Ultimates
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| The Ultimates | |
 Ultimates 2 #1. Art by Bryan Hitch. |
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| Publication information | |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Marvel Comics (Ultimate imprint) |
| First appearance | Ultimates #1 |
| Created by | Mark Millar Bryan Hitch |
| In story information | |
| Base(s) | Triskelion |
| Member(s) | Wasp Captain America Hawkeye Black Panther Iron Man Quicksilver Valkryie Thor |
| Roster | |
| See:Ultimate Members | |
Ultimates (also called The Ultimates) is an American comic book superhero series published by Marvel Comics as part of its Ultimate Marvel imprint. The series stars the Ultimates, a superhero team that is a modernized re-imagining of Marvel's long-running super hero team, the Avengers. The Ultimates team exists alongside other revamped Marvel characters in Ultimate Marvel titles including Ultimate Spider-Man, Ultimate X-Men, and Ultimate Fantastic Four.
While the Ultimates are clearly recognizable as a version of the Avengers, they are also very different from the originals. The tone of the stories in these books is widely considered to be darker, more cynical, and more cinematic than most traditional comic books.[1][2] Also, up until recently, the Ultimates were a government-sponsored branch of the United States military rather than a traditional super hero team.
Unlike the other Ultimate Marvel titles, Ultimates has been published in limited series rather than as an ongoing monthly title. The first series, written by Mark Millar and illustrated by Bryan Hitch, debuted in March 2002, and ended in April 2004. The second series, Ultimates 2, also by Millar and Hitch, began in December 2004 and was completed in May 2007. Ultimates 3, written by Jeph Loeb and illustrated by Joe Madureira, premiered in December 2007.
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[edit] Publication history
The series was conceived by writer Mark Millar and artist Bryan Hitch who, when asked about the impetus for the collaboration in an interview with Silver Bullet Comics, remembers that "Joe Quesada called and said, 'Hey, the lunatics are running the asylum over here, want to join the party?' The project came from Millar, and it was perfect. Joe put us together, and after three hours on the phone, we had started the journey that was to develop into the Ultimates."[2]
One of many notable differences between Ultimates and many other comics is the edgier and darker elements that Millar has written in to them. This can be especially seen in the characters, which are quite different than their mainstream counterparts. Captain America is more violent and pragmatic, Nick Fury is notably fiercer and scorns oversight of S.H.I.E.L.D., Hank and Janet Pym share an abusive relationship and Tony Stark is a womanizing drunk with a flamboyantly gay butler. Bruce Banner is written as a far more self-conscious, socially-inept individual and Betty Ross as careerist, manipulative and self-indulgent, a source of their frequent relationship woes. The Hulk is frequently depicted as a murderous sociopath whose rage leaves little concern for civilian casualties. Nick Fury and Janet Pym, both previously depicted as Caucasian in mainstream Marvel comics, have their ethnicities adjusted to give the team a more multi-cultural tone (with Fury as an African-American and Janet an Asian-American).
Hitch commented: "We just set out with the basic idea: What would we do if we had to make The Avengers as a movie?... You have to approach it as though nothing has happened before and tell the story fresh from the start, find the current day relevance and the best actors. We had to get to the core of who these people were and build outwards, so Cap was a soldier, Thor is either a nut case or a messiah (maybe both, today we would treat them same way: a cult following and a spell in the loony house), Banner an insecure genius, and Fury the king of cool.[2]"
The series soon became notorious for its delayed release dates. Originally planned as a monthly comic, the publication dates were constantly shifted further back, so that the twelfth issue of Ultimates didn't come out until April 2004, two years after issue #1. Similarly, the thirteenth issue of Ultimates 2 was delayed for over 6 months from its originally scheduled release date; it was finally released in May 2007.
In a December 2004 interview with PopCultureShock, Millar talked about the comic, stating that Ultimates were indeed different from the Avengers (its mainstream Marvel sister title): "The idea behind The Avengers is that the Marvel Universe's biggest players all get together and fight all the biggest supervillains they can't defeat individually, whereas Ultimates 2 is an exploration of what happens when a bunch of ordinary people are turned into super-soldiers and being groomed to fight the real-life war on terror." He also defended the concept of putting controversial "indie" topics into a big mainstream comic like Ultimates, denying he had "sold out". He said: "There's a funny snobbery from people as regards the worthiness of indie books... The nice thing about hitting your thirties is realizing it's often all pose and 90% of indie books are as shit as 90% of mainstream books. There's good and bad on both sides and no inner-dignity to not selling well."[3] The first series was generally well received, with the "Super-Human" storyline running through the first six issues of the first series winning the Comics Buyer's Guide Fan Award for Favorite Story for 2003.[citation needed] Michael Konzcal from popmatters.com praises Mark Millar's writing in the first story arc "Super-Human"[4] (See Reception of Ultimates 1.)
The second Millar/Hitch run, Ultimates 2, began in December 2004 and finished in May 2007. Keith Dallas from comicsbulletin.com did not enjoy the cynicism of the writing in the next story arc "Homeland Security".[5]
Ultimate Saga is a single issue which bridges the gap between Ultimates 2 and Ultimates 3. Written by C. B. Cebluski and Mindy Owens and penciled by Trevor Hairsine, it recaps what happened in Ultimates volumes 1 and 2 as "told by their new leader, Tony Stark." No longer under the auspices of S.H.I.E.L.D., and, facing the reality of the team's newfound freedom, Stark sifts through the information Nick Fury has collected about the Ultimates’ adventures, and discovers there has been a lot more going on with his team than he ever anticipated."[6]
The third installment, Ultimates 3, premiered December 5, 2007, and will last five issues. The creative team includes writer Jeph Loeb, artist Joe Madureira and colorist Christian Lichtner. The story is set two years after the end of Ultimates 2.[7] This installment received several unfavourable reviews,[8] including one from Bryan from IGN.com stating the issue was a "brainless and almost offensive exercise".[9] However this issue was the highest selling comic in the December 2007.[10] (See Reception of Ultimates 3.)
[edit] Plot Summary
[edit] Ultimates
S.H.I.E.L.D. general Nick Fury is entrusted with establishing a strike force of government-sponsored superheroes which included scientist couple Henry and Janet Pym (Giant-Man and Wasp), Bruce Banner (The Hulk), Tony Stark (Iron Man), and Steve Rogers. A cuckolded Banner injects himself with the Hulk serum, causing him to transform into the Hulk, and rampages through Manhattan killing hundreds of people before the team, along with Thor, incapacitates him. A jealous and abusive Henry Pym tries to murder Janet, and is later beaten by Captain America and expelled from the team. An extraterrestrial shape-shifting race, the Chitauri, is discovered to have infiltrated positions of power on Earth for decades. With the help of Thor, Quicksilver, the Scarlet Witch, Hawkeye, Black Widow, and Hulk, the Ultimates defeat the Chitauri in a climactic battle that saves the entire solar system.
[edit] Ultimates 2
Set one year after Ultimates, public opinion turns against the team when it is revealed that the Hulk was one of their own, Dr. Banner. Captain America suspects that this was leaked to the press by the liberal Thor, but Thor denies it. In this story, Thor was accused of being an escaped mental patient, and his powers the result of equipment that was intended for the European Union's Super Soldier program. Thor is captured, but insists that this is all the work of his brother Loki, who is manipulating events for his own ends. Meanwhile, the Liberators, a new team created by anti-American factions within Russia, China, North Korea, and the Middle East attacks the Ultimates, invades the United States, and kidnaps President George W. Bush, in part with the help of a traitorous Black Widow. Eventually the Ultimates turn the tables on the Liberators, and with the help of Thor and warriors from Asgard, defeat Loki.
[edit] Ultimate Saga
Tony Stark reads through the information Nick Fury has collected on the Ultimates, effectively summarizing volumes 1 and 2 of the series.
[edit] Ultimates 3
The Ultimates, now operating from Tony Stark's mansion, are dealing with the fallout of a sex tape depicting Tony and the Black Widow that has been leaked to the media. Tony has succumbed to alcoholism as a result. The Wasp is now the leader of the team. Thor has begun a relationship with Valkyrie. Venom attacks the mansion, demanding the whereabouts of an unspecified woman, but the Ultimates defeat him. Meanwhile, as Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch tour Manhattan, someone shoots at them, killing the Scarlet Witch. Back at the mansion, Magneto and the Brotherhood of Mutants attack, and with the help of a despondent Quicksilver, absconds with Wanda's corpse. Wolverine appears, telling the Ultimates that Magneto took Wanda's corpse believing she was his daughter. The team journeys to the Savage Land, and meet with Shanna the She-Devil and Ka-Zar. At the mansion, Wasp is rendered unconscious by a robot posing as Iron Man. Ultimate 3 #4 was made with great delays but is expected to be released on June 25th
[edit] Characters
[edit] The Ultimates
- Captain America, real name Steve Rogers, is the only test subject to survive the "super-soldier serum", which gives him enhanced strength and durability. After his last mission during World War II, he fell into the Arctic Ocean and was cryogenically frozen for over 50 years and only recently was found and revived. He is patriotic, jingoistic and deeply conservative (unlike his more liberal Earth-616 counterpart) stemming from his pre-World War II upbringing. A tactical genius, he is the Ultimates' field leader and maintains a stereotypical 1940s attitude in the modern post-2000 world. He is trying to get a life of his own, independent from the Ultimates, in Ultimates 3.
- Hawkeye is Clint Barton, a former Olympic archer with superhuman accuracy. He was the professional partner of the Black Widow when they were originally part of the Ultimates' covert operations "Black Ops" team and subsequently moved to public status after having their backgrounds falsified for public consumption following the emergence of the Chitauri threat. His family was killed by Black Widow, who'd betrayed the team to the Liberators, in Ultimates 2 and he, in turn, killed her. The murder of his family has clearly affected him, making him more reckless and sporting a mask with a bull's eye in Ultimates 3.
- Iron Man, real name Anthony Stark, son of inventor and defense contractor Howard Stark and geneticist and educator Maria Stark. A billionaire industrialist, unrepentant playboy, shameless womanizer and inventive genius, Stark has been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor and decides to do something of worth before he dies, utilizing the Iron Man powered armor for his personal crusade instead of selling it on the open market. Tony is particularly susceptible to alcohol due to the proliferation of brain tissue throughout much his body, an uncommon phenomenon responsible for his hyper-intelligence. The condition is also responsible for his constant physical pain, which he sedates with his nearly endless drinking. In the second series, Stark was engaged to Natasha Romanova, but she later betrayed the team to the Liberators and was killed by Hawkeye. A sex video of them was later leaked to the press, resulting in his alcoholism.
- Thor: Thor's real name was originally said to be Thorlief Golmen, allegedly the exiled Son of Odin. He maintains a cult of personality with his preachings of political conspiracies orchestrated by the New World Order. An ex-nurse who suffered a nervous breakdown and spent 18 months in a mental institution, he possesses the super-powers of flight, weather manipulation, super-strength and clairvoyance. He also wields Mjolnir, which can teleport objects into other dimensions. Thor's true identity as the Norse God of Thunder are frequently questioned by his teammates and the world alike, but by the end of the second miniseries, after having battled Loki and his minions alongside Asgardian warriors, the truth of his stated origins are confirmed to his shocked teammates. He refuses to be an official member of the team, which he considers pawns of the "military-industrial complex", but offers his assistance for any "genuine emergency" that requires his help. Following the events of The Ultimates 2 Thor now exhibits an appearance and speech patterns that more closely resemble his Marvel 616 counterpart.
- Wasp is Janet Pym, the ex-wife of Henry Pym/Giant Man/Ant-Man. Janet is a a molecular biologist and assisted Henry when he worked on the "Super Soldier Project" for S.H.I.E.L.D. She is a mutant whose genetic power manifests itself as the ability transform into a wasp-sized version of herself, with wings and the ability to project glittering blasts of bio-electric energy. Her and Hank's strained marriage includes emotional, verbal, and physical abuse by both of them, leading Janet to begin a relationship with Captain America after divorcing Henry. The relationship with Captain America also faces strain, largely from the inherent generational differences and Janet's attempts to re-establish a friendship with Henry, which doesn't seem to have been affected by Hank's involvement with the Liberators and his subsequent arrest. She suffered from severe bulimia prior to joining the Ultimates. In The Ultimates 3 she is the new leader of the team, and wears a more traditional red costume.
- Giant-Man/Ant-Man is Henry Pym, the ex-husband of Janet Pym/Wasp. Giant Man is a doctor and has the power grow into a giant version of himself. He assisted his ex-wife, Janet when he worked on the "Super Soldier Project" for S.H.I.E.L.D.. He was a part of the Ultimates until he seriously injured his wife, for which he was subsequently beaten by Captain America. He went into S.H.I.E.L.D. jail and then became a part of The Liberators, though he later claimed it was as a double agent in order to ferret out a spy among the Ultimates. Following Ultimates 2 he was put back into jail. In the first issue of Ultimates 3 he is back with the Ultimates, but falls unconscious due to a drug overdose.
[edit] Former members
- General Nick Fury, until the event of Ultimate Power, was the director of S.H.I.E.L.D., a fictional branch of the U.S. military devoted to meta-human threats. While primarily tasked with leading the Ultimates through a command center on the Triskellion or a Helicarrier, he would occasionally join the team on field missions, where he employed a dazzling array of classified weaponry and technology. He appeared constantly in the Ultimate Marvel Universe and personally knows Charles Xavier and Peter Parker. In the last issue of Ultimates 2, the Ultimates broke away from S.H.I.E.L.D., effectively removing them from Fury's command. Following his role in the events of Ultimate Power, he is in the custody of the Squadron Supreme of Earth-31916 and taken back to their world, effectively removing him from his post. He was replaced as the head of S.H.I.E.L.D. by Carol Danvers. Ultimate Nick Fury's appearance is closely based on actor Samuel L. Jackson, who gave his approval for use of his likeness.[11] Jackson has an uncredited role as Fury in the 2008 Iron Man film.[12][13]
- The Black Widow was Natasha Romanova, a former KGB spy and expert assassin. She was the professional partner of Hawkeye when they were originally part of the Ultimates' covert operations "Black Ops" team, she was subsequently moved to public status after having their backgrounds falsified for public consumption following the emergence of the Chitauri threat. She and Iron Man became romantically involved and he proposed to her. She was eventually revealed as a traitor in "Ultimates 2" for the Liberators, and she killed Hawkeye's entire family. She was later killed by Hawkeye in the end for his family's murder.
- The Hulk, Dr. Robert Bruce Banner. A scientific genius and expert on genetics and radiation, Banner's initial transformation into the Hulk was shielded from the public by S.H.I.E.L.D., who hired him to replicate the super-soldier serum responsible for Captain America. Later, ashamed at his inability to recreate the serum and resentful of his treatment at the hands of his teammates and ex-girlfriend Betty Ross, Banner injects himself with an improved Hulk serum, transforming into the grayish, sociopathic, psychopathic Hulk. The Hulk's subsequent rampage killed 852 people before he was taken down by the Wasp, and Banner was ultimately sentenced to death by nuclear explosion, only to transform into the Hulk prior to detonation and survive the blast. Following a soul-searching journey to Tibet, Banner returns to America during the Liberators invasion to aid the Ultimates.
[edit] The Reserves
In phase two of the super-soldier program, these soldiers are slated to join the Ultimates. This would decidedly add a much more straightforward military aspect to the team, as these characters are all military personnel.
- Goliaths/Giant-Men
- Rocketmen, wearing customized armor suits based on early Iron Man designs. Four are members of the Ultimate Reserves, while the others serve actively as general super-soldiers.
In recent issues of Ultimates 2, certain foot soldiers have been equipped with light blue enhancement suits that bestow flight and super-strength upon the wearer. Based on panel illustrations, it can be inferred there are at least 100 troops with these suits.
The following characters have yet to assist the Ultimates.
- The Four Seasons, four Marines who derive their powers from their uniforms. Their costume designs and abilities follow the season motif (though precisely what their powers are is yet to be revealed).
- The Human Sentinels, Sixty of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s top agents in Sentinel battle armor that has enough hardware to take on a fleet of the old Sentinel models. Special polychrome coatings prevent magnetic fields from harming them in any way. They also have helmets to deter telepathy.
- Lieberman (deceased)
Other reserves are mentioned, Intangi-girl, Thunderbolt, Owen, Rusk, O'Donahue and Damien, but they were not yet operational in their original appearance, and have not yet reappeared.[14]
[edit] Allies
All the other Ultimate Universe title characters (Spider-Man, the X-Men, and the Fantastic Four) have interacted with the Ultimates at various times; however, characters who have thus far only appeared in conjunction with the Ultimates are:
- Captains Britain, France, Spain, and Italy (along with several unnamed European state Captains), of the European Defense Initiative, are the European Union's super-soldiers. Their suits allow them to exhibit superhuman strength, endurance, flight, and are immune to drowning. They assisted in the capture of Thor and rebuilding of America following the Liberators' attack.[15] In addition, Captain Britain is a bioengineer, sharing his father's aptitude for science.
- Carol Danvers, a United States Air Force Captain, former director of security at S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Aerospace Development Station 9, transferred to personal aide to General Fury. First appearing in Ultimate Secret, it is she that incarcerates Mahr Vehl and is then assigned to watch him at all times. Because of this, Sue Storm teases her about having an alien boyfriend. Captain Danvers makes her reappearance in Ultimate Power, where Danvers replaces Nick Fury as the head of S.H.I.E.L.D. in the end, following his capture for his role in the events of Ultimate Power by the Squadron Supreme of Earth-31916 and being taken back to their world. She has not exhibited any superhuman abilities.
- Falcon
- Mahr Vehl, Pluskommander Geheneris Halason Mahr Vehl, human name Dr. Phillip Lawson, first appeared in Ultimate Secret, as the head scientist of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s space program. He is a Kree alien who underwent surgery to appear human. When necessary, Lawson can activate a cybernetic battlesuit from his wrist watch to gain superhuman strength, flight, endurance, shielding, invisibility, and an arm-mounted cannon. He has yet to reappear.
- Spider-Man Nick is interested in Spider-Man joining the team when he is older. The Spider-Man/Fury relationship is rather changeable. Peter apparently told MJ that he wants to be Fury when he grows up, but the two had a serious falling out after the Hobgoblin incident when Peter attacked Nick, leading the latter to believe that Peter might be on the verge of crossing the line from ally to criminal. Fury then built a series of devices to take Peter down which were used in the clone saga before Fury finally came to understand that Peter was actually "Something truly special"; the two have apparently reconciled with Peter even going so far as telling Kingpin that he can sic Nick Fury on him. It is unclear how true this is, though given Peter's remark, "You know I can", it's possible that his relationship with S.H.I.E.L.D. is public knowledge. Fury has also manipulated the media into being nice to Spider-Man.
- Vision, discovered in a Siberian military base during Ultimate Nightmare, the Vision was held for research at the Triskelion. After the defeat of Gah Lak Tus, the Vision is dispatched to herald its arrival on other worlds, along with the warning that "humans can kick the Hell out of anyone." Dr. Pym created a robot based on the Vision midway through Ultimates 2, dubbed Vision II.
[edit] Headquarters
The Triskelion is the main headquarters of the Ultimates. It first appeared in Ultimates #3. The Triskelion is a massive compound built by S.H.I.E.L.D. on an artificial island in the Upper New York Bay. It contains docking facilities for ships up to the size of aircraft carriers, airstrips, and several buildings, primarily a large three-winged tower from which the name Triskelion is presumably derived.
The Triskelion was planned by Norman Foster and houses a hospital facility, laboratories, barracks for S.H.I.E.L.D. troops, at least one squadron of fighter jets, and specialized holding facilities for superhuman prisoners.
Since the Ultimates have left the employ of the US Government, they have moved their headquarters to Stark Tower. However, the facility is still under construction.
[edit] Ultimate Avengers animated films
Ultimates has been adapted into Ultimate Avengers, a series of animated films released on DVD. Initially, the announcement came on July 20, 2004 that Marvel Entertainment and Lions Gate Family Home Entertainment would be producing Ultimate Avengers, which was then released on February 21, 2006. Later the same year, the second film, Ultimate Avengers 2, was released on August 8.
[edit] Collected editions
The series has been collected into various hardcovers and trade paperbacks.
(See Publication History of Ultimates Vol 1.)
(See Publication History of Ultimates Vol 2.)
Additional Ultimates related works have also been collected.
[edit] Trade paperbacks
| Ultimate Annuals Vol. 1 | (ISBN 0-7851-2035-1) | includes Ultimates 2 Annual #1 |
[edit] Mass Market Paperbacks
| Tomorrow Men (The Ultimates) | (ISBN 1-4165-1065-6) | Michael Jan Friedman |
The Ultimates: Against All Enemies (ISBN13: 9781416510710 ISBN10: 1416510710) by Alex Irvine
[edit] References
- ^ Writer and columnist Peter David touched upon this in his But I Digress column in The Comics Buyers Guide #1609 (October 2005).
- ^ a b c www.silverbulletcomicbooks.com - Bryan Hitch: The Ultimates Visionary
- ^ Estrella, Ernie. Mark Millar Interview. popcultureshock.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-20.
- ^ Konczal, Michael. THE ULTIMATES #1-8. popmatters.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-20.
- ^ Dallas, Keith. The Ultimates Vol. 2: Homeland Security TPB. comisbulletin.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-20.
- ^ Ultimates Saga #1. marvel.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-20.
- ^ Ultimate Marvel Sampler #1; 2007; Page 1
- ^ Michelitch, Jason. Ultimates 3 #1. popcultureshock.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-20.
- ^ George, Richard. Ultimates Vol. 3 #1 Review. IGN.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-20.
- ^ Michelitch, Jason. Ultimates 3 #1. popcultureshock.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-20.
- ^ Larsuel, Kamal. August 2005 Interview. samuelljackson.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-20.
- ^ Daniel Etherington. Iron Man Preview. Film4.
- ^ Nick Fury at the Internet Movie Database
- ^ Ultimates Annual vol. 1, #1 (Aug 10, 2005) Marvel Comics
- ^ Ultimates 2 #3 (August 2005) Marvel Comics
[edit] External links
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