Ultimate Marvel

[The Overlord]

I dont think that the point of UU was to have no continuity at all. I read that more as them saying it was a fresh more current start for anyone trying to get into the said characters without having to know any of the backstory or continuity that came before it. Imagine a kid maybe 10 11 years old who picks up Ult Spidey #1 without even being aware or caring about regular 616 spidey, to that kid everything that happens in Ult Spidey from issue 1 onward is canon to him thats his continuity. Thats the way i took them to mean not having to worry about previous continuity.

You say that about USM # 1, but you can't say that about USM # 87.

 

[Ion Kenshin]

You say that about USM # 1, but you can't say that about USM # 87.

what r u trying to say im not sure i understand

 

[The Overlord]

what r u trying to say im not sure i understand

If the big selling point of the UU is that it is a new continuity, then that's not a selling point anymore because the continuity is no longer new. there 8 years worth of continuity in the UU now.

 

[Arkady Rossovich]

Really? I never knew it was that long,I would have thought 5-6 years. But if writers are struggling to keep things fresh Ultimate wise,I wouldn't think it's that hard. But like some have said before,the Ultimate Universe has done it's course. Which is why Marvel is going to end it,speaking of that..when will that event happen?

 

[BrianWilly]

Ultimate Spider-Man started in October of 2000, I believe, which is actually exactly seven and a half years, but that's the general idea yes.

 

[Ion Kenshin]

If the big selling point of the UU is that it is a new continuity, then that's not a selling point anymore because the continuity is no longer new. there 8 years worth of continuity in the UU now.

yes in the beginning that was the selling point. im in no way saying that it still holds true today as people have mentioned throughout the board. i could be wrong but i dont think people are still portraying the UU to constantly be new continuity free stories. i see it as a revamp. they started things over for anyone that wanted to get into a charcter and not worry about his backstory in another universe. continuity is just that a continuing story. if Ult Spidey came out every month it was a new story every single time with a new villain and thats it id be disappointed. if i want to see a bad guy show up make his demands then get the snot kicked out of him by our hero then i would just watch an episode of a cartoon or tv show. in a comic book especially in an ongoing series it is impossible to avoid having continuity which i dont think was the plan from the get go anyway

 

[The Overlord]

yes in the beginning that was the selling point. im in no way saying that it still holds true today as people have mentioned throughout the board. i could be wrong but i dont think people are still portraying the UU to constantly be new continuity free stories. i see it as a revamp. they started things over for anyone that wanted to get into a charcter and not worry about his backstory in another universe. continuity is just that a continuing story. if Ult Spidey came out every month it was a new story every single time with a new villain and thats it id be disappointed. if i want to see a bad guy show up make his demands then get the snot kicked out of him by our hero then i would just watch an episode of a cartoon or tv show. in a comic book especially in an ongoing series it is impossible to avoid having continuity which i dont think was the plan from the get go anyway

Well if Blader is correct and the UU is just supposed to be the "greatest hits" version, then what's the point? they have already borrowed most of the major plot lines from the 616 universe (notice how quickly we got Ultimate Clone Saga.)

If they aren't going to provide some interesting twists to B-list characters, I don't see the point of the Ultimate Universe, because they are really running out of ideas with this "greatest hits" approach.

 

[anrrd_2]

i am a person who, as a whole, is not a fan of the ultimates continuity...i admit i was already partially bias against it before i even picked up an ultimates book. i viewed it a gas station quality, bastardized version of the characters that i have come to love over the years. however having (mostly) put aside my original dicontent for the ultimates, i have begone to come across certain characters and stories that i am really being intruiged by...this in mind i thought i would start this thread to discuss everyone opinions on which character reimaginings and stories they think have been improved apon in the ultimate world and which have been destryoed by it.

when it comes to characters...i absolutley love the ultimate version of wasp. i have always found her 616 look to be alittle gaucky and unappealing....
616 wasp

Spoiler

ultimate wasp

Spoiler

...on the other end of the spectrum i think that the ultimates deadpool is a monstrocity and a complete insult to character...not for the look of the character but what his character was about.

other opinions on the marvel 616/ultimates differences?

 

[Blader5489]

Ultimate Hawkeye >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 616 Hawkeye

 

[venom892]

Really?I mean Ultimate Hawkeye Ain't got half the character 616 Hawkeye has.

 

[anrrd_2]

i think in terms of looks i like ultimate...story almost HAS to be 616....

honestly i like kate bishops hawkeye better than both

Spoiler

 

[fifthfiend]

honestly i like kate bishops hawkeye better than both

Damn. That's actually a kick-ass look.

 

[anrrd_2]

^ya i know...i was dissapointed when i unlocked hawkeye in MUA on my psp and there was no kate bishop alternate uniform....hopefully MUA2 will fix that.


im also not a fan ultimate beast...i am against any beast incarnation that isnt blue, and that includes the original "hairless ape in pants" style beast.

 

[Manic]

I think Ultimate Invisible Woman/Girl is an improvement over 616 Invisible Woman. Not in the maternal sense (Ultimate Sue is, what, 20?), but because they actually made Ult. Sue a genius. While Reed is still an engineer, Sue is the biochemist of the group. She's the one who studied what the accident did to their bodies. She's the one who tried to figure out their powers. Even though her field of study is different, she can sometimes keep pace with Reed.

 

[anrrd_2]

hhm, i did not know that...i like it!

 

[Kitsune]

I think Ultimate Invisible Woman/Girl is an improvement over 616 Invisible Woman. Not in the maternal sense (Ultimate Sue is, what, 20?), but because they actually made Ult. Sue a genius. While Reed is still an engineer, Sue is the biochemist of the group. She's the one who studied what the accident did to their bodies. She's the one who tried to figure out their powers. Even though her field of study is different, she can sometimes keep pace with Reed.

That makes a lot of sense... I haven't read Ultimate FF, but I could see where Reed would need a companion who could keep up with him on an intellectual level. Perhapses 616 Sue Storm is smarter than she appears to be. That would be interesting to explore.

 

[The Overlord]

Ultimate Hawkeye >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 616 Hawkeye

Till recently, now you have to flip that around.

Also 661 Iron Man >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Ultimate Iron man, because Ultimate Iron man has 90% of his body made up of brain matter.

I think terms of B-list characters 616 MU has the UU beat though

616 Sandman>>>>Ultimate Sandman. 616 Deadpool>>>>Ultimate Deadpool, etc

There are a few exceptions though:

Ultimate Mojo>>>>616 Mojo, Ultimate Strfye>>>>616 Strfye

I would say Ultimate venom is better, simply because he is less convoluted. I also kinda like Ultimate Sinister.

However ultimate carnage=616 carnage, they both suck, ditto for Cable.

 

[Manic]

Everything that was once appealing in The Ultimates has flipped to the opposite end of the spectrum.

 

[Blader5489]

Till recently, now you have to flip that around.

Nah, I still think Ultimate Hawkeye is better than his 616 counterpart, though Loeb does seem keen on destroying his--and everyone's--character.

I also like Ultimate Cap better than 616 Steve Rogers (though I think Bucky is better than both of them) and Ultimate Nick Fury is better than 616 Fury.

 

[Little Foot]

Um...I don't mean to interrupt this ongoing debate, but I feel like interjecting a question.

To begin, some background information. I have not been a fan of Marvel Comics; I think Stan Lee is pretty arrogant, and I have been scarred by reading his initial stories, which were written horribly, in my opinion (please, don't argue with me one way or another, it's just my opinion). I have always thought the Marvel Universe was way too convoluted. And so far, I have found the Marvel movies campy or redundant. So when I found The Spectacular Spider-Man, it was like a breath of fresh air (sorry about the cliche). I have since been informed of, and read into, a little of the background for the Ultimate Universe, and how it is supposed to be a reincarnation of the normal Marvel Universe (I am sure that I am showing my ignorance, but it wouldn't be my place to throw in "616 universe"--I don't feel familiar enough to use such a term). Regardless, I really liked the concept of the Ultimate Universe. However, reaction in here seems really mixed.

I'd just like to know, what would you (the collective community) recommend for me to read to get a taste of this universe, for better or worse? I'm really interested, but I'd rather not start reading a comic series or story arc that would just ruin my experience. I appreciate any feedback.

Thank you.

 

[Blader5489]

I'd just like to know, what would you (the collective community) recommend for me to read to get a taste of this universe, for better or worse? I'm really interested, but I'd rather not start reading a comic series or story arc that would just ruin my experience. I appreciate any feedback.

Ultimate Spider-Man and Ultimates 1 and 2

 

[Little Foot]

Thank you very much. Any particular issues/arcs I should look for in particular?

 

[The Overlord]

Nah, I still think Ultimate Hawkeye is better than his 616 counterpart, though Loeb does seem keen on destroying his--and everyone's--character.

At this point, 616 hawkeye isn't totally obnoxious, Ultimate hawkeye is, now. The thing that made Ultimate Hawkeye was that he was the straight man, he was normal guy doing his job, surrounded by crazy characters. By making him the craziest one around, the character has lost his focus. At least 616 hawkeye didn't have his character derailed.

I also like Ultimate Cap better than 616 Steve Rogers (though I think Bucky is better than both of them) and Ultimate Nick Fury is better than 616 Fury.

Which Bucky 616 or ultimate? I assume you mean winter solider.

I kinda disagree, Ultimate cap is certainly on interesting twist, I like him, but I don't t think he displaces 616 Cap.

Sometimes you need a boy scout character, if only to offer a counter point to more Machiavellian heroes, there have some great Batman vs. superman and Cap vs. Iron Man stories, based on that. civil war wouldn't have worked with ultimate cap and Iron man. I think Ultimate cap works because he is different, but I wouldn't say he is better per say. They both work for their universes.

I will say I like Ultimate Thor better 616 Thor, I never cared for 616 Thor, he seemed to outlandish DC for the Marvel Universe, but I like twist in the UU, which sadly seems to be lost.

 

[THANOSRULES]

uLTIMATE hAWKEY IS ALMOST A bULLSEYE CROSS..He's more dangerous than 616..but not as much since the ronin thing came around. His old look was geeky, I like Joe Mad's look.

Bishop is a decent look, but she really is not that skilled or dangerous. She's like some chick from High school on the archery team. How is she replacing her arrows anyway? That gear is expensive.

I love 616 cap personally, he's more like a real soldier and a character with some faults and strengths. He is a bit of a cross between John Walker and Steve and thats cool.

 

[The Overlord]

uLTIMATE hAWKEY IS ALMOST A bULLSEYE CROSS..He's more dangerous than 616..but not as much since the ronin thing came around. His old look was geeky, I like Joe Mad's look.

I would rather a character who is geeky, than a character who is xtreme. I don't like 616 costume, but the Mad costume is so 90s. Ultimate hawkeye was understated and practical, this new one makes no sense. There's nothing worse character derailment. The silver age is better than the 90s, by a long shot.

Him being bullseye is okay, though i do like bullseye better in that role, mainly because its scarier when a villain has such talents.

I love 616 cap personally, he's more like a real soldier and a character with some faults and strengths. He is a bit of a cross between John Walker and Steve and thats cool.

You mean Ultimate Cap?