Official Ultimate Universe Thread

[Thunderbuns]

Mother of Christ, that´s good! I´m totally new to the Ultimate Universe. (Haven´t read "Super" hero stories for years. Stuck to the Punisher, Yeah!) But this is fantastic. Hope in 10 years time that digital effects will be cheap enough, so that this can actually be made into a televison series (One of those with balls). Although I suspect we will never get to see The Hulk actually eat people. Or horny for Betty Ross for that matter..

[bluebottle]

just moving this to the comics forum... carry on.

And yeah, the Ultimates kick ass. Hulk is the best, i've never seen him so insane.

[Ribbons]

I didn't dig the first run of Ultimates, thought Millar was a little too in love with himself, but the issues where the Pyms fight and Hulk gets loose in NYC are mint.

[Tall_Boy]

You think that was cool, buy the Ultimate Avengers DVD that's hitting in Feb. Its an animated adaptation of Ultimates Vol. 1 issues #1-6. There's a preview for it on the F4 DVD. I saw pics, but can't be arsed to find 'em now.

[Keepcoolbutcare]

http://zone.aintitcool.com/viewtopic.php?p=69481&highlight=#69481

Ask and ye shall receive!

[DinoDeLaurentiis]

Thor's entrance inna the final fight?

Best... Entrance... EVER, no?

[buster00]

Thor's entrance was keen...but the Hulk's entrance was the one that made me say, "Whoa, shit...stand BACK...!"

[Bill?]

its pretty good when its not just rehashing the authority.

[DennisMM]

Speaking of -- in the new issue, #9, one of the Giant Men is attacked by a flyer in exactly the same way that Apollo attacks the Giant Man clone in The Authority. That was a bit much for me.

The issue as a whole was stunning, though.

[Alex DeLarge]

dont really read super hero comics anymore so if someone could answer a small question of mine it would be greatly appreciated, whats the difference between say, spiderman and ultimate spiderman, or ultimate x-men and just plain ol' x-men, and what is the ultimates in general. thats actually not a very small question.

[DennisMM]

The Ultimate universe was created a few years back to pull in readers who might think the long continuity of the existing Marvel Universe was too complicated for a jump-in (in some ways they were right). Each book started more or less from the beginning of the character's/team's story.

Also, except for the Ultimates (which basically is the Avengers but dark), the main characters in the core Ultimate books are younger, closer to the characters as originally created. Peter Parker is in high school and the X-Men are all teenagers or early 20s if I recall correctly.

[Alex DeLarge]

That sounds pretty cool, next time im at my local comic book shop(dont you love local comic book stores?) ill check it out.

[DennisMM]

That sounds pretty cool, next time im at my local comic book shop(dont you love local comic book stores?) ill check it out.

All the early issues are collected, several books in the case of Spidey and X-Men.

Yes, I do love local comics stores. I spent 30 minutes today talking to the proprietor of my preferred shop, discussing topics as varied as Green Lantern: Rebirth to stupid superhero sidekicks of the Golden Age.

[Alex DeLarge]

I read the first few chapters of Ultimate X-men and thought it was ok, does it get better? If it doesnt ill probably pass on it and get Origins instead.

[buster00]

Alex, if you're looking for opinions about Ult. X-Men, here's mine: I like the book a helluva lot (I like pretty much all of the Ultimate stuff, actually), but not enough to buy my own copy every month. I borrow a friend's trade paperbacks as he gets 'em. YES, IT GETS BETTER. Sooner or later, maybe I'll break down and buy my own copies, but you know how it is...the funnybook budget only goes so far.

But back on topic, I NEVER miss an issue of Ultimates.

[DennisMM]

I'm not an X-fan (I burnt out in the late '80s -- yes, I'm probably the oldest person on this board, except for The Dino, and he's young at heart), but the book has received a lot of good feedback.

[JackKnight]

I'm w/Dennis on that one. When there were about twelve X-books coming out and they all had these horrible intertwining stories so you had to buy them all. And the resolution of the stories was usually so awful you nearly shot an embolism afterwards...Cable vs Stryfe anyone?

As for the Ultimates, I do think there are some good points to it. I enjoyed some of the real world grittiness, especially in the Giant-Man/Wasp relationship, but I thought the Horny/Cannibal Hulk was too much and there was no need whatsoever to bring Freddie Prinze Jr into it. That seemed like some fanboy comic writer giving FP a little hummer action. It left me with a big "Meh" when it was done.

Also, the line by Cap "This A doesn't stand for France" or whatever he said. If this were a comedy comic or if he'd been trying to be funny that would have been good. Otherwise, it just sucked.

imho anyway.

[HoodedAvenger]

Also, the line by Cap "This A doesn't stand for France" or whatever he said. If this were a comedy comic or if he'd been trying to be funny that would have been good. Otherwise, it just sucked.

That did seem a bit below the belt to me sort of funny but it makes Cap seem like a petulant kid

[Shane]

Ultimate X-men blows compared to the Ultimates.

[JackKnight]

/rant on
I totally agree that of the Ultimate line only Ult Spiderman and Ultimates are any good. I thought Ultimate DD was dull and the Elektra character was just a retread of the awful movie. Don't get me wrong, I love Jennifer Garner but I'd rather watch her read a book than see that film again.

As for the Ult Xmen, I don't think any of the characters was interesting in the slightest, and the characterization of Charles Xavier was ridiculous. And if you were going to kill off any characters, why did it have to be Beast? He was always the most interesting of a dull bunch. They shoulda killed off iceman so his parents could renew their lawsuit. I've read almost all of the series (thank god for libraries and tpb's) and I'm left with a resounding "Bleh!"

And why anyone would care about Ult Wolverine vs Ult Hulk is beyond me. Neither character is really standing out at all imo.

/rant off

[doglips]

Have you finished it yet TITG?

[DinoDeLaurentiis]

JackKnight, I just a finish a reading a the first UX-Men TP, eh? Anna I gonna to agree with a your assessment, although I would have a liked a the spoiler-warning onna the Beast death, eh? YOU GODDAMN PUTZ!

Anyway... it dinna seem like a the book could a find it's a footing... lot's a the good ideas, but I think a they make a the too many changes from a the originals, no? Unlike a the other Ultimates which took a the essential elements of a the original anna distilled it, the UX-Men was more like a the "What Iffa?" kind of a thing no? Different team, different characterizations (Magneto was a waaaaay off) anna it just a seem like a the different book.

Ultimate Spidey, she worked a 'cos a the writer distilled a the essential parts down inna to a the new stories, anna the characterizations, they make a sense inna the new story, i.e. like a the Aunt May anna Gwen Stacey.

Ultimate FF, I think a the idea of a the accident out inna the desert is a the more plausible (inna these a modern sci-fi times) than a the building the spaceship anna cosmic rays inna space, eh? Anna the characters anna their interactions are a still fairly true to a the original, no?

As a far as a the Ultimates go, the Dino, he LOVE a the new Hulk, eh? I think a they did a the nice job with a the horny cannibal thing... hehehehe.

[doglips]

As a far as a the Ultimates go, the Dino, he LOVE a the new Hulk, eh? I think a they did a the nice job with a the horny cannibal thing... hehehehe.

I am loving the Ultimates Hulk as well Dino, Banner got the best character treatment IMO and the new aspects of his character were really well thought out by Millar. Looking forward to the Woverine VS Hulk 2 to see where Lindelof takes Banner......

All in all I thought the Ultimates was a good book made brilliant, purely on the grounds of Hitch's artwork - fucking amazing! Like Colin said, you can hear the rain on the first few pages.

[Adam Balm]

Ultimate FF, I think a the idea of a the accident out inna the desert is a the more plausible (inna these a modern sci-fi times) than a the building the spaceship anna cosmic rays inna space, eh? Anna the characters anna their interactions are a still fairly true to a the original, no?

Of all the Ultimate books, I think UFF has the most untapped potential. And a great distillation of the core concept of a group of friends who are scientists and explorers. When done right, the FF are more pulp/SF heroes than superheroes. (Thank you Mark Waid for reintroducing the idea.)

That said, the latest arc with Namor feels a little rushed and ill thought out to say the least.

[bluebottle]

are they going to establish the continuity with uff and the ultimates?

like, when does uff take place? it feels like it's an origin story, but i remember johnny wanting to join the ultimates... but then the ff were mentioned in the ultimates.

confusing.

[Adam Balm]

Well, the way they originally had it, the UFF were the first superhuman team in the ultimate universe. So they predated the Ultimates and the X-Men. This was alluded to in Ultimate Team Up 009 when Peter Parker meets the FF and they had already been around for over a year. (Although this issue has been excised from continuity.) The FF issues were meant to take place in the past. But for some reason or another, this started to change somewhere in the first arc, where the Ultimates and current events and characters were mentioned. It was suggested that the 'Crossover' arc was going to fix this, but so far everyone is ignoring this whole continuity issue.

[Colin]

I think the first story arc of UFF took place before Ultimates even started. After that there's a gap, then they fight Doom around the time the Ultimates take down Hulk...and so on.

[Adam Balm]

No, in the first arc when the mole creature breaks through the street, someone yells to Johnny to 'leave it to the Ultimates...'

This time paradox is going to drive me insane...

[DennisMM]

Adam, you pm'd me on this one, but I'm screwed on it. Sorry. Shit. I gotta buy me some UFF TPs. I've just been so wary of the whole line.

SPOILER:

At least Ultimate Gwen Stacy didn't fuck Ultimate Norman Osborne.

[bluebottle]

Adam, you pm'd me on this one, but I'm screwed on it. Sorry. Shit. I gotta buy me some UFF TPs. I've just been so wary of the whole line.

SPOILER:

At least Ultimate Gwen Stacy didn't fuck Ultimate Norman Osborne.

Man...

UH.

The Gwen went off to france and got pregnant thing was so badly handled, and in such bad taste. I appreciate them wanting to bring back the memory of Gwen, but FUCK, that was just wrong.

And they shouldn't even put her in the Ultimate Universe. She's not dating Peter, so even if they kill her off, it won't have the same impact. He doesn't love her like he did in the original universe.

The only good thing they've done with Gwen is the House of "M" storyline. That was fucking heart-breaking.

[Adam Balm]

How close was he with Gwen Stacy in the Ultimate universe? I remember the first issue where she was introduced, but I think I stopped reading some time after that...

[bluebottle]

i confess, i've read only a handful of issues, but i'm assuming it's along the same lines as the 90's animated series.

They were pretty much just classmates.

The romantic triangle in the cartoon was mj-pete-felicia. i'm assuming it's the same in ultimate spiderman.

mind you, i love felicia... i've always thought her and pp were a better match.

mj is too much like lois lane. like, all full of spunk. what guy falls for that?

give me smart and sexy over brash and spunky.

[Adam Balm]

I'm with you there buddy.

[DennisMM]

What about smart and sexy and spunky?

Wait a minute. Spunky? Is this some kind of Crying Game thing?

[Adam Balm]

I'm actually not clear on what spunky means. Isn't Felicia spunky?

[bluebottle]

i remember being in the states and seeing, "otis spunkmeyer muffins" and thinking, "WTF IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?!"

heh.

[Adam Balm]

I'm not sure I even know what spunky means.

[bluebottle]

according to the dictionary: sprited, plucky.



so... i looked up plucky and it said, "Having or showing courage and spirit in trying circumstances"

[Adam Balm]

Spunky's good then...

[DennisMM]

yes, it's all harmless.

I freaked over Spunkmeyer, too. Just couldn't believe it.

[Adam Balm]

Whatever joke this is, I'm not getting it...

[DennisMM]

Spunk is slang for ejaculate. It's old slang, apparently.

[bluebottle]

Spunk is slang for ejaculate. It's old slang, apparently.

it's actually my FAVORITE slang for ejaculate. It's so disgusting and wrong. I think it's hilarious.

What thread are we even in?! We have to stop threadjacking!!!

[Carolian]

I've been picking up the Ultimate trades, one by one, and catching up with the back issues that aren't collected yet, and I gotta say... it's a breath of fresh air. Until I picked up the ULTIMATES trades, I hadn't read new comics in years and years, but now I'm actually buying issues again. Craziness.

[Adam Balm]

Yeah, I'm kind of the same way, although I was reading a little before. But as events and crossovers and new costumes and lineup changes all pile up in the main marvel u, the ultimate line is more appealing every day.

Breath of fresh air indeed.

[The Garbage Man]

i confess, i've read only a handful of issues, but i'm assuming it's along the same lines as the 90's animated series.

They were pretty much just classmates.

The romantic triangle in the cartoon was mj-pete-felicia. i'm assuming it's the same in ultimate spiderman.

I'm a little spotty since I didn't read every issue and it's been a while, but I can add a few things here:

Peter and Gwen were just classmates, at first. When Capt. Stacy was killed, though, Gwen's mom decided to bugger off, leaving Gwen in the Parkers' care. Gwen lived with Peter and Aunt May for some time, developing friendships with both Peter and MJ. I believe there were hints at a live triangle between them, but I don't think anything came of it.

One night, Gwen went searching in the Parker basement and found a chest containing Pete's spare Spider-Man suit. Before she could say or do anything about it, however, she was killed by Carnage.

[bluebottle]

does it hang over peters head like it does in the original series?

[buster00]

does it hang over peters head like it does in the original series?

What kind of question is that?

Doesn't EVERYTHING hang over Peter's head?

Even shit he DIDN'T do?

Just once, it'd be funny if Peter was all like, "You know what? FUCK her. She was a white trash piece o' shit anyways."

[Adam Balm]

ISOSPINOLASH!

[Shane]

Ultimate teamup with punisher was a great story. Seeing frank in prison, I liked what they did with it.