We’re three months from the return of The Maker, and things are heating up, especially so amongst the public in The Ultimates #16. In an issue without superheroes, writer Deniz Camp and artist Juan Frigeri explore the highs and lows of Ultnet, the Ultimates’ free app that enables civilians to participate in the resistance. It’s an issue about how to resist fascist rule, which comes with worry and huge risks.
It’s telling that the preview lists this issue featuring the “New Ultimates,” which ultimately refers to the regular people who work together to fight back against The Maker and his dominant power. The Ultimates #16 opens with a teenager in punk rock gear named Wren, who has average-looking parents looking very concerned. Some might assume she’s a big problem, but it turns out this is a story about how the problem is what made her rebel.
The Ultimates #16 can be broken into three parts. After the cold open, the story shifts to Wren and her friend, who turns out to have powers. It then shifts to Wren trying to find answers and others who have gone through similar traumas. That leads to action, which endangers Wren and others, and finally, the repercussions of those actions.
Gills can’t possibly get her in trouble with The Maker, right?
Credit: Marvel
Artist Juan Frigeri does an excellent job grounding this issue in the emotions of everyday people. With no superheroes in sight for much of the story, the art relies heavily on character acting to sell the stakes, and Frigeri nails it. Wren’s defiance, her parents’ quiet worry, and the small gestures of fear and resolve from supporting characters all carry weight.
What makes The Ultimates #16 particularly striking is how its narrative mirrors the current climate. The idea of citizens carrying out attacks within their own nation against an authoritarian regime isn’t just speculative fiction—it feels eerily prescient. With global unrest and democratic institutions under threat, the comic’s exploration of grassroots rebellion resonates as more than just a Marvel story. In a world where authoritarianism rises in real headlines, the Ultimates’ Ultnet becomes a metaphor for digital organizing, community resilience, and the thin line between activism and terrorism.
The issue’s final act shifts gears into something more traditionally superheroic, as Wren finds herself pursued by villains in a tense, action-packed chase sequence. The pacing quickens, panels stretch wide, and the chase brims with energy that contrasts sharply with the quieter, more contemplative opening. Yet even here, the message remains clear: Wren escapes not through raw power, but because of the collective effort of those who stand with her. It’s a thrilling reminder that the real superpower isn’t in capes or costumes, but in solidarity.
The Ultimates #16 proves that resistance stories can be both timely and exhilarating. By blending sharp social commentary with superhero spectacle, it captures what makes this line of comics vital again. When the people band together, fascism doesn’t stand a chance. At least, we can only hope that part isn’t the fantasy superhero stuff Marvel is made of.
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