Another universe’s purpose can be rough, and can be difficult to define, especially over the long term. It can lose its purpose along the way, drift and seem to drift. The original Ultimate Universe was released on the surface to bring in new and lapsed readers without decades of continuity luggage. As mentioned before in these dives, it is controversial that it exactly means in the execution.
Regardless of its execution, as the line ages, it developed its own long-standing continuity. Unique potential barriers for new readers to jump in. That was a shorter time frame, and there were more and more wikis and forums available to fill people in what they were missing. However, the in-universe solution to characters that are long in their teeth was to fundamentally change the world and implement many catastrophic events that once again give new readers a new starting point.
Every time the ultimate universe faces a devastated edge, then sets off in a new direction, radically different from what happened on the line itself and further deviations from the main line 616 Marvel Universe. generally. Perhaps from the death of Peter Parker and the introduction to Mile Morales, the ultimate Spider-Man often shrugged out of New York City’s destruction and New Jersey’s disappearance. It all changed, and reached a final conclusion at a secret war and the ultimate end. The ultimate universe is finally gone.
“You are the wisest person in the universe, and now there is a lame version of the evil in the world.”
And after laying almost eight years of fallow, Jonathan Hickman, Brian Hitch, Andrew Curry, Alex Sinclair and VC Joe Caramana were shaken up to create a brand new ultimate universe with the ultimate invasion. It’s not the universe of Earth 1610, but it’s new.
Towards the end of the original ultimate universe, the manufacturer discovers the mainline universe, hanging out with Cabal and Thanos, experiencing a secret war, revealing that the half redness he was experiencing is half way back as he was forgering it. And they were involved in all the evil things with Knull and more. I totally recommend reading Jonathan Hickman’s run in the Avengers and Venom for Donnie Cates, Ryan Stegman and the brilliance of maker villains. He was then imprisoned for the setting of this story and for his breakout. It’s interesting how he sidesteps 616 heroes and sets a brand new reality. A better reality than his eyes, where the superhero is essentially on the sidelines from the existing.
As one of the original ultimate architects, it is fitting that Brian Hitch be involved in the origins of the new ultimate universe. His artwork, which Andrew Curry offers the finished ink, is detailed and crisp, and is as clean as you’d expect. On many pages it’s closer, closer, more claustrophobic action. Though there are many gorgeous double-page spreads where things really kick off. The original book has a bit of a widescreen feel, but there is a difference in how this story is familiar but different.
The colours of Alex Sinclair are interesting here. The first chapter, set in the main Marvel universe, has almost completely color wash. A wider color palette is only introduced when the universe shifts. I don’t know if that’s intentional or not (especially because single-color washes are used again in later sequences), but it gives the impression that the new universe is more realistic. And we get a different portrayal with Joe Caramana’s letters of all the caps and mixed case letters between the 616 and the new 6160 universe. There is also a really nice handwritten font used for Howard Stark’s Tony closed letters.
“I think you should fight them.”
The ultimate invasion from Hickman, Hitch, Curry, Sinclair and Caramana placed the final claws on the original ultimate cosmos, but also served as a catalyst for something brand new. It left Miles Morales in the main Marvel universe and spotlighted a new universe designed by the manufacturer. A new universe in which all the possibilities of superheroes have been suppressed, and villain Cabal (which may surprise you) reigns all over the world. Until some people decide not to play by the rules.
Unlike previous incarnations of the ultimate universe, the new universe becomes potentially difficult. When the city reopens, Damocles’ sword hangs. It is not anyone’s guess who or what will appear when 18 months are increasing. It provides an interesting time frame for events in the universe series to occur, setting possibilities once again for major changes. And then it’ll come soon.
Classic comics overview: The ultimate invasion
The ultimate invasion
Author: Jonathan Hickman
Pensyler: Brian Hitch
Inker: Andrew Curry
Colorist: Alex Sinclair
Letter: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Release date: June 21st – September 27th, 2023
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