Marvel’s Ultimate Universe is one of the hottest topics in the world of comics right now. Since making its return in 2023, the Ultimate line has quickly become a huge critical and commercial success for Marvel, proving that there is indeed a market for a Spider-Man comic where Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson are married.
But what exactly is the Ultimate Universe? How does the new Ultimate imprint differ from the one that Marvel originally published from 2000-2015? How does one dive into this new universe? We’ve put together a helpful guide that will hopefully answer all your questions and make it easy to start reading comics like Ultimate Spider-Man and The Ultimates.
What Is the Ultimate Universe?
Marvel’s original Ultimate Universe imprint was first launched in 2000. The line started off with Brian Bendis and Mark Bagley’s Ultimate Spider-Man and quickly grew to include other titles like Ultimate X-Men, The Ultimates, and Ultimate Fantastic Four. The goal with the Ultimate line was to take familiar Marvel characters and update them for the 21st century, while also giving readers an easy gateway into the comics without needing to worry about decades of existing continuity.
The original Ultimate line was a major success at first, and is credited with helping pull Marvel Comics back from the brink following its brush with bankruptcy in the late ‘90s. However, its popularity waned over time, and Marvel finally folded the Ultimate line in 2015 when the universe was destroyed in the Secret Wars crossover.
But in light of growing nostalgia for the Ultimate Universe (and the ever-present need to attract new readers wary of convoluted superhero continuity), Marvel opted to launch a new version in 2023. This universe isn’t directly connected to the old one, though one of the surviving characters from the original Ultimate Universe does play a central role in the new one (more on him shortly). As before, the goal of the new Ultimate Universe is to streamline and reimagine familiar characters in a modern context, though it goes about that in a fairly different way.
The original Ultimate Universe was strongly influenced by the post-9/11 climate and the War on Terror, with many characters like Captain America, Spider-Man, and Wolverine being depicted as products of a super-soldier arms race. The new Ultimate Universe is more a response to the current age of social media and disinformation. In this world, those in power have done everything they can to suppress the emergence of superheroes, forging a new world order built around lies and control. But despite their best efforts, the heroes are starting to make themselves known.
That’s basically the starting point for every new Ultimate title. Ultimate Spider-Man stars an older Peter Parker, one who is married with children by the time he’s bitten by the radioactive spider. With no traditional X-Men to fight for tolerance in a world full of persecution, Ultimate X-Men deals with a group of teenage mutants emerging in Japan. And in The Ultimates, Tony Stark sets about continuing his father’s mission, seeking out the heroes the world sought to suppress and building a team capable of saving the world from itself.
Where Can I Read the Ultimate Universe Comics?
Now that we’ve established the basics of the new Ultimate Universe, there’s one pressing question - how and where can you actually read these books? Fortunately, there’s no shortage of options for reading the Ultimate line, whether you prefer traditional monthly comics, trade paperback collections, or digital comics.
For those who prefer traditional comics, you can check out the Comic Shop Locator tool to find a store near you. Just keep in mind that it may be a bit tough to find the earlier issues still in print, particularly if you’re set on owning 1st edition copies. For example, Ultimate Spider-Man #1 has seen numerous reprints in the roughly year since its release, and copies of the original first print run fetch a heavy premium on the secondary market.
It’ll likely be cheaper and easier to get caught up on the Ultimate Universe via trade paperback collections. Most of the Ultimate books have been around long enough that the first story arcs are now available (or soon will be available) as a collected edition. We’ve dropped Amazon links to the first volume of each individual series later in this article.
Digital comics readers have several options as well. Each individual issue and trade paperback can be purchased digitally through sites like Amazon and Apple Books. A more cost-effective solution is to subscribe to the Marvel Unlimited digital service, where most of the Ultimate books are available as part of a massive library. Just note that Marvel adds new comics to the Unlimited library three months after they debut in print, so you won’t be able to read the newest issues there.
Finally, it’s hard to beat the free option. If you have Hoopla, a free service that requires only a library card to access, you can currently read the first six issues of Ultimate Spider-Man and Ultimate Black Panther.
What Comics Are Part of the Ultimate Universe?
To date, there have been five main comics released as part of the new Ultimate Universe - the limited series Ultimate Invasion and the ongoing series Ultimate Spider-Man, Ultimate Black Panther, Ultimate X-Men, and The Ultimates. Read on for a breakdown of each one and how they fit into the larger Ultimate Universe puzzle.
Start Here: Ultimate Invasion
Creative Team: Jonathan Hickman & Bryan Hitch
If you want a proper introduction to the Ultimate Universe, it’s a good idea to start with Ultimate Invasion. This 2023 miniseries lays the foundation for the entire line. Ultimate Invasion focuses on The Maker, the evil Reed Richards from the original Ultimate Universe, as he travels to Earth-6160 and begins systematically altering its history and suppressing the emergence of superheroes. By the end, The Maker has fashioned himself into the ruler of the world, relying on a cabal known as The Maker’s Council to enforce his will. Only men like Howard Stark, his teenage son Tony, and the Reed Richards of Earth-6160 (who ironically becomes a version of Doctor Doom) stand in opposition to The Maker’s Council.
It’s not absolutely essential to read Ultimate Invasion before starting with a series like Ultimate Spider-Man or Ultimate X-Men. It merely provides more context for why this world is the way it is. The one exception is The Ultimates. That book directly continues many of the plot threads introduced here, so Ultimate Invasion might as well be considered The Ultimates Vol. 0.
Order Ultimate Invasion on Amazon.
Ultimate Spider-Man
Creative Team: Jonathan Hickman & Marco Checchetto
If you only read one Ultimate comic, it might as well be this series. Ultimate Spider-Man unites Secret Wars writer and Ultimate Universe architect Jonathan Hickman with Daredevil artist Marco Checchetto for a very different take on Peter Parker’s origin story. As the series opens, Peter is a happily married father of two nagged by the persistent sense that something is missing in his life. He’s finally given the chance to embrace that missing piece of himself by becoming Spider-Man. Suffice it to say, focusing on a married Spider-Man approaching middle age results in a very different comic from Marvel’s traditional Amazing Spider-Man title. It’s a take that has clearly resonated with readers, given how the series has dominated the sales charts in 2024.
Order Ultimate Spider-Man by Jonathan Hickman Vol. 1: Married With Children on Amazon.
Ultimate Black Panther
Creative Team: Bryan Edward Hill & Stefano Caselli
In a world where The Maker has blocked or corrupted nearly every major Marvel hero in existence, Black Panther stands alone. Wakanda is the one nation outside the reach of The Maker’s Council. As the series opens, T’Challa ascends to the throne and finds himself in conflict with the gods Khonshu and Ra, who control the nation of Africa. Further complicating matters is the emergence of Erik Killmonger and Ororo Munroe, who have their own designs for Wakanda.
Order Ultimate Black Panther by Bryan Hill Vol. 1: Peace and War on Amazon.
Ultimate X-Men
Creative Team: Peach Momoko
Of the various Ultimate books released to date, Ultimate X-Men is the one with the least tangible connection to the wider line. That’s not to say it doesn’t build on the post-Ultimate Invasion status quo, but it functions perfectly well as a standalone, manga-esque take on the X-Men. Writer/artist Peach Momoko sets the series in Japan and focuses on a cast of teenage outcasts coming to terms with their powers. There’s an almost body horror aspect to being a mutant in the Ultimate Universe, and it makes for a fascinating read, as well as a great option for X-fans who maybe aren’t feeling the new direction of the regular X-Men line.
Order Ultimate X-Men by Peach Momoko Vol. 1: Fears and Hates on Amazon.
The Ultimates
Creative Team: Deniz Camp & Juan Frigeri
As mentioned earlier, The Ultimates is the series that most directly builds on the fallout of Ultimate Invasion. In this series, Iron Lad (Tony Stark) and Doom (Reed Richards) have 24 months to respond to the inevitable return of The Maker. They set about undoing his terrible work and building a team of like-minded heroes to light the way in a very dark time. But will The Ultimates be enough to stand against The Maker and his Council, particularly when said Council includes heavy-hitters like the Hulk?
The Ultimates has turned out to be a fantastic showcase for up-and-coming writer Deniz Camp, best known for indie work like 20th Century Men. In particular, the Doom-focused The Ultimates #4, which unfolds across four separate timelines simultaneously, is a clear contender for the best single issue of 2024. The Ultimates has quickly developed into one of Marvel’s most exciting and unpredictable comics, regardless of universe.
Preorder The Ultimates by Deniz Camp Vol. 1: Fix the World on Amazon.
Ultimate Wolverine
Creative Team: Chris Condon & Alessandro Cappuccio
Marvel will be growing the Ultimate line by one more book in early 2025. And it’s only fitting that this title focuses on everyone’s favorite MIA X-Man. Ultimate Wolverine features a drastically different take on Logan’s story, as in this universe he’s stuck serving The Maker’s Council as The Winter Soldier. Like The Ultimates, Ultimate Wolverine is written by a rising star in the world of comics - That Texas Blood’s Chris Condon. The series is also illustrated by Moon Knight’s Alessandro Cappuccio, so we can’t find any fault with the creative team here.
Preorder Ultimate Wolverine #1 here.
Are you following the Ultimate Universe? Which book is your favorite so far? Cast your vote in our poll and let us know in the comments below:
And for more recommended reading, check out IGN’s picks for the top 27 Batman graphic novels and the top 25 Spider-Man graphic novels.
Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter and @jschedeen on Bluesky.
