====== The Ultimates ======
===== Part 1: The Dossier: An At-a-Glance Summary =====
  *   **Core Identity: In the landscape of Marvel Comics, The Ultimates are most famously the Earth-1610 (Ultimate Universe) reimagining of the Avengers, a government-sponsored, militarized, and morally complex super-team designed for a cynical 21st-century audience whose gritty, cinematic style fundamentally influenced the creation of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.**
  *   **Key Takeaways:**
  * **Role in the Universe:** Originally, they were the Ultimate Universe's premier superhuman defense force, operating under the direct authority of [[nick_fury]] and [[shield]]. Their mandate was to handle threats too powerful for conventional forces and serve as a powerful symbol of American might. A later, entirely separate team in the main Earth-616 universe adopted the name to tackle cosmic-level threats proactively.
  * **Primary Impact:** The team's greatest legacy is its profound influence on the [[marvel_cinematic_universe]]. The visual style, characterizations (especially Nick Fury, Hawkeye, and Captain America), and major plot points (like the Chitauri invasion) from Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch's seminal run were directly adapted into the MCU's //The Avengers// film, setting the tone for the entire franchise.
  * **Key Incarnations:** The original **Earth-1610 Ultimates** were flawed, often volatile individuals assembled by a manipulative government. The later **Earth-616 Ultimates**, led by [[captain_marvel_carol_danvers]], were a volunteer group of super-geniuses and powerhouses dedicated to solving the universe's biggest problems, representing a far more idealistic and cosmically-focused concept.
===== Part 2: Origin and Evolution =====
==== Publication History and Creation ====
The Ultimates burst onto the comic scene in March 2002 with //The Ultimates// #1, a flagship title of Marvel's then-revolutionary [[ultimate_marvel|Ultimate Marvel]] imprint. This imprint was conceived as a way to attract new readers by starting fresh, jettisoning decades of complex continuity to tell modern, accessible stories with Marvel's most iconic characters. The creative team hand-picked for this high-profile reimagining of the Avengers was writer **Mark Millar** and artist **Bryan Hitch**.
Millar, known for his edgy, often satirical, and politically charged writing, approached the concept with a post-9/11 sensibility. He stripped away the Silver Age idealism of the original Avengers and asked, "What if superheroes existed in our world, today?" The result was a team that functioned as an extension of military and political power, with members who were deeply flawed, psychologically complex, and often unheroic. This was not a team of friends who gathered to fight evil; it was a collection of powerful assets, often at odds with one another, deployed by a government with its own agenda.
Bryan Hitch's contribution was equally transformative. He pioneered a style that became known as "widescreen" storytelling. Using panoramic panels, meticulous detail, and a hyper-realistic aesthetic, Hitch gave the book a blockbuster cinematic feel. His art made the action feel grounded and immense, as if a Hollywood special effects budget had been poured onto the comic page. This visual language was a radical departure from traditional comic art and became a defining feature of the Ultimate line, directly influencing the look and feel of modern superhero films. The initial thirteen-issue series, followed by a second thirteen-issue volume, is widely regarded as a modern classic and a cornerstone of 21st-century superhero comics.
==== In-Universe Origin Story ====
A critical distinction must be made when discussing the origin of "The Ultimates." The name has been used by two vastly different teams in two separate universes. The original, and by far the most famous, is the team from the now-defunct Earth-1610. The second is a more recent team from the prime Earth-616 continuity.
=== Earth-1610 (The Ultimate Universe) ===
In the Ultimate Universe, the creation of the Ultimates was the masterwork of General [[nick_fury]], the grizzled, cynical director of the international peacekeeping agency [[shield|S.H.I.E.L.D.]]. Decades after the World War II Super-Soldier program produced its only success, [[captain_america_steve_rogers|Captain America]], before he was lost in the Arctic, global powers entered a superhuman arms race. Nations covertly developed their own super-beings, creating a volatile new paradigm of warfare.
Fury's vision was to create a public-facing, American-led team of superhumans to act as the ultimate deterrent. This "Ultimates Initiative" would not only combat superhuman threats but also project American power across the globe. The project was headquartered in the Triskelion, a massive S.H.I.E.L.D. facility in New York.
The roster was assembled through a mix of scientific discovery, recruitment, and coercion:
  * **[[captain_america_steve_rogers|Captain America]]:** The cornerstone of the team was discovered frozen in ice, a living legend from the 1940s brought into a world he no longer understood. This version of Steve Rogers was a hardened soldier, more jingoistic and less polished than his Earth-616 counterpart.
  * **[[iron_man_tony_stark|Iron Man]]:** The billionaire industrialist Tony Stark was brought in to fund much of the team's technology. This Stark was a public playboy with a severe drinking problem and a benign brain tumor, which he claimed was the source of his genius and risk-taking behavior. He participated as much for the thrill and ego as for any altruistic reason.
  * **Hank and Janet Pym:** The brilliant but deeply insecure scientist Dr. Hank Pym developed "Giant-Man" technology, while his wife, the mutant scientist Dr. Janet van Dyne, became the Wasp. Their relationship was notoriously toxic, culminating in a highly publicized incident of domestic abuse.
  * **Dr. Bruce Banner:** Desperate to recreate the Super-Soldier Serum that created Captain America, the meek Dr. Banner worked for S.H.I.E.L.D. under immense pressure. Feeling inadequate and ignored, he combined his unstable Hulk formula with Captain America's blood and injected himself, transforming into a gray, cannibalistic engine of destruction.
The team's public debut was not a heroic battle against a supervillain, but a desperate, city-destroying attempt to subdue one of their own: the Hulk. After Banner's rampage through Manhattan, Captain America famously gave the order to the S.H.I.E.L.D. soldiers: "You think this 'A' on my head stands for France?" This single moment encapsulated the team's aggressive, politically charged nature. The subsequent addition of the enigmatic, anti-establishment [[thor|Thor]], whose claims of godhood were initially dismissed by S.H.I.E.L.D. as delusions tied to a European super-soldier program, and the black-ops agents [[hawkeye_clint_barton|Hawkeye]] and [[black_widow_natasha_romanoff|Black Widow]], solidified the founding roster of this volatile and powerful new team.
=== Earth-616 (Prime Comic Universe) ===
Following the multiversal cataclysm of the 2015 //Secret Wars// event, which saw the destruction and rebirth of the Marvel Universe, a new team co-opted the "Ultimates" name. This team's formation and mission were radically different from their Earth-1610 predecessors.
The concept was devised by Captain Marvel ([[captain_marvel_carol_danvers|Carol Danvers]]), who believed that Earth's heroes were too often reactive, only responding to cosmic threats after they arrived. She proposed a new team that would be proactive: The Ultimates. Their goal was to identify and neutralize cosmic-level problems //before// they could endanger Earth. They would "solve the ultimate problems."
This was not a government-sponsored military unit but a coalition of some of the most powerful and intelligent individuals on the planet, operating with support from the [[alpha_flight|Alpha Flight Space Program]] and Wakandan technology. The founding members were:
  * **[[captain_marvel_carol_danvers|Captain Marvel]]:** The Commander. Her military background and cosmic experience made her the natural leader.
  * **[[black_panther_tchalla|Black Panther]]:** The King of Wakanda. He provided strategic insight, unparalleled technological resources, and a grounded moral compass.
  * **Blue Marvel (Adam Brashear):** A peer of Reed Richards and Tony Stark in intellect, with power levels rivaling Superman. He was the team's resident genius in theoretical physics and cosmic phenomena.
  * **Spectrum (Monica Rambeau):** A former leader of the Avengers with the ability to transform into and control any form of energy on the electromagnetic spectrum, making her one of the most versatile powerhouses in existence.
  * **Ms. America (America Chavez):** A young hero with the unique ability to punch star-shaped portals between dimensions, giving the team unparalleled mobility across the multiverse.
Their first, audacious mission set the tone for their existence: they decided to solve "the Galactus problem." Instead of fighting the Devourer of Worlds, they used their combined intellect and power to force him back into the "incubation chamber" that created him, fundamentally altering his nature. He emerged not as the Devourer, but as **Galactus the Lifebringer**, a force for cosmic restoration. This act immediately established the Earth-616 Ultimates as a force for profound change on a cosmic scale, a far cry from the gritty street-level politics of the original Ultimate team.
===== Part 3: Mandate, Structure & Key Members =====
The structure, purpose, and membership of the two primary Ultimates teams could not be more different, reflecting the distinct tones of their respective universes.
=== Earth-1610 (The Ultimate Universe) ===
  *   **Mandate:** The primary mandate of the Ultimate Universe's team was to function as a tool of American foreign and domestic policy. They were a publicly-funded superhuman deterrent, designed to combat emerging global superhuman threats, police rogue super-beings within the U.S., and serve as a public relations vehicle for S.H.I.E.L.D. and the U.S. government. Their missions were often politically motivated and morally gray.
  *   **Structure:**
  * **Oversight:** They answered directly to General Nick Fury and, by extension, the President of the United States. S.H.I.E.L.D. provided all logistical, intelligence, and tactical support.
  * **Base of Operations:** The Triskelion, a state-of-the-art S.H.I.E.L.D. facility located off the coast of New York City. It served as their headquarters, barracks, and a prison for superhuman criminals.
  * **Funding:** A combination of U.S. military black budgets and significant contributions from Tony Stark's personal fortune and weapons technology.
  *   **Key Members (Founding & Early Roster):**
  * **Captain America (Steve Rogers):** //The Soldier.// A man out of time, his 1940s black-and-white morality often clashed with the complex realities of the 21st century. He was the team's field leader and moral backbone, albeit a far more aggressive and pragmatic one than his 616 counterpart.
  * **Iron Man (Tony Stark):** //The Futurist.// A narcissistic genius whose armor was his life support and his weapon. He was more interested in the celebrity status of being a superhero and often clashed with Captain America's rigid authority.
  * **Giant-Man & Wasp (Hank & Janet Pym):** //The Scientists.// Hank Pym was a brilliant but deeply troubled man whose insecurities led to jealousy and spousal abuse. Janet, a resourceful mutant, eventually found her strength and became a core member in her own right after leaving him.
  * **Thor (Thor Odinson):** //The God.// An anti-globalization activist who claimed to be the Norse God of Thunder. For a long time, the team and S.H.I.E.L.D. believed his powers came from advanced European technology. He was the team's conscience, often questioning their government ties.
  * **Hulk (Bruce Banner):** //The Monster.// A liability more than a member. Banner's Hulk was an id-driven monster S.H.I.E.L.D. attempted to weaponize, with catastrophic results.
  * **Black Widow (Natasha Romanoff):** //The Spy.// A former black-ops agent with a mysterious past. She was later revealed to be a traitor, responsible for framing Thor and aiding a foreign invasion, causing the deaths of Hawkeye's family.
  * **Hawkeye (Clint Barton):** //The Assassin.// A family man and a stone-cold S.H.I.E.L.D. operative. Unlike his 616 version (who was initially a reformed villain), this Hawkeye was a career special-ops soldier with unmatched marksmanship.
=== Earth-616 (Prime Comic Universe) ===
  *   **Mandate:** The Earth-616 Ultimates were a self-appointed cosmic think-tank and intervention force. Their mission was to find the "ultimate solutions" to the universe's most fundamental problems, operating on a scale far beyond typical superheroics. They sought to heal cosmic constants, preempt multiversal threats, and push the boundaries of science and reality.
  *   **Structure:**
  * **Leadership:** A council-based structure with Captain Marvel acting as the de facto team leader and primary decision-maker.
  * **Base of Operations:** They also utilized The Triskelion, which had become the headquarters of the Alpha Flight Space Program. They also used T'Challa's advanced ship, the //Axiom//.
  * **Support:** They were supported by the resources of the Alpha Flight Program, the entire nation of Wakanda, and the genius of Adam Brashear. They were an independent body, not beholden to any single government.
  *   **Key Members (Founding Roster):**
  * **Captain Marvel (Carol Danvers):** //The Commander.// Her role as Earth's primary liaison with the galactic community made her the perfect leader to spearhead cosmic-level missions.
  * **Black Panther (T'Challa):** //The Strategist.// The King of Wakanda brought a level of intellect, resources, and long-term planning that was unmatched. He was often the one to ask the difficult ethical questions.
  * **Blue Marvel (Adam Brashear):** //The Super-Genius.// A master of anti-matter and theoretical physics, Adam's scientific acumen was their greatest asset. He was the mind who conceived of how to "fix" Galactus.
  * **Spectrum (Monica Rambeau):** //The Powerhouse.// Arguably one of the most powerful heroes on Earth, Monica's ability to manipulate the entire electromagnetic spectrum allowed the team to perform impossible feats of energy manipulation.
  * **Ms. America (America Chavez):** //The Transporter.// Her ability to traverse the multiverse at will made her indispensable. She was the key that unlocked the team's ability to be anywhere and any//when// they needed to be.
===== Part 4: Key Relationships & Network =====
The relationships of the Earth-1610 Ultimates were defined by internal friction, government manipulation, and global animosity, which provided the bulk of their dramatic tension.
==== Core Allies ====
  * **[[shield|S.H.I.E.L.D. (Earth-1610)]]:** More of a handler than an ally. Nick Fury assembled, directed, and frequently manipulated the team to serve his agenda. While he provided them with immense resources and support, there was always a deep-seated mistrust between the individualistic heroes and the secretive spy organization.
  * **[[fantastic_four|Ultimate Fantastic Four]]:** The relationship was professional rather than friendly. Reed Richards and his team were often consulted for their scientific expertise on bizarre phenomena, such as the arrival of the Marvel Zombies or threats from the N-Zone. They were peers in the superhuman community but rarely operated in the same political and military spheres.
  * **[[x-men|Ultimate X-Men]]:** This relationship was consistently fraught with tension. The Ultimates, as a government entity, were often tasked with policing or apprehending mutants, whom the public feared and distrusted. While they occasionally united against overwhelming threats like Apocalypse, they were more often ideological opponents.
==== Arch-Enemies ====
  * **The Liberators:** The quintessential antagonists for the Ultimates. The Liberators were a multinational super-team assembled by a coalition of rival nations (including China, Russia, and an unnamed Middle Eastern power) to "liberate" the United States from what they perceived as its aggressive superhuman imperialism. Each member was a dark mirror of an Ultimate: the Colonel was a super-soldier counterpart to Captain America, the Crimson Dynamo was an armor-based foe for Iron Man, and so on. Their invasion of the U.S. was the climactic event of //The Ultimates 2//.
  * **Loki (Earth-1610):** The Ultimate version of Thor's brother was a reality-warping trickster god who saw the Ultimates, and indeed all of modern society, as an abomination. He orchestrated the invasion of the Liberators, framed Thor as a delusional mortal, and manipulated events from behind the scenes to sow chaos and bring about the downfall of his brother and his "allies."
  * **The Chitauri:** The Ultimate Universe's answer to the Skrulls. The Chitauri were a reptilian, shapeshifting alien race who had been covertly infiltrating Earth since the 1940s. They believed that humanity's chaotic nature was a plague on the universe and sought to impose their own version of order. Their initial plot was uncovered and thwarted by the Ultimates in the team's first major global conflict.
==== Affiliations ====
The Earth-1610 Ultimates' primary and defining affiliation was with the **United States Government** and its intelligence arm, **S.H.I.E.L.D.** They were, for all intents and purposes, a special projects division of the American military. This connection defined their public perception, their mission parameters, and their internal conflicts. Conversely, the Earth-616 Ultimates were primarily affiliated with the **Alpha Flight Space Program** and the independent nation of **Wakanda**, highlighting their international and cosmic focus, free from the direct control of any single superpower.
===== Part 5: Iconic Events & Storylines =====
The narrative of the original Ultimates is best understood through their major story arcs, primarily from the first two volumes written by Mark Millar.
==== The Ultimates: Super-Human (Vol. 1, Issues #1-6) ====
This arc details the formation of the team. It introduces the flawed cast of characters and their complex motivations. The primary "villain" is one of their own: Bruce Banner. Frustrated and feeling emasculated, he unleashes the Hulk on New York City, forcing the newly assembled and dysfunctional team to come together for the first time to stop him. The story also establishes the volatile relationship between Hank Pym and Janet van Dyne, culminating in Hank's brutal assault on his wife and his subsequent expulsion from the team. It is a masterclass in character deconstruction and sets the gritty, realistic tone for the series.
==== The Ultimates: Homeland Security (Vol. 1, Issues #7-13) ====
The team's first true global threat arrives in the form of the Chitauri. This arc reveals that Captain America's arch-nemesis from WWII, Herr Kleiser, was the leader of a Chitauri infiltration unit. The aliens activate a doomsday weapon hidden in the solar system, and the Ultimates must engage in a massive battle to save the planet. This storyline solidified the team as a functional fighting unit, showcased the sheer scale of Bryan Hitch's "widescreen" art, and ended with Captain America personally defeating Kleiser in a brutal one-on-one fight before the Hulk unceremoniously eats the alien commander.
==== The Ultimates 2: Gods and Monsters & Grand Theft America (Vol. 2, Issues #1-13) ====
Widely considered the pinnacle of the series, this sprawling epic sees the team torn apart from within and without. The story begins with Thor being accused of being a mentally unstable fraud, stripped of his powers, and imprisoned by the team. This is revealed to be a plot by his brother Loki, who has allied himself with the Liberators. A traitor is revealed in the Ultimates' ranks—Black Widow—who helps orchestrate a swift and brutal invasion of America by the Liberators. The Ultimates are systematically defeated and captured. The story culminates in a patriotic and bloody counter-attack, with a freed Thor leading an army of Asgardians, Captain America fighting the Colonel in the White House, and Iron Man single-handedly destroying the enemy fleet.
==== Ultimatum ====
This line-wide event marked a dark and controversial turning point for the Ultimate Universe. Magneto, grieving the deaths of his children, uses his powers to reverse the Earth's magnetic poles, causing worldwide cataclysms. A massive tidal wave strikes New York, killing millions, including numerous superheroes. The Ultimates suffer devastating losses: Wasp is graphically devoured by the Blob, and Hank Pym is killed in a suicide attack on Magneto's forces. The event effectively destroyed the optimistic potential of the Ultimate Universe and led to a grim new status quo from which the line never fully recovered.
===== Part 6: Variants and Alternative Versions =====
While the Earth-1610 and Earth-616 teams are the primary versions, the name and concept of "The Ultimates" have had a profound impact, most notably on cinema.
==== The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) Influence ====
It is impossible to overstate the influence of //The Ultimates// comic on the MCU. While a team named "The Ultimates" **does not exist** in the MCU, the film franchise's flagship team, **[[avengers|The Avengers]]**, is a direct conceptual, tonal, and visual adaptation of them.
  * **Nick Fury:** The MCU's Nick Fury, as portrayed by Samuel L. Jackson, is a direct lift from the Ultimate comics, where artist Bryan Hitch explicitly modeled the character on the actor years before he was ever cast.
  * **S.H.I.E.L.D. Centric:** The formation of the Avengers is driven by Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D., mirroring the comics' premise. The Helicarrier is also a direct import from the Ultimate comics.
  * **The Chitauri:** The alien invaders in the 2012 film //The Avengers// are named the Chitauri, a direct reference to the Ultimate comics' villains, though their appearance and nature are different.
  * **Character Designs and Roles:** Hawkeye and Black Widow are introduced as S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, not reformed villains as in their original 616 backstories. Captain America's initial MCU suit is heavily based on his Ultimates uniform. The overall tone is more militaristic and grounded than in classic comics.
  * **Team Dynamics:** The initial friction and clashing egos between Captain America and Iron Man in the MCU are heavily reminiscent of their dynamic in //The Ultimates//.
==== Ultimate Avengers (Animated Films) ====
Before the MCU took flight, Marvel produced two direct-to-video animated films, //Ultimate Avengers// and //Ultimate Avengers 2: Rise of the Panther//. These were direct, though slightly sanitized, adaptations of the first two major story arcs from the comics: the team's formation against the Hulk and their confrontation with the Chitauri. They were many fans' first introduction to this grittier take on the team.
==== The Maker's Ultimates (Earth-1610) ====
After the destruction of the original Ultimate Universe, its version of Reed Richards survived and became the villain known as The Maker. He eventually created a new Earth (Earth-61610) and his own team of "Ultimates," consisting of twisted versions of heroes, to serve his own nefarious goals. This team is a dark perversion of the original concept, representing the final, corrupted legacy of the Ultimate Universe.
===== See Also =====
  * [[ultimate_marvel]]
  * [[avengers]]
  * [[shield]]
  * [[nick_fury]]
  * [[captain_america_steve_rogers]]
  * [[iron_man_tony_stark]]
  * [[mark_millar]]
  * [[bryan_hitch]]
===== Notes and Trivia =====
((The casting of Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury in the MCU is one of the most famous instances of life imitating art. When writing //The Ultimates//, Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch decided to base their new version of Fury on the actor, with Millar reportedly joking, "Samuel L. Jackson is the coolest man alive, and he has to be Nick Fury." When Jackson discovered this, his representatives contacted Marvel, which ultimately led to him signing a multi-picture deal to play the character he had inspired.))
((Mark Millar has stated that //The Ultimates// was heavily influenced by the American political climate following the September 11th attacks. The team's aggressive, unilateral actions were meant to be a commentary on the Bush administration's foreign policy and the "War on Terror." ))
((The "A" on Ultimate Captain America's helmet is a frequent source of discussion. In a famously crass moment in the first issue, he tells a group of soldiers that it doesn't stand for France. While played as a joke, it established his character as a blunt, unapologetic soldier. It is generally accepted to simply stand for "America." ))
((The creation of the Earth-616 Ultimates by writer Al Ewing was a deliberate thematic choice. After the Ultimate Universe (Earth-1610) was destroyed during //Secret Wars//, having a new team in the prime universe take up the name was a way of honoring the legacy and brand recognition of the original series while moving the concept in a completely new, more optimistic direction.))
((Bryan Hitch's "widescreen" art style was achieved by using a 4:3 aspect ratio for his pages and favoring wide, cinematic panels over the traditional grid layout. This, combined with his high level of detail, created a slower, more "decompressed" reading experience that allowed big moments to have a greater impact. This style became highly influential throughout the 2000s.))