A couple of years ago, comics were in danger due to their incredible low sales. Marvel comics, responsible for popular properties such as Spider-man, X-Men, and Daredevil to name just a few, had become unreadable. Even the readership that have been following for years was starting to thin. The storylines were perplexing and the public had lost interest. Newly assigned Editor-In-Chief Joe Quesada and President of Marvel Bill Jemas decided to start over.
The Ultimate universe was conceived. The formula was simple: take the origins of the most respected and beloved characters and remake them for a 21st century audience. Some of the industries most respected talents objected, stating that creating a new line of comics wasn’t the answer to fixing problems caused by 40 or so years of continuity. Simply fixing the original material would be in their best interest and creating more comics based on similar material is a waste. They had never planned to disregard the original material, but Marvel needed the hype behind the Ultimate line to jump-start its comeback. By updating popular books such as Spider-Man and X-Men, Ultimate Marvel had found its purpose and Marvel had its savior.
When Ultimate Spider-Man debuted in Fall 2000, it sold out immediately. Two months later, it sold on Ebay for well over 20 dollars. Almost as soon as the new issues hit the stands, they sold completely out and Marvel’s no reprinting policy raised Ultimate Marvel’s collectablity transforming the Ultimate line into a phenomenon.
That was over two years ago. Since then, Marvel comics have gone under some major changes. With the success of the Ultimate line, Marvel’s popularity went through the roof, sparking interest in the original titles that people feared the Ultimate line would replace. Original Marvel property has had a great resurgence in readership, the Ultimate line is still high on the sale charts, and both are receiving critical praise for their art and storylines.
So what exactly is so great about these Ultimate titles? Here’s a quick overview:
Ultimate Spider-Man
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Mark Bagley
When asked what makes Ultimate Spider-Man one of the most entertaining comics in the industry, the response is most often than not: Brian Michael Bendis. The ability to make the geeky, insecure 15-year-old Peter Parker a strong and stalwart superhero with great power and great responsibility is not only a tough job, but Bendis makes it completely believable.
“Never write down,” Bendis wrote in Wizard’s Ultimate Marvel Special. “People want to be challenged and intrigued and just because these characters are teenagers doesn’t mean they have to be written like ‘Saved By The Bell’.”
This award winning writer not only brought us step-by-step through young Peter’s evolution into Spider-Man, he is bringing welcomed twists to traditional characters and storylines. Joined with an artist with a long history with Spider-Man, Mark Bagley, the comic got off to a great start.
The first two arcs of Ultimate Spider-Man dealt with Peter’s growth into a hero. Using his powers and hiding behind a mask, Peter uses his gift to honor his Uncle Ben and to fight crime. The serum-infected Spider (a welcomed twist from the original radioactive spider) that bit Parker was the brainchild of Norman Osborne, the brilliant scientist and father to Peter’s friend Harry. After witnessing the effects his serum had on Peter, he injects himself, tragically transforming himself into the Green Goblin, A hulking green mutated version of Norman who seeks the death of his family and Parker/Spider-Man.
After Spider-Man defeats this first “Supervillain,” he confronts the Kingpin of crime, battles a psychotic Doctor Octopus, evades Kraven the Hunter and his camera crew (a “Crocodile Hunter”-type looking to hunt Spider-Man), and begins to date Mary Jane. With all of these epic battles taking place, Bendis remembers to focus on Peter’s life in High School. He still is always late to class and gets grounded by his Aunt May, all due to his secret identity as Spider-Man.
Future stories for Spider-Man will see the return of Green Goblin in a far more perilous way than before. Spider-Man will also deal with Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D., the Chameleon will make Peter’s life hell, and Venom will be getting the Ultimate twist. “The toughest part of doing Ultimate characters is deciding what to change about these characters’ origins.” So far so good, Ultimate Spider-Man is still one of the highest selling and critically acclaimed comics out right now.
Ultimate X-Men
Writer: Mark Millar
Artist: Adam Kubert
Black, Hispanic, Gay, Lesbian, Jewish…Mutant? The comic book world during the 60’s had their version of racism. Mutants are humans born with an X-Factor gene, mutating them at puberty, and granting them spectacular powers and/or hideous disfigurations. The world is afraid of this change, fearing for their safety as their genetic “replacements” are emerging. On the mutant’s point of view, it is basically split into two mentalities.
Professor Charles Xavier opened his Xavier Institute For The Gifted as a haven for mutants. There, his “X-Men” learn of their abilities and strive to teach people that Mutants are people too and should not be judged by natural genetic difference.
Erik Lensherr, also known as Magneto, believes a war is coming between Mutant kind and Humanity. Being a Jewish man and a survivor of the Holocaust, Magneto has claimed to see mankind’s “tolerance.” Before the horrors of the past repeat, Magneto lashes out at a mankind he sees as inferior to his mutant brethren.
Having so much continuity tied behind it, the original X-Men comics could be inaccessible to new readers. Mark Millar and Adam Kubert went ahead and created Ultimate X-Men. The school is handled like a private school with all the flirting, trash talking and competitiveness intact…only everyone has super-powers. The creators wanted to take a more practical look at what it would be like.
“(We’re taking) a whole new approach to the book,” Millar explains. “Ultimate X-Men looked different when we launched because we ditched the superhero costumes and the traditional captions and employed modern storytelling and realistic dialogue.”
The X-Men already had their share of challenges. The President was dragged naked out of the White House by Magneto during an assault on the capital only to be saved by the X-Men. Wolverine’s past catches up to him as a secret government program called Weapon X kidnapped the X-Men and used them as weapons, forcing them to kill. Then Xavier’s son Proteus, a reality-warping Mutant with a hatred for his father, nearly killed Iceman, kill Elizabeth Braddock (Psylocke), and forever changed the morale of the X-men. All of this and fighting for acceptance and protecting a human race that hates and fears them.
This winter will see the Ultimate version of Phoenix, a God-like power that will invade Jean Grey’s body. The X-Men consisting of Cyclops, Wolverine, Storm, Beast, Kitty Pryde and Colossus will have to face their biggest challenge in the form of their teammate Jean Grey as she becomes more powerful than anyone can possibly imagine.
The Ultimates
Writer: Mark Millar
Artist: Brian Hitch
Say these occurrences were happening in real life. A teenage kid puts on tights calling himself Spider-Man and swings around New York City either saving people or being a serious threat, depending on whom you ask. The “Mutant Menace” has parents pulling children out of public schools for fear of Mutants walking the halls. And maniacs like Magneto assault the Nation’s capital, destroying most of it, and nearly killing our President. What could our Government do to make us feel safer living in this new and dangerous world?
They create The Ultimates. A government-funded team of super-powered beings that face challenges our armed forces are incapable of facing.
They are a collection of the most experienced, brilliant and strongest heroes ever to walk th
e Earth and they are here to protect us. To the American public that is what they are supposed to be. Millar shows us that this group is quite possibly the most dysfunctional group of people other than any cast of “The Real World.”
Captain America, Iron-Man, Wasp, Giant-Man, Thor and Bruce Banner (Hulk), led by Nick Fury are more of a danger to themselves as proven in the first story line. The team is assembled and billions has been invested yet there is nothing for them to fight. Feeling outcast and ridiculed, Bruce Banner gives the team their first challenge; he injects himself with Hulk serum, releasing the rampaging beast into New York City. The Ultimates lead an army of soldiers and rescue crews into the city to take down the Hulk. After the Ultimates take down one of their own on their first mission, the Prozac-happy Giant-Man batters his wife (Wasp), and Tony Stark (Iron Man) happily embraces his alcoholism. This Ultimate twist on the classic “Avengers” is by far the best comic on the stands today.
In the upcoming months, the Ultimates will acquire some new teammates in the form of Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver (daughter and son of Magneto), and the Russian spy Black Widow. The change in the roster is due to the dangers of the job. Some heroes face death while some believe the job is not for them. They will also face a major alien invasion that will test the team more than ever before.
UPCOMING PROJECTS:
Ultimate X-Men Vs. Ultimates
Writer: Mark Millar
Artist: Chris Bachallo
It was bound to happen eventually. The Ultimates were formed to counter the growing super powered menaces this new age is bringing. In the public eye, the most dangerous of these threats are mutants. The X-Men, the villains of this mini, are about to tangle with The Ultimates in a showdown that will rock both teams to the ground. This upcoming four-issue mini-series is expected to be the best selling comic of the winter season.
In Ultimate X-Men, the band of Xavier’s students are seen as heroes. Mutants out to protect a world from mutants, who abuse their power, while at the same time striving for Mutant rights. The fear of mutants, however, is taking control and the government’s Ultimates are out to regain that control. It’ll be Wolverine vs. Iron Man, Thor against Colossus, Hawkeye impaling Rogue, and Nick Fury against Professor Xavier. It will be a no-holds-barred fight that will forever change the status quo of both of the very popular books.
Ultimate Daredevil and Elektra
Writer: Greg Rucka
Artist: Salvador Larocca
To capitalize on 20th Century Fox’s upcoming film-adaptation of Daredevil, Marvel gives the tragic couple the Ultimate treatment. Elektra Natchios, a young martial arts master from queens is starting her freshman year and Columbia University. She has her share of problems adjusting to campus life, not to mention meeting a young Matt Murdock, who is the blind vigilante Daredevil. This mini-series promises to be tailor made to comply with the movie, which stars Ben Affleck (Daredevil) and Jennifer Garner (Elektra).
Comic curiosities can be taken to Showcase at the Hadley Mall.
On the Net: http://www.Marvel.com.
