Ultimate Universe offers a new take on heroes

Written by Joel Gifford Thursday, 09 October 2008 19:00

When the original “X-Men” movie made its millions of dollars at the box office in 2000, many people realized that comic books weren’t just for kids and nerds. Over the last summer, movies like “Iron Man” and “The Dark Knight” have made old fans rekindle, and new fans discover, an interest in comic books.

At about the same time the first “X-Men” movie came out, Marvel came out with what they named “Ultimate Marvel.” The idea behind “Ultimate Marvel” was to reinvent the comic book superheroes that people were familiar with, but without the long and convoluted back story that had been developed over the last 30-40 years. This way new and interesting things can be done with the famous characters.

Another useful side effect is that it is much easier for new readers to get involved in the story and catch up with what’s going on. There are not 1,000 issues to read and countless interactions among the characters to remember.

These stories are not campy or inane, but talk about very deep and interesting characters and situations. It’s not just the stories that are updated for the 21st century, but the characters as well.

An example is “Ultimate Spider-Man.” Peter Parker still has the all the powers that you know and love. While traditionally being known as a photographer for the Daily Bugle, in the new version he is the newspaper’s web developer.

Instead of getting his powers from a radioactive spider, in the “Ultimate Universe” he was bitten by a genetically engineered spider.

This is the case for many different super humans in the “Ultimate Universe.” No longer are magic or extraterrestrial forces responsible for the powers that manifest in people. More often than not, it is now science or the mutant gene that creates super humans, both the good and the evil.

The final issue of “Ultimate Origins,” the five-part story arc of the beginning of the “Ultimate Universe,” is due out October 15th. Origins tells the early story of Wolverine, Captain America, Nick Fury, and Bruce Banner, as well as how it’s all connected.

While the traditional “Marvel Universe” had its big shakeup last year with “Civil War,” which pit superhero against superhero, the “Ultimate Universe” is about to have its big moment next month with “Ultimatum.”

During the panel about “Ultimatum” at Comic-Con in San Diego this summer, entitled “The Ultimate Universe Must Die.” There, Jeph Loeb, the “Marvel” writer who will be penning the story said, “Ultimatum will be the end of the beginning of the Ultimate Universe.&rdquo.

Between the several members of the panel, including Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada, they promised the death of at least one major character, and that the only line is ‘safe’ after “Ultimatum” will be Ultimate Spider-Man.

If you’re interested in getting into Marvel Comics, there is no better time than the present. It’s easy to tell what to read when looking to prepare for Ultimatum. Any comic that is related will have a banner across the top saying, “March on Ultimatum.”