What is the ultimate line?

[cjv]

What is the "Ultimate" line of comics in the marvel universe? I get the impression is a restart of the same characters, but with different histories. Why is this (other than a moneymaking venture)? I mean, isn't what makes Spiderman "Spiderman" his history?

Out of curiosity, is there a synopsis of the new origins and such posted anywhere?

Chris

[X-O HoboJoe]

"You know what I like in a woman? This."

Oh, you mean the line of comics . . . sorry.

[davidb]

I think the official line was that it would make the titles more accessible to new readers. You could go into any of the #1s not knowing anything about the characters and be fine (for example - in Ultimate Spider-Man, Uncle Ben actually survives a couple of issues before the inevitable). This also let them do some interesting twists - like Wolverine originally working with Magneto to infiltrate the X-Men, and Beast getting killed off.

As far as my opinions - Ultimate Spidey's really held up well. The pacing's a bit slow, but what do you expect when Marvel's writing everything to be traded now? Mark Bagley's art is also a definite strong point.

Ultimate X-Men has really fluctuated - I think that not having a permanent artist has hurt that book. Still, it's overall not bad. One of my personal favorite stories is a meeting between Magneto and Xavier in Magneto's X-Men movie prison cell where Magneto is reading his fan mail. A very interesting look at the other side.

Ultimates is a good book, but better enjoyed in a trade. I bought the issues as they came out, and it took 2 years to produce 13 issues. By the time the next issue rolled around, you'd forgotten what had happened!

Ultimate FF is really iffy. There are some interesting twists (like the new fact that the Human Torch burns by literally burning fat in his body) but the story is EXTREMELY SLOW. They're up to about issue 15 now, and so far all they've done is fight the Mole Man (issues 1-6), Doom (7-12), and now they've met Annihilus. It really bugs me that what took them the first six issues to accomplish, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby accomplished in 1.

I've not read any of the Ultimate Nightmare or various minis after Ultimate War. AVOID ULTIMATE WAR LIKE THE PLAGUE. I got it because it was a crossover between the Ultimates and the Ultimate X-Men, and the art was so horrible I couldn't tell what was going on. Quicksilver got shot on panel, and I had to read an issue months later that told me where.

As for origins, take a look at comixfan.com/xfan. On their boards, they have a fan resources section. Underneath the SHIELD files, they have a section that has bios for a lot of (if not all) the characters. Hope this helps!

David B.

[jcdenton]

Just recently picked up my first Ultimates: Ultimate FF and Ultimate Nightmare.

Ultimate FF is kind of a disappointment, simply due to the fact that the "Ultimate" Dr. Doom is pretty much a joke. I mean he's made of metal (not just metal suit, but entire body), he has goat legs and hoofed feet (don't know yet if he has horns), and his version of Latveria is a shanty town of maybe a hundred hippies living in tents in a little town square. Oh yeah, and his last name isn't "Von Doom" anymore, but "Van Damme".

Ultimate Nightmare, I must say, was even worse. First of all, it was five issues that could have easily been 2 or 3. It took me maybe 15-20 minutes to read all 5 issues. Also, the dialogue was horrific. I haven't read such awkward dialogue since McFarlane's Spiderman run. Then there's the meeting of the Ultimates and X-Men, where they basically fight each other for no reason.

As you can tell, my limited exposure to the Ultimate line has been a huge disappointment so far.

[Eric Jackson]

i picked up the a few tpbs and enjoyed them. Nothing to write home about, but i felt it was worth a read.

[CJAotssE]

If the Ultimate line was intended to be an easier introduction to the characters then fine, but what happens when the Ultimate line is ten, fifteen or twenty years old? Same problem, surely, but doubled.

What then? Start all over a third time?

Hopefully House of M tidies the Marvel Universe up, then a crossover between the 616/Ultimate tidies that up.

Pete.

[childres]

The ultimate line is like everything else Marvel puts out. It is a way to make more money. Marvel tries to get collectors to buy more books, by putting out more options on their most popular titles.

Most of the bigger sales come with the early issues in a series. I feel Marvel sucks in the collector by putting out a low print run. This starts the desperation mode that is put in the brain of 95% of the collectors. This helps the next few issues sell very well.

Ultimately( ) the new lines also provide a new look for the latest toys and also puts out a more video friendly product.

I personally think ,that like most lines the best have a chance at survival (example: ultimate spiderman) while the majority will fail after a somewhat initial success

-Joe

[hulk181man]

I feel Marvel sucks in the collector by putting out a low print run. This starts the desperation mode that is put in the brain of 95% of the collectors. This helps the next few issues sell very well.

-Joe

Actually, I think there were tons of copies printed of Ultimates 1 & Ultimate FF 1 as people are speculating again. Going back and reading articles on Ultimate Spidey 1 you find print runs were lower because retailers didn't order heavily not knowing what to expect. But it's always been my understanding that runs are printed based on initial demand from us, the readers.

Btw, Ultimates is one of the best reads in comics these days IMO. Often late, but always enjoyed. Ultimate Spidey is usually very good too.

[davidb]

Ultimate Nightmare, I must say, was even worse. First of all, it was five issues that could have easily been 2 or 3. It took me maybe 15-20 minutes to read all 5 issues. Also, the dialogue was horrific. I haven't read such awkward dialogue since McFarlane's Spiderman run. Then there's the meeting of the Ultimates and X-Men, where they basically fight each other for no reason.

As you can tell, my limited exposure to the Ultimate line has been a huge disappointment so far.

Worst "Ultimate" book I ever read had to be Ultimate War, and it was almost totally due to Chris Bachalo's art. In one issue, Magneto uses some guns to shoot Quicksilver. The art's so bad, I couldn't tell where he was shot! It took a dialogue bubble about three months later to find out exactly what had happened.

And now Bachalo's taking over the art on Uncanny X-Men. I think my time of buying that book may be drawing to a close...

Also, Ultimate FF is draggy and slow. I'd recommend checking out one of the Ultimate Spidey or X-Men TPBs of the early issues. Very interesting, and better paced, too.

[riftt]

I thought Ultimate Spiderman was superb and Ultimate X-Men was horrific

[depluto]

"You know what I like in a woman? This."

Oh, you mean the line of comics . . . sorry.

Or try this one: "You like chicken wings? I got a chicken wing right here, with hot sauce!"

[slym2none]

What is the "Ultimate" line of comics in the marvel universe?

Chris

Utter crap.



-slym (his opinion, of course)

[tcolli]

What is the "Ultimate" line of comics in the marvel universe?

Chris

Utter crap.



-slym (his opinion, of course)

Agreed, I would take Deathmate books before these!

[Daniel Jackson]

What is the "Ultimate" line of comics in the marvel universe?

Chris

Utter crap.



-slym (his opinion, of course)

Agreed, I would take Deathmate books before these!

Now that's saying something.

[slym2none]

What is the "Ultimate" line of comics in the marvel universe?

Chris

Utter crap.



-slym (his opinion, of course)

Agreed, I would take Deathmate books before these!

-slym

[jordan silo]

What is the "Ultimate" line of comics in the marvel universe?

Chris

Utter crap.



-slym (his opinion, of course)

Agreed, I would take Deathmate books before these!

Well I don't know about Deathmate over the Ultimate Line? HAHAHA