Marvel Ending a Massive Universe in 2026

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It is said that all good things must come to an end, and, as many comic book readers would likely agree, that saying also applies to even the medium's best storylines. Marvel Comics appears to be honoring that philosophy with the upcoming conclusion to one of its most popular imprints.

Marvel's Ultimate Universe is heading toward the finish line and will officially end in April 2026. The announcement came on Oct. 8, 2025, which was Retailer Day at New York Comic Con, to which the publisher's current editor-in-chief, C.B. Cebulski, added, "You think we're lying, but we're not."

This homestretch is part of a longstanding agreement between Marvel with Jonathan Hickman, who oversees the Ultimate Universe. Upon taking over the imprint three years earlier, he put it in his contract that it would come to an end when the story had run its course, which explains the seemingly premature ending to such a popular storyline.

The imprint is receiving an official finale in the form of the aptly titled upcoming crossover event, Ultimate Endgame. Not only does the series borrow its title from 2019's Avengers: Endgame, but the cover art for the first issue is a recreation of the poster for the acclaimed blockbuster that also served as a finale of sorts for an early, beloved era of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The official synopsis for Ultimate Endgame #1 describes it as "the moment that has been building since the beginning of the new Ultimate Universe," in which every character existing in this continuity must group together to take on the powerful foe, the Maker, otherwise known as Ultimate Reed Richards. Marvel is also putting out blind bag variants for Ultimate Endgame on the day of release, which means that readers will not know which alternative cover for the series' first issue they will be receiving upon purchase.

The Origins Of Marvel's Ultimate Universe

First launched in June 2023, the Ultimate Universe is something of an extension to the also popular Ultimate Marvel imprint, which debuted in the year 2000 and continued for 15 years. A version of Reed Richards from that universe, known as Earth-1610, would suffer painful tragedies that turned him into the malevolent villain called the Maker, who would then become the architect of a new reality called Earth-6160, in which the Ultimate Universe takes place.

Like any of the other alternate timelines in Marvel Comics (or any other publisher for that matter), the Ultimate Universe would involve unique variations of classic comic book characters, such as a version of Peter Parker who has already started a family with Mary Jane Watson before becoming Spider-Man. The imprint also includes an Ultimate X-Men series, which reimagines Mutants as being based in magic and folklore, and Ultimate Black Panther, which sees T'Challa protect the African continent from Khonshu and Ra.

The timeline also features a new version of the team known as The Ultimates, which is led by a young Tony Stark (known as Iron Lad) and also consists of typical heroic mainstays like Thor and even America Chavez. Most surprisingly, though, is the inclusion of another variation of Reed Richards who, instead of going by Mister Fantastic, is known as Doom, as in Doctor Doom, armored mask and all.

Ultimate Endgame hits shelves and digital platforms Dec. 31, 2025.