If you, like me, have often wondered why Marvel has never exploited the Malibu Ultraverse after the crash in the mid-1990s that doomed the original line post-purchase by the House of Ideas, then apparently we have our answer… and it’s what you probably always suspected:
[Ultraverse co-creator Steve] Englehart says that in 2004, Tom Brevoort approached him to integrate the Ultraverse into the Marvel Universe. That he’d plotted the first issue and had written a precis for the first year, including Prime joining Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters, but that the project was closed down.
Later an assistant editor told Englehart that he wanted his mission to being back the Ultraverse characters but subsequently called Englehart to tell him “It’s my job if I continue to ask about this.”
And it’s all down to a pesky five percent of profits that Malibu creators are entitled to.
Except, of course, things may not be that simple:
The Ultraverse: Let’s just pretend it never happened, it’ll probably be easier for everyone involved.
May 23rd, 2012 at 8:35 am
Well, given the rather random integration of Wildstorm into the DCU, it might not be a bad thing for Malibu to remain in limbo. But there is a new MiB film this week, and someone should be trying to take advantage of that by remembering there was a comic book first.
May 23rd, 2012 at 6:33 pm
My guess is that someone’s got their claws into the Malibu properties for substantially more than 5% of the multimedia profits.
May 24th, 2012 at 4:10 am
Looks like I’ll have to continue reading my back issues whenever I feel nostalgic. Though considering how well Marvel’s done with it’s new version of Crossgen it’s probably for the better. Still could it hurt them just to release a bloody tpb collection of just the old stuff.