Marvel Comics has an extensive multiverse. This consists of hundreds of parallel universes, which recontextualise Marvel’s heroes in numerous ways. These can be used to contrast or diverge from the main Marvel Comics Universe (where most of the publisher’s output is set) for single tales, occasionally returning if there are more stories to tell. However, there was one universe that Marvel turned into an extensive line – the Ultimate Universe. This line offered a fresh perspective on Marvel’s heroes, updating them for the 2000s and early 2010s.
While the universe has been defunct since 2015, Marvel has created a new Ultimate Universe under the guidance of writer Jonathan Hickman. This aims to recontextualise the publisher’s vast slate of characters for the 2020s with new ideas and directions.
This guide will take you through the new Ultimate Universe, explaining what it is, the comics involved, and how it’s good for new readers.
Table of contents
- What is the Ultimate Universe?
- Reinventing the Ultimate Universe
- Do I need to be familiar with the old Ultimate Universe?
- What is the universe designation for the new Ultimate Universe?
- Why Jonathan Hickman is a big deal
- Are these comics good for new readers?
- What is a good starting point for the new Ultimate Universe?
- Which comics are part of the new Ultimate Universe?
- Will there be more comics?
- Where can I find these comics?
Updating…
Please note that this guide is regularly evolving. Details about the new Ultimate Universe come in dribs and drabs and will continue to for years to come as new comics are introduced and the shape of the line shifts. This page will be updated as these happen so you can be kept informed.
What is the Ultimate Universe?
The original Ultimate Universe imprint was launched in 2000, born from the need to create accessible comics for new and lapsed readers. The regular Marvel Universe was in a bit of a mess. It was too interconnected and had many stories bogged down in continuity, making it indecipherable for many. Marvel Comics was also feeling the effects of a Chapter 11 bankruptcy from a few years earlier, plus the comic book market was in a slump.
The Ultimate Universe gave readers a fresh jumping-on point by creating a new parallel universe that could reinterpret Marvel’s heroes and villains for the 21st century. This showcased familiar but different heroes grounded in some reality.
The line was a hit for about 10 years before it began to get crushed under the weight of continuity. The regular Marvel Universe also got its act together and found a balance between respecting continuity and offering new ideas, which made the Ultimate Universe feel less necessary.
Before the Ultimate Universe was destroyed in 2015’s Secret Wars, it created one more hit – Miles Morales.
As you’ll soon find out, Marvel has reinvented the Ultimate Universe under the guidance of writer Jonathan Hickman.
Reinventing the Ultimate Universe
One of the goals of the original Ultimate Universe was to “reflect the world outside your window”. Asking, “What would Marvel’s superheroes be like if they emerged in the 21st century?” However, it has been more than 20 years since the Ultimate Spider-Man #1 kicked everything off. The world has changed a lot since then.
The new Ultimate Universe is a chance to do that exercise again for the 2020s. What will transpire is something completely new, allowing for new interpretations of classic characters and interesting storytelling possibilities.
Marvel Editor-in-Chief CB Cebulski mentioned the new Ultimate Universe is better planned out. The publisher has a longer-term vision for the line – unlike the original one, which operated on more of a story-by-story basis.
An interesting element of this universe is that it operates in real time.
Do I need to be familiar with the old Ultimate Universe?
No. While these share the same names, the new Ultimate Universe doesn’t require any prior knowledge of the old universe to read it. As previously mentioned, it’s a reinvention that happens to use the same name as it captures the spirit of the old interpretation. You can jump right in and start reading.
The only comic that some familiarity with the old Ultimate Universe may help is Ultimate Invasion. I’ll explain why in the “What is a good starting point for the new Ultimate Universe?” section below.
What is the universe designation for the new Ultimate Universe?
Here are the universe designations for all the multiverse fanatics out there.
New Ultimate Universe: Earth-6160
Old Ultimate Universe: Earth-1610
Regular Marvel Universe: Earth-616
Why Jonathan Hickman is a big deal
The new Ultimate Universe imprint is spearheaded by Jonathan Hickman. Hickman has a reputation for big ideas and gripping reinventions, having shaken up the X-Men as part of the Krakoa Era.
The new Ultimate Universe gives Hickman and a host of collaborators the chance to reinvent Marvel for the present day without the crux of continuity. Expect big ideas, new interpretations
on familiar characters, and probably a few charts too.
Are these comics good for new readers?
Yes! You don’t need to know anything to start reading the new Ultimate imprint, which makes it very clean for readers to jump-on.
What is a good starting point for the new Ultimate Universe?
There are a few places you can start reading the new Ultimate Universe. Where you start with these will depend on your interests in world-building and what catches your interest.
Ultimate Invasion #1-4 is one option. This series sets up the new Ultimate Universe and is a good choice for those who want to know how this world was created. However, it’s not as new-reader-friendly as other series in the line, as it references the continuity of the regular Marvel Universe and the old Ultimate Universe. If you’re the kind of reader who needs to understand every reference, then you might want to skip Ultimate Invasion. Otherwise, I suggest going with the flow.
You could start with Ultimate Universe #1. This one-shot is the first comic set in the new Ultimate Universe, making it a clean starting point.
Alternatively, you can read the first issue of any new series launched with the new line. Each is a clean starting point, featuring a new version of established characters and requires no prior reading. You can read any of them that catch your interest.
Which comics are part of the new Ultimate Universe?
Take a look below to discover which comics are part of the new Ultimate Universe. This includes premises for each series, creative teams, covers, and heaps more. I’ll add additional titles to the list when they’re made available.
Ultimate Invasion
Written by Jonathan Hickman. Art by Bryan Hitch.
Ultimate Invasion is a four-part miniseries that is a bridge between the old universe and the new one. In it, The Maker is attempting to bring back the destroyed Ultimate Universe. However, through unintended consequences, an entirely new universe is born.
Read this miniseries to find out how the new Ultimate Universe was created.
Ultimate Invasion #1-4 are out now.
Collected editions
Ultimate Invasion Treasury Edition
Collects: Ultimate Invasion #1-4
Marvel’s Treasury Editions are oversized editions that are close to the size of a tabloid newspaper.
Ultimate Invasion TPB
Collects: Ultimate Invasion #1-4
Ultimate Invasion is also available in trade paperback.
Ultimate Universe #1 (one-shot)
Written by Jonathan Hickman. Art by Stefano Caselli.
Where Ultimate Invasion created this new Ultimate Universe, this one-shot will introduce readers to it, exploring some of the players and shapes of it. This over-sized issue gives readers a better look at this new universe and begins to set-up new stories and series that will be launched in 2024.
Ultimate Universe #1 was released on 1st November.
Ultimate Spider-Man
Written by Jonathan Hickman. Art by Marco Checchetto.
Like the original Ultimate Universe, Ultimate Spider-Man is the first comic to launch in the new Ultimate Universe. In this new version of the series we get an older Peter Parker, married to Mary Jane and has kids, who gets his powers much later in life.
Writer Jonathan Hickman had this to say about the decision:
“When we decided that we were going to do a book about an older Peter Parker becoming Spider-Man, we really wanted to lean into him starting his super hero life from a very different place than what’s traditionally expected. Peter and MJ being married is one of many decisions we made that underline this being quite a ‘different’ kind of Spider-Man story.”
This series has been well-received by Spider-Man fans for it’s fresh interpretation of Peter Parker. It shows the character in a different life stage than readers usually get to see, which opens up new story beats and responsibilities. The series has also shown different interpretations of classic villains and supporting cast members, giving them new purpose and contexts.
Ultimate Spider-Man #1 was released on 10th January, 2024.
Buy: Amazon/Kindle | eBay | Things From Another World
Ultimate Black Panther
Written by Bryan Hill. Art by Stefano Caselli.
There was never an Ultimate Black Panther series during the original Ultimate Universe. This new universe changes that, offering a fresh take on the character. Khonshu and Ra, the gods collectively known as Moon Knight, seek to control all of Africa. However, they’ll need to take Wakanda first. The nation’s king, Black Panther, is all that stands in their way.
Speaking to ComicBook.com, writer Bryan Hill talked about his approach to this interpretation of Black Panther:
I think the difference between what’s going on now in the 616 and what’s going on in Ultimate Black Panther is I’m using a broader philosophical canvas. And I think that Wakanda and the world of the Black Panther is vast and extends into history up until now, headed towards the future. It’s a lot. I’ve been using Frank Herbert’s Dune as an analog to what I’m doing in the sense that you have a rich world with varying philosophical ideas and the sort of conflict and synergy between ancient spiritualism and modern practical politics.
Upcoming issues will introduce the Ultimate Universe version of Storm.
The series first issue sold out at the distributor level before release but a second printing is on the way on 13th March.
Ultimate Black Panther #1 was released on 7th February, 2024.
Buy: Amazon/Kindle | eBay | Things From Another World
Ultimate X-Men
Written and art by Peach Monoko.
Ultimate X-Men is a drastic reinvention of Marvel’s mutants. It follows Hisako Ichiki, a teenage girl dreaming of a normal life, who falls into the world of the X-Men and urban legends.
At the moment, the only X-Men we know that will be featured in this series are Armor and Maystorm. However, it’s likely that more mutant characters will be introduced over time, with new interpretations of established characters.
Momoko has garnered a strong following for her lush covers. She’s also not a stranger to reinventing Marvel characters, having done so through the Demon Days Universe, which interpreted heroes through the lens of Japanese folklore.
Ultimate X-Men #1 goes on sale on 6th March, 2024.
Buy: Amazon/Kindle | eBay | Things From Another World
Ultimates
Written by Deniz Camp. Art by Juan Frigeri.
Spinning out of the Ultimate Universe #1 one-shot, the team of Iron Lad (Stark), Captain America, Doom, Thor, and Sif are creating a new network of super-powered heroes. By finding lost heroes to join them, they’re able to band together to take on The Maker so freedom and free will can be restored.
This series received a Free Comic Book Day prelude story. You can read it for free here.
Ultimates #1 goes on sale 5th June.
Ultimate Universe: One Year In
Written by Deniz Camp.
Ultimate Universe: One Year In is a one-shot that ties up the first year of the comic book line and lays the foundations for the Ultimate Universe going into 2025.
Based on the cover, it will feature Magik, Moon Knight, Hulk, Colossus, Omega Red, and others.
Ultimate Universe: One Year In #1 goes on sale on 11th December.
Ultimate Wolverine
Written by Chris Condon. Art by Alessandro Cappuccio.
This series will focus on a version of Wolverine that’s controlled by The Maker. With his mind wiped, he operates as the Winter Soldier to maintain control of the Ultimate Universe.
Ultimate Wolverine #1 will be published on 17th January, 2025.
Will there be more comics?
it is very likely that there will be more comics coming as part of this new Ultimate Universe coming. Marvel’s announcement of the first batch of titles at New York Comic Con 2023 mentioned that these are the “initial sagas”, meaning there are plans for further titles later.
When these will arrive is unknown at the moment. It would be April 2024 at the earliest. However, it could be in the latter half of the year or even in 2025. It would depend on Marvel’s plans and how fast they want to expand the line.
As for which titles could be next, again, I can only speculate at this stage. Characters like Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, Doctor Doom, and Sif exist in this universe, so we could see solo series from them or a new version of the Ultimates or Avengers team.
Where can I find these comics?
The new Ultimate Universe comics will be available in all good comic book shops, online retailers, eBay, and Amazon/Kindle. They’ll be available three months later on Marvel Unlimited.
You can learn more about where you can find comics in this handy guide.
Have your say
Will you be reading the new Ultimate Universe comics? Have you found this guide helpful? Share your thoughts in the comments below or via Facebook, X (formally Twitter), or Mastodon. You can also subscribe to the How To Love Comics newsletter.
Dead Marvel: I am enjoying the new ultimate universe, but a little worried about the real time aspect as the characters will grow old. Wasn’t this the problem with the New Universe in the 90s? Long story arcs would be a problem as well.