Rich Johnston has a very interesting rumor from last week’s Marvel Summit over at Bleeding Cool:
The rumor is that we’re going to see an Avengers Vs The Ultimates series next year, the second 616/Ultimate crossover, pitting one Captain America against the other.And that the whole event may lead to the end of the Ultimate Universe, in print published form at least…
The interesting part being, of course, the second element of that, instead of the first (Surely the end of Spider-Men left everyone expecting another crossover?). Despite the best efforts of all involved, the Ultimate Universe has been left in a strange place for some time now, lacking any particular reason to exist beyond “it’s an alternate version of the regular characters.” The creative talent for the Ultimate U also create books in the Marvel U, and the “anything can happen” mantra that once set it aside from the regular Marvel Universe has been usurped by the mainstream universe, somewhat. So what is the point of the Ultimate Universe these days – and would such a conclusion (As impermanent as it would likely be) be a good thing at this point?
Edit: Brian Michael Bendis has responded to the rumors on Twitter, stating, “The Ulitmate universe is not cancelled! the concept of legit comics reporting seems to be on its last legs though.”
February 19th, 2013 at 10:21 am
I wouldn’t particularly care either way. I only read Ultimate Spider-Man these days. Everything else has been a shambled mess since Ultimatum, and even before that the books just weren’t very good anymore. The main Marvel comics have definitely picked up the slack a lot since the Ultimate Universe debuted, and the Ultimate comics are so far removed from their initial premise that they’re basically just their own thing, spiraling deeper and deeper into no longer mattering.
February 19th, 2013 at 12:33 pm
Ultimate universe has been on death bed since Ultimatum. Just been dying very slowly and another nail in coffin was when they killed off Ultimate Spider-Man.
February 19th, 2013 at 7:20 pm
They should just go ahead and put the Ultimate line out of its misery. Its completely outlived its purpose of being a more accessible version of the Marvel Universe.
February 22nd, 2013 at 3:08 pm
@Graeme McMillan
No and yes and no
March 14th, 2013 at 1:50 pm
To put my opinion out there I love the ultimate universe why people hate it is because they are not scared to kill characters. In the regular universe characters die but the universe will find a loop and bring them back ex. Jean grey. Some how she is now back. Sure the ultimate universe sometimes loses its points but it’s fans are consistent and if the universe got destroyed I would probably stop buying comics.
March 16th, 2013 at 1:25 am
The Ultimate Universe is awesome! Since Death of Spider-Man, things have really picked up! It’s all getting better. You should just forget about Ultimatum, and focus on the actual series and you’ll realise that they’re GREAT!