The Ultimate Marvel Universe is ‘One Year In’ - so what's next? James Hagan talks with Bryan Edward Hill, Juan Frigeri and Jonas Scharf!
Article by James Hagan
7th December 2024
We’re a year into the smash-hit Ultimate line, where Spider-Man, Black Panther and the X-Men were reimagined in the all-new world of Earth-6160. So, where do we go from here?
If you’re unfamiliar, the Ultimate line was Marvel’s alternative universe launched with Ultimate Spider-Man (2000), allowing for contemporary tales with less continuity to bog down newcomers and freedom to rattle the cage of established canon. Yet the line lost steam in the early 2010s, and only appeared a handful of times thereafter - until its 2023 reimagining in Ultimate Invasion by Jonathan Hickman and Bryan Hitch.
If you are familiar with it, you’ll know that this corner of the Marvel Universe is doing fantastically. Reports show consistently high monthly sales across the board, with Ultimate Spider-Man (USM) surpassing its turbulent main universe run from launch. Collected editions have followed suit, with USM #1 being the overall highest-selling comic of 2024.
So why is the world of Earth-6160 such a hit? Critics and fans praise the refreshing deviation from the main 616 universe, and the unique flavour each book has, following the success story of alternate-continuity comics in 2024, alongside the year’s second biggest seller, Absolute Batman #1
Plus, as Marvel and DC have demonstrated, alternate universes add a mortality that many main continuity stories can’t even for titular characters, allowing readers new and old to follow the journey unsure even if the main character may bite the bullet - just ask the original Ultimate Spider-Man (RIP)!
Now, one year in, as the first batch of series crosses into double digits, climaxes come to a head, and the quality continues to impress. Marking the anniversary is December’s Ultimate Universe: One Year In, a one-shot setting the stage for 2025.
Pencilling the book is Jonas Scharf (Dead X-Men, Hellhunters, ). He spoke to me about his future with Marvel’s Ultimate Universe.
James Hagan: So what draws you into this new Ultimate Universe?
Jonas Scharf: It's the level of care and passion creators like Deniz put in, how much editorial invests to coordinate such a thing, and how well it resonates with readers. I read Ultimates as I started on One Year In (OYI). I’d heard they were good but didn’t expect to be invested so quickly.
Will we see you involved more in 2025?
JS: I’m not sure how much I can say at this point, but OYI is not my last contribution to the line. (With OYI) The stakes are high here - everything is coming to a head.
What style of character do you find most enjoyable to draw, and what kind are the most challenging?
JS: The uglier, the better! Big monsters are probably the most fun, but the least enjoyable for me are characters with crazy complicated "techy" costumes - they’re not my thing.
An interesting premise since its announcement, Ultimate Black Panther (UBP) focuses solely on a new take of Wakanda; a mythological nation ripe with lore, noticeably underutilised in the previous Ultimate incarnation. With consistently strong art from Caselli and Nieto, and Bryan Edward Hill’s fresh takes on iconic characters deliver an exciting mystery to the world of Black Panther. Last year, I spoke to UBP writer Bryan Edward Hill about what to expect from the burgeoning series; one year later, they spoke again to see what’s to come in 2025.
We're now a year into the reinvigorated Ultimate line - what does the future hold for Wakanda-6160?
BRYAN EDWARD HILL: We're just getting started. There's a lot of world-building yet to do, and new villains entering this universe. The Vodu-Khan’s legacy in Wakanda will be explored, along with the secrets and horrors of Vibranium. Wakanda's relationship with Vibranium echoes Frank Herbert's spice in Dune; it’s this pervasive thing that affects the narrative in dynamic ways. Sometimes it's liberating, sometimes terrifying.
Classic characters like Ororo Munroe and Erik Killmonger are radical takes on their original concepts. How did you approach recreating them?
BEH: Stories are a collection of energy. Different characters bring different energy. Ororo and Killmonger provide me with a way to challenge Wakanda’s tradition with a bit of character-based chaos. Chaotic good? Chaotic evil to come? We'll have to see how it plays out.
Most of the line feels very self-contained. Would you like to see UBP crossover with other titles, and can we expect you to stay on for another year?
BEH: I will mind the store as long as Marvel wants me to! Regarding crossovers - perhaps? If there's a story that really provides readers a great experience.
Anyone following Marvel weeklies knows that Deniz Camp and artist Juan Frigeri’s Ultimates has exploded in popularity. With contemporary superhero fiction rooted in real-world problems, many commend the comic as one the genre needs right now. James spoke to Frigeri about the process and what's coming for The Ultimates.
This new Ultimates book is proving to be a smash hit. What’s been the most exciting part of building this new universe?
JF: I’ve loved creating stories with iconic characters in a fresh setting. The multiverse concept is all about exploring what's different and what's the same. The challenge of keeping characters feeling new and exciting while staying true to their core is what really gets me going.
What influences your process when reimagining classic characters, such as the upcoming Ultimate Guardians of the Galaxy?
JF: It's a mix of conscious and subconscious influence. I draw from Deniz's ideas, my own imagination, and a deep understanding of the character's core. I always research past iterations to ensure my take feels authentic and fresh. They blend together like soup in my head. With the Guardians, we bounced around a lot of wild and exciting ideas before settling on this team. It's tough to talk long-term since they haven't debuted yet (just a cover appearance so far!), but we're eager for readers to dive in.
How do you collaborate with other creators in the line?
JF: I get to work quite independently. I'm given considerable creative freedom. I've only had to coordinate references with other titles; it's the writers and editors in close contact to ensure coordination.
2025’s Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) issue sets up the first Ultimate crossover. Would you like to collaborate with other Ultimate creators in the future?
JF: It'd be cool. I’m clueless about the FCBD book, but working on #10 at the moment, there’s no crossover affectation besides the Guardians, so it's after that. I'd be happy to do crossovers, but even if Marvel asked me to, I don't think I could draw them all. I still need to eat and sleep! But The Ultimates has crossover vibes when we introduce new versions of characters or reformulate events. I’m not a person hyped for future events - I focus on the present, you know?
This Wednesday (11th December) teases the future of the line with Ultimate Universe: One Year In, with the Ultimates, X-Men, Spider-Man and Black Panther titles all slated for end-of-year issues. Upping the ante further in January is Condon and Cappuccio’s Ultimate Wolverine maxiseries, paving the way for the increasingly interesting Ultimates 2025 Free Comic Book Day issue.
You can keep up with the Ultimate comics wherever comics are sold, read news and reviews of single issues and collected comics right here on The Comic Crush and don’t forget to check out our Marvel back issues and Marvel Events shops!
