Ultimate Comics: The Ultimates, Vol. 1

Ultimate Comics: The Ultimates (Collected Editions)

by Jonathan Hickman (Writer), Esad Ribić (Artist), Brandon Peterson (Artist)

The Republic is burning. The next era has begun. As our heroes struggle to find their place in the world, the Ultimates face game-changing threats even they can't handle. And with the heart of the team missing in action, the country's last stand of defense may be on its last legs. Critically acclaimed writer Jonathan Hickman (Fantastic Four, FF, Secret Warriors) and superstar artist Esad Ribic (Uncanny X-Force) drive the Ultimates into new and deadly territory! This is the book we've all been waiting for!

Collecting: Ultimate Comics: Ultimates 1-6

Genres: Comics, Marvel, Graphic Novels, Superheroes, Comic Book, Graphic Novels Comics, Fiction

144 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2012

About the author

Jonathan Hickman is an American comic book writer and artist. He is known for creating the Image Comics series The Nightly News, The Manhattan Projects and East of West, as well as working on Marvel Comics' Fantastic Four, FF, and S.H.I.E.L.D. titles. In 2012, Hickman ended his run on the Fantastic Four titles to write The Avengers and The New Avengers, as part the "Marvel NOW!" relaunch. In 2013, Hickman wrote a six-part miniseries, Infinity, plus Avengers tie-ins for Marvel Comics. In 2015, he wrote the crossover event Secret Wars. - Wikipedia

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

FINALLY.
Finally after reading countless Ultimate comics in search of the origins of this universe's version of Reed Richards, we come to the volume where he turns into the villain known as The Maker. <--there's a list of comics at the bottom of the review for anyone who is interested.



Simultaneous attacks happen across the globe as Nick Fury and the rest of S.H.I.E.L.D. scramble to put out the fires. Meanwhile, a mysterious domed city appears whose inhabitants call themselves the Children of Tomorrow. They're smarter, faster, stronger, and more technologically advanced than anything the Ultimates have ever seen. Thor attacks directly in revenge for the destruction of Asgard and is so badly injured he no longer has his powers. And once Thor gets his ass handed to him, Fury decides that to give in to their demands and back down is their best option for everyone's survival.



Sam Wilson uses his Facon suit to get behind enemy lines and makes a HUGE discovery about their new enemy.
Then, of course, you finally get to lay eyes on the new and improved Reed Richards with the cone head. <--leader and creator of the Tomorrow Children.
This isn't a bad story at all, and I'm looking forward t seeing how this wraps up in the next volume.



Recommended.

After some trial and error and a lot of searching the internet, this is what I managed to cobble together for myself. If you're looking for a basic reading list that has the progression of Ultimate Reed Richards' slow turn into the villain Maker, then this will get you from point A to point B. There may be more out there, but I think this covers most of his transformation.

Ultimate Fantastic Four: The Fantastic
Ultimate Fantastic Four: Doom
Ultimate Fantastic Four: N-Zone
Ultimate Fantastic Four: Inhuman
Ultimate Fantastic Four: Crossover
Ultimate Fantastic Four: Frightful
Ultimate Fantastic Four: God War
Ultimate Fantastic Four: Devils
Ultimate Fantastic Four: Silver Surfer
Ultimate Fantastic Four: Ghosts
Ultimate Fantastic Four: Salem's SevenUltimatum: X-Men/Fantastic FourUltimatum: Fantastic Four Requiem #1
Ultimate Comics Doomsday
Which will lead you to this volume, and then it finishes with Ultimate Comics Ultimates by Jonathan Hickman, Vol. 2.

[Baba · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume tells the story of The People's all out attack on humanity, created and led by someone that will shock every reader... cometh The Maker! This is another hyper real expansive piece of super powered being storytelling which is so far from the more realistic Ultimates I know and love; it is also just too big and leaves little space for good character building bar the real series' superstar - Nick Fury. 7.5 out of 12, Three Stars are still easily reached, as it really is a HUGE story.

2022 read; 2017 read; 2013 read

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hickman has a great imagination for world-building - and for drawing me in to the immense amount of energy - and risk - that it requires. His take on the Ultimates is no exception to the great worlds he's shown me in the Shield series, FF, his time-travel world invasion book or Transhuman.

I love seeing the world from Ultimate Nick Fury's single OmniEye view. It's a constant ebb and flow of deadly threats and universal mysteries, and he takes so much of it in stride - that when he faces something he doesn't know how to solve, it makes me want to hide under my chair.

One of the most fun aspects of the writing is the easy familiarity with which the Big Players address each other (or refer to them in absentia). It feels very much like I'm watching just over their shoulders, standing right there and not out of place for being among the heroes.

Hickman & Ribic combine a familiar Ultimate universe with a nice brand of sharp observation and get-to-the-point, and make it look both welcome and alien.

At the same time, there's something really awry with reading this and not knowing the current situation being hinted at with half the characters. Captain America, Spider-Woman, Spider-Man, Reed Richards... There's so much more going on than I know from their classic histories, and my memory's just not good enough to keep it straight. I happened to read the companion Hawkeye book very recently, so I'm current enough to follow and feel rewarded by the tidbits that overlap into this book. How much more would I enjoy this if I was up on *all* the storylines?

Here are my plot notes because I can never remember who when and what, when I'm reading later books:
Reed Richards built a Darwin bubble, accelerated its time for a thousand years of evolution and preparation, then dropped back into reality and swamped much of Europe with a City. The inhabitants destroyed all of Asgard & the World Tree, leaving Thor depowered and becoming "Valhalla" for the dead Asgardians. Tony Stark watched a nuke destroy Uruguay, knowing his secret society Kratos Club in Paris deliberately used it to cause global market collapse. They now own 9% of the world. Captain America has exiled himself in NM and refuses to join the fight. Spider-Woman sees Spider-Man fraternising with some long-haired person and doesn't like it. Captain Britain's brother is near death due to their father. Black Widow has a baby, and Nick Fury is the father. Sam Wilson/Falcon is invited to come and go in the City. Meanwhile, mutants defect to Tian and are being called "Runaways".

[Arun Divakar · Rating 2 out of 5]

The approach Joss Whedon or the Russo brothers took with their Avengers movies is certainly not how the comic book writers saw their characters. After having been through a couple of the comic story lines around the superhero team, I did understand what a lot of comic readers have commented earlier : The Avengers aren’t that great comic book material. Jonathan Hickman’s run which started with The Ultimates Vol. 1 while being quite average is still galaxies better than Mark Millar’s Vol. 1.

So far as I have seen, when there is this bunch of superheroes coming together there can only be one of the two generic storylines :

1. They fight a/ a group of hyper powered super villain(s) or an intergalactic threat or

2. They fight among themselves.

This story line falls into the first camp when a seemingly invincible group calling themselves ‘The Children of Tomorrow’ arrive on Earth and begin their process of cleansing ( yawn !). S.H.I.E.L.D jumps into the fray with Nick Fury taking command and the boots on the ground first are Iron Man, Hawkeye and Black Widow. Even as they mount their fight, Asgard falls to the invaders and the only survivor of the onslaught is Thor. The rest of the book is about Iron Man and Thor along with Fury trying to fight back against the invasion. Being the first in the series the book is very open ended : the invaders have the upper hand here, they are led by a formidable intellect and all factors seem to be against our favorite heroes. Captain America and Black Widow have cameos and while his name is mentioned here, there is no Hulk in sight. This leaves the entire department of action and pyrotechnics in the hands of two gentlemen : Iron Man and Thor which they handle with their trademark finesse.

Hickman’s characters are likable and that is a huge leap from the brutes in Mark Millar’s version. There are far too many untied threads for me to recommend this first volume and give a solid review. More when I complete the series.

[Subham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Talk about epic and Hickman gives it to you everytime.

This starts off with the maker and his city expanding into every corner of the europe killing people but taking over the land for rapid expansion and we discover the inner mechanisms of the city, Fury assembles the Ultimates and Iron Man and Thor all go in but lose to the Children of the city and we learn the cost of it, people die, revelations are to be had, fall of Asgard, rebirth of a god, whatever is going on with Stark Industries and Fury depends on Captain America and sending some men inside the city for recon and finally the big reveal in the end.

This volume had everything including how the Ultimates are faced with such a big challenge and it totally blows my mind as a reader how Hickman is able to do this and really show the desperate point these guys are in and as all seem to fail they take extreme steps and it connects to the Hawkeye volume he wrote. Just fantastic stuff. And the art is just too good and superb.

[James DeSantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I kept hearing from a buddy I HAVE to read Hickman's run on Ultimates. The last thing I read with "Ultimates" was Ultimatum or Ultimates 3...let me tell you. Those both sucked a large dick. So I kind of gave up on all Ultimates comics. I picked this up and was introduced to a world kind of shattered. Cap is off on his own, Tony is kind of fucking things up worse, Thor feels WEAK in this story just because the odds are so against them. Nick is losing every step he takes. And we have a new enemy.

This is a few years old so spoilers but Evil Reed Richards is here and he's the "MAKER" and he is creating a new world, one that would take over. One that is BETTER than us. Nick tries to form plans to stop him but ever move they make they keep losing.

The Good: The stakes feel high. Thor's issues are just...fucked. Tony being outsmarted and used is both fun and something very new. Watching Nick beg for help. Seeing Cap at a loss to what to do. Reed Richards being evil is pure awesomeness.

What I didn't like: The stuff with the president feels like building stuff more than focusing on this story. It was mostly to do with Divided we fall, united we stand crossover coming. Also it can be very weird, might have to re-read pages sometimes.

Overall this was a great first volume. Solid pacing, strong dialog, lots of stakes, and a awesome villain. This is very much worth reading. A solid 3.5 out of 5.

[Lost Planet Airman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Certainly fills in a lot of blanks in my quest for Ultimate knowledge, ha ha!
A super villain named only The Maker has created an impenetrable Dome* in rural Europe, then locked it off from the normal flow of time for a thousand Dome** years. It returns to the present as The City, populated with the Children of Tomorrow, and nearly destroys the Ultimates. Faced with a nuclear weapon in South America, a mutant revolution in Southeast Asia, and The City, this time Nick Fury, the Ultimates, and humanity may be stretched to the breaking point!

* "Dome", apparently in tomorrow-speak, means "mushroom-shaped"
** still a mushroom, folks

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great concept with what the Maker did in that done. Nicely executed by Hickman. Esad Ribic’s art was on point. There were some things the were said that makes me feel like there’s a story/book that comes before this one. Now I need to track that down.

[Sam Quixote · Rating 3 out of 5]

A strange cult-like race of genetically superior humans calling themselves “The Children of Tomorrow” led by a mysterious hooded figure, set up their base in Europe and begin killing people in thousands, destroying new Asgard along the way. They have managed to evolve at a significantly faster rate thus making them nearly indomitable to the Ultimates as they are centuries more advanced, physically and mentally.

Jonathan Hickman continues his high-concept approach to comics meshing the ideas-laden stories of the Future Foundation with his Ultimates run. His approach feels similar to Grant Morrison and Warren Ellis’ (the book reminded me a lot of “Planetary” which has Fantastic Four lookalikes as the villains) take on familiar characters but unlike Morrison and Ellis, Hickman’s style gets in the way of enjoying the book fully. It’s great to read a comic book that has ideas but too many of those ideas clog the natural flow of the story, getting in the way rather than enhancing the plot.

And while it’s an Ultimates book, this isn’t a team effort - it’s mostly Thor and Iron Man doing the fighting with Nick Fury co-ordinating as always on the Helicarrier. Hawkeye, Black Widow, and Cap are on the sidelines and there’s no Hulk (yet). Speaking of Hawkeye, if you’re wondering about his storyline which involves the South Eastern Asian Republic (SEAR), check out Hickman’s “Ultimate Comics: Hawkeye” which also involves everyone’s favourite green giant.

The book doesn’t really end as the storylines are left hanging by the end of the book: the Children of Tomorrow continue their invasion untouched, the Ultimates remain scattered, and there seems to be no hope in sight – it’s like the end of “The Empire Strikes Back”! And ultimately, this leaves the book as somewhat uneven throughout. It has good moments but isn’t consistent and even feels a bit shallow in places. It’s an interesting take on the series though, Hickman is definitely a worthy successor to Mark Millar and hopefully the series will improve in later books.

[Judah Radd · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s good!

It definitely feels a lot like Hickman’s other Avengers stuff, but set in the Ultimate universe.

Esad Ribic’s art is to die for.

What this book does have is a fascinating villain. The Maker (Reed Richards) seems insurmountable and manages to be menacing without ever raising his voice or lifting a finger. The character struggles are very well written.

The beginning was a bit disorienting. I felt a bit lost and there wasn’t much recap. Also, the first few issues were pure action, so it was a bit tough to find my bearing... but I still enjoyed myself.

It’s important to note that this is not a contained story and I’ll have to get the next volume if I want any plot resolution.

[Jacob A. Mirallegro · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was weird how this treats certain characters. Like at times it totally expects you to know about the lore of the Ultimate universe and then other times it treats things as twists that, if you know that lore, is completely expected. Not really a fan of Kaare Andrews' covers, I like the one with Spider-Woman but it was ridiculous that she has two pages that don't get resolved in this book and feels bizarre and out of place.
Still good though because Hickman works with fun and creative sifi concepts. I hope to feel some satisfying resolution on something in the next volume.
3.5 stars

[Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. So much happened in these six issues, and yet it doesn't feel overly-condensed. It is no exaggeration to think that Bendis, with the usual "witty" dialogue and de-compressed storytelling, would've made this a 12-issue arc. So already that's one good thing.
The pacing is fast, yes, but that only grabs your attention and pulls you in further. What is amazing to me is that, of the Big Guns, Hickman only used Iron Man and Thor, mostly. Even Captain America, who so prominently graces the cover of this book, only shows up at the tail end of the arc, out of costume, and *declines* Fury's call for help.

The situation does indeed look grim for our "heroes", even hopeless, but you just know they'll win in the end. I mean, it's their book, right?

Here, Hickman does what he does best: throwing at us one exciting concept after another, blowing our minds away without overwhelming us. Just like he did in "S.H.I.E.L.D.", "Fantastic Four", and "Secret Warriors", and what he's doing now in "Manhattan Projects", which I urge you to check out.

Also: Major props for Ribic & Peterson, who supply the art, and to Kaare Andrews, for the simply stunning cover art.

[Sonic · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first 3/4's was clearly 4 to 5 star material,..

then the art got weak (compared to Ribic)

and the writing seemed to

ssssslllooooowwwww dddooowwwwnnn too for some reason,...

to drag it out?

Maybe.

I don't know if this is an alternate universe or if Hickman himself is in an alternate universe, ...

I suspect the latter. :)

[Cerri · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really only read this to have some Ultimates background for Secret Wars.

[Christian · Rating 4 out of 5]

The world was already in peril. Sear (Southeast Asian Republic) was destroyed by its own superhuman project about a month after announcing it. It's now led by The People who welcome anyone to join them. Thousands have. The United States is in shambles as nimrod sentinels destroy entire areas. There's a new spider- man. That one isn't bad, but the characters often feel more upset about it.

And then the City appears. It's from a thousand years in the future and is populated by the Children of Tomorrow, a group of highly "evolved" people from a thousand years in the future. Between the Children and the People, the mutants should probably sue for copyright infringement. They aren't a product of natural evolution but severe eugenics, with none of them having been born naturally for a thousand years.

The Children destroy eastern Europe where they set up their new nation. Then they destroy Asgard. The Ultimates (except for Cap, who quit following the death of Spider-man) attack and are roundly defeated. Diplomacy may be necessary. The children can not be stopped.

This all happens within the first couple issues.

This feels a lot like Hickman's later Avengers book except that here he's allowed to destroy entire nations when that probably wouldn't fly in 616.

It's a lot of fun. It's also probably too much. I criticized Millar for putting two years of X-men comics in his first 4 issues. Hickman is somewhat guilty of the same. Bizarrely, (and delightfully) this was all set up.

[Mario · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review originally appeared on my blog, Shared Universe Reviews.

The Ultimates is the latest series of adventures of Marvel Comics’s alternate universe Avengers and it's quite good. There’s not need to beat around the bush on this one, especially since the comic itself wastes no time. With the very first issue the creative team composed of writer Jonathan Hickman, artist Esad Ribic and colourist Dean White, jump right into the story. Even from the very first page they manage to hook the reader and those who continued reading were not disappointed.

The story, once you break it down, is rather simple. A villainous genius, The Maker, creates impressive evolutionary pressure cooker somewhere on the European continent and it threatens the planet. Nick Fury, commander of SHIELD, and his Ultimates are unable to deal with this thread and compounded with other global catastrophes they are nearly completely defeated. There have been several similar stories in superhero comics but the creative team manages not only to make it fresh but also succeed in making the threat feel real. The only possible conclusion here appears to be the collapse of both the Ultimates, SHIELD and several world governments.

The first comic I read with Esad Ribic on art was the opening story arc of Uncanny X-Force. He has a different style than many artists working in mainstream comic. There’s a European vibe to his art and I like it. He’s well suited to smaller character moments as he is big action sequences and that’s exactly the kind of balance in storytelling that makes a good team superhero book. That compounded with the fact that Ribic’s art simply looks good makes him an excellent choice for this title. My only complaint is that sometimes, when there’s a lot of action, his panels can get a little too packed with art and details but it’s difficult to criticism because he still manages to make it look good. I love the way he draws Thor. I think the Ultimate Universe has my favourite Thor look and it’s mostly because of the beard. I love Thor with a thick beard. It’s better than a goatee and it’s significantly better than the wimpy beard Thor has in the Marvel movieverse. I think Thor looks good without the beard in regular Marcel continuity but here in the Ultimate Universe, the beard is able to excel in part because of the difference in tone.

You can’t talk about Ribic’s art on this book without mentioning Dean White’s colours. He’s an excellent colourist. He’s not my favourite but he has such great skill that it’s impossible to ignore his contributions to the art. He’s very versatile and his colours look very different here than they did on Uncanny X-Force. It was good then but I think it’s better here, simply out of personal preference. The colours of The Ultimates manage to incorporate the vibrant colours and sense of wonder of superhero comics but it’s also grounded in the 21st Century pseudo reality of the Ultimate Universe line of titles. I can’t recall reading another comic that was coloured by White other than books also drawn by Ribic and that’s fine because I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather see colour Ribic’s art. They’re an impressive collaboration and their work definitively helps to elevate the story.

Hickman has become a prominent writer at Marvel in the last five years. He’s written fan favourite and acclaimed runs (Fantastic Four is a good example) and he’s become one of the Marvel Architects which essentially means he’s proved himself as a writer and now Marvel gives him access to their most popular properties. Hickman is currently the writer of the recently relaunched Avengers and New Avengers. I haven’t had a chance to read either of those yet but I have a feeling it would be more difficult for Hickman to write a story like the one in The Ultimates. For starters the tone of the regular Marvel Universe and the Ultimate Universe are very different. There’s a sense of danger in The Ultimates that would be nearly impossible to match in a regular Marvel book because the writers are limited in what they can do. Yes there can be stories that change things but at the end of the day the characters and the titles are a product that has to remain recognizable. If you look at the characters and the world of the Ultimate Universe today compared to the first few years after it launched, very few things remain the same.

That’s probably one of my complaints, actually. So much has changed that sometimes it’s difficult to know which character is who, what they’ve done and how they’re different from their Marvel Universe counterpart. For examples, when Thor was first introduced in Mark Millar’s The Ultimates, he was a man pretending to be a god but then he actually became Thor God of Thunder. Now in Hickman’s run he no longer has his godly powers but not quite, now he potentially has more than ever before because he’s the living incarnation of Valhalla. . . or something. See what I mean? Things in the Ultimate Universe have gotten complicated over time and despite some ok to mediocre comics in the line there are some real gems. What’s great about The Ultimates is that Hickman doesn’t even use all the team members in this first volume. Instead he has several other secondary as well as tertiary Marvel Universe characters into the mix. A smart move that has already paid off in this volume and I’m convinced will continue to do so in the second part of the story.

Hickman, Ribic and White tell a thrilling, no-holds-barred superhero comic and expect you to keep up. I love comics that are dense and quick, I love comics that challenge me. With Ultimate Comics: The Ultimates my ability as comics reader and my knowledge of Marvel’s Ultimate Universe are challenged while my cravings for intelligent, well-crafted and interesting superhero comics are satisfied. The Ultimates isn’t a run of the mill smash ‘em up comics spoon fed to you by a barely sub average writer, this is the real deal and I’d recommend you check it out.

[Brian Rosenberger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ultimates
Marvel, collects issues 1-6

Nick Fury is briefed on current global concerns – the Asgardians are at odds with Excalibur, there’s a thermonuclear explosion in Uruguay, and a Dome is growing in Germany.

We get the history of the Dome. From the Dome, comes the City. The City’s Speaker announces, “This world is now ours.” The Children of Tomorrow battle the Asgardians and Excalibur.

The Domers attack Asgard. It doesn’t go well for Asgard. Valhalla welcomes newcomers.

SHIELD attacks the City. Bad idea. “There’s no win here.” Fury sounds the retreat.

Thor invades the Dome, saving Captain Britain from a vivisection. They are confronted by the Maker, the person responsible for the fall of Asgard. The Maker reveals his face to a beaten Thunder God. It’s Reed Richards.

Thor is visited by All-Father Odin & other Asgardians. “Make this world into what it should be…”

Falcon tells Fury he’s found a way into the City. “All you need now is some idiot willing to do the recon.” Lucky Falcon gets the job. Not that undetectable as Sam is confronted by the Maker.

Cut to New Mexico. Fury pays Steve Rogers a visit. “America needs its symbol… and I need my Captain.” Steve declines.

Best quotes:

Thor – “Now… Who else craves punishment?”

It’s the Ultimates. It’s Jonathan Hickman. What’s not to like? Sets the stage for Vol. 2. Intrigued to see what happens next.

[Rob Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ultimate Comics: The Ultimates, Vol. 1 is a high-octane, character-driven superhero epic that balances large-scale stakes with intimate team dynamics. Jonathan Hickman’s writing is precise and cinematic, crafting an evolving narrative where every choice has consequences, and no character’s arc is guaranteed a safe landing.

Esad Ribic’s art is cinematic and imposing, capturing both the grandeur of world-threatening crises and the subtle emotional beats that define the Ultimates as more than just superheroes. The pacing is relentless yet measured, giving the story space to breathe even amid catastrophe. The missing heart of the team adds emotional resonance to the narrative, reminding readers that even the most powerful heroes face vulnerability.

This collected edition is ideal for fans who want a definitive, complete run of the first six issues of the Ultimates in Hickman’s groundbreaking vision. It is visually stunning, narratively ambitious, and serves as both an entry point and a deep dive into the stakes of heroism in a world that refuses to stay static.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jonathan Hickman created an amazing story here! This 6 issue story was written over 10 years ago but it hits fresh and hard as I just completed reading it. Great stories seem to be linchpinned on great tragedies and world-shattering problems. This story is no different. Without giving anything away, the world is in dire times thanks to the sudden attack of the Children of Tomorrow. The reveal at the end of issue (or chapter 4) was just…WOW!!! I loved it and I did not see it coming, but upon reflection hints were all around me that it could be someone like him. That’s the beauty of the Marvel and DC universe. When you have enough characters it’s not always immediately apparent who the person behind the dastardly deeds really is. But to be fair, I felt like that last piece at the end of issue 4 and 5 were just…man what makes you love reading comics or graphic novels. Good, good stuff!

[Thomas Sonnenberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

After having read over the first volume on three seperate occasions, I can confirm that the Ultimate Universe has its moments of spectacle. Jonathan Hickman, who I will argue has become one of the most respectable and highest ranked comic book writers, is not afraid to respect the audience. He is not afraid to break the mold. By successfully writing Reed Richards into a terrifying threat towards the entire world, he raised the stakes. The reveal is not rushed, nor is it obvious. The Maker is what The Batman Who Laughs could have been if written properly and not shoved into every single “things will never be the same” event. The Maker begat The Batman Who Laughs. I highly recommend not only reading this volume because it is written so well, but also because it is essential to the revival of the Ultimate Universe.

[Sean · Rating 2 out of 5]

The beauty of the Ultimate Universe, to me, has always been about familiar characters getting a breath of fresh air and not being held back by decades of continuity. Here, Hickman takes his very big cerebral ideas and puts them into an Avengers story. I wasn't a fan. The villainous reveal was obvious and there simply wasn't enough from The Ultimates. The idea seems to be that destroying as much as possible of the Ultimate Universe is the goal. It seems cheap to me. The art by Esad Ribic is fantastic. Loved his scenes with Thor and other Asgardians. Overall, the book was a letdown especially considering how good some Ultimate Universe books have been.

[Gabriel Calderón · Rating 4 out of 5]

reading mostly for greater context for secret wars since I already know this universe will merge with 616 and probably die lol

its cool cause I can see some of the inspo from the MCU is directly from this universe, especially everything involving SHIELD, Nick Fury and Ironman are pretty similar too, down to the character designs.

this is my introduction to the Maker as well, so far pretty interesting character. His design is sick and its cool to see an evil Reed Richards with a god complex causing serious problems.

also I really like this version of Thor, there is a grit and darkness about him that I haven't seen since I watched infinity war.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hickman and Ribic really is such a strong team to put on the rebooted ultimates, especially at the time it was being published. A real strong statement was made within the first two issues too, basically having the antagonists take our heroes by surprise as well as completely destroy Asgard, almost without a fight. There is some geo political speech in the later issues, that while they do world build the more grounded ult verse, get dry and are unwelcome in a super hero book. But man.....the children of tomorrow make a strong first impression, and so does the origin of the Maker

[Michael]

This is an incredible action superhero comic.

The first issue is one of the best laid out comics I've ever read. Hickman did an incredible job with in particular Nick Fury and Thor in this series, as well as debuting Ultimate Reed Richards in his villainous role.

Ribic is such an exceptional, perfect, partner. Super high recommendation except Volume 2 (where Hickman kind of transitions out the last couple of issues) is a bit of a downer by comparison. BUT THIS IS NOT A REVIEW OF VOLUME 2 AM I RIGHT?

[Mae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the most consistent book, but still a very entertaining story. The City is a concept that feels often recycled by Hickman, but they make for a suitably apocalyptic foe for the Ultimate Universe. Ribic's art is beautiful as usual, often using lighting and perspective to great effect. The writing is too often severe for my taste, as many Ultimate stories are, but there is high stakes and strong momentum behind the action.

[Anthony Colwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hickman is an expert at creating stakes. He does so in this introduction to the new Ultimates in a way that allows the strengths and weaknesses of the characters to show themselves fully. The Maker as a concept is what I believe Reed Richards was always destined to be, a creator with hubris that cannot be contained. He has not always shown it in other incarnations, but I believe that is a weakness of the previous writing because to me, there is no other end this character could ever reach.

[Maurice Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's the beginning of the end for the Ultimate universe. A city from the future lays waste to Asgard- and even Thor can't withstand the attack. Their next goal- reshape the world in their image.

Their leader is an all too familiar face- the identity reveal was truly shocking. I enjoyed reading this new Ultimates series as the inevitable countdown to the end of everything continues.

[Benja Calderon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Una nueva amenaza surje en el universo Ultimate.
La Ciudad y sus super-humanos, guiados por el Creador, parecen ser algo bastante más grande de lo que pueden encargarse los Ultimates, considerando que su líder, el Capitán América ha decidido dar un paso al costado luego de lo sucedido con el joven Peter Parker

[Randall Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent start to a new line of stories for the Ultimates. Hickman really is good. I am a huge fan of the Maker as a villain. I'm still not sure whether he should have been you know who or just an entirely original character. I lean towards the later, but he is nonetheless quite effective here as an unparalleled menace. I'm eager to see what comes next.

[Ysuf Shari · Rating 4 out of 5]

8/10

High stakes, epic scope, profusely detailed sci-fi plot devices. This is a Hickman story alright, and a damn good one at that.

It's difficult to rate the first part of this story with out reading the second, but these first 6 issues are so fun. Hickman never fails at pulling me into his world.