The Ultimates are Going to War with Marvel’s Worst Corporate Villains

Marvel Comics' newest Ultimates are about to go to war with some of the biggest companies on Earth, and they don't even know it yet.

A preview for The Ultimates #14 (by Deniz Camp, Juan Frigeri, Fedrico Blee, and VC's Travis Lanham) from Marvel Comics opens to the sight of Captain America and Hawkeye staking out a Roxxon pipeline. Rather than wait for backup to arrive as Cap would like, however, Hawkeye simply unleashes a volley of arrows that presumably tear their way through everything Roxxon has built. At least, that is how it would appear based on the reaction the Ultimates' attack garners from Roxxon CEO Rex Bonhurst, who, along with the heads of four other mainstays of the Marvel Universe, is more than ready to go to war.

The War Begins in The Ultimates #14

• Written by DENIZ CAMP
• Art by JUAN FRIGERI
• Colors by FEDERICO BLEE
• Letters by VC's TRAVIS LANHAM
• Design by JAY BOWEN
• Main cover art by DIKE RUAN & NEERAJ MENON
• Variant covers by JUAN FERREYRA; INHYUK LEE; and SALVADOR LARROCA & EDGAR DELGADO

The Roxxon Energy Corporation of the primary Marvel Universe has been one of the biggest problems for the likes of Earth's Mightiest Heroes since it was introduced back in 1974's Captain America #180 by writer Steve Englehart and artist Sal Buscema. Although the head of Roxxon was the one under attack when the company first appeared in the pages of any Marvel Comics title, it wasn't long before the company's status as a corporate villain was made clear. In recent years, Roxxon has been a particularly prickly problem for the God of Thunder, Thor, largely thanks to the machinations of the company's CEO, Dario Agger, better known as the malevolent Minotaur.

Among the other organizations represented around Roxxon's table in The Ultimates #14 are Midas Inc., as represented by the infamous Oubliette Midas, aka the Exterminatrix, and Hammer Weapons, as represented by Justine Hammer. Also in attendance are representatives for A.I.M. (Advanced Idea Mechanics) and Alchemax, both of which likely stand out as even greater forces for evil in the wider Marvel mythos than Roxxon itself. Despite leaders like Liz Allan trying to turn Alchemax into a force for good in the primary Marvel Comics timeline of Earth-616, Alchemax is frequently at the center of devastating plots across the alternate timelines, video games, and TV shows it has been a part of.

The Ultimates of the current Ultimate Universe were initially brought together by none other than the young Tony Stark, aka Iron Lad, who watched his father sacrifice everything to seal away the threat posed by the villainous Reed Richards known as The Maker, even if only for a short while. Since setting out to find those who should have been given the chance to be heroes in their own right and giving them that opportunity, Tony has amassed a team of more than a half-dozen powerhouse superheroes. Currently, The Ultimates' lineup consists of Tony himself, as well as Captain America, Hawkeye, Luke Cage, She-Hulk, the Wasp, Giant-Man, America Chavez, the Human Torch, Thor, Sif, and this Ultimate Universe's very own Doom, formerly known as Reed Richards.

The Ultimates #14 goes on sale July 30 from Marvel Comics.

Source: Marvel Comics