Ultimate reading order?

[BeastMcCoy]

Hey fellas,

I'm new to whole "reading comics" scene. I am very familiar with ALL of the marvel universe though, through years of research and keeping abreast of the story arcs.

That being said, i want to start reading the Ultimate series', but wasn't sure where to start. There's a few different teams/characters that have books in this series, so where should i start...and where should i go next?

-X-men
-Spider Man
-Fantastic Four
-Ultimates
-Iron Man
-Daredevil

I already purchased...and have read Ultimate X-men Vol. 1 collection, and have purchased Vol. 2 and Ultimates Vol. 1 and 2. Was this a wise choice? Does it really matter where i start?

Thanks for the help guys.

[Beast]

It doesn't really matter where you start. There is a over-arching continuity to things, but it's not necessary to really read anything in a specific order. There's a timeline thread around here, but it's not super important.

[stealthwise]

Yeah, it doesn't really matter where you start.

Ultimate Daredevil and Elektra is a collected mini-series set in the past though, and personally, I think it stinks to high heaven.

[BeastMcCoy]

Thanks for the help guys, guess i'll continue with X-men and start the Ultimates, then move to Spider-Man. Which one do you all prefer?

[Sean Whitmore]

Thanks for the help guys, guess i'll continue with X-men and start the Ultimates, then move to Spider-Man. Which one do you all prefer?

It really all depends on what you're in the mood for at the time. Ultimates and Ultimate X-Men (under writer Mark Millar) are big, colorful, ball-to-the-wall action.

Ultimate Spider-Man, and later issues of Ultimate X-Men (by writes Brian Vaughan and Robert Kirkman) are a lot more plot-important and thoughtful.

Ultimate Fantastic Four (by any writer) tries for a mix of both...summer blockbuster action but done in a smart way...which I don't personally think is always pulled off very well.


SEAN

[whassup_bun]

Thanks for the help guys, guess i'll continue with X-men and start the Ultimates, then move to Spider-Man. Which one do you all prefer?

Read The Ultimates last, because it's so good that it makes all the other ultimate titles look bad. I just can't enjoy USM anymore after reading The Ultimates.

[Verydopey]

i would start with UXM, then move to USM. and read them simultaniously. then everyso often, but a mini series book or something :P but get ultimates1 before the galactus trilogy. and add a few UFF in to the mix for good measure. UFF you need to give it a try, when you get to millars run its amazing.

[Evil-Spidey]

yeah whatever you do, you need to read ultimate fantastic four 21-32,ultimates 1 and 2 and ultimate spider-man tpb 1-3, 6, 8-11, 14, 17.

[Toboe]

later issues of Ultimate X-Men (by Robert Kirkman) are a lot more plot-important and thoughtful.

Plot-important?? Thoughtful??? Seriously, you think Kirkman's Ultimate X-Men is all that???

[scottv]

I personally really like USM and Ultimates. Like other people have said it really doesn't matter too much of where you start but they do tie into each other occasionally but it is more or less guest appearances. The Ultimate Universe is really a good place to get into because it is just starting compared to the rest of the Marvel Universe.

[Sparda]

Start off with ultimate spider-man since it was the first of the ultimate line that came out. Rest is up to you. Currently the only good ultimate titles is Spider-man and Ultimate FF. Did'nt include the Ultimates, cause there on the last issue, and Jeph loeb along with madd are gonna start there run soon. But highly recommend reading Ultimates though. Also try reading Ultimate marvel team-up though it's crap, it is sort of essestial to the universe but I recommend instead of buying it, just go to a local border's store and sit down and read it.

[Sean Whitmore]

Plot-important?? Thoughtful??? Seriously, you think Kirkman's Ultimate X-Men is all that???

Compared to Millar's? Indisputably.

Keep in mind that those two things do not necessarily mean "good." I enjoyed Millar's stories much more than Kirkman's.


SEAN

[Mister Mets]

Thanks for the help guys, guess i'll continue with X-men and start the Ultimates, then move to Spider-Man. Which one do you all prefer?

The Ultimates is excellent (best of the Ultimate franchise), and its collected in a nice $30 hardcover, collecting the first 13 issues. Its sequel is better, but won't be collected in such an edition for another six or so months.

I loved Ultimate Spider-Man, and the first 13 issue collection is incredible, and probably good enough to encourage you to buy more collections. It's Spider-Man reimagined as the best high school drama ever.

Ultimate Marvel Team Up introduced some characters who were key to the Ultimates, and featured some of the best Ultimate stories ever. The entire run was collected in a single volume, which I recommend. I highly recommend it if you enjoy Ultimate Spider-Man, and it would make sense for you to buy it before you read the Ultimate Venom arc of Spider-Man.

Ultimate X-Men was good, although it never rose to the best of the other two. The highlights were Millar's first year, the Ultimate War/ Return of the King arcs which concluded his run, and BKV's 20-something issue runs.

Ultimate Fantastic Four took a while, but it does have some great stories, especially Warren Ellis's "N-Zone" arc, and Millar/ Land's twelve issue run. There's also an Ultimate Galactus trilogy, but I honestly don't think it's as good as some of the other stuff.

To recapitulate, the two things I recommend you buy first:
Ultimates Volume 1 (hardcover)
The first Ultimate Spider-Man collection (you've got many to choose from.)

[stealthwise]

Compared to Millar's? Indisputably.

Keep in mind that those two things do not necessarily mean "good." I enjoyed Millar's stories much more than Kirkman's.


SEAN

I didn't dig either of them, but BKV's Ultimate X-Men was superlative.

[BloodRedSandman]

Does it really matter where i start?

Thanks for the help guys.

Just start with a Volume 1 (or Volume 1 Series 1) and start reading.
The Ultimate line up is pretty much self contained.

There is a time line between the ultimate books. However it has little significants on the plot, or it does not require you to read it in order for you to enjoy the story at hand.