The following contains spoilers for Ultimate Invasion #1, on sale now from Marvel Comics.
Ultimate Invasion has arrived, and with it the Ultimate Marvel Universe is officially back in action. Or rather, a version of it is, albeit one that only resembles its predecessor on a surface level as of now. In fact, the Ultimate Universe as it stands today might not be the one fans know best in any of the ways that matter, and that could very well be enough for it to deserve a proper comeback.
After a brazen and gruesome escape from prison in Ultimate Invasion #1 (by Jonathan Hickman, Bryan Hitch, Andrew Currie, Alex Sinclair, and VC's Joe Caramagna), the Reed Richards of Earth-1610, better known as the Maker, wastes no time in stealing away with some of the most powerful artifacts the Marvel Universe has to offer. As the heroes who come to stop him soon discover, these various pieces of equipment are all that the Maker needs to open a gateway to another world. This villainous Mister Fantastic doesn't have his sights set on just any world, but rather the one that he originally called home, Marvel's Ultimate Universe.
The Origin of Marvel's Ultimate Universe
First glimpsed in 2000's Ultimate Spider-Man #1 (by Brian Michael Bendis, Bill Jemas, and Mark Bagley), the Ultimate Universe was at the time of its introduction Marvel's latest attempt to reboot its characters and settings for a new generation. By shedding the old trappings that fans were accustomed to and resetting its timeline, the Ultimate Universe was able to act as a veritable blank slate for the writers and artists who would lead it into the future. It also gave them the opportunity to put their own unique spins on beloved Marvel characters.
Although Marvel's brave new world began with the introduction of Ultimate Spider-Man, the ranks of Earth-1610 quickly swelled to include the X-Men, Avengers (originally referred to in this world as the Ultimates), and countless alternate versions of nearly every recognizable Marvel hero and villain. Eventually, the Ultimate Universe was replete with everyone from Blade to the Sinister Six, but these characters and their stories couldn't simply be retold for the next generation. As an entirely new vision of the Marvel Universe, the Ultimate line of comics needed to separate itself from its predecessor in ways that would be as memorable as the original events. Unfortunately, that more often than not simply meant being edgy rather than actually pushing the edge.
Marvel's Ultimate Universe Spiraled Into Chaos
While Bendis was first and foremost among this select group of creators, he was not the only one to help shape the overall tone of this new universe. However, despite being filled with fresh takes on classic storylines, the themes of the Ultimate Universe often antagonized more than pleased its audience. Over the top violence and gruesome deaths became par for the course as Earth-1610 proved that it was ready and willing to provide shocking takes on Marvel's most beloved characters.
Between gut-wrenching moments (such as Hank Pym spraying Janet Van Dyne with inseticide prior to her infamously gruesome death at the hands of the Blob), it seemed as if no line was too far to cross. Even themes of incest were fair game as evidenced by the sexualized relationship between Wanda Maximoff and her brother Pietro, aka the Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver. To make matters worse, most of these instances came across as offhanded moments that really didn't matter much in the grand scheme of things. In spite of the fact that they were clearly designed to have an impact, so many unforgettable sequences from the Ultimate Universe's history felt spiteful, and that sentiment still rings true when looking back on them today.
Ultimate Invasion Has a Chance to Redeem the Ultimate Marvel Universe
This harsh reality and even harsher landscape made it almost a relief when the Incursions came to put the Ultimate Universe out of its misery in 2015's Secret Wars #1 (by Jonathan Hickman and Esad Ribic). Unsurprisingly, the destruction of an entire reality ended up being little more than a reset switch, as Earth-1610 has only made minor appearances since then. All of that has changed, however, with the return of the Maker in Ultimate Invasion #1, and the Ultimate Universe now has a chance for redemption.
Instead of going back to a world filled with the same heroes and villains, the Maker has gone back to the point where it all began for the Ultimate Universe: the creation of Spider-Man. By preventing Peter Parker from being bitten by the spider that would have imbued him with his powers, the Maker has stopped a series of events that would have snowballed into countless grand adventures for a multitude of figures. And, assuming he knows what he is doing, the Maker might even be able to help his new home evolve into a place that is far less terrifying than it ever was the first time around.