The Best Ultimate Comics Marvel Ever Made, Ranked

Ultimate Marvel is getting a resurgence, with Marvel bringing back the concept of a new Marvel Universe that is different from the 616 one. The new Ultimate Universe has been a success, something it has in common with the beginning of the old one. In the year 2000, Ultimate Spider-Man #1 introduced readers to an entirely new Marvel Universe and that book sold like hotcakes. Ultimate X-Men was next, followed by The Ultimates and Ultimate Fantastic Four.

In the first few years of the Ultimate Universe, there was even talk of it replacing the mainstream Marvel Universe by fans and comic publications like Wizard, showing just how popular it was. That popularity wouldn’t last, and the Ultimate Universe would fall into edgy, grimdark garbage, finally dying in 2015’s Secret Wars. This has tainted the Ultimate Universe in the eyes of many fans, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any great Ultimate Universe stories. Both versions of the Ultimate Universe, the new and the old, have some brilliant comics that any Marvel fan will love.

10 Ultimate X-Men (Vol. 2) #1 Takes A Horror Manga Approach To Marvel’s Merry Mutants

Peach Momoko has taken Marvel by storm, and her Demon Days books and variant covers show off her brilliant manga-inspired art and writing. Momoko was an out-of-left-field choice to take over Ultimate X-Men (Vol. 2), and many fans doubted her approach to the book. Momoko’s Ultimate X-Men is very different from anything before, using Japanese folklore and the tropes of horror manga to tell the story of the mutants of the 6160 universe. The book’s first issue introduced the Ultimate Universe version of Hisako Ichiki, Armor in the 616 universe, an outcast at her school whose only friend killed himself.

Things go from bad to worse when a shadowy being starts to stalk her, and her mutation manifests, allowing her to create a massive suit of energy armor. Ultimate X-Men (Vol. 2) #1 is only the first issue of the series, but it’s an amazing comic. It takes everything a reader would expect from an X-Men comic and turns it on its ear. This is an entirely new look at mutants, and this first issue is the best way to kick off a book in a new universe. Marvel is going back to basics with the X-Men, so a take like this is just what readers need.

9 Ultimate X-Men: The Tomorrow People Is Better Than Its Often Edgy Presentation Belies

The first volume of Ultimate X-Men has a lot of ups and downs. The book was the brainchild of writer Mark Millar, whose often edgy writing would lead the Ultimate Universe down a terrible road as the years progressed. Ultimate X-Men: The Tomorrow People can be very edgy at times, but it also does a great job introducing the X-Men to the Ultimate Universe. This story sees the team’s first battle against Magneto and the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, Wolverine joining the team at Magneto’s behest and betraying the mutant master of magnetism because of Jean Grey, and all ending with an epic battle in Washington DC.

The first volume of Ultimate X-Men can be dated at times, but the excellent artwork of Adam and Andy Kubert makes up for that. This is a gorgeously drawn story, making reading it a joy. Millar’s writing is also quite good, building a new history for the X-Men, Xavier, and Magneto. Fans loved this book when it came out, and it still holds up mostly.

8 Ultimate Wolverine vs. Hulk Suffered From Massive Delays But Ended Up Pretty Great

The rivalry between Wolverine and Hulk in the 616 universe has always been a fan favorite. The two characters are known for ripping each other apart; fans have always gotten great fights between them. Someone at Marvel decided that the Ultimate Universe needed some of that flavor, so Ultimate Wolverine Vs. Hulk was born. Damon Lindelof, co-creator of Lost, was tapped as a writer. Leinil Francis Yu, an artist who cut his teeth drawing Wolverine (Vol. 2), joined him for a book everyone looked forward to. However, Lindelof’s TV writing job made the book coming out monthly impossible, and it took a three-year hiatus after the second issue, with the final four installments coming out in 2009.

However, those delays don’t matter anymore; the book is overall very good. Wolverine is sent by Nick Fury to kill the Hulk, but it doesn’t go as planned, and suddenly, the near-immortal mutant finds himself torn in half. The story gets weirder – and better – from there, introducing the Ultimate version of She-Hulk into the mix as well. This book has epic battles, and Yu’s ability to render action and Lindelof’s script make this a gem from a period when the Ultimate Universe was on its way downhill.

7 Ultimate Universe #1 Gave Readers Their First Taste Of The 6160 Ultimate Universe

Ultimate Invasion, by Ultimate Universe alums Jonathan Hickman and Bryan Hitch, kicked off the new universe. The Maker created his own world to escape the heroes who had plagued him in the 1610 and 616 universes. However, not everything went as planned, which is where Ultimate Universe #1 comes in. This book was the first time readers spent a significant amount of time in this new universe, as a very different Tony Stark and Reed Richards teamed up with Lady Sif to rescue Thor from the clutches of the Maker’s Council.

As far as introductions to a new universe go, this book has it all. Hickman is a master of these kinds of stories, combining deft world-building and characterization with excellent action and dropping in a dash of intrigue. This book brilliantly sets the stage for the new Ultimate Universe, showing how different it was from what came before. Caselli and Curiel combine to create some breathtaking moments in this book, all informed by the brilliant script that Hickman lays down. This was precisely the way to get readers excited about this new universe.

6 Ultimate Fallout Gave Readers The End Of Peter Parker And The Beginning Of A New Legend

The death of Ultimate Spider-Man rocked the Ultimate Universe. Ultimate Spider-Man had long been the best Ultimate book, with writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Mark Bagley beating Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s record of issues produced by a single team on Fantastic Four. Even when the rest of the Ultimate Universe was falling into a hole thanks to Jeph Loeb’s one-two punch of terrible with The Ultimates 3 and Ultimatum, Ultimate Spider-Man was the one book that everyone could agree was good. Bendis’s place as the chief architect of the Ultimate Universe was undisputed. However, when everyone decided a change was needed Peter Parker died in battle, stopping Green Goblin.

This led to the excellent Ultimate Fallout, a comic that explored just what Peter Parker’s death meant to his closest friends and family and the superhero community of the Ultimate Universe. This book has a murderer’s row of talent onboard, all there to say goodbye to the MVP of the original Ultimate Universe. However, what really makes this comic so special is the introduction of Miles Morales. Miles would become a superstar in his own right and is easily the most popular Marvel character created in the 21st century. This is an amazing story, and it shows the Ultimate Universe in a great light as it prepares for its next evolution after a few so-so years.

5 The Ultimates: Super-Human Was The Perfect Way To Kick Off The Ultimate Universe’s Avengers

Mark Millar was a formative part of the Ultimate Universe’s foundation, and his edginess would become a part of its DNA. The original Ultimate Universe has aged very badly, and Millar plays no small part. However, it’s impossible to deny just how much good work he did on some of those books, and the first six issues of The Ultimates, collected as The Ultimates: Super-Human, shows that his writing style could create some excellent stories. The book revolves around SHIELD Director Nick Fury bringing together his own team of superhumans, including the recently found Captain America. They’re soon called into action when Bruce Banner decides to become the Hulk because Betty Ross doesn’t love him, finding themselves in an epic battle.

These issues have a lot of Millar’s requisite edginess – and the sixth issue’s brutal case of spousal abuse between Hank Pym and the Wasp can be hard to get through – but it’s still an excellent story. The first amazing issue focuses on Captain America’s last battle in WWII, and the changes made to characters like Iron Man and Thor make them pop in ways the 616 versions don’t. Bryan Hitch’s art is a huge part of what makes this book so amazing. Hitch was at the height of his powers at this point and was allowed to produce amazing work without having to worry about a monthly schedule. The Ultimates: Super-Human looks amazing, which goes a long way towards assuaging any doubts a reader has over checking it out.

4 Ultimate Spider-Man (Vol. 3) #1 Finally Gives Fans A Spider-Man They Actually Want

Spider-Man fans have had a tough time since One More Day nuked the marriage between Peter Parker and Mary Jane, all because Marvel’s editors didn’t like the thought of the character being “aged.” Ultimate Spider-Man and Miles Morales’s later books would help with this, but things got worse and worse, as Marvel constantly teased bringing the marriage back and then did the opposite. This came to a head with the latest volume of Amazing Spider-Man, with writer Zeb Wells marrying Mary Jane off to an all-new male character that no one likes and making Peter Parker look terrible every chance he gets. Spider-Man fans haven’t been happy in a long time, which made it much worse.

Then along came Ultimate Spider-Man (Vol. 3) #1. Hickman took the premise of his new Ultimate Universe and used it to show readers what Peter Parker’s life would have been like without his spider powers. He’s married to Mary Jane with two children, a successful photographer at The Daily Bugle with a friendly working relationship with J. Jonah Jameson. Uncle Ben is alive instead of Aunt May, and everything is perfect. Then, he gets a package from Tony Stark that tells him about the destiny that was taken from him and gives him the chance to be what he always could have been. Peter takes that chance, gaining his spider powers and walking the road to becoming Spider-Man. It sold out basically immediately and has gone into multiple printings. Hickman and Checchetto are gelling to create something Spider-Man fans have wanted for years.

3 Ultimate War Brought Together The Ultimate Universe’s Biggest Teams For An Epic Showdown

The Ultimate X-Men and the Ultimates were the first two big teams of the Ultimate Universe, and it was only a matter of time before they had a crossover, especially since they were both written by Mark Millar. The first story arc of Ultimate X-Men ended with Xavier faking Magneto’s death and mindwiping him, which would eventually be discovered by the world. This made the X-Men outlaws, and SHIELD sent the Ultimates after them. This was the premise of Ultimate War, a four-issue miniseries that pits the two teams against each other in battle. Millar was joined by Chris Bachalo, a top-ranked X-Men artist since the mid-’90s, for a hard-hitting series that gave fans the first major Ultimate Universe crossover.

This series isn’t nearly as edgy as some of Millar’s work on the Ultimate books. This is just a good old-fashioned slugfest between two big-league Marvel teams, full of great art and writing. The book does a good job of catching readers up on what they need to know in its own pages, so no prior knowledge is needed, making it perfect for readers who want to see a big, cool fight. This story isn’t super deep, but it doesn’t need to be; it’s just an excellently written and drawn fight comic.

2 Ultimate X-Men (Vol. 1) #41 Is A Heartbreaking Story Of A Mutant Gone Wrong

Brian Michael Bendis took over Ultimate X-Men (Vol. 1) for twelve issues after Mark Millar left the book, teaming with artist David Finch. These issues are pretty good, but one issue stands above the rest – Ultimate X-Men (Vol. 1) #41. Ultimate X-Men #41 is Ultimate Wolverine’s best story, as he’s sent to take care of something only he could. The story begins with a teenage boy waking up to find his parents gone. His hometown is eerily quiet, and the boy realizes whatever is happening is his fault as everyone around him dies. He runs to a cave and is found by Wolverine, who tells the boy the horrible truth – he’s a mutant and his powers are killing everyone around him. Human-mutant relations are fragile, and the X-Men can’t have a mutant responsible for this carnage. Wolverine’s healing factor keeps him safe from the boy’s power, and he breaks the bad news to him – that he’s there to kill the new mutant.

Wolverine shares a beer with him and then does the job, killing him. This story is heartbreaking, showing just how terrible a mutant’s awakening can be and the lengths the Ultimate X-Men will go to ensure the world doesn’t blame mutants for this terrible thing. This story does away with all the edginess that defined the Ultimate Universe for years, cutting things to the quick, literally and figuratively. Bendis and Finch always work wonderfully together, and this issue is probably the best comic in their long years of collaborating.

1 Ultimate Spider-Man: Power & Responsibility Introduced Readers To Spider-Man And The Ultimate Universe

The Ultimate Universe was a big gamble, but Marvel put the perfect team together on the right character to kick it all off – writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Mark Bagley on Spider-Man. Bendis wasn’t a huge star, but Ultimate Spider-Man would make him one. Bagley was an old hand on the Wall-Crawler, taking over after superstar artists Todd McFarlane and Erik Larsen left for Image. These were huge shoes to fill, and many fans consider Bagley the best Spider-Man artist. These two came together to create a legendary new Spider-Man comic.

Ultimate Spider-Man: Power & Responsibility launched the Ultimate Universe immediately into the stratosphere. Bendis’s style of character-building benefited the world of Spider-Man, and fans didn’t even complain that it took multiple issues before Peter Parker ever put on a costume. Bendis and Bagley made an amazing team, and the new modernized Spider-Man linked Parker and Norman Osborn in entirely new ways. Speaking of Osborn, the new version of the Green Goblin lived up to his name, becoming a more bestial version of the villain. This story has it all, and the first Ultimate Universe story is still its best.