At yesterday's "Marvel: Next Big Thing Panel" at New York Comic Con, fans got a first look at the new Ultimate Universe. This new era of storytelling will kick off with Ultimate Spider-Man, Ultimate Black Panther, and Ultimate X-Men; surprisingly, there's still no word on The Ultimates.
All launching early next year, it's said these titles represent the initial sagas set in an all-new Ultimate realm, with next month's Ultimate Universe #1 from writer Jonathan Hickman and artist Stefano Caselli set to unleash the full impact of this new age.
Here's what to come in 2024 from the all-new, all-different Ultimate Universe...
Ultimate Spider-Man
Revolutionary writer Jonathan Hickman and acclaimed artist Marco Checchetto (Daredevil) bring you a bold new take on Spider-Man, with the debut title of the new line of Ultimate Comics! After the events of Ultimate Invasion, the world needs a hero...who will rise up to take on that responsibility? Prepare to be entangled in a web of mystery and excitement as the all-new Ultimate Spider-Man comic redefines the wall-crawler for the 21st Century!
Teasing the series, Hickman said, "Ultimate Spider-Man is a book I never thought I'd be writing. It's a bit of a Peter B. Parker situation..."
Ultimate Black Panther
In the wake of Ultimate Invasion, Khonshu and Ra - the force known together as Moon Knight - are seeking to expand their brutal control of the continent of Africa. In response, the lone bulwark against them, the isolated nation of Wakanda, will send forth its champion...its king...the Black Panther! From the creative minds of Bryan Hill (Blade) and Stefano Caselli (Avengers) comes a bold new take on the world of Black Panther and Wakanda.
"I was invigorated by this opportunity because in addition to my immense respect for Johnathan Hickman's detailed storytelling, the idea of shepherding this bold new take on Black Panther in this event gives me a platform to do the kind of broad, epic, storytelling I've always wanted to do in comics," Hill says. "My influences range from the history of Black Panther comics, to Ryan Coogler's incredible work with the recent films, to Frank Herbert's world building capacity of Dune."
"This is something people won't expect, in the best of ways, and full credit to Marvel and editors Wil Moss and Michelle Marchese for bringing this creative possibility to me."
Ultimate X-Men
Visionary creator Peach Momoko reinvents mutantkind for the Ultimate age! In Japan, when a young student named Hisako Ichiki develops armor powers, she discovers she’s a mutant - and she’s not the only one! Meet a new generation of mutants, filled with original and familiar X-Men characters. Together, they’ll learn what it means to be mutant in the Ultimate Universe as they explore their emerging powers and the startling ways they connect to folklore, legend, and magic!
"I am very honored to be a part of the new Ultimate Universe," Momoko says. "I am very careful in delivering the unique X-Men mutant elements while still being true to my vision and voice. I am also very proud (and surprised) that I was given enough freedom from C.B. Cebulski and Jonathan Hickman to create a brand new X-Men character."
"It might not be the normal portrayal of a superhero...but, just like with my Momoko-verse stories, I am excited to introduce everyone to this new world."
Check out a trailer for the new Ultimate Universe below.