What do you think the Ultimate Universe is building to?

[Name_Killer]

I think its building to an event that will see a book spin out of Ultimate Doom with the remaining FF4 members, i think Ultimate X will become a team with: Jimmy Hudson, Jean Grey, Liz Allen(Firestar), Hulk, Derek Morgan, Mystique, Sabertooth and a another new character....i dont think it'll be anything like Ultimate X-Men, i think Ultimate Spidey will get a new villian and costume, and as far as Ultimate Avengers goes i think you may get a more concrete team. I think the "event" will introduce a lot more Ultimate heroes and villians that will be brand new, thats my guess whats yours?

[Morentez]

I'd LOVE an "Ultimate Four" monthly to come out of the new event trilogy. I think there's SO much you could still do with the FF even if reed is truly gone.

[MarvelMaster616]

I think its building to an event that will see a book spin out of Ultimate Doom with the remaining FF4 members, i think Ultimate X will become a team with: Jimmy Hudson, Jean Grey, Liz Allen(Firestar), Hulk, Derek Morgan, Mystique, Sabertooth and a another new character....i dont think it'll be anything like Ultimate X-Men, i think Ultimate Spidey will get a new villian and costume, and as far as Ultimate Avengers goes i think you may get a more concrete team. I think the "event" will introduce a lot more Ultimate heroes and villians that will be brand new, thats my guess whats yours?

I don't know what it's building to, but based on what's happened since the relaunch I want no part of it. I've already made my position pretty clear. I hate every Ultimate book with the fire of 100000 supernovas. I've given them all a chance and it's done nothing but rub salt int he wound. That being said, I'm open to the series redeeming itself. I'm more than willing to be surprised. However, I'm very skeptical that can happen when so many of the characters I've come to love over the years are dead and butchered.

Whatever happens, it depends largely on how the delays with books like Ultimate X and New Ultimates effect the title. It also depends on whether or not Loeb and Millar continue. It's fairly certain Bendis will keep plugging away, but so far Millar doesn't seem to have committed any further than volume 4 for Ultimate Avengers and Jeph Loeb hasn't stated he's in for the long haul either. With his new duties at Marvel, that may not be possible for a sustained series. I suspect Marvel will try to throw some new talent into the mix after Ultimate Doom. I also suspect there will be some shake-ups with SHIELD. As for the mutants, it depends on what the mission is for Ultimate X. Mutants are outlawed and most of the noteworthy X-men are dead. There's really not much they can do aside from try to shake up the policy. It would probably take another Gah Lak Tus style threat to reorganize the series, but until there's a reboot or Blackest Night style resurrection of the characters I'm very skeptical and very cynical. Ultimate has done nothing but give me more reasons to hate that I ever got into this series since Ultimatum. Whatever event emerges, it has a long ways to go.

It all comes back to sales. If delays really do hurt the series and Loeb and Millar are unable to keep contributing, the only way to get Ultimate back on track may be a reboot. I'll be on board for that if it comes, but until then I suspect Marvel will do everything to try and make this series as meaningful as it once was.

[Brother Justin Crowe]

I think the game plan for the UU looks a lot like this.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v13/CrazyDiamond/blog/UnderpantsGnomes.jpg

[VRaptorX]

I firmly believe there is no plan. They just went, "well....lets make it different." without actually thinking through what to do after it became different.

[Samorai_black]

Maybe i dont understand the question but i dont think its really building to anything. From what i know from my few years of reading and getting to know comics i never thought of the universes building up to anything. I get that things change over time but from what iv seen they usually go back to normal. I get that there are "events" but after one happenes they just toss out another one and just to build up something else.

I could be wrong in saying that if i am please correct me but thats just what i think

[AmazingPancake]

Worthy writers built something, but evil editors kicked down the metaphorical block tower they were constructing. And thus I don't read Ultimates after Ultimatum, the end.

[MarvelMaster616]

I think the game plan for the UU looks a lot like this.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v13/CrazyDiamond/blog/UnderpantsGnomes.jpg

Nice capture there. I think it does sum up Ultimate Marvel's current status right now. Except instead of "Collect Underpants" being the first step, I would say their first step was "Destroy Everything." They did that with Ultimatum and now what? Do they really believe Ultimate has long term potential or can be more than just a niche title after they kill so many characters and throw blatant replacements into the stories? The idea that this is Ultimate and it's different than 616 is like cutting off your arm simply because you're able to. Yes, there's nothing stopping you, but that's not going to change the fact you'll probably bleed to death as a result. I don't know if they've figure out a long term plan for Ultimate and I don't think any of us on this board are in a position to know. But when characters are killed and series are utterly destroyed, something done gone horribly wrong.

[Plawsky]

I don't think it's building to any one thing, really. I think right now it's just building to a status quo. Unfortunately, that's taking a bit longer than it should have since Ultimatum due to the delays. I think the Enemy Trilogy and Ultimate X are key for that because they include the X-Men and Fantastic Four, the two franchises without monthly books.

Here's my idea for what I hope they're doing:

-Once Ultimate Doom finishes, the FF gets back together because the government sees them save the day again. If Reed ends up being the villain in Ultimate Doom like much of the speculation suggests, then they'll replace him (maybe with Spidey?). Though, it would be great to have Reed around to analyze Ben's new form. I've got a feeling the story of Ben being purple will need more than the next six issues to be told, since it's about more than just him, so that would be a perfect way to start the new UFF book.

-If Ultimate X ever gets issue 5 out (which might actually land around the last issue of Ult Doom at this rate) then I REALLY hope a monthly X-book starts. It would probably work best to have a few more issues of Ultimate X, since they haven't done anything but be introduced yet, but then we could have a full Ultimate X-Men relaunch, with Kitty and Bobby leaving USM and coming back home.

But, of course, that's just hope/speculation.

[ryuluddy]

I firmly believe there is no plan. They just went, "well....lets make it different." without actually thinking through what to do after it became different.

Yes! I agree. I don't think the aftermath was given much thought. However, now with the line being decidedly different from the 616 U, it seems there is much effort being put into differeing the Ultimate U signifficantly from the 616 U.

The Ulitmate line had become too similar to the 616 U, and now they are trying to allow Ultimate to be less reliant on bigger 616 titles and character names. That's why we are seeing an influx of newer, re-Ultimatized characters, that if they have a 616 counterpart, effort is being put in to make them different.

[VRaptorX]

Yes! I agree. I don't think the aftermath was given much thought. However, now with the line being decidedly different from the 616 U, it seems there is much effort being put into differeing the Ultimate U signifficantly from the 616 U.

The Ulitmate line had become too similar to the 616 U, and now they are trying to allow Ultimate to be less reliant on bigger 616 titles and character names. That's why we are seeing an influx of newer, re-Ultimatized characters, that if they have a 616 counterpart, effort is being put in to make them different.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, the line wasn't THAT far gone. You already had tons of unique variations of characters. All you had to do was push them into the forefront and fade away the Wolverines of the world. That would have made it different enough and provide tons of new stories. But instead they got rid of the unique characters too. They threw away the good along with the bad, with no understanding of which was which.

[Alan Smithee]

I firmly believe there is no plan. They just went, "well....lets make it different." without actually thinking through what to do after it became different.

Yup. There is no plan. Just cool-sounding pitches being tossed out while the brass waits to see if anything catches fire.

You know what I'd do? "Do look like I care?" you answer. I'd bring that slick Captain Marvel that Ellis created and have him be the ONLY character able to cross every Marvel universe.

For chrissakes, he is CAPTAIN MARVEL, and I can't believe some suit at Disney hasn't nudged Joey Q into capitalizing on the fact that the company owns a name that the Greatest Generation only connects with Billy Batson.

Maybe Marvelman will morph into Captain Marvel. But I'd rather see the UU Galactus cycle Mar-vel get the whole gig.

AND ANOTHER THING:

The Captain Marvel I mean would be, obviously, an alien seduced by human civilization and strung-out hooked on pop culture. When Caps America and Marvel were cracking wise on, can't remember, Fury or Danvers, maybe, but THAT Captain Marvel could be a signature character for the brand.

[Joseph C.]

maybe they need to broaden the talent pool more in the writing department. There's maybe 5 writers doing all the ultimate books? And maybe create more variety and some more on-goings. Going back to basics with X-Men would be great too. I miss the class of mutants learning and fighting together. And whatever I read from this current Ultimate phase it just feels so dark, like there is just something worse looming over everyone.

[horsehead]

I would like it if we had 4/5 ongoings all with different writers. Millar is leaving after UCA4 so he's out and whilst Loebs current titles are good I really get annoyed with the delays.

Ellis should be given a regular title, I don't think anyone who is a fan of the Ultimate universe would disagree, Either Ultimate Avengers or New Ultimates.

If Hickman does a good job with Thor (and I have to say I think it looks really promising) I would like to see hom get a title.

And if they do bring back UFF in some form (or if Sue, Ben and Johnny carry on working for SHEILD after UC Doom and maybe join the Ultimates) I would like to see Polaski get that title as I enjoyed his run on UFF up to and during Ultimatum

[YouthofToday]

I think we are getting some big Ultimate announcements at NY ComicCon in 2 weeks. Bendis released his schedule and said he will be at the Ultimate panel with some USM news.
Other things I expect/hope to hear...

-Artist and storyline for UA 4.
-whether or not Millar will continue after UA4.
-status of New Ultimates. Will there be another mini?
-Loeb's status on his books.
-new title spinning out of Ultimate Enemy?

[Xistel]

I think right now they are just trying to distance themselves from Ultimatum. Once they've gotten enough distance from that they'll start a new event.

[horsehead]

I don't think they are trying to distance themself from Ultimatum and enemy/mystery/doom is already being billed as an event

[ryuluddy]

I don't think they are trying to distance themself from Ultimatum and enemy/mystery/doom is already being billed as an event

Ultimatum was a different style of event. It affected every UU title. Enemy/Mystery/Doom hasn't carried that type of wieght...yet.

I'd agree that it is trying to distance itself from Ultimatum. It has been a huge blow, and it's been a bit difficult for the line to gain traction since then. There are some success stories, but the line doesn't seem as cohesive as it once was.

That is what i would like to see. Better planning, and more of a cohesive interdependent UU. Like, UXM used to have a direction that moved similar to USM, and allowed the titles to intermingle without feeling too tacked on, likea cheap crossover to gain readers.

Strangely, Ultimates was always, to me at least, scenery compared to the USM and UXM stories. Even UFF had a bit more substance to it, and that could just be to the fact they were bonafide monthlies, versus limited series.

I don't know, i would like to see the UU build a better Marvel U. 616 has it's issues, but at least the individual stories are better than the UU stories right now. USM, which has long been my fav UU title has been weak lately. Hopefully going to original numbering changes this, but the book just seems to have such a different feel with USM being more of a team book than just a solo title.

One of the draws of Spidey is the Pete against the world idea. He has more moral support than ever, and that removes a crucial element of the story for me. All of Peter's immeadiate friends seems to know his secret, and it just loses it's appeal when everyone knows his identity. Balancing Spidey and Pete have been what makes Spidey such a good book in the past.