with the Maker’s dismantling of nations by visiting the White House, it leads to a massive brawl with the deadly Midas—who’s been holding a superhuman hostage as a power source! The search for answers will lead the Ultimates to…She-Hulk!
Collecting ULTIMATES (2024) #1-6, ULTIMATE UNIVERSE #1 and material from FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2024: SPIDER-MAN/ULTIMATE UNIVERSE.
208 pages, Paperback
First published February 4, 2025
48 people are currently reading
178 people want to read
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March 9, 2025This is supposed to be a radical reimagining of the familiar Avengers story, and not only is that very much true, but it goes further and harder than I ever expected!
A She-Hulk from an Atoll of people who were victims of careless fallout from Banner's gamma experiments; a Native American Hawkeye taking revenge on the colonialists who took their land; a thawed-out Captain American who actually believes in grassroots revolution. This is the Ultimates of the 21st century, and I am so here for it! Honestly surprised Marvel had the guts to publish an Avengers story this powerful. Respect!
A She-Hulk from an Atoll of people who were victims of careless fallout from Banner's gamma experiments; a Native American Hawkeye taking revenge on the colonialists who took their land; a thawed-out Captain American who actually believes in grassroots revolution. This is the Ultimates of the 21st century, and I am so here for it! Honestly surprised Marvel had the guts to publish an Avengers story this powerful. Respect!
November 6, 2024
Out of all the Ultimate titles in the new universe, this might be the strangest. Instead of a linear narrative, it’s more of a Hero Origin Story of the Week. The art and writing is solid and dependable, and I like most of the new takes on the characters, but it’s hard to lock into the plot when it feels like so much happens unseen between issues.
But hey, Ultimate Hawkeye is a standout for me in this lineup!
I’m interested to see where this one goes as it serves as the framework for the new Ultimate Universe in general. Ultimate Spider-Man remains the absolute shit, so if you’re looking for a fun new take on a character and not keeping up with continuity, I recommend heading over there.
Maybe we’ll get some more linear storytelling in the next arc! Until then, ultimates assembled.
But hey, Ultimate Hawkeye is a standout for me in this lineup!
I’m interested to see where this one goes as it serves as the framework for the new Ultimate Universe in general. Ultimate Spider-Man remains the absolute shit, so if you’re looking for a fun new take on a character and not keeping up with continuity, I recommend heading over there.
Maybe we’ll get some more linear storytelling in the next arc! Until then, ultimates assembled.
November 28, 2024
This series has been phenomenal so far, and now it’s starting to get really dark. Classic Ultimate Universe is so back! Loving the team so far and excited to see who else we start to introduce to the universe.
March 18, 2025
“Because if we can't protect the Earth, you can be damned well sure we'll avenge it.”
This quote from 2012’s The Avengers sums up what Earth’s Mightiest Heroes are about. In the case of the Ultimates – a parallel universe version of the Avengers – they are fighting for a world where heroes can rise from the deception that has secretly manipulated the workings of their reality. As previously explored in Ultimate Invasion, the Maker used time travel to create his ideal Earth by systematically preventing anyone from ever becoming a superhero and by establishing a secret council of supervillains known as the Maker’s Council.
Following the events of Ultimate Invasion, in which the Maker is imprisoned at The City that will reopen in eighteen months, the late Howard Stark’s son, Tony/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.
Opening with the one-shot Ultimate Universe #1 by Jonathan Hickman and Stefano Caselli, we see the initial assembling of the Ultimates as Tony and Doom travel in time and find the frozen body of Captain America. They then recruit 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. Knowing that there is a resistance against them, the Council hacks into a Stark satellite, destroying several blocks in Manhattan in a terrorist attack framing Iron Lad as the perpetrator, thus making the Ultimates international fugitives.
Considering that Hickman wrote the one-shot, it is surprising he is choosing to write Ultimate Spider-Man over The Ultimates, which seems closer to the world-building that blends politics and complex morality towards its costumed heroes that Hickman explored previously during the Krakoan Age. However, writing the main series is Deniz Camp, who is doing an incredible job in placing several Marvel characters in a radically altered sociopolitical status quo, including elements of alternate history.
When you look at the Avengers from the main continuity, the status quo has changed throughout history, starting out a private organisation, to a government-sponsored team of superheroes and even a resistance group. No doubt, Brian Michel Bendis kept changing the way the Avengers function throughout his time at Marvel. And when you look at the original Ultimate Universe, The Ultimates by Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch was about a strike force of government-sponsored superheroes set during George W. Bush’s presidency.
Whereas the OG Ultimate Universe was a streamlined, modernized version of the decades-long Marvel Universe that we all know, this current wave of the Ultimate titles, particularly this book, is about fighting for freedom in a world that never was. With each issue somewhat functioning as their own narrative, we see the titular heroes fighting in missions that mix aspects of the Marvel mythos and real-world politics. From storming into the White House to rescue America Chavez, to visiting Monster Island in the Pacific where its inhabitants are affected by Bruce Banner’s explosive experimenting with gamma radiation, these storylines bring more emotional depth in how they frame their heroes as they are witnessing the horrors around them.
While some of the Ultimates are wrestling with some inner demons, such as Iron Lad trying to undo the Maker’s legacy that his late father Howard contributed, arguably the one character who has had the greatest tragedy is Doom himself. Introduced in Ultimate Invasion, Doom is actually the Reed Richards of this universe, with the fourth issue exploring the sad origin of this character and the Fantastic Four that never was. Drawn by Phil Noto, who uses four panels on every page – each panel representing a timeframe from Doom’s life – not only does it show how evil The Maker is by torturing essentially a version of himself, but also confirms this theory that Reed could turn into Doom. He obviously has his own agenda, which could lead to disastrous results, but there is the attempt of regaining the family that he was taken from him.
Whilst we don’t get to know every Ultimate individually as by the end of this trade, there are eleven players on the roster, seeing them altogether really lets Juan Frigeri shine with his art. With so many super-powered people in nearly every page, the action feels huge and not without its brutal moments as when we get to the sixth issue in which the Ultimates battles the Hulk and his gamma-injected Immortal Weapons, Frigeri showcases the goriness that you wouldn’t normally see in most superhero comics.
As the time ticks down to when the Maker will make his return, The Ultimates is the most exciting superhero team comic that Marvel is currently publishing, mixing radical takes of the Marvel mythos and political messaging that is not there for the sake of edginess.
This quote from 2012’s The Avengers sums up what Earth’s Mightiest Heroes are about. In the case of the Ultimates – a parallel universe version of the Avengers – they are fighting for a world where heroes can rise from the deception that has secretly manipulated the workings of their reality. As previously explored in Ultimate Invasion, the Maker used time travel to create his ideal Earth by systematically preventing anyone from ever becoming a superhero and by establishing a secret council of supervillains known as the Maker’s Council.
Following the events of Ultimate Invasion, in which the Maker is imprisoned at The City that will reopen in eighteen months, the late Howard Stark’s son, Tony/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.
Opening with the one-shot Ultimate Universe #1 by Jonathan Hickman and Stefano Caselli, we see the initial assembling of the Ultimates as Tony and Doom travel in time and find the frozen body of Captain America. They then recruit 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. Knowing that there is a resistance against them, the Council hacks into a Stark satellite, destroying several blocks in Manhattan in a terrorist attack framing Iron Lad as the perpetrator, thus making the Ultimates international fugitives.
Considering that Hickman wrote the one-shot, it is surprising he is choosing to write Ultimate Spider-Man over The Ultimates, which seems closer to the world-building that blends politics and complex morality towards its costumed heroes that Hickman explored previously during the Krakoan Age. However, writing the main series is Deniz Camp, who is doing an incredible job in placing several Marvel characters in a radically altered sociopolitical status quo, including elements of alternate history.
When you look at the Avengers from the main continuity, the status quo has changed throughout history, starting out a private organisation, to a government-sponsored team of superheroes and even a resistance group. No doubt, Brian Michel Bendis kept changing the way the Avengers function throughout his time at Marvel. And when you look at the original Ultimate Universe, The Ultimates by Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch was about a strike force of government-sponsored superheroes set during George W. Bush’s presidency.
Whereas the OG Ultimate Universe was a streamlined, modernized version of the decades-long Marvel Universe that we all know, this current wave of the Ultimate titles, particularly this book, is about fighting for freedom in a world that never was. With each issue somewhat functioning as their own narrative, we see the titular heroes fighting in missions that mix aspects of the Marvel mythos and real-world politics. From storming into the White House to rescue America Chavez, to visiting Monster Island in the Pacific where its inhabitants are affected by Bruce Banner’s explosive experimenting with gamma radiation, these storylines bring more emotional depth in how they frame their heroes as they are witnessing the horrors around them.
While some of the Ultimates are wrestling with some inner demons, such as Iron Lad trying to undo the Maker’s legacy that his late father Howard contributed, arguably the one character who has had the greatest tragedy is Doom himself. Introduced in Ultimate Invasion, Doom is actually the Reed Richards of this universe, with the fourth issue exploring the sad origin of this character and the Fantastic Four that never was. Drawn by Phil Noto, who uses four panels on every page – each panel representing a timeframe from Doom’s life – not only does it show how evil The Maker is by torturing essentially a version of himself, but also confirms this theory that Reed could turn into Doom. He obviously has his own agenda, which could lead to disastrous results, but there is the attempt of regaining the family that he was taken from him.
Whilst we don’t get to know every Ultimate individually as by the end of this trade, there are eleven players on the roster, seeing them altogether really lets Juan Frigeri shine with his art. With so many super-powered people in nearly every page, the action feels huge and not without its brutal moments as when we get to the sixth issue in which the Ultimates battles the Hulk and his gamma-injected Immortal Weapons, Frigeri showcases the goriness that you wouldn’t normally see in most superhero comics.
As the time ticks down to when the Maker will make his return, The Ultimates is the most exciting superhero team comic that Marvel is currently publishing, mixing radical takes of the Marvel mythos and political messaging that is not there for the sake of edginess.
March 3, 2025
3.7 rounded up to 4.
March 18, 2025
A good start to this incarnation of the Ultimates. Good story and great artwork. I like the outlaw style Avengers/Ultimates.
Iron Lad is on a mission to fix the world with Doom at his side. Realising what the maker has fine by robbing countless heroes of their destiny and taking over the world. They are recruiting, but it is not going well as the heroes are a broken as the world. Despite this, they are making loud statements, but what happens when they come to the notice of the higher echelon of the Makers' council.
Is the world too broken yo fix? Does the rag tag group have a chance? Who will stand with them, and who will fall. A very good start. I am interested to see what happens next. The book finishes with a varient covers gallery and a character design sketchbook.
Iron Lad is on a mission to fix the world with Doom at his side. Realising what the maker has fine by robbing countless heroes of their destiny and taking over the world. They are recruiting, but it is not going well as the heroes are a broken as the world. Despite this, they are making loud statements, but what happens when they come to the notice of the higher echelon of the Makers' council.
Is the world too broken yo fix? Does the rag tag group have a chance? Who will stand with them, and who will fall. A very good start. I am interested to see what happens next. The book finishes with a varient covers gallery and a character design sketchbook.
February 12, 2025
I'm not totally convinced with this very choppy construction full of ellipses. The attempts at humour are just as unfunny as in the films and the whole thing lacks ooomph.
Frigeri's drawings hold up well, but here too the action scenes lack energy and power.
Frigeri's drawings hold up well, but here too the action scenes lack energy and power.
February 2, 2025
Awesome start. Has the same feeling as Hickman's Avengers or the Krakoan era X-Men, in that each issue feels like it could have been a whole arc of a more decompressed writer's story. We get new characters left and right, and yet it still feels like we're getting time with each of them, the artwork from Juan Frigeri is fantastic, and the whole idea of this race against time to fix the world before the Maker returns is *chef's kiss*.
The single issue focus on Doom and the Fantastic Four (issue 4, fittingly) is superb all on its own.
The single issue focus on Doom and the Fantastic Four (issue 4, fittingly) is superb all on its own.
February 6, 2025
Based anti-French propaganda with the twink Iron Lad ❤️
November 8, 2024
Ultimates....assemble.
Next to Ult Spider-man, Ultimates might be my most anticipated book out of the new initiative. Out of the failed rebellion against the Maker, and with a need to have the means to fight back, a new super group is gathered, one at a time. Trying to focus a issue on each new member, one one of the six issues isn't a banger. The issue particularly focusing on Doom is a real emotional gut punch, tell 4 narratives across each page. The cherry on top was the brilliant sixth issue, where the full team meets their first real challenge in Hulk. They quickly learn how out of their depth they are, and the fallout will be so engaging to read.
Next to Ult Spider-man, Ultimates might be my most anticipated book out of the new initiative. Out of the failed rebellion against the Maker, and with a need to have the means to fight back, a new super group is gathered, one at a time. Trying to focus a issue on each new member, one one of the six issues isn't a banger. The issue particularly focusing on Doom is a real emotional gut punch, tell 4 narratives across each page. The cherry on top was the brilliant sixth issue, where the full team meets their first real challenge in Hulk. They quickly learn how out of their depth they are, and the fallout will be so engaging to read.
April 13, 2025
lots of interesting takes on characters you thought you knew.
strong individual stories are building to a climax
strong individual stories are building to a climax
December 7, 2024
*shaq voice* i owe you an apology. i wasn't really familiar with your game
this book was probably the one i scoffed at the most. of course they're would be an avengers book. who the fuck is this guy, and why is he writing this, it's gonna be hack shit, why can't we get a real team book writer on this--
friends, i rarely hand out five star reviews to new work. this deserves every single one.
Camp's got it. he did the homework, he's done the reading, he knows the assignment. the avengers as a global insurgency unit attempting to foment global anti-imperial struggle??? using each issue to dissect the thorny issues about power, who gets it, who uses it, and what it means to exercise it? an examination on how our past shapes us in ways we don't want to confront? new Ultimate Hawkeye, the new character find of the year?
please, Marvel, let Camp keep cooking. this book is brilliant, and i'm going to be sad when it ends.
this book was probably the one i scoffed at the most. of course they're would be an avengers book. who the fuck is this guy, and why is he writing this, it's gonna be hack shit, why can't we get a real team book writer on this--
friends, i rarely hand out five star reviews to new work. this deserves every single one.
Camp's got it. he did the homework, he's done the reading, he knows the assignment. the avengers as a global insurgency unit attempting to foment global anti-imperial struggle??? using each issue to dissect the thorny issues about power, who gets it, who uses it, and what it means to exercise it? an examination on how our past shapes us in ways we don't want to confront? new Ultimate Hawkeye, the new character find of the year?
please, Marvel, let Camp keep cooking. this book is brilliant, and i'm going to be sad when it ends.
December 31, 2024
Deniz Camp’s “The Ultimates” wrapped up its first arc in 2024, acting as the unofficial “highway” for the larger “Ultimate” universe at large as it detailed the Ultimates’ ongoing battle against the Maker Council. As ongoing series go, “The Ultimates” was a little bit slower to fully get “going” than “Ultimate Spider-Man” or “Ultimate Black Panther,” with Camp taking his time in escalating the stakes while introducing the full squadron of characters. That being said, Volume 1 did pick up considerably in its final issue, and from the looks of things, it appears that Volume 2 – and Year 2, as a whole – should be ramping up to some very interesting things (including the return of one major villain established way back in “Ultimate Invasion”).
So yeah: on the whole, a bit of a mixed bag for me, but still entertaining, and with a strong ending. I’ll be excited to see if Camp can keep the momentum going in Year 2.
So yeah: on the whole, a bit of a mixed bag for me, but still entertaining, and with a strong ending. I’ll be excited to see if Camp can keep the momentum going in Year 2.
February 24, 2025
We finally are starting to get the big guns in the ultimate universe. Spider-man has been great, x-men and black panther decent, but the ultimates gives us more movement on the big plot points of the ultimate universe. This volume includes the Ultimate Universe one-shot issue that I was surprised wasn’t included in Ultimate Invasion, so really glad they collected it here. Alternate universe books are something I normally enjoy because they can swing for the fences. There are some really cool moments in these issues and we get to see how more and more heroes are being recruited. Each issue seems to take place about a month apart and we are counting down to the a final showdown with the Maker it seems. I’m not sure I’ll like everything in this ultimate universe but this stuff is great.
November 9, 2024
Deniz Camp is one of the best new voices in superhero comics. His breakout work, 20th Century Men, blended politics and superhero storytelling in a pretty novel way. It was a little unwieldy, but incredibly promising. Here is that promise fulfilled.
The Ultimates is a boldly political comic set in a Marvel Universe, though not the one we are used to, which is why it’s allowed to be so bold. It serves as an interesting contrast to the War on Terror reactionary rendition of the characters in the original Ultimates. There’s lots of fun little continuity stuff, and the art is also solid.
The Ultimates is a boldly political comic set in a Marvel Universe, though not the one we are used to, which is why it’s allowed to be so bold. It serves as an interesting contrast to the War on Terror reactionary rendition of the characters in the original Ultimates. There’s lots of fun little continuity stuff, and the art is also solid.
August 30, 2024
"Cos'è il fallimento?"
"Il fallimento è ciò che accade prima del successo"
"Il fallimento è ciò che accade prima del successo"
April 2, 2025
Collecting ULTIMATES (2024) #1-6, ULTIMATE UNIVERSE #1 and material from FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2024: SPIDER-MAN/ULTIMATE UNIVERSE
I'm not reading as many comic books today as I once was, but I was interested in checking out this new Ultimate Universe. I enjoyed the concept behind the original Ultimate Universe, as well as many of the stories told in that world, and I have high hopes for this new parallel universe. It seems like they are moving fairly far away from the 616 Universe, so it will be fun to see what they come up with in future stories.
SPOILERS:
I'm willing to let them cook, but this initial team roster has been slightly underwhelming. The Doom subplot is the most intriguing because it is so different from what we've seen before, and I'm a lifelong fan of Captain America, so I'm glad that he's there too, but I'm waiting to see how they use the other characters. A young Tony Stark may make him more humble, but he seems out of place as the team leader.
The Maker is one of my favorite Marvel villains. He wasn't a big part of this story, but his absence had its own presence.
I'm not reading as many comic books today as I once was, but I was interested in checking out this new Ultimate Universe. I enjoyed the concept behind the original Ultimate Universe, as well as many of the stories told in that world, and I have high hopes for this new parallel universe. It seems like they are moving fairly far away from the 616 Universe, so it will be fun to see what they come up with in future stories.
SPOILERS:
I'm willing to let them cook, but this initial team roster has been slightly underwhelming. The Doom subplot is the most intriguing because it is so different from what we've seen before, and I'm a lifelong fan of Captain America, so I'm glad that he's there too, but I'm waiting to see how they use the other characters. A young Tony Stark may make him more humble, but he seems out of place as the team leader.
The Maker is one of my favorite Marvel villains. He wasn't a big part of this story, but his absence had its own presence.
April 3, 2025
This book is so good! I would not change a thing. Such an interesting roster and concept for this worlds Avengers (Ultimates). Everyone is so compelling and it’s interesting to explore how such a corrupted world could change these heroes, but also still allow for hope to grow!
The constant countdown until The Maker returns adds a lot of pressure as well. It’s a great framing device, and it’s nice to see time progressing in a Marvel comic!
Can’t wait to read this series!
The constant countdown until The Maker returns adds a lot of pressure as well. It’s a great framing device, and it’s nice to see time progressing in a Marvel comic!
Can’t wait to read this series!
April 4, 2025
One of the best books I’ve read in years. I could not put it down, I can not wait to read the next book.
March 16, 2025
This series is brilliant. I especially love issue 4, but the whole series is full of very politically charged storytelling that critiques our modern world as much as it does the fictional.
March 6, 2025
I read this title in the single monthly issues. This is good, but not great - - - and it takes more than that to get me to follow a super-hero series. Still, I felt that I should check out this recent iteration of Marvel's Ultimate Universe. I was a huge Avengers and X-Men fan back in the late 1970's through the early 1980's. I never missed an issue.
So I felt that ULTIMATES (being a version of the Avengers) and ULTIMATE X-MEN were two titles that I would definitely give a chance. I read ULTIMATES Issue #1 and thought it had a decent premise and seemed promising, so I pre-ordered all six issues in the first arc for a later all-at-once complete reading. If it impressed me enough, I would follow the remaining story arcs in the trade paperbacks. While this volume seemed to be a build-up for more action and resolution to come, I decided to stop.
One of the benefits of alternative universes for standard characters is that it allows the creators to tinker with the make-up and motivations of the licensed property, getting them to do things they might never do in the regular Marvel universe. Also, it gives creators license to kill them off - because they still exist in the regular Marvel U. One of the problems for me is that knowing this I don't worry about these characters and never fully invest in them. It's not all me though - - Camp really doesn't do anything to make me care for any of them.
"A diabolical genius known as The Maker used time travel to create his ideal Earth by systematically preventing anyone from ever becoming a super hero and by establishing a secret council of super villains that rules the world from the shadows."
"But now the Maker is gone, locked away for the next fourteen months by inventor Howard Stark. Howard's teenage son, Tony, has taken on the codename Iron Lad and begun recruiting a network of heroes to fight back against the Maker's Council and prepare for the Maker's return."
That's basically what happens in Volume One. The Ultimates start out as a quintet with Iron Lad, Doom (Reed Richards), Captain America (Steve Rogers), Thor (god of Thunder), and Sif (warrior goddess). Later, they add Giant-Man (Hank Pym), Wasp (Janet Van Dyne), America Chavez (cosmic powerhouse), She-Hulk (Lejori Joena Zaharia), The Human Torch (Jim Hammond), and Hawkeye (Charli Ramsey) before engaging in a giant battle with the Maker's Council led by The Hulk (Bruce Banner).
There are some interesting side stories, especially the origins of an alternative Reed Richards being converted into Doom by The Maker, an alternate failed effort of the Fantastic Four, a native American version of Hawkeye, and native islander versions of Hulk mutations created by a gamma-bombed island that Banner wanted as an experiment.
While the art is consistently good, there are issues with the choppy way that Camp sets things up and seems to leave out the critical incidents that led to the team formation - instead using exposition to just refer to them. Ho hum.
So I felt that ULTIMATES (being a version of the Avengers) and ULTIMATE X-MEN were two titles that I would definitely give a chance. I read ULTIMATES Issue #1 and thought it had a decent premise and seemed promising, so I pre-ordered all six issues in the first arc for a later all-at-once complete reading. If it impressed me enough, I would follow the remaining story arcs in the trade paperbacks. While this volume seemed to be a build-up for more action and resolution to come, I decided to stop.
One of the benefits of alternative universes for standard characters is that it allows the creators to tinker with the make-up and motivations of the licensed property, getting them to do things they might never do in the regular Marvel universe. Also, it gives creators license to kill them off - because they still exist in the regular Marvel U. One of the problems for me is that knowing this I don't worry about these characters and never fully invest in them. It's not all me though - - Camp really doesn't do anything to make me care for any of them.
"A diabolical genius known as The Maker used time travel to create his ideal Earth by systematically preventing anyone from ever becoming a super hero and by establishing a secret council of super villains that rules the world from the shadows."
"But now the Maker is gone, locked away for the next fourteen months by inventor Howard Stark. Howard's teenage son, Tony, has taken on the codename Iron Lad and begun recruiting a network of heroes to fight back against the Maker's Council and prepare for the Maker's return."
That's basically what happens in Volume One. The Ultimates start out as a quintet with Iron Lad, Doom (Reed Richards), Captain America (Steve Rogers), Thor (god of Thunder), and Sif (warrior goddess). Later, they add Giant-Man (Hank Pym), Wasp (Janet Van Dyne), America Chavez (cosmic powerhouse), She-Hulk (Lejori Joena Zaharia), The Human Torch (Jim Hammond), and Hawkeye (Charli Ramsey) before engaging in a giant battle with the Maker's Council led by The Hulk (Bruce Banner).
There are some interesting side stories, especially the origins of an alternative Reed Richards being converted into Doom by The Maker, an alternate failed effort of the Fantastic Four, a native American version of Hawkeye, and native islander versions of Hulk mutations created by a gamma-bombed island that Banner wanted as an experiment.
While the art is consistently good, there are issues with the choppy way that Camp sets things up and seems to leave out the critical incidents that led to the team formation - instead using exposition to just refer to them. Ho hum.
March 28, 2025
The Ultimates are back, baby!
I bought the single comic book issues, but I am choosing thiss TPB edition to be able to make a better overall review about the storyarch.
This TPB edition collects “Ultimate Universe” (2023) #1 and “The Ultimates” (2024) #1-6.
Creative Team
Writer: Deniz Camp
Illustrator: Juan Frigeri
ULTIMATE WRITING
I wasn’t sure if the lightning would strike twice, since the original The Ultimates run (at least in its first two years) was awesome and some of the best comic book runs that I’ve ever read and one of my top favorites (that I was luckily able (thanks to a somebody very special) to get it in its single comic book issues).
Therefore, my expectation was high…
…and it was reached with plenty of greatness!
I didn’t know Deniz Camp was (I researched and he was doing stuff for Valiant comics), so I wasn’t sure if he’d up to the task, but…
…after reading the first issue (where every single baloon dialogue is worthy to be cited as a memorable quote), I was relieved that the title was in VERY good hands, since that trust was renewed once and again, in the second issue, the third issue…
…and oh my god, when we reached the FOURTH ISSUE where it’s a masterpiece of creative narrative style that I’d met very few times in the past, and only with iconic creative teams like in V for Vendetta issue that it’s a sheet music, here it’s something different where you are witness of four diffent moments in time of a one narrative…
…TRULY A MASTERPIECE!!!
Definitely, The Ultimates book (for not saying that the Ultimate Universe in general) is well in the great hands of Deniz Camp…
…Jonathan Hickman is doing a superb job in Ultimate Spider-Man but definitely Deniz Camp is going over the top with his management of the central tile of the comic book line.
WE NEED A LOT OF HEROES
Howard Stark was able to confined The Maker (original Ultimate Reed Richards) in The City, but only for 18 months, now it’s a desperate countdown for his son, Tony Stark, taking the responsibility of preparing a counterattack strategy.
However, the Council (The Maker’s henchmen) managed to infiltrate The Triskelion satellite (headquarters of Tony Stark) and launch a deadly attack over New York city, making to look like he was responsible, and now he and anybody associated to him are considered criminal terrorists.
Tony, now Iron Lad, with the help of Dr. Doom (current Ultimate Reed Richards), devised a plan to “create” those heroes that The Maker was able to stop their expected origins. They send packages with “everything that they need” to become the heroes that they were supposed to be.
However, some just thown away the packages, some killed themselves trying to get the powers, and some ended using the new abilities for crime, there were very few exceptions like Peter Parker which indeed became Spider-Man like he was supposed to be originally.
So, Tony and Doom decided to recruit in person, since the indirect approach wasn’t really working…
…ENTER: THE (NEW) ULTIMATES!
Captain America (Steve Rogers)
Giant-Man (Hank Pym)
The Wasp (Janet van Dyne)
The Original Human Torch (the android)
Thor
Sif
America Chavez
She-Hulk (Lejori Zakaria)
Haweke (Charli Ramsey)
However, they won’t click each other (like any Marvel team) easily but even worse, the world considers them terrorists and their Ultimate challenge will be against…
…THE HULK!!!
And that encounter won’t resolve any good at all!
I bought the single comic book issues, but I am choosing thiss TPB edition to be able to make a better overall review about the storyarch.
This TPB edition collects “Ultimate Universe” (2023) #1 and “The Ultimates” (2024) #1-6.
Creative Team
Writer: Deniz Camp
Illustrator: Juan Frigeri
ULTIMATE WRITING
I wasn’t sure if the lightning would strike twice, since the original The Ultimates run (at least in its first two years) was awesome and some of the best comic book runs that I’ve ever read and one of my top favorites (that I was luckily able (thanks to a somebody very special) to get it in its single comic book issues).
Therefore, my expectation was high…
…and it was reached with plenty of greatness!
I didn’t know Deniz Camp was (I researched and he was doing stuff for Valiant comics), so I wasn’t sure if he’d up to the task, but…
…after reading the first issue (where every single baloon dialogue is worthy to be cited as a memorable quote), I was relieved that the title was in VERY good hands, since that trust was renewed once and again, in the second issue, the third issue…
…and oh my god, when we reached the FOURTH ISSUE where it’s a masterpiece of creative narrative style that I’d met very few times in the past, and only with iconic creative teams like in V for Vendetta issue that it’s a sheet music, here it’s something different where you are witness of four diffent moments in time of a one narrative…
…TRULY A MASTERPIECE!!!
Definitely, The Ultimates book (for not saying that the Ultimate Universe in general) is well in the great hands of Deniz Camp…
…Jonathan Hickman is doing a superb job in Ultimate Spider-Man but definitely Deniz Camp is going over the top with his management of the central tile of the comic book line.
WE NEED A LOT OF HEROES
Howard Stark was able to confined The Maker (original Ultimate Reed Richards) in The City, but only for 18 months, now it’s a desperate countdown for his son, Tony Stark, taking the responsibility of preparing a counterattack strategy.
However, the Council (The Maker’s henchmen) managed to infiltrate The Triskelion satellite (headquarters of Tony Stark) and launch a deadly attack over New York city, making to look like he was responsible, and now he and anybody associated to him are considered criminal terrorists.
Tony, now Iron Lad, with the help of Dr. Doom (current Ultimate Reed Richards), devised a plan to “create” those heroes that The Maker was able to stop their expected origins. They send packages with “everything that they need” to become the heroes that they were supposed to be.
However, some just thown away the packages, some killed themselves trying to get the powers, and some ended using the new abilities for crime, there were very few exceptions like Peter Parker which indeed became Spider-Man like he was supposed to be originally.
So, Tony and Doom decided to recruit in person, since the indirect approach wasn’t really working…
…ENTER: THE (NEW) ULTIMATES!
Captain America (Steve Rogers)
Giant-Man (Hank Pym)
The Wasp (Janet van Dyne)
The Original Human Torch (the android)
Thor
Sif
America Chavez
She-Hulk (Lejori Zakaria)
Haweke (Charli Ramsey)
However, they won’t click each other (like any Marvel team) easily but even worse, the world considers them terrorists and their Ultimate challenge will be against…
…THE HULK!!!
And that encounter won’t resolve any good at all!
November 7, 2024
--- SPOILERS ---
It was such a good volume overall and this is seriously one of the best titles atm, it takes whatever Hickman set up with the new Trinity and who the new villains are aka Maker's crew and the massive attack in NY they did which implicates Stark and makes the ultimates the villains and on the run and their fight back gets even more tough.. its awesome and seriously some of the best writing ever here!
I love how we see new heroes rising like the story with Giant-man and Wasp and how Hank doesn't want to be like his 616 self but its Jan who makes him believe he isn't that person and I love their story and origin and how they all come together and it harkens back to the first appearance of Avengers and then the stories with the origin of America Chavez and the new She-Hulk and the commentary of what America as a country did to the native people and other races and their stories are so hard hitting and it makes you think about the whole thing. It makes the origin story for these characters even more awesome and they are amazing additions. The She-hulk one was awesome and Cap being forced to think what America really is.
Similarly the story with the new Hawkeye and him being a Native American and their history and how their people have been represented in the media and Cap vs him leads to some great dialogue but its this back and forth and Cap sizing him up to see if he is heroic that makes him an awesome character and I love it! Its done so well here!
Plus the origin story of Doom here aka Reed is so dark and brutal and messed up and the way its done in 4 panels and each of them telling their own story, its got to be one of the best single issues of the year and we need more of such comics!
And the ending with the fight vs Hulk is brutal and I love this take on Hulk, its so fascinating and it makes him even more dangerous plus the Immortal weapons and it makes him so dangerous and you see Ultimates are outclassed.
Wow so much happens in 6 issues and its standalone issue by issue and just brilliant and truly like I said one of the best comics of the year! It will be fascinating to see whats ahead in the next year because its gonna be brutal but the heroes will come back stronger and I can't wait to read it!!
It was such a good volume overall and this is seriously one of the best titles atm, it takes whatever Hickman set up with the new Trinity and who the new villains are aka Maker's crew and the massive attack in NY they did which implicates Stark and makes the ultimates the villains and on the run and their fight back gets even more tough.. its awesome and seriously some of the best writing ever here!
I love how we see new heroes rising like the story with Giant-man and Wasp and how Hank doesn't want to be like his 616 self but its Jan who makes him believe he isn't that person and I love their story and origin and how they all come together and it harkens back to the first appearance of Avengers and then the stories with the origin of America Chavez and the new She-Hulk and the commentary of what America as a country did to the native people and other races and their stories are so hard hitting and it makes you think about the whole thing. It makes the origin story for these characters even more awesome and they are amazing additions. The She-hulk one was awesome and Cap being forced to think what America really is.
Similarly the story with the new Hawkeye and him being a Native American and their history and how their people have been represented in the media and Cap vs him leads to some great dialogue but its this back and forth and Cap sizing him up to see if he is heroic that makes him an awesome character and I love it! Its done so well here!
Plus the origin story of Doom here aka Reed is so dark and brutal and messed up and the way its done in 4 panels and each of them telling their own story, its got to be one of the best single issues of the year and we need more of such comics!
And the ending with the fight vs Hulk is brutal and I love this take on Hulk, its so fascinating and it makes him even more dangerous plus the Immortal weapons and it makes him so dangerous and you see Ultimates are outclassed.
Wow so much happens in 6 issues and its standalone issue by issue and just brilliant and truly like I said one of the best comics of the year! It will be fascinating to see whats ahead in the next year because its gonna be brutal but the heroes will come back stronger and I can't wait to read it!!
February 5, 2025
(note: this review was rejected by amazon.com for violating community standards)
When Marvel released the first issue of the ‘Ultimates’ in March 2002, it quickly became one of the most influential and commercially successful comic book series of the decade.
This was for two reasons: first, brilliant artwork by the UK’s Bryan Hitch. Artwork designed to mimic the widescreen visual sense of the Marvel motion pictures, then starting to dominate the summer blockbuster season.
Then there was memorable writing by Scotland’s Mark Millar. Millar employed the sensibility of the UK’s ‘2000 A.D.’ comics, on which he had worked, to dose the Ultimates with sarcasm and irreverence. It was an attitude that was decidedly rare in American comics.
Now, twenty-two years later, Marvel’s management has decided to reboot the Ultimates, with writing by Deniz Camp, and art by Juan Frigeri. This graphic novel compiles the first six issues of the Ultimates series, along with the Ultimate Universe one-shot.
Is the 2024 Ultimates series any good ? No. It’s not. It’s the Ultimates gone Woke.
Writer Camp fails to provide much in the way of an engaging plot. Instead, he uses the series as a vehicle to deliver lectures about grievance politics and identity politics to comic book readers.
For example, in this 2024 series, the Hulk is incarnated as a Polynesian woman named Lejori- something, who castigates the Ultimates for the H-bombing of her island back in the 1950s. She serves as an example of colonized peoples rebelling against their oppression and seeking justice and peace.
And Hawkeye ? They are a gender-fluid Amerindian who berates Captain America for the transgressions white people have made against Native Americans. Can you get any more Woke than this ?
When Camp isn’t delivering Woke ideology to his readers, he delivers lame, low-wattage psychological dramas. For example, Reed Richards now is Doctor Doom (don’t ask). Issue 4 is one long, overly labored exploration of Richards’ angst and despair over letting the Maker destroy the ‘real’ Marvel universe.
Kids, I can’t recommend the new Ultimates. If you want to read a great comic, get yourself the graphic novels that compile the first 26 issues of the original, 2002 Ultimates. That’s the good stuff !
When Marvel released the first issue of the ‘Ultimates’ in March 2002, it quickly became one of the most influential and commercially successful comic book series of the decade.
This was for two reasons: first, brilliant artwork by the UK’s Bryan Hitch. Artwork designed to mimic the widescreen visual sense of the Marvel motion pictures, then starting to dominate the summer blockbuster season.
Then there was memorable writing by Scotland’s Mark Millar. Millar employed the sensibility of the UK’s ‘2000 A.D.’ comics, on which he had worked, to dose the Ultimates with sarcasm and irreverence. It was an attitude that was decidedly rare in American comics.
Now, twenty-two years later, Marvel’s management has decided to reboot the Ultimates, with writing by Deniz Camp, and art by Juan Frigeri. This graphic novel compiles the first six issues of the Ultimates series, along with the Ultimate Universe one-shot.
Is the 2024 Ultimates series any good ? No. It’s not. It’s the Ultimates gone Woke.
Writer Camp fails to provide much in the way of an engaging plot. Instead, he uses the series as a vehicle to deliver lectures about grievance politics and identity politics to comic book readers.
For example, in this 2024 series, the Hulk is incarnated as a Polynesian woman named Lejori- something, who castigates the Ultimates for the H-bombing of her island back in the 1950s. She serves as an example of colonized peoples rebelling against their oppression and seeking justice and peace.
And Hawkeye ? They are a gender-fluid Amerindian who berates Captain America for the transgressions white people have made against Native Americans. Can you get any more Woke than this ?
When Camp isn’t delivering Woke ideology to his readers, he delivers lame, low-wattage psychological dramas. For example, Reed Richards now is Doctor Doom (don’t ask). Issue 4 is one long, overly labored exploration of Richards’ angst and despair over letting the Maker destroy the ‘real’ Marvel universe.
Kids, I can’t recommend the new Ultimates. If you want to read a great comic, get yourself the graphic novels that compile the first 26 issues of the original, 2002 Ultimates. That’s the good stuff !
March 23, 2025
The Doom issue alone warrants the five stars.
I wasn't sure what to expect from this series, other than a relaunch of some of my favorite characters matched up against some weird multiversal-fuckery from The Maker. What I got was a testament to the prevailing heroism of these icons, assigning true meaning to the term Avenger (ironically they aren't called that anymore, though). Within the framework of the new Earth-1610, Camp is able to give so much weight to characters' choices and arcs in such a short amount of time by playing with our pre-established expectations and finding unique ways to expand upon or subvert them. Iron Lad swaying between mathematical certainty and emotional understanding, Cap fighting for ideals that no longer exist, and Doom's constant rumination conveyed by a fantastic 4th-dimensional framing device, all allow us to see the coldness of The Maker's engineered world while reveling in the hope that each of these characters display. The differences in each respective hero origin are enough to keep the story interesting, and the ticking clock caused by the City's eventual reopening keeps the urgency high and the heroes on the offensive. Definitely worth a read if you're interested in this new line of books, and I can't wait for the next volume!
I wasn't sure what to expect from this series, other than a relaunch of some of my favorite characters matched up against some weird multiversal-fuckery from The Maker. What I got was a testament to the prevailing heroism of these icons, assigning true meaning to the term Avenger (ironically they aren't called that anymore, though). Within the framework of the new Earth-1610, Camp is able to give so much weight to characters' choices and arcs in such a short amount of time by playing with our pre-established expectations and finding unique ways to expand upon or subvert them. Iron Lad swaying between mathematical certainty and emotional understanding, Cap fighting for ideals that no longer exist, and Doom's constant rumination conveyed by a fantastic 4th-dimensional framing device, all allow us to see the coldness of The Maker's engineered world while reveling in the hope that each of these characters display. The differences in each respective hero origin are enough to keep the story interesting, and the ticking clock caused by the City's eventual reopening keeps the urgency high and the heroes on the offensive. Definitely worth a read if you're interested in this new line of books, and I can't wait for the next volume!
March 15, 2025
Arreglar el mundo
Hace unos meses escribía de Ultimate Invasion, esa obra divertida en la que The Maker escapaba y se hacia su propio mundo, con lo bueno y lo malo, pues acá seguimos, ¿que puede hacer ese joven Stark con ese complicado Doom , contra una coalición tan jodida que no quieren que nada cambie?.
LO BUENO: No había leído nada de Deniz Camp pero... que tipo tan bueno, te construye universo, te da momentos de personajes muy buenos, diálogos y frases que se te quedan , disfrute cada numero, desde la Isla Mounstruo, Hawkeye y el Capitán peleando y hablando , y ese numero de los 04 fantásticos que duele, es hermoso pero tan triste que sabes que eso traerá mucha espalda.
LO MALO: soy muy vieja escuela y tengo los Ultimates de Millar en la cabeza, ¿había necesidad de ponerle el mismo titulo?, espéro que se hable mas de este Thor y Sif, porque son los secundarios menos interesantes que he visto en tiempo.
Hace unos meses escribía de Ultimate Invasion, esa obra divertida en la que The Maker escapaba y se hacia su propio mundo, con lo bueno y lo malo, pues acá seguimos, ¿que puede hacer ese joven Stark con ese complicado Doom , contra una coalición tan jodida que no quieren que nada cambie?.
LO BUENO: No había leído nada de Deniz Camp pero... que tipo tan bueno, te construye universo, te da momentos de personajes muy buenos, diálogos y frases que se te quedan , disfrute cada numero, desde la Isla Mounstruo, Hawkeye y el Capitán peleando y hablando , y ese numero de los 04 fantásticos que duele, es hermoso pero tan triste que sabes que eso traerá mucha espalda.
LO MALO: soy muy vieja escuela y tengo los Ultimates de Millar en la cabeza, ¿había necesidad de ponerle el mismo titulo?, espéro que se hable mas de este Thor y Sif, porque son los secundarios menos interesantes que he visto en tiempo.
March 23, 2025
Un comienzo de colección más o menos interesante con una premisa más o menos decente. El dibujo, bien, gracias. Tal vez peca de demasiada espectacularidad y escasa habilidad narrativa. Las elipsis son excesivas, y no ayudan a comprender bien la historia (la verdad es que no me he leído el evento ese de «Ultimate Invasion» porque detesto a Bryan Hitch, el clon malvado de Alan Davis, así que lo mismo es culpa mía el que me parezca que dejen demasiadas cosas sin explicar). Tampoco queda muy claro si la motivación de Muerte es recrear a los 4 Fantásticos o evitar su destrucción a manos del Hacedor, aunque supongo que eso está hecho a propósito, aunque con poca habilidad. Todo lo de la isla Gamma me ha encantado, la verdad, y espero sinceramente que lo retomen en futuros episodios. Al final, muerte con trampa segura, en la peor tradición Marvel. En fin, una colección que, sin estar mal, tampoco me parece apasionante, por ahora. Habrá que esperar.
March 16, 2025
Really wanted (and expected) to like this more than I did. It's kind of slow-moving and a bit disjointed, as the Ultimates (an Avengers-like team) slowly come together in the face of their universe's big bad, The Maker (an alternate version of Reed Richards) and his Council. The artwork is strong throughout, but the story is kind of muddled, each issue kind of like an origin story for one or more (such as Ant-Man and the Wasp) members of the new team. Then, just as things are starting to gel, they face off against the Council, headed by Bruce Banner, an evil Hulk crossed with the Iron Fist. And that's that for this first arc. Kind of underwhelming. I'll definitely be looking for volume 2, but I hope things pick up a bit and the story is more interesting.
February 2, 2025
This seems to be a pretty popular title, but I found it a mixed bag.
It begins pretty good with the Ultimate Universe one-shot and the formation of the Ultimates, with their plans to oppose the Maker. I found I enjoyed most of the issues that dealt with the ongoing narrative and world-building of the Ultimate Universe, but I wasn't really invested in the characters. Aside from Doom, they aren't very compelling. It's a big cast though, so maybe they just need more time to develop their personalities and relationships. The fight with Hulk at the end was good though.
The one-shot, as well as issues 1, 4 and 6 were very good.
Issues 2, 3 and 5 were a miss for me.
It begins pretty good with the Ultimate Universe one-shot and the formation of the Ultimates, with their plans to oppose the Maker. I found I enjoyed most of the issues that dealt with the ongoing narrative and world-building of the Ultimate Universe, but I wasn't really invested in the characters. Aside from Doom, they aren't very compelling. It's a big cast though, so maybe they just need more time to develop their personalities and relationships. The fight with Hulk at the end was good though.
The one-shot, as well as issues 1, 4 and 6 were very good.
Issues 2, 3 and 5 were a miss for me.
March 7, 2025
The new Ultimate universe Marvel is stepping into has thus far proven to be incredibly interesting. Seeing the new ways these familiar characters interact with each other and the world around them proves that there is still plenty of room for exploration with long running franchises. While the characters of Doom and Iron Lad are somewhat fleshed out, I found myself feeling a bit underwhelmed by the likes of Thor and Captain America (although there is one segment in which Cap takes the lead that was incredibly well executed). I am left wanting to read more from this story and this run of comics which is always a good sign.
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