REVIEW: ‘The Ultimates’ Issue #1

The Ultimates #1 is published by Marvel Comics as part of their new Ultimate Universe imprint, written by Deniz Camp, with art by Juan Frigeri, colors by Federico Blee, and letters by Travis Lanham. With eighteen months to prepare for The Maker’s return, Iron Lad and his new team of Ultimates start trying to gather heroes in a world without any.

The flagship title of the Ultimate Universe returns to focus on the biggest storyline within the imprint. Where the Spider-Man, Black Panther, and X-Men comics focus on the various continents and tell intricate stories in their own right, they operate within the fabric of that reality. The Ultimates #1 is working beyond that, with a team trying to manipulate and save the entire world whilst The Maker is sealed away. The concept of a ticking clock is fascinating. A date is set, meaning the comic can’t spend ages dawdling while slowly gathering a team.

The characters themselves, wise and fiercely intelligent, try to circumvent that timeline through high-concept ideas. Time travel is explored heavily in the early stages of The Ultimates #1 with disastrous consequences. Just the hints at what happened are captivating, leaving hundreds of mysteries left unexplored. In these stages, the influence of Jonathan Hickman, the man who sparked the new Ultimate Universe, is visible.

The plot is more streamlined and physical after the disastrous attempts at changing the timeline. New figures and old appear, returning from Ultimate Universe #1. There are similarities to the early days of the Avengers in the 616 universe, purposefully trying to emulate it however it can.

The pacing is slow to begin with, returning the audience to the situation and successfully portraying the gravity of the storyline. There is then an explosion of action that scatters the new heroes and ramps up the energy of the issue. The ending is ruthless and surprising, cementing the start of the new era.

The initial cast of the new team is interesting, taking inspiration from various teams and points in history, from the first Ultimate Universe and the classic timeline. The key members of the Marvel Trinity are Iron Man (Iron Lad in this world), Captain America, and Thor. Thor is weakened and close to death from the start of the issue.

It’s incredibly engrossing to see a core team member so fragile yet involved in the fight scenes. Sif is both part of the team and a support structure for Thor, having him lean on her as they go into battle. All of the characters are still unknown quantities, from a freshly-thawed Captain America to a broken Doom who is actually Reed Richards.

Camp brings their own style to the dialogue while continuing the flow from previous Ultimate books. Hickman’s analytical world-building can be found in the time-travel discussion and the whole globe. But there is noticeably more personality at the start of this new series. Each figure has its own voice with depth and power. Sif has a distinct sense of grandiosity, feeling out of place among the mortals.

Iron Lad and Doom have different approaches to the more scientific elements of the series, with Doom being colder. Tony is younger in this universe, with a heartwarming positivity and optimism. Captain America is also arrogant, taking time to settle into the new era. The planning is made by grown adults, all immensely wise and experienced.

The art is sensational. The characters are all instantly recognisable whilst also being redesigned. The costumes are adaptations, taking in comics and cinematic versions and combining them all. The most drastic of the developments is Iron Lad, with a suit of armour blending ideas and inspirations. What is striking is just how youthful Tony looks. There aren’t many other characters in the book with their faces visible, so the young inventor stands out among the rest of the group.

Thor is mighty but disheveled and almost lifeless, bleeding profusely for most of the opening chapter. The details are immaculate, making the new world feel lived in and busy. The fight scene is the most dramatic within this entire universe so far. It’s a sprawling mass of bodies as the Ultimates showcase their abilities. Captain America and Thor are experienced fighters, but the latter’s weakened state nullifies him somewhat.

There is an energy and enthusiasm to the art as the battle rages. What has continued into the new Ultimate Universe is the violence and often grotesque imagery. These heroes do not have the same morality as their counterparts in the main universe. Some brutal injuries are inflicted by Captain America, Iron Man and others. The ruthless nature of the fight is shocking, leaving iconic weapons of heroism covered in blood.

The colors are vibrant and powerful. As the concept of costumed adventurers returns to this world, so does the intensity of their costumes. Iron Lad and Captain America maintain their iconic color schemes, as do Sif and other characters revealed later in the issue. The Red across the three is very bright, whilst Doom wears muted and calmer shades. This naturally makes him slip into the shadows and out of the limelight. There is a tremendous amount of dynamism within the lettering. It’s big and bold and willing to change for various scenarios.

The Ultimates #1 shows a world trying to rebuild. It’s fascinating to see a universe that has been hobbled and forced to find its heroes individually. The slow, stuttering start works against the deadline for Tony Stark and the rest of the Ultimates.

Hickman’s aura can be sensed in every issue of the imprint, building from the foundations he started. But the creators have had enormous space and literal cities to play with. Camp has added to Hickman’s positive elements, making the book lively and visceral. The dialogue has a bite to it. The battle at the end was the invigoration this whole imprint needed to feel alive. Not the new era in the Ultimate Universe can begin.

The Ultimates #1 is available where comics are sold.