Ultimate Marvel Checkup
What’s the current state of the line?
When it comes to mainstream superhero comics (read: Marvel and DC), Marvel’s Ultimate line is easily the one that I have been following most closely. I’ve discussed it on more than one occasion, and I even tracked its success after its first six months of publication. It was arguably the most successful line of comics of 2024 from both a critical and commercial standpoint. With some sales data now available for the first month of 2025, I wanted to take a look at how the line was holding up.
Ultimate Spider-Man by Jonathan Hickman, Marco Checchetto, and Matthew Wilson (with occasional guest artist David Messina)
The first title launched as part of the new Ultimate line remains its most successful. Ultimate Spider-Man #13 was ranked fourth in ICv2’s “Top 50 Comic by Units” (based on ordering data via ComicHub) in January, and it has been a fixture in the top five every month since its launch. The first eleven issues of the series saw an adult Peter Parker with a stable job and a wife and kids suddenly gain his powers at a completely different stage of his life and adjust to being a superhero. He made friends with Harry Osborn (the Green Goblin in this universe), and the two launched a war on Wilson Fisk and his Sinister Six.
Things went shockingly smoothly for most of those first eleven issues. Things went so smoothly, in fact, that some readers voiced some complaints that there wasn’t enough adversity being thrown Peter’s way. Having read Ultimate Spider-Man #12-13, I very much doubt that anyone still has that complaint. This remains one of the best comics currently being published, and it shows no signs of slowing down.
Ultimate Black Panther by Bryan Hill, Stefano Caselli, and David Curiel (with occasional guest artist Carlos Nieto)
Ultimate Black Panther was the book in this line that I was most concerned with its long term commercial success. Black Panther has just never been a character who has had a history of successful solo comics. There have been plenty of series that have garnered critical praise (I really loved the second series from Ta-Nehisi Coates and Daniel Acuna in particular), but they just haven’t sold well. Imagine my (very pleasant) surprise when I saw Ultimate Black Panther #12 clocked in at twenty-ninth on ICv2’s “Top 50 Comic by Units” in January! That’s an incredible accomplishment.
The series has also maintained its high quality as it balances being an action-packed superhero comic and a political thriller. Black Panther himself is obviously the star, but this series has a strong supporting cast including allies like Storm and Killmonger and villains like Khonshu and Ra. Hill’s writing remains crisp, and Caselli remains one of the best artists working today.
Ultimate X-Men by Peach Momoko
As mentioned previously, Ultimate X-Men is the most drastically different series from its main continuity counterpart. It is both written and illustrated by Peach Momoko, and her distinct (and beautiful) artistic style really sets it apart from any comic being published by either of the two major Western publishers. I wasn’t sure if such a unique take would be beneficial or a hindrance in terms of attracting readers, but the sales numbers still look pretty strong eleven months into its run.
Ultimate X-Men #11 came in at forty-fourth on ICv2’s “Top 50 Comic by Units” in January. That’s still a very solid showing for a series as unique as this.
Momoko is telling a story steeped in Japanese culture while simultaneously capturing the spirit of the primary continuity X-Men line by focusing on elements of youthful rebellion and alienation. It’s really cool, and I hope new readers continue to jump on board.
Ultimates by Deniz Camp, Juan Frigeri, and Federico Blee (with occasional guest artists Phil Noto and Chris Allen)
Ultimates is currently my favorite ongoing comic being published. It’s not just my favorite comic in the new Ultimate line or my favorite ongoing comic being published by Marvel. It’s my favorite overall. Needless to say, but I’m pretty invested in it doing well. The most recent issue to appear on ICv2’s “Top 50 Comic by Units” in January was Ultimates #8, and it came in at twenty-third. This is good news.
What makes this series so special is the way it mixes high octane superhero action with incisive social and political commentary.
Ultimates #3 utilizes real declassified Castle Bravo reports to frame its story about gamma testing on indigenous populations without their consent.
Ultimates #5 introduces a new Hawkeye who happens to be a two-spirit member of the Lakota Nation taking aim (pun intended) at corporations destroying the planet.
Ultimates #9 reinvents Luke Cage as a George Jackson figure fighting the carceral state from the inside.
Those are just a few examples of the kinds of stories being told in this series. I frankly can’t believe Marvel is letting Deniz Camp write it.
Ultimate Wolverine by Chris Condon, Alessandro Cappuccio, and Bryan Valenza
The most recent addition to the line is Ultimate Wolverine. Only one issue has been published at the time I’m writing this, but it debuted at second on ICv2’s “Top 50 Comic by Units” in January. Not bad.
It’s too recent to make any concrete judgments at this point, but the first issue was excellent.
This version of Wolverine doubles as the Winter Soldier, so he’s somehow even more terrifying than the main continuity Wolverine. He’s being controlled by the ruling triad of the Eurasian Republic (the mutant trio of Colossus, Magik, and Omega Red), and he’s being sent out on covert operations to brutally assassinate their enemies.
The first issue was exceptionally brutal with some truly fantastic art from Cappuccio. I became a huge fan of his from his excellent Moon Knight run with Jed MacKay, and I’m excited to see what he does with Condon on this book.
I also want to make sure I give credit to Wil Moss. He is the editor for the entire Ultimate line, and he deserves a lot of praise for how he has managed to let the writers and artists tell such incredible stories while also keeping the entire line cohesive.
I’ll continue to post check ups on the Ultimate line periodically, but I feel pretty confident in saying the current state of the line is very strong.