Ultimate Revamps: Which Ones Worked and Which Ones Didn't

[The Master Meglomaniac]

The Ultimate Universe has revamped many 616 characters over the years. Which revamps have worked and which ones haven't?

[Canemacar]

I think Thor's re-imagining was probably the best.

Deadpool's would be the worst, IMO.

[creaky]

Can only respond for the X-men, since that's the only Ultimate title I read:

Ultimate Xavier - works. Similar to 616, but more...modern.
Ultimate Jean - works and is an improvement, imo. Ultimate Jean has an actual personality. She feels vibrant, somehow. If 616 Jean had been written like that, I could maybe understand what the big deal is about.
Ultimate Cyclops - doesn't work. He's too similar to 616.
Ultimate Wolverine - doesn't work. Again, too similar to 616, but they took away the only thing that makes Logan interesting to me - his sense of honor.
Ultimate Storm - doesn't work. They took away from Ultimate Storm the elements that made 616 Storm interesting. Left is just an angry street chick and those come a dime a dozen.
Ultimate Rogue - doesn't work. For the same reason as Storm. Take away Rogue's heart and charm and what's left is just annoying. I think I'd be more willing to accept her, though, if only she was called on being a brat once in a while. Rogue The Hero I just don't buy.
Ultimate Nightcrawler - I'm very iffy about him. Up until the annual, I'd say he worked, even though he was underdeveloped. If he's going to stay crazy forever, then I doubt it will work. But since he's currently in limbo, I just don't know.
Ultimate Colossus - works and is an improvement. Ultimate Colossus has a personality (or used to have) that 616 Colossus never really reached because he would just go back and forth between being 100% timid to 100% ferocious. Ultimate Colossus feels fleshed out, makes sense and is kinda charming to boot.
Ultimate Iceman - works. He's a teenager and acts like one. I hope he will get more development than 616 Iceman is getting.
Ultimate Shadowcat - works. Again, a teenager who acts like one. I can believe in her and even like her in all her immaturity.

[Zentarien]

Ultimate Thor - Works, hoping for a mini-series for him soon.

Ultimate Avengers (aka The Ultimates) - Works , just need to get used to the new name, no more Avengers Assemble. :(

Ultimate Venom - Doesnt work, Somehow i didnt like the idea of the Cancer-Suit.

[MaxofSteel]

Thor's revamp is one of my favs. And although many folks didn't like Ultimate Deadpool, I happen to think his costume is at least badasss.

As far as Venom goes, I like the family connection, but yea the idea of a "Cancer suit" is a little odd IMO.

[Omega Alpha]

Thor's revamp is the best, by far. I like Ultimate Cap too, and all members of the Fantastic Four. I think that Venom is an improvement to the 616, a real nemesis to Peter, rather than just a guy who's mad at him.

The worse are Deadpool and Sinister, completely wasted.

[kel25]

Nearly all of them work for me but I’ll list my a few of my favorites.
Colossus: I’ll admit it has a lot to do with them making a major character gay.
Venom/Carnage: I like the scientific suit idea far better than an alien parasite. Admittedly Carnage is up in the air until I see where they are going with the current incarnation of him but I’m one of the few here that like both the Venom and Carnage arc. Carnage wasn’t a crybaby like his 616 version. :)
Thor: I liked the his personality a lot. His anti-American views really did add a lot to the character for me.
Captain America: Millar really blew me away with this character.

The only one I really felt that failed was Deadpool. To me the key thing about the 616 version is how much he runs his mouth. Without that the U Deadpool seemed more like a nothing special mercenary. I also felt their was a waste of characters that were killed off panel, like Blink.

[Frodo-X]

The worst ones are the ones they only create to kill. Instead of killing a non-character, they say "Oh, that was so-and-so," and off 'em before they do anything, thus ruining any potential the character could have had in Ultimate U future.

[Toboe]

Dazzler: Definetly the best character out there in the Ultimate Universe. Come on, she's a punk, she curses, she drinks, she's hot, and she's fu... ehem...dating Warren.
Thor: Norwegain God or crazy "pacifist" and political activist? Anyway, Ultimate Thor rules.
Colossus: Mostly because of the fact that he's a gay super hero :D and doesn't have to wear the horrid 616 uniform.
Gwen Stacy: She was extremely cool before she died and all... (or did she?)
Wolverine: When written by Mark Millar and he was a total bad-a55 and didn't look like a damn hobbit, though sadly that's gone now...
Captain America: Because he thinks the best time to kick an enemy is when they're down, and only he can dare say they don't execute people in his country only to execute someone the very moment after.
Hawkeye: Do I need to say anything?
Venom: I actually like how the Ultimate Cure for Cancer turned out.

The worst would have to be Deadpool, no doubt. Omega Red sucked as well. And most of the thowaway villians used by Bendis... Kirkman's Rogue is terrible, but under Vaughan's writing she owned. Finally, not exactly a revamp, but the worst character in the Ultimate Universe has to be the Magician.

[1WEBHEAD]

Can only respond for the X-men, since that's the only Ultimate title I read:

Ultimate Xavier - works. Similar to 616, but more...modern.
Ultimate Jean - works and is an improvement, imo. Ultimate Jean has an actual personality. She feels vibrant, somehow. If 616 Jean had been written like that, I could maybe understand what the big deal is about.
Ultimate Cyclops - doesn't work. He's too similar to 616.
Ultimate Wolverine - doesn't work. Again, too similar to 616, but they took away the only thing that makes Logan interesting to me - his sense of honor.
Ultimate Storm - doesn't work. They took away from Ultimate Storm the elements that made 616 Storm interesting. Left is just an angry street chick and those come a dime a dozen.
Ultimate Rogue - doesn't work. For the same reason as Storm. Take away Rogue's heart and charm and what's left is just annoying. I think I'd be more willing to accept her, though, if only she was called on being a brat once in a while. Rogue The Hero I just don't buy.
Ultimate Nightcrawler - I'm very iffy about him. Up until the annual, I'd say he worked, even though he was underdeveloped. If he's going to stay crazy forever, then I doubt it will work. But since he's currently in limbo, I just don't know.
Ultimate Colossus - works and is an improvement. Ultimate Colossus has a personality (or used to have) that 616 Colossus never really reached because he would just go back and forth between being 100% timid to 100% ferocious. Ultimate Colossus feels fleshed out, makes sense and is kinda charming to boot.
Ultimate Iceman - works. He's a teenager and acts like one. I hope he will get more development than 616 Iceman is getting.
Ultimate Shadowcat - works. Again, a teenager who acts like one. I can believe in her and even like her in all her immaturity.

You took the words right out of my post, though I would like to add on to it.

Ultimate Doctor Octopus- His shapeshifting tentecles are just too cool IMO.

Ultimate Galactus and Silver Surfer- Big dissapointment.

Ultimate Vision- A robot chick with a hot body. Thats about it.

Ultimate Blade and Vampires-It just doesnt work in the Ultimate Universe.

Ultimate Namor- Though we've only seen him for 3 issues he kicks major butt. Many thanks to Millar.

Ultimate Annihulus- Not the coolest villian around. Or cleverest for that matter.(Oh theres a gun in my mouth let me try to get it ou--*BAM*)

Ultimate Magician- I'm surprised nobody has mentioned this Hidden Gem! :rolleyes:

[Toboe]

Ultimate Galactus and Silver Surfer- Big dissapointment.

I guess I'm the only one who actually liked the way that turned out... I'm more happy with Gah Lak Tus as this galactic virus or whatever instead of giant dude with a funny hat and trousers. And the Silver Sulver looked great, specially on the cover of Ultimate Extinction #3.

Ultimate Blade and Vampires-It just doesnt work in the Ultimate Universe.

Totally agree with that. It's not that it was bad, it just doesn't work in the Ultimate Universe.

[Ungoliantschilde]

Ultimate SpiderMan

-Spidey - Thanks for making SpiderMan a teenager again!

-MJ - Yay! She's no longer the unreachably hot model/actress who is way out of SpiderMan's league.

-Aunt May - Same difference to me, slightly more modern.

-Norman Osborn - Boo. I don't like the idea of Norman being a Hulk-Thing. I like it better when he simply takes off the mask and goes on with his day, while Peter has to heal from broken ribs.

-Doctor Octopus - Yay! You actually made him cool.

-Kraven - Same difference.

-Gwen - I like that they made her death important to a new generation.

-Jonah - Same jackazz as ever. Ya gotta love that guy.

-Venom/Carnage - I don't care for either incarnation, but at least the Ultimate version doesn't require reading a mediocre crossover story that took place on the other side of the Universe.

-Flash Thompson - Thank you for making the biggest dooshbag in marvel into the guy I see him as. He was a always a thickheaded bully. Now, Bendis has made him a thickheaded, bullying coward. Good.

-Deadpool - Why did they do it like that? Seriously, the most appealing thing about 616 Deadpool is his mouth. He doesn't shut up. Ever. This one was boring. Horrible. Same with the Marauders.

the Ultimates

- I won't even bother going through every character. I'll just say this: the Ultimates would be the best book on the shelf... if Bryan Hitch finished enough pages for people to realize it's actually ON THE SHELF.

Ultimate F4
-Reed - A younger genius. Works for me.

-Sue - Ah, so THAT'S why Jessica Alba got the part...

-Johnny - 13 year old with the powers of an elemental? Check.

-Ben - Good. I like it a lot.

-Victor Van Damme - Even cooler than the 616 version, who is kind of a punch-line at this point. I love everything about Ultimate Doom, especially the Ellis/Immonen take on him. I wish they kept that design.

-Annihilus - Same as the 616 version, but less intelligent.

-Namor - Hah! the biggest Jerk in comics is also an attempted Date-Rapist. About time someone blew the whistle on that guy.

Ultimate X-Men

-Xavier - A more ruthless version of the same character. I like it that the guy who can make you do anything acts like he is just waiting for the chance.

-Wolverine - Tolerable. I like the depth of the 616 version, but this one is growing on me too, because I get to see it happen. I have to collect back-issues to keep the continuity straight for 616, but Ultimate Wolvie is still figuring out why he might want to have a conscience.

-Sabretooth - Even lamer than his 616 counterpart. The claws on the hand was a nice pot-shot though. Thank you, Mark Millar, for pointing out what I already knew: Sabretooth is just a made in Hong Kong version of Wolverine.

-Cyclops - Excellent! Perhaps the best of the changes. He isn't a whining pansy anymore. He actually shows leadership abilities. Good!

-Jean - I like it that she has always been the team nutcase. We just didn't learn about it until later.

-Storm - All the powers, none of the appeal of her 616 counterpart. Yawn.

-Iceman - Good. I always imagine Bobby as a 13 year old anyways.

-Colossus - Excellent. I really, really like this change. Making him Gay works really well for him as a character.

-Kitty - Same as her 616 counterpart. Seriously. Read Uncanny 129-180.

-Beast - Good. I like the idea that the guy who has the biggest brain still can't get past his own insecurities. The blue-monster hates himself more than anyone else ever could.

-Angel - Same as the 616 counterpart: boring, unless he's on a team.

-Dazzler - Wow. They actually managed to make a lame character really interesting. Good work Marvel.

-Nightcrawler - EXCELLENT. He's probably my favorite change. I never liked the idea that he simply utilized his faith to deal with being born with the appearance of a demon. Especially since he was born in Germany. It makes a lot of sense for him to be one messed up dude.

-Rogue - BORING. Her 616 counterpart has so much more depth!

-Gambit - I loved this version. I wish they hadn't killed him off. The thief/loner guy would never join the X-Men unless he had an angle. I like this version a lot.

-Magneto - I'm not sure. He doesn't have the 616 version's heart, but he's much more intimidating and proactive.

-Brotherhood - I like it that they're not just droogies to Magneto. They act much more like a terrorist cell than the 616 versions.

-Sinister - Interesting for 6 pages, and then horrifically lame. None of the menace, intrigue, or power of his 616 counterpart. Boring.

-Apocalypse - the design is better, but will the character match?

-Weapon X - Racist morons... with a lot more firepower than the 616 version. GOOD!

-Emma - I like the sex-therapist/mind-screwing version better.

-Northstar - Some characters work too well to bother changing. Good judgement.

-Deathstrike - Wait... so one of the deadlier of Wolverine's villains is actually just a motorcycle-riding moron with a grudge against Ororo? So, no history connection to Wolverine? No enhancing of the mystery surrounding Weapon X? Thanks Vaughn. At least we still have Sabretooth. Oh, wait, he's lame too.

Cable - No idea where it's going, but I already like it more than the 616 version.

and finally....

Nick Fury and SHIELD - I can't imagine anyone BUT Samuel L. Jackson as the premier super-spy/ super-hardcore man of the century. THANK YOU! SHIELD is awesome too. They look like they would shoot a truckload of orphans if it meant America continued to reign supreme.

[Lanowar]

Best- I suppose it's Aunt May she's much more intresting character then the 616 version. If people mean more superhero based then Thor and Captain America are great. Ultimate Thor is fantastic all round.

Worst- Deadpool ugh what happened to the Vince Vaughn esqe character Bendis promised us over this...blandless hump of nothingness

[Towelie88]

Three that spring to mind:

Gambit:
Brilliant, the coolest Ultimate character yet. Somehow he was even an improvement on the 616. Selfish, stylish but unstylish, yet caring and a cad. Brilliant. He must come back.

Magneto:
Sheer genius. Everything about him is extremist, and Millar's work on the character made him the perfect villain in a modern world; believeable, passionate, fixated that he is right. And with the caring for his children he retained the tiniest shred of humanity to make his character... well, human.

Mary Jane:
So well developed from day one, she's far superior to the 616. Sometimes I prefer her character to Peter, as she's such a realistic depiction of teenagedom. Which is why I'm a tad sceptical over Hairy-Goblin.

Oh, and what was so bad about Deadpool? I haven't read those issues yet.

[MaxofSteel]

Oh, and what was so bad about Deadpool? I haven't read those issues yet.

I was never really a fan of the 616 Deadpool, but most readers aren't happy with the way the Ultimate version was portrayed. Ult DP doesn't seem to have the same smart-alleck attitude and sense of humor as 616 DP. I just like Ult DP's costume better is all.