It's The End of an Era for Marvel Comics

1 month ago 23

Captain America, Black Widow and Hawkeye in The Avengers

One of Marvel's biggest eras is coming to a close in the new year. The publisher announced an epic new crossover event that will bring about the conclusion of the Ultimate Universe, beginning in December.

Announced at Marvel's Next Big Thing Panel at this year's New York Comic Con, the final issues of all five Ultimate titles will be released in the coming months. Ultimate Spider-Man #24 will hit shelves in December, with Ultimate Black Panther #24 following in January. Ultimate X-Men #24 will be the next to conclude in February, with Ultimates #24 and Ultimate Wolverine #16 ending in April. The new Ultimate Universe began back in 2023 with Jonathan Hickman and Bryan Hitch's Ultimate Invasion.

The Ultimate Universe was created as a world without heroes by a dark version of The Fantastic Four's Reed Richards known as The Maker. Since its inception, the universe has seen heroes like Spider-Man and the Ultimates embracing their destiny, but with radically different stories than Marvel fans may be used to.

"It's hard to talk about without getting emotional," said Ultimates writer Deniz Camp. "It really is the culmination of everything Jonathan began. Everything from my book and everyone else's book are all converging. It's gonna be definitive, it's going to be big, it's going to be emotional, there’s going to be death... it's just wild."

Marvel's Head of Comics and Franchise Dan Buckley teased the epic scale of the Ultimate Universe's conclusion. "“You'll be able to take this journey — the beginning, middle, and end — and digest it for years to come and pass it on to others."

What Can Fans Expect From Marvel's Ultimates?

Marvel's Ultimates including Hawkeye, Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America in Marvel Comics

The publisher unveiled the cover art for three of the final five issues, with final covers for Ultimates and Ultimate Wolverine set to be revealed at a later date. Marvel also announced that the Ultimate Universe stories will leave their mark on the main Marvel Universe by the way of "Origin Boxes." These are the devices the Maker used to rob the heroes of their powers, and in Ultimate Spider-Man: Incursion #5 (which goes on sale later this month) Miles Morales will head back into Marvel's main continuity, Earth 616, with a handful of boxes — meaning the Ultimate Universe will leave a lasting mark on storylines throughout 2026.

The Ultimate Universe was told in real time from month to month, with Marvel describing it as an "ambitious storytelling project that exceeded all expectations." Since its very beginning, it was made with a predetermined endpoint: The Maker's return from captivity. His release will kick off 'Ultimate Endgame', which is what Marvel is calling the five-issue event series that brings the interconnected universe together for its final showdown.

All five of the remaining Ultimate issues are available for pre-order now at local comic bookshops.