Did you ever think Marvel would put an end to its Ultimate Universe just when it seemed to be experiencing a second youth? Yes, they did. And no, it's not a publicity stunt or one of those resurrections that lasts less than a Deadpool comic. This time it's real, definitive, and, according to its creators, completely planned.
The news broke at New York Comic Con , where Marvel Comics confirmed that the Ultimate Universe will come to an end next year with the Ultimate Endgame event. A phrase that sounds like "the end of an era" and, of course, made more than a few people clutch their heads. At first, many thought it would be another one of those three-month relaunches, but no. This is the real end. Or so they say...
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Marvel confirms the ending: there's no turning back
Marvel Comics president Dan Buckley recalled in an interview what it was like to tell Jonathan Hickman , the writer responsible for bringing back an adult Peter Parker in this editorial line, the news. “It was quite a surprise ,” he confessed. Hickman had been one of the great architects of the Ultimate Universe, and receiving that call couldn't have been easy.
But the curious thing is that the decision didn't come from a whim or a sales pitch. According to Deniz Camp, Ultimates' screenwriter, it was all part of a structured plan: to tell a story with a beginning, middle, and end. Something that, let's be honest, isn't always common in superhero comics, where death and endings often have a shorter expiration date than a crossover.
Deniz Camp clarifies: “It’s not a conspiracy, it’s a natural closure.”
In her own words, Deniz Camp explained on social media : “It’s not fake news, but it is a sensationalist headline that loses a lot of nuance. It implies that there are people on the outside, and I don’t think that’s the case (from everything I’ve heard and spoken to). Hickman just didn’t think Marvel would dare to do something like this. He’s very much in favor of it and excited about it, I know that for sure.”
You see? No behind-the-scenes drama, no epic editorial battles. Just a brave decision. Marvel wanted to close the cycle of its alternate universe in a dignified way, without dragging it out to the point of exhaustion.
Camp went on to clarify the situation in more detail: “It’s true that the original plan wasn’t to ‘end’ the universe. A lot of my run was setting up characters I hoped to see continue after me. I think I made that pretty clear. But John [Hickman] was going to end his run at issue #24; that was always the plan. He was done. Peach [Momoko] and Bryan [Edward Hill] also had their stories wrapped up when the Maker escaped. That was their decision.”
Doesn't it seem almost poetic to you? Each author ends their story just when they should have. No more stretching the point.
Marvel was looking for a meaningful ending
Camp further revealed that Ultimate Wolverine was originally only supposed to last 12 issues, but was eventually extended to 16. Still, titles like Ultimate Black Panther, Ultimate Spider-Man, and Ultimate X-Men will all conclude their storylines within the same timeframe. And while he was keen to continue with Ultimates, the editorial fate was already sealed.
“Ultimates would have continued, and new comics would have been released (I was pushing for Hawkeye myself, and there was talk of Guardians). It was all pretty vague. But then Wil Moss came to me and said, ‘I think we’re going to finish it. Really finish it.’ That was a long time ago, at least a year ago, but I’d have to check.”
Marvel cuts when the story is at its peak
And just in case there were any doubts, Camp added: “It’s not because the comics are too woke—if that were the case, they would have interfered with the writing, which they haven’t—nor is it because the main line is jealous—that’s ridiculous. Money is money to them. It all just seemed to come to a natural conclusion.”
There you have it. No controversy or culture wars involved. Just a coherent narrative decision. Marvel, for once, is letting a story end while it's still good. And that, honestly, is almost heroic in today's industry.
The definitive end of the Ultimate universe?
Maybe it's not a final goodbye. You know how Marvel is: the door never closes completely. In fact, it wouldn't be surprising if they revived this line in a few years in a different format or under a new creative vision. Especially seeing how DC Comics is succeeding with its Absolute Universe line, which is selling like hotcakes.
But for now, this closure seems more like a sign of maturity than a tragedy. Marvel has decided to end its alternative experiment while it's still generating excitement, not exhaustion. It's like when a rock band splits up right after their best album: it hurts, but you remember it fondly.
And who knows… maybe that's the true legacy of the Ultimate Universe : teaching Marvel (and all of us) that sometimes you have to know when to step off the stage.