The Ultimates (comic book)

The Ultimates
Cover for The Ultimates #1 (March 2002). Art by Bryan Hitch.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
Schedule	Monthly
Format	Limited series
Genre	Superhero
Publication date	March 2002 – April 2004
No. of issues	13
Main character(s)	Ultimates Nick Fury Chitauri
Creative team
Written by	Mark Millar
Artist(s)	Bryan Hitch
Collected editions
The Ultimates Vol. 2: Homeland Security	ISBN 0-7851-1078-X
The Ultimates	ISBN 0-7851-1082-8

The Ultimates is a 2002-2004 thirteen-issue comic book limited series written by Mark Millar with art by Bryan Hitch. The series introduces the titular Ultimates, the Ultimate Marvel incarnations of the Avengers.

Publication history

The Ultimates debuted in March 2002, and ran for thirteen issues.

Bryan Hitch describes his Ultimates work as "widescreen, cinematic compositions" and has expressed his interest of translating his work for movies. This miniseries was affected by delays and the artist admits to having to work hard to recover from reputation as a slow artist after his work on the first Ultimates series stating "‘Cause I think people still now see me as an unreliable artist."

Plot synopsis

General Nick Fury of the international peacekeeping agency S.H.I.E.L.D. establishes a strike force of government-sponsored superheroes when the President of the United States approves a new defense budget to combat the growing risk of the U.S. being attacked by supervillains. The team, dubbed the Ultimates, includes Tony Stark (aka Iron Man) and scientist couple Hank and Janet Pym (Giant-Man and the Wasp respectively) and take up residence in the Triskelion, an island laboratory run by S.H.I.E.L.D. Thor is offered a position in the Ultimates, but he declines unless the President agrees to triple the funds allocated to environmental issues in the budget. Bruce Banner is made the new science director, attempting to duplicate the super soldier serum. Bruce's ex-girlfriend Betty Ross is appointed as the team's Director of Communications. Bruce attempts to rekindle their relationship, but is constantly spurned and belittled. A S.H.I.E.L.D. research team discovers Captain America frozen in the Arctic and attempts to gain a sample of the serum from his body. Instead, Captain America is revived and offered a place in the Ultimates.

The Ultimates fail to gain major publicity and the government considers withdrawing the defense budget. In an attempt to create the team's first major fight, Bruce combines Captain America's super-soldier serum with the formula that turns him into the Hulk and injects it into his blood stream, transforming him into a larger, more powerful Hulk with gray skin. The Hulk goes on a murderous rampage through Manhattan searching for Betty, who is on a date with Freddie Prinze, Jr. The Ultimates intercept him and a battle ensues and Giant-Man is incapacitated early in the fight. The President doubles the international aid budget at the last second and Thor arrives to help the Ultimates. The Hulk is eventually subdued when the Wasp navigates her way into his brain and electrocutes his brain stem, reverting him back to his original self.

The following day, the Ultimates become celebrities and are lavished with media attention. The Hulk's real identity is hidden from the public and Bruce is kept in isolation while Betty tries to make amends with him for her behavior. Humiliated by his quick defeat in the battle, Hank takes his anger out on Janet and abuses her by forcing her to shrink down into her wasp form and assaulting her with bug spray and mind-controlled ants. Suspended from the Ultimates for this act, Hank flees to Chicago, but is followed by Captain America who brutally beats him and breaks his jaw. However, Janet lashes out at Captain America for this and defends Hank....even if he did abuse her.

Meanwhile, a dead alien organism is discovered and reports confirm that the creatures were involved in World War II. The creatures, referred to as the Chitauri, are revealed to be the ones who financed the Nazi regime in Germany during World War II in an attempt to take over the world and have been increasing in numbers for the past fifty years. General Fury enlists the aid of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents Black Widow and Hawkeye to kill several Chitauri disguised as humans. The duo kills dozens of Chitauri. Research shows that the Chitauri have a base in Micronesia.

The Ultimates, along with two former members of Magneto's Brotherhood of Mutant Supremacy, Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch, are sent in to destroy the base, but are surprised to find it abandoned once they arrive. Meanwhile, Janet discovers that the Chitauri have overrun the Triskelion and that the Ultimates are walking into a trap. She is too late to warn them as the Chitauri activate a series of nuclear explosives that apparently kills the team. Janet is taken captive and meets the alien leader Herr Kleiser. Kleiser explains that the Chitauri are all controlled by a single eusocial mind that spans across the entire universe and that the event taking place on Earth is one of many other invasions happening across millions of different planets. Kleiser also says that the Chitauri can take the form of whatever organism they consume, and he himself plans on devouring Janet so that he may experiment with the human female form.

The Chitauri are forced to make a change of plans when their armada descends upon the Earth, revealing their existence to the entire world. The admiral claims that the other worlds are fighting back and have forced them into the Earth's solar system, and that they will have to abandon their attempts at colonizing the Earth and instead completely destroy it. Suddenly, a freak lightning storm called up by Thor hits the Triskelion, destroying all Chitauri land forces. The Ultimates appear, revealed to have survived the explosion in Micronesia thanks to a force field deployed through Iron Man's armor. Janet is freed and a final battle ensues.

Captain America and Fury lead several S.H.I.E.L.D. soldiers in a ground assault while Iron Man and Thor assist the aerial assault against the Chitauri ships. Janet, Black Widow, and Hawkeye infiltrate the Triskelion and locate the bomb, but are unable to defuse it because it is written in an alien language. Captain America brawls with Kleiser, and is easily overpowered because of Kleiser's rapid healing factor. On Captain America's command, Bruce Banner is released from isolation and is beaten by several S.H.I.E.L.D. soldiers to make him turn into the Hulk once again. When this fails due to Banner being heavily medicated, he is thrown off a helicopter which has the intended result. Hulk takes down Chitauri ships, then proceeds to brutally beat Kleiser before ripping him apart and eating his remains. Thor is able to dispose of the bomb by sending it through a portal to another dimension. Hawkeye fires an adamantium arrow at the Hulk, injecting him with an antidote that causes him to revert to his human form. The remaining Chitauri are soon killed and the Earth is saved.

In the aftermath of the conflict, the Ultimates are invited to a celebration being held at the White House for their part in saving the Earth from the Chitauri. Hank calls Janet hoping to apologize for abusing her, but Janet hangs up on him before he has a chance. Banner willingly returns to isolation, horrified and disturbed that he had eaten Kleiser and his excretions are collected by S.H.I.E.L.D. to be analyzed and destroyed so that Kleiser will not reform. During the celebration, Captain America and Janet share a dance and a kiss.

Awards and nominations

Mark Millar was nominated for the 2002 and 2004 Wizard Fan Award for "Favorite Writer" for his work on The Ultimates.

Bryan Hitch was nominated for the 2003 Harvey Award for "Best Artist" and 2002 and 2003 Wizard Fan Award for "Favorite Artist." Bryan Hitch and Andrew Currie were nominated for the 2003 Eisner Award for "Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team."

Letterer Chris Eliopoulos won the 2002 and 2003 Wizard Fan Award for "Favorite Letterer."

Collected editions

The Ultimates Vol. 1: Super-Human	(ISBN 0-7851-0960-9)	collects Ultimates #1–6
The Ultimates Vol. 2: Homeland Security	(ISBN 0-7851-1078-X)	collects Ultimates #7–13
The Ultimates (Hardcover)	(ISBN 0-7851-1082-8)	collects Ultimates #1–13
The Ultimates: Ultimate Collection (Paperback)	(ISBN 0-7851-4387-4)	collects Ultimates #1–13

Sequels

The series was followed by two sequels The Ultimates 2 and The Ultimates 3. These were followed by Ultimate Comics: Avengers, Ultimate Comics: New Ultimates, and Ultimate Comics: The Ultimates.

Ultimate Universe

The fourth volume written and illustrated by Deniz Camp and Juan Frigeri takes places on Earth-6160 and follows what happened since the events of the "Ultimate Invasion" storyline.

Operating covertly in a Stark/Stane satellite after being sent six months into the future, Iron Lad states to Doom and Sif that they have 18 months before The City opens. Using the Immortus Engine, they can operate in the past, present, and future. They plan on starting a resistance network against the Maker's Council by trying to recreate Earth-616's heroes. When Doom states that some in the files are deceased, Stark states that they can find replacements. After calculations in modifying the Immortus Engine, Doom states they could build their resistance movement six months in the past and have their army overnight in the future. During their work, Iron Lad oversees Captain America's awakening from his coma and explains about the changed political status quo, while Thor still heals from his wounds. A week later, Rogers advises Stark and Doom that they need to start a revolution on the ground. Iron Lad then tries sending "origin-machines" back in time. Only a few take them. Knowing that the second attempt won't work, Iron Lad states that they'll have to do it another way. Meanwhile in Hoboken, exterminators Hank Pym and Janet van Dyne refused to exterminate some Moloids found in a restaurant basement and suggests that the owner enlists a creature relocation service to properly handle the Moloids. While driving away, they are approached by the Ultimates. While Janet mentioned that they saw the news about what Tony Stark did that cost New York City the lives of a thousand people, Iron Lad asks if she believes everything on the news. Captain America states to them the Maker had robbed them of the chance to be heroes. Just then, they are attacked by Henri Duggary, the new ruler of the East Coast, his Black Crusade, and his army of giants. As the Ultimates battle Henri's forces, Janet becomes Wasp. Hank soon becomes Giant-Man and steps on some of the Black Crusade. The news mentions their battle as Hank's footprint is heavily discussed online. Stark states that the Ultimates are here and are going to leave a mark. 17 months are remaining before The City opens.

On July 4th, Iron Lad, Captain America, Giant-Man, and Wasp arrive at the White House. Earlier that day, Steve Rogers views a holo-program from Howard Stark's files on the history of the former United States of America as it shows how Maker remade his Earth into his own image since 1963, starting with him establishing The City and meeting John F. Kennedy. Back in the present, the Ultimates fight their way past H.A.N.D. agents. They enter the Oval Office where they confront a man in an earlier Iron Man armor named "Midas". Iron Lad identifies it as his father's first armor, which Midas says was gained when the Stark/Stane' assets were up for grabs. As Giant-Man and Wasp continue their fight, Midas tries to make a deal with the Ultimates as Rogers state their intentions are to save America. Midas states that his version of America is wider as he considers commerce is what truly represents the nation. Rogers replies that they know what he's doing in his basement and will put a stop to it with or through him. Midas then attacks. They fight Midas until Iron Lad blows a hole to the basement taking the three of them, Giant-Man and Wasp down there amidst the fall. They find a woman trapped in a machine that is feeding off of her cosmic radiation. Midas claims she fell from the future and that her energy is highly valuable. With Giant-Man and Wasp unconscious and Iron Lad's armor in power saving mode, Captain America fights against a ranting and rambling Midas. Wasp regains consciousness and takes the opportunity to shoot the machine, freeing the woman as Rogers gives Midas a neck injury. Midas claims that if they take her, part of the American electrical grid will fail. In a flashback during July 1st, Steve learns from Tony that he has been through the entire holographic program, learning the history of decades in a few days. Back in the present, Captain America carries the woman, asking if she remembers her name. She says her name is America as the Ultimates walk away from a burning White House. 16 months are remaining before The City opens.

Later at an island somewhere in the South Pacific, Iron Lad, Thor, and Sif arrive where they find gamma-irradiated lizards as they are confronted by one of them. One minute later, Thor and Sif manage to slay it. Then they see different gamma-irradiated wildlife which Thor and Sif keep killing much to the dismay of Iron Lad who states that they can set off an extinction event. Just then, the three are confronted by a gamma-irradiated humanoid. Before Thor can strike a blow to it, they are confronted by a She-Hulk. She introduces herself as Lejori Zakaria who is the protector of the island and its people. Iron Lad states that they didn't come to fight and just wanted to talk. Lejori then calms down the gamma-irradiated humanoid as it regresses to a human baby as she talks about how Bruce Banner left her fellow islanders to live in the fallout after the "Banner-Ulam Gamma Bomb" was tested nearby. When Iron Lad asks if there are others like her, Lejori takes them to her village and shows off the mutated islanders who aren't like her. Iron Lad states that the terrorist claims that are mentioned on TV are lies and that everyone will soon be involved in a war. Lejori mentions about the day when her parents died from the side-effects of their mutations. Then she asks Iron Lad to fix their island before it was affected by the Gamma Bomb before she can join the fight against Banner and the Maker's Council. Meanwhile, Hulk is shown watching this from a hidden camera as he declares the Ultimates as intruders on his land. He gives the orders to assemble the Immortal Weapons as the Ultimates are "making him angry". 15 months are remaining before The City opens.

Doom is later visited by Iron Lad who stated that he missed another mission where Giant-Man would've been dead if it weren't for America Chavez. He mentions how he suffers from extreme despair since the incident involving what happened the day when Maker came to Earth-6160 as he calls it his "Negative Zone". He mentioned how Maker had sabotaged the rocket launch they did against the space program project's director Franklin Storm where Johnny Storm suddenly burned to death, Ben Grimm was found dead at the bottom of a quarry, and Reed and Susan Storm were detained. Franklin used his high-level connections to let Reed see Susan one last time. Then he proceeded to blame Reed for killing his children and cursing the day he saw his face. Maker later brought Reed to The City and tortured him into becoming Doom while claiming that he doomed three lives that day. Doom then states that he has been trying to find the right composition of cosmic radiation to use while testing it on the laboratory mice in his possession as they keep dying. He says that he lost some people while Iron Lad hasn't lost anybody to an accident. Doom will try Iron Lad's way for now. When the laboratory mice stop dying, the Fantastic Four will return. While noting that he has work to do, Doom tells Iron Lad to close the door on the way out. 14 months are remaining before The City opens.

At the Secret Stark Satellite that's been dubbed the Triskelion, Tony Stark briefs Captain America on what has happened to some Roxxon locations where survivors have talked about seeing flying arrows that are of Stark/Stane's design. While noting that the person who was supposed to be Hawkeye rejected the offer, someone has obtained the Hawkeye equipment. Tony sends Captain America to confront them since Tony is swamped with the Gamma island reclamation and Human Torch's repairs, America Chavez is on a mission in Eurasia, Giant-Man and Wasp are investigating a lead on a trapped hero, Thor and Sif are nowhere to be found, She-Hulk will only leave her island to confront Maker's Council, and Doom is busy. At Roxxon Refinery 15, Hawkeye is confronted by Captain America who identifies them as Charli Ramsey. Hawkeye goes on the attack using the different arrows on Captain America while claiming that Roxxon does whatever they want and anyone who stands up to them gets arrested. Captain America finally subdues Hawkeye just as armed soldiers that Hawkeye calls "Roxxon's Cleanup Crew" arrive. Captain America hears that they are a team of mercenaries who secure mining operations and were the ones who put down the Savage Land Revolt in the 70s. Captain America and Hawkeye defeat "Roxxon's Cleanup Crew". Hawkeye agrees to accompany him as they answer Captain America's question on if their spirit name was "Charli Hawk's Eye" by stating "You white people will believe anything". Meanwhile, Emmanuel da Costa and Hulk talk about what happened to Midas and Roxxon's facilities. With Emanuel infuriated that they harmed Roxxon which is part of his profile, Hulk calms him down while stating that he had time to study their strengths and weaknesses while considering them an insurgency. When Emmanuel asks what he would propose, Hulk states that he's going to kill them once and for all. 13 months are remaining before The City opens.

Iron Lad has cracked the Overnet used by Maker's Council and has brought Captain America, Thor, Sif, Giant-Man, Wasp, Human Torch, America Chavez, Hawkeye, and She-Hulk to a Damage Control location that is said to contain a dozen super-powered prisoners that they plan to rescue before the prisoners are executed tomorrow. When they enter it, they instead find Hulk inside as he offers them some tea. She-Hulk then begins her attack on Hulk for what he did to her island as Hulk uses the Iron Fist move on her. Meanwhile, Doom is told by the Triskelion's A.I. that it has lost contact with everyone. Hulk reveals to the Ultimates that he had brought them to K'un-L'un and that he rules all seven of Heaven's capital cities. His Immortal Weapons (consisting of Bride of Nine World-Breakers, Crane Mother of the Bomb, Decay's Beautiful Daughter, Fat Cobra, Prince of Meltdowns, and Uranium Brother #235) then arrive as they take their gamma injections. The Ultimates then fight Hulk and the Immortal Weapons as they struggle against them. Meanwhile, Doom finally locates the Ultimates after doing a search across Avalon, Asgard, and Hel. Fat Cobra then swallows a smaller Wasp. Giant-Man grows to large size and fights Fat Cobra until Wasp grows enough to kill Fat Cobra and then collapses in Giant-Man's arms. Hulk then uses his Gigatron Vice Grip on Iron Lad to defeat him. She-Hulk then lunges towards Hulk to make him pay for what he did to her island. After Hulk breaks She-Hulk's right hand off, Doom manages to teleport everyone out of K'un-L'un at the last minute. As Doom checks on everyone, She-Hulk regenerates her right hand and claims that Iron Lad is dead. 12 months are remaining before The City opens.

Adaptations

Animation

• The Ultimates was loosely adapted into two animated films, Ultimate Avengers and Ultimate Avengers 2.

Live-action

• In The Incredible Hulk, Bruce Banner's transformation is caused by falling out of a helicopter similar to a scene in the comic.
• The Ultimates served as an inspiration for the 2012 live-action crossover film The Avengers.
• The Triskelion appears in Captain America: The Winter Soldier as the Headquarters for S.H.I.E.L.D. in Washington, D.C., and use the storyline that S.H.I.E.L.D. is being taken over by HYDRA. Also, Captain America jumping out of a Quinjet without a parachute is a homage to the first issue of The Ultimates.
• According to actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Avengers: Age of Ultron drew inspiration from the Ultimate comics.

Reception

Keith Dallas from comicsbulletin.com in the review of the "Homeland Security" story arc states the artwork is "visual magnificence" however is concerned about the dark writing of the characters stripped of their "super-heroic nobility" and was "disheartened by the book’s tone and cynicism". Kevin Forest Moreau gave this story arc 4.2 out of 5.0 stating it is an "engaging read, filled with intriguing and amusing modern takes on classic Marvel characters" whilst praising Bryan Hitch's artwork by saying it is "amazing, gorgeous artwork, which continues to set the standard for cinematic photo-realism."

See also

• Ultimates
• The Ultimates 2
• Tomorrow Men