This week, Marvel officially unveils Ultimate Endgame #1, an event some two years in the making and one that promises to wind down the Ultimate Universe in truly dazzling fashion. On the road to the end, we’ve already spoken with Jonathan Hickman about Ultimate Spider-Man and the event at large. Now, before the fireworks really start flying, we caught up with Chris Condon, writer of Ultimate Wolverine.
Across the first 12 issues of Ultimate Wolverine, Condon and artist Alessandro Cappuccio have told a decidedly confrontational story about this universe’s Logan as he tried to escape his past as the Winter Soldier. Without revealing too much of the story proper, that resulting journey has seen him deal with the death of friends, the ongoing “struggles” between the mutant Opposition and the autocracy of the Eurasia Republic, and what role the Maker’s played from afar.
In our email conversation, Condon touches on some of those tent-poles and larger themes. He also discusses the experience of working within the larger Ultimate “experience,” the ups and downs of this story, the larger response to Wolverine and the Ultimate line in general, and even some of the collaborative process involved. Our quick but informative chat is basically a nice little nightcap, if you will, for what’s been an especially novel story from the Ultimate line.
But they’re not done just yet. Ultimate Wolverine will continue with issue #13, and as exciting as it will likely be, it reportedly has little to do with Endgame proper. (FYI: Issue #13 sees Condon joined by artist Domenico Carbone.) As Condon told CBR recently, the team were contacted to do four additional issues (through #16) that “coincide with Endgame.” Condon went on to call this a “coda” that doesn’t “change the plan” that unfolded within issues #1-12. It’s also something of a nightcap (albeit with more snarling and claws), and just more proof that Ultimate Wolverine really resonated with folks for its lethal action, clever world-building, and continued dissection of the ever-multifaceted Logan.
Ultimate Wolverine #13 drops on January 7. And check back here tomorrow (December 31) for even more Endgame-related goodness…
Courtesy of Marvel.
AIPT: There’s still folks coming to discover the Ultimate books even as its key books wind down. What should folks know as they’re coming in and picking up your title?
Chris Condon: This is a creator-driven universe, each with its own unique voice and take on the classic characters that we know and love. Some are closer to their 616 counterparts, others far different. It’s a fun diversion from the traditional 616 that allows the creators telling those stories to do big, bold, different things.
AIPT: What’s it been like to contribute to the Ultimate “experience”? What kind of influence or impact do you think these stories have had (on you, Marvel, comics at-large, etc.)?
CC: It’s been an amazing experience for me, and it certainly has had an enormous impact on me, personally. The opportunities I’ve had as a result of this book and its success has been extraordinary.
From Ultimate Wolverine #3. Courtesy of Marvel.
AIPT: Do you feel like you’d gotten the response you’d “wanted” with the story? Or, does the story accomplish the goals you/the team set out from day one?
CC: I don’t think any story is going to be exactly what you set out to do, because you’re one singular person and comics are a collaboration. A lot of what I wanted to do, though, is in the book. I think the DNA of the original concept — to mash Weapon X with Winter Soldier — is there in what we’ve done. I’m very proud of the work, and I feel like we’re hitting all the points we intended to.
AIPT: Do you have a favorite moment or “accomplishment” from your Ultimate title? Something that speaks to what you/the team tried to do with the book?
CC: I think we wanted to be bold from the outset, and we stayed true to that throughout. We wanted this to feel true to the characters but also feel unique and different. Issue #1 ends in a very dramatic, impactful way, and that was intended as we wanted to show that there were stakes here. This isn’t 616; things happen here, and they are often bad things and those bad things have consequences. I think my favorite moment is the entirety of issue #4, which was a loving reference to Barry Windsor Smith’s Weapon X. I wanted to make a Marvel comic unlike any other Marvel comic at the moment, and I think we did that. I’m proud of it, and I think it also allowed for some of Alessandro’s finest work.
From Ultimate Wolverine #6. Courtesy of Marvel.
AIPT: What about another title or standout moment from another book you weren’t involved with? Something that you’ve enjoyed purely as a fan/reader?
CC: I loved Deniz Camp and Juan Frigeri’s take on Hawkeye. It’s fresh, exciting, and feels like it just “should” exist.
AIPT: At the same time Marvel has had Ultimate, DC has had its Absolute line. Why does Ultimate stand out? And what do both of these huge, simultaneous “side universes” say about what comics fans want or resonate with?
CC: I think people need things shaken up from time-to-time, and the Absolute and Ultimate universes give them that shakeup. They are totally different, though. I can’t really compare them aside from the fact that they are both different takes on traditional characters. I think what’s cool about the Ultimate Universe is that it has a finite amount of storytelling. We know where we’re ending, and I think it’ll be better for it. It all serves a purpose instead of trying to figure out, “How do we top ourselves now?” I think we see what we’re doing, we love it, and we ultimately feel like we’ve told our stories in this universe for now. Let it sit. Let it breathe.
From Ultimate Wolverine #8. Courtesy of Marvel.
AIPT: What can you tease us about where things in your book end up before Ultimate Endgame? And what can you tease us about Ultimate Endgame itself (at least from your perspective)?
CC: Before Ultimate Endgame, we see Wolverine essentially stripped of a team and resources, and he’s forced to reconfigure how he will deal with his main adversary — the Eurasian Republic. I’m incredibly excited for everyone to read Ultimate Endgame. What the team are doing on that book is going to be so darn cool. You won’t be prepared for the craziness!
AIPT: Now that we’ve got a bit of hindsight, do you have a sense of what’s really made Ultimate different/unique? Is it just new paint on old favorites, or does it go deeper?
CC: I don’t think it’s simply a new coat of paint. I think what the Ultimate Universe gives us is a glimpse of a world where these heroes we know and love have to struggle to exist because, arguably, they shouldn’t exist, per The Maker’s wish. It allows us to get to the core of what comic book characters are, why they are heroes, who they are, and how they interact with their own unique universe.
From Ultimate Wolverine #11. Courtesy of Marvel.
AIPT: How much communication (if any) was there between the Ultimate teams? Did y’all try to work together in a sustained/overt way toward some objective/Endgame itself?
CC: I talked to Deniz a lot about some things that will reverberate in the pages of Ultimate Wolverine in 2026.
AIPT: If Ultimate Endgame weren’t happening, would you want to continue working on your book, and what new direction might you take things?
CC: I don’t know! That’s a hard thing to answer. I was initially brought in for a set number of issues and I crafted a story with that in mind. I’d probably say yes, of course, but I also love a good, solid ending. Who doesn’t?
AIPT: Is there anything else we should know about your work, the Ultimate line, Marvel, etc.?
CC: I can’t wait for people to see what’s next in the pages of Ultimate Wolverine. I think we’re doing some interesting things with the characters. I also have some very exciting things coming up from Marvel. I’m very excited about those, too. I wish I could say more about them, but Marvel is telling me I have to keep things under lock and key. But rest assured — the best is yet to come!
You must be logged in to post a comment.