Ultimate Universe: Finale #1 serves as the “official” conclusion to the Ultimate Universe saga launched by a collection of top tier creators two years ago (three, if you include Ultimate Invasion), but it’s also working as both a coda to the entire line of titles launched under the Ultimate umbrella and as the second half of a story that began with Ultimate Endgame #5. All of that sounds like a lot for one comic to handle, but thankfully, those aforementioned creators have united one last time to close the door on the universe they helped bring into being.
First up is an Ultimate Spider-Man story by Jonathan Hickman and Marco Checchetto, which finds Peter Parker and his wife Mary Jane facing a threat even greater than the Sinister Six: parent-teacher conferences. Not making matters any easier is Peter’s Spider-Man duties, as he’s battling a supervillain while said conference is going on. This story features everything that made Hickman and Checchetto’s run on Ultimate Spider-Man great, including the dynamic between the Parker family, some incredible artwork (the way Checchetto draws Spidey in action makes me even more excited for his upcoming Avengers run with Chip Zdarsky) and twists on the Spider-Man mythos you didn’t expect.
The Ultimate Black Panther story by Bryan Hill and Stefano Caselli zeroes in on T’Challa’s quest to rid himself of the dark vibranium poisoning his veins, with help from Storm. While one of my underlying issues with Ultimate Black Panther is that it tended to overload itself with subplots, Hill keeps the story short, sweet and to the point by touching on the underlying attraction between T’Challa and Storm, and the reason the Black Panther continues to fight. Caselli backs up Hill’s script with striking visuals, including an embrace between Black Panther and Storm as lightning carves through the sky behind them.
Marvel
Peach Momoko’s Ultimate X-Men and Ultimate Wolverine by Chris Condon and Alessandro Cappucchio turn their attention to the mutant side of the Ultimate Universe, resulting in two different stories. With Ultimate X-Men, we see that the young X-Men are continuing to help other mutants in a world that hates and fears them, and it’s a story you won’t want to tear your eyes away from thanks to Momoko’s artwork. Not only does she play around with the different visuals of mutant powers, but she also has a great gift for drawing truly dynamic action. Ultimate Wolverine reunites Logan and Sabretooth after the end of Ultimate Endgame #5, with Condon getting to write a Wolverine that finally feels at peace. Cappucchio’s visuals also result in some striking imagery, particularly when it concerns Sentinel-One descending from the sky to stand in front of Sabretooth.
It’s The Ultimates by Deniz Camp and Juan Frigeri that is the standout of the story. Taking place from Iron Lad’s point of view, it explores the world in the wake of Ultimate Endgame #5 and how the Ultimates continue to be a major presence. Not only does it feature some awesome images like Iron Lad floating up in space, courtesy of Frigeri, but it also ends on a note that no one is expecting. I won’t spoil what that is, because the surprise is more than worth the price of admission, but it goes hand in hand with Camp’s work on Ultimate Endgame #5, which touched on the nature of stories.
Ultimate Universe: Finale #1 closes the door on the Ultimate Universe, with its creators reuniting to bid farewell to these heroes…for now. In their book Supergods, Grant Morrison wrote, “We love our superheroes because they refuse to give up on us. We can analyze them out of existence, kill them, ban them, mock them, and still they return, patiently reminding us of who we are and what we wish we could be.” Ultimate Universe: Finale #1 proves them right.
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