The Ultimates is a 24 issue comic book series about the Ultimates, part of the Ultimate Universe imprint, written by Deniz Camp and illustrated by Juan Frigeri. Published by Marvel Comics, it began publication in June 2024.
The series follows events in the aftermath of the "Ultimate Invasion" storyline. 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.
The series has garnered acclaim for its radical reinvention of the Marvel mythos, political messaging, writing, and its development of the Ultimate Universe.
Editorial history 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".
The story of The Ultimates takes place in real time. Each issue, one less month remains until the City opens and the Maker escapes.
Plot "Fix The World" (#1–6) Although the Maker was imprisoned at the City thanks to Howard Stark, it will open again in 18 months, and his Council remains in control of Earth. Howard's son Iron Lad works with Doom to form the Ultimates Network, aiming to combat the Maker's Council and restock the world with heroes before the City re-opens. They use the Immortus Engine to time travel and find the frozen body of Captain America. They also venture to Asgard and free Thor Odinson, whose rule over Asgard was overthrown by Loki and the Maker, and are joined by Thor's captor Sif. They break into the City to steal information about many of the lost heroes, only to be caught and attacked by some of the Council. The Maker's Council hacks into a Stark satellite, destroying several blocks in Manhattan in a terrorist attack and framing Iron Lad as the perpetrator. The Ultimates, now seen as international fugitives, initially plan to distribute superpower catalysts called "Origin-Machines" to several individuals who were blocked from becoming heroes, and gradually turn the tide against the Council. The plan works in only a few cases (such as Spider-Man) with many resulting deaths from superpower-related accidents. Therefore, they decide instead to search for potential heroes and recruit them in-person. The first recruits are Giant-Man and the Wasp, joining to help the team successfully defeat Captain Britain's forces in battle.The Ultimates (vol. 3) #1 The Ultimates later retrieve the original Human Torch from a Damage Control facility and storm the White House to rescue America Chavez from Midas, a Council loyalist.Free Comic Book Day 2024: Ultimate Universe/Spider-ManThe Ultimates (vol. 3) #2
After traveling to Monster Island in the Pacific, the Ultimates meet She-Hulk, who agrees to assist the Ultimates in major conflicts in exchange for Iron Lad finding a cure for the effects of gamma radiation that affected her tribe. Her recruitment leads Hulk (a member of the Council) to more closely monitor the activities of the group.The Ultimates (vol. 3) #3
Doom works on Project 4, attempting to recreate the Fantastic Four by exposing rats to cosmic radiation. Iron Lad learns that Doom is Reed Richards, who became Doom after surviving the flight that would have created the Fantastic Four. The Maker sabotaged the flight, causing Johnny Storm and Ben Grimm to die and Susan Storm to develop an illness that eventually killed her. Reed was placed in the custody of the Maker, who tortured him and led him to become Doom.The Ultimates (vol. 3) #4
Finally, Captain America meets and recruits Charli Ramsey, a Native American who took the bow and arrow meant for Clint Barton as their own, and has been attacking several Roxxon facilities. Hellfire Club's Black King/Maker's Council member Emmanuel da Costa talks with Hulk about the attacks on Roxxon in which he is an investor in. Hulk tells Emmanuel to leave the Ultimates to him.The Ultimates (vol. 3) #5
The full team assembles for the first time after Tony finds a Damage Control facility supposedly containing prisoners of the Council, which turns out to be a trap. Hulk uses a teleportation spell to bring the team to K'un-L'un in order to kill them. He and his gamma-injected Immortal Weapons attack the Ultimates, as Hulk utilizes the Iron Fist and breaks She-Hulk's hand. Doom, who is back at their Triskelion satellite, hurriedly locates the group and uses the Immortus Engine to teleport them back. By the time he does so, Iron Lad has been mortally wounded by Hulk, leading him to be confined to a healing machine while the team deals with the aftermath and reconsiders their approach.The Ultimates (vol. 3) #6
"All Power To The People" (#7–12) After their devastating battle in K'un-L'un, the team takes time off to recuperate. Captain America and Human Torch visit an old pub from Cap's childhood to discuss who will lead the team in Iron Lad's absence. Thor and Sif plan to instigate a revolt across the Nine Realms to dethrone All-Father Loki in Asgard. America Chavez defends protestors during an independence rally in Guatemala, vaporising hostile H.A.N.D agents. Hawkeye continues their crusade against Roxxon and the council by blowing up a shipment of weapons headed to Africa to help in the war. Giant-Man and the Wasp visit a memorial ceremony for those lost in the Stark satellite attack on the event's anniversary, questioning their role and actions.The Ultimates (vol. 3) #7
While on a mission, the Ultimates meet the Guardians of the Galaxy including members Captain Marvel, Star-Lord, Ultimate Nullifier, and Cosmo Starstalker. They hail from the 61st century and seem to know America Chavez, but she does not remember them. Captain Marvel shares some of their memories, revealing the group comes from Earth-6160's original timeline, where a much larger roster of Guardians had been able to create a utopia. However, the Maker's scheme resulted in a temporal scattering of many members of the Guardians, including America. While America refuses to join their efforts in finding other Guardians, Captain Marvel leaves her with a temporal flare to signal the Guardians if they are needed. Star-Lord warns Doom that if the world is left in their hands, either him or Iron Lad will cause unimaginable suffering.The Ultimates (vol. 3) #8
Luke Cage has been transferred from Seagate Prison to the Gordium Correction Facility. During his time at Seagate a year prior, Cage received an "origin machine" that gave him his super-strength and unbreakable skin. Iron Lad visits him, welcoming him to the Ultimates and offering to break him out; Cage refuses, saying that he can do more good for the Ultimates inside the prison system. He leads a successful prison revolt against the facility which had tortured him since he was young. Back in the present, Cage leads another takeover, this time of Gordium Correction Facility with fellow inmate Danny Rand. As they triumph over their enslavers, the inmates declare "All Power to the People!", and Cage prepares to head to another prison and run the same cycle. In the epilogue, She-Hulk monologues to an unconscious Iron Lad about pain. After she walks away, Tony's eyes open.The Ultimates (vol. 3) #9
A month later, Captain America leads Human Torch, Ant-Man, the Wasp, and Hawkeye to storm "Castletown", a militia camp controlled by the fascist Red Skull Gang. The team has received intelligence that Namor, a former teammate of Cap and Torch's, is being held there. After breaking in, they fight with the Skulls and their leader the Grand Skull; he reveals that Namor was killed when Atlantis was overthrown by Attuma though his body would not decompose. John Walker, a member of the Skulls, also joins the fray having been empowered by one of the Stark Boxes. The Ultimates win against Grand Skull who says despite this loss, he will continue to serve as a symbol and inspiration. The team buries Namor by sending his body to sea, hoping to spark an Atlantean revolution. Captain America and Human Torch come to a surprising conclusion about the Skull's identity after hearing his voice. Iron Lad integrates the Immortus Engine into his body, stabilizing him while he nurses back to full health.The Ultimates (vol. 3) #10
Thor and Sif return to the Nine Realms, with the goal of spreading a revolution. The pair visits Nidavellir which has turned from the home of dwarves and divine industry to an overworked factory. Dwarves Brokk and Eitri fashion them invisibility cloaks for the oncoming war. Thor and Sif spy on Valhalla, where they find the daughter-Queen Hela ruling an army of the undead. In Alfheim, the "origin of stories", H.A.N.D infiltrates the ranks of the Light Elves, forcing them to write propaganda for the Council. Vanaheim has been left untouched by Loki's new regime, so the Vanir who inhabit it refuse to join up with Thor and Sif's cause. In Jotunheim, Thor battles the Frost Giants provoking Loki to return to his homeland. Sif uses this to free his servant Idunn and spread word of the revolution. In Niffleheim, the rebels meet Volstagg, Fandral, Hogun, and Heimdall. Loki marches his armies against the Vanir while Thor's own forces make war against him. Thor also makes a deal with Surtur, to burn down Asgard. In an epilogue, Iron Lad awakens and asks Doom to explain a horrifying image retrieved by the Immortus Engine: the Hulk standing victorious over the Ultimates' corpses.The Ultimates (vol. 3) #11
On the H.A.N.D. Cumulo-Carrier, the latest Life Model Decoy of Nick Fury is filled in by a member of the Ultimates regarding the team's latest meeting. On the Triskelion, Iron Lad assembles the entire network to discuss their recurring nightmare: Hulk slaughtering the team. Iron Lad reveals that originally, the team was massacred during their K'un-L'un encounter. However, Doom used the Immortus Engine to reverse time and save the Ultimates in-turn violating their agreement to not use time travel. Doom has also been using Project 4 as a cover-up to break the Maker's temporal barrier and change the past. Despite initial argument between Doom and the rest of the team, they eventually agree on a new strategy. Captain America, reflecting on his time fighting the Skulls, says the network needs to expand and act as a symbol more than an army. And Doom, reflecting on what Star-Lord told him, agrees the network must act more like a team. Iron Lad declares Ultimates 3.0. Back with H.A.N.D, Fury thanks his informant as he comes face-to-face with the Wasp.The Ultimates (vol. 3) #12
"Rescue Mission" (#13-18)