Ultraverse...why doesn't Marvel use any of these characters?

djm928 · Post by **djm928** » Wed May 11, 2005 3:46 pm

For those of you that remember the Ultraverse. I was wondering if anyone had an update on why Marvel hasn't utilized these characters? I personally enjoyed Freex, the Strangers, Sludge, and Prime. While these were owned by Malibu, they were highly entertaining. Oh, well... at least the back issues are cheap.

Vault-Keeper · Post by **Vault-Keeper** » Wed May 11, 2005 5:03 pm

I'm not current, but last year they were still publishing THE EXILES.---Steve

The Spider · Post by **The Spider** » Wed May 11, 2005 5:22 pm

Probably trying to save them for movie and TV tie-ins. (MEN IN BLACK was one of the properties Malibu got when they got Aircel.)

For all of Quesada and WIZARD and whoever joking and claiming how worthless the Ultraverse characters are, if the Ultraverse properties really were worthless, they'd at least try to give back RUNE to Barry Windsor-Smith. So I think they're really aware that it's in their best interest to keep them.

depluto · Post by **depluto** » Wed May 11, 2005 5:27 pm

Vault-Keeper wrote:I'm not current, but last year they were still publishing THE EXILES.---Steve

I'm pretty sure those are different Exiles than the ones Malibu did. Somebody explained that once on DF1s board.

djm928 · Post by **djm928** » Wed May 11, 2005 5:32 pm

You're right, they are the same in title name only. I kind of miss Lord Pumpkin as well...kind of a demonic scarecrow. He could be scary in a movie all his own.

depluto · Post by **depluto** » Wed May 11, 2005 5:35 pm

My favorite UV titles were Rune, Prime and Sludge. There was a major drop-off in story and art quality as those series went down in flames. This happening right when the bubble burst didn't help.

Not as good as Valiant, but much better than Image at the time.

Byrneout · Post by **Byrneout** » Thu May 12, 2005 7:35 am

djm928 wrote:I was wondering if anyone had an update on why Marvel hasn't utilized these characters?

Simply put - when Marvel took the characters over, the characters were unique with solid concepts, a refreshing change to a lot of the drivel being put out at the time.

That simply WILL NOT do for Marvel, no sir!

I'd rather the characters remain dead and buried than to let Marvel take another crack at them. Spider-Prime? The Night Man going cannibal? Yeesh.

jcdenton · Post by **jcdenton** » Thu May 12, 2005 8:10 am

Something I've been wondering about... When Marvel took over the Ultraverse properties, how did they deal with the continuity of bringing them into the Marvel Universe? Or did they keep them separate?

whetteon · Post by **whetteon** » Thu May 12, 2005 8:24 am

I think they are pulling a VIP.

Byrneout · Post by **Byrneout** » Thu May 12, 2005 8:56 am

jcdenton wrote:Something I've been wondering about... When Marvel took over the Ultraverse properties, how did they deal with the continuity of bringing them into the Marvel Universe? Or did they keep them separate?

They kept them kind of separate. There were crossovers (Thor appeared as a god-like being even more so than normal, Juggernaut got pitched into their universe, and Prime met Spider-Man, leading to the infamous Spider-Prime), but on the whole, the two universes were kept at arm's length from each other.

Redtrax · Post by **Redtrax** » Thu May 12, 2005 10:56 am

I actually liked the Ultraforce, written by Warren Ellis, and (All New) Exiles series after Marvel took over Malibu.
Not too long ago, I read the last Ultraverse comic, Future Shock. It was so friggin confusing, it made DC history look like simplicity itself.

jcdenton · Post by **jcdenton** » Thu May 12, 2005 2:34 pm

"They kept them kind of separate. There were crossovers (Thor appeared as a god-like being even more so than normal, Juggernaut got pitched into their universe, and Prime met Spider-Man, leading to the infamous Spider-Prime), but on the whole, the two universes were kept at arm's length from each other"

Thanks Byrne. I wonder why they didn't just absorb the titles into the regular Marvel Universe, just like any other Marvel title--sure they would have taken a one-time continuity hit, but by keeping them "separate" is seems like the entire line was destined to either succeed or fail as one (in this case fail) instead of each book succeeding or failing on its own merits.

Redtrax · Post by **Redtrax** » Thu May 12, 2005 2:40 pm

jcdenton wrote:"They kept them kind of separate. There were crossovers (Thor appeared as a god-like being even more so than normal, Juggernaut got pitched into their universe, and Prime met Spider-Man, leading to the infamous Spider-Prime), but on the whole, the two universes were kept at arm's length from each other"

Thanks Byrne. I wonder why they didn't just absorb the titles into the regular Marvel Universe, just like any other Marvel title--sure they would have taken a one-time continuity hit, but by keeping them "separate" is seems like the entire line was destined to either succeed or fail as one (in this case fail) instead of each book succeeding or failing on its own merits.

They handled it like DC did when they acquired Wildstorm. Problem with incorporating everything in the regular universe is explaining where all these characters come from all of a sudden to say they least.

Byrneout · Post by **Byrneout** » Thu May 12, 2005 2:43 pm

jcdenton wrote:Thanks Byrne. I wonder why they didn't just absorb the titles into the regular Marvel Universe, just like any other Marvel title--sure they would have taken a one-time continuity hit, but by keeping them "separate" is seems like the entire line was destined to either succeed or fail as one (in this case fail) instead of each book succeeding or failing on its own merits.

You're very right in that it was set up to fail. In my opinion, Marvel's purchase of Malibu was a revenge purchase.

Revenge? For what, you ask?

Early 90's, Marvel is on top of the world with their hot artists - Todd McFarlane, Silvestri, Larsen, Leifeld, etc. Suddely, the artists make a departure for their own creations, leaving Marvel high and dry to form Image.

How does that relate, you ask?

Simple. When Image was first founded, they were published and distributed by Malibu. Image become a phenomenal commercial success, while Marvel was languishing.

When the tables were turned several years later, Marvel jumped at the chance to own Malibu, and paid lip-service to the Malibu universe, while they continued to put as many lame, crack brained ideas they could into the Ultraverse books.

Why, Marvel? What did Night Man ever do to you? And Prime... Prime was just a KID, no matter how big he looked...

*sighs, sniffles*

X-O HoboJoe · Post by **X-O HoboJoe** » Thu May 12, 2005 2:46 pm

Byrneout wrote:Why, Marvel? What did Night Man ever do to you?

He out-sold 3/4 of their crappy books several months in a row.

djm928 · Post by **djm928** » Thu May 12, 2005 3:03 pm

The Nightman TV series didn't help this line out much either... Man-Thing anyone? Ok maybe it wasn't that bad, but it seems there will be no hope for the Ultraverse unless someone with big pockets is able to buy the rights back from Marvel.... come on Stan Lee... you just won that big lawsuit against Marvel for 10% of profits made by your creations...

wrunow · Post by **wrunow** » Thu May 12, 2005 3:07 pm

Well I think it's pretty obvious that Marvel never really cared for the Ultraverse and basically bought Malibu out, probably on the cheap, because they could remove a player from the marketplace, or, maybe DC was interested too and they didn't want to see that happen.
When your Marvel or DC, anytime you can remove a competitor that has some growth potential you protect your own titles at the same time, since as the biggest players by far in the market they have the most to lose in market share, maybe not with their core titles but with their secondary books.

djm928 · Post by **djm928** » Thu May 12, 2005 6:50 pm

Very informative post knightt. Glad to see some light on the subject.

dac55 · Post by **dac55** » Sat Oct 15, 2005 10:22 pm

We prouably will never know for sure why Marvel bought Malibu. I do know that Marvel and DC wonted Malibus colering prosess. And if DC got Malibu it would have gave DC the top spot in comics. And Marvel couldent stand that. I know thats not all there was to it but it had a lot to do with it. And as long as Marvel is doing as good, as they are with there X-crap you wont see any Ultraverse in in the near furture.I got a lot of this from knightt.

dac

Knightt · Post by **Knightt** » Sat Oct 15, 2005 11:34 pm

A recap of a post I made a while back:

Marvel bought the company for the coloring process but ALSO due to the fact that DC was planning on buying Ultraverse at the same time. DC and Marvel were pretty much running neck and neck with Marvel in the lead. The owner of Marvel at the time saw DC's attempt at buying Ultraverse as a ploy to get DC's 'numbers' higher than Marvel. Marvel had been on top for years and it was felt that if DC absorbed the Ultraverse that their 'numbers' could not only rival Marvel but PASS them in terms of 'King of the Hill' and this was something that was unthinkable. So, in that being said... Marvel made a HUGE push to buy the Ultraverse. Marvel was having it's pages colored over in Scotland at that time so an in house coloring process which was also years ahead of it's time back then was a very good production move. We are talking days to color a book as opposed to weeks AND they would not have to pay overseas rates to the colorists. Marvel gets a great coloring process AND gets to keep the #1 slot in the Battle of the Comic Book Top Three (and the rest of the world).

Malibu was so far in debt at the time (over a million bucks) that they had to get an advance FROM Marvel so that they would have the cash to pay their portion of the legal fees for the buy out.

A year ago I asked Joe Quesada about the Ultraverse characters and he had told me that yes, the rights to the Ultraverse characters were in hibernation but nobody knew if they would EVER wake up. There was talk of a Prime movie a while back but these things can take years to come to fruition and without the backing of any major players in the Marvel camp, he doubted we would ever see a movie OR the characters back in print.

Just as well by me because I loved these books when they first came out and operational control was held by Malibu... Marvel/Ultraverse books did not hold a lot of interest for me so even if they came out today, I would be a bit wary to get into them right away.

dac55 · Post by **dac55** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 9:47 am

I'll say it again. Verry well said Knightt. I knew you would get it right.

dac

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Ultraverse...why doesn't Marvel use any of these characters?

Ultraverse...why doesn't Marvel use any of these characters?

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