The end of the Marvel and Ultimate Universe is coming in Secret Wars.
The cataclysmic event is the finale of Jonathan Hickman’s Avengers/New Avengers run.
It’s the end of the Ultimate Universe. Two architects of that groundbreaking line return for the finale 15 years after the birth of the line.
Marvel revealed original Ultimate Spider-Man creative team Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley will reunite for Ultimate End – a five issue tie-in series featuring the final Ultimate Universe story.
“Ultimate Spider-Man was only supposed to be a limited series. Then Mark was only supposed to do the first storyline. My goal was to keep him on the book. Our 111-issue run together is my greatest accomplishment in comics,” said Bendis of his partnership with Bagley.
“Ultimate Spider-Man influenced the last 15 years of comic books. I was supposed to leave after six issues, they had already hired Leonard Kirk to replace me. I begged to stay on,” added Bagley.
“When [Ultimate End] came up, I said Mark does it or I don’t. It’s the only way to close the door with dignity and class,” said Bendis.
The author behind the first Ultimate title explains how this final story connects to the big event:
“These are not tie-ins in the traditional sense of the word. These are very important pieces of the Marvel Universe. The tie-ins are events unto themselves. This would be it’s own event if there was no Secret Wars. Everything I’m involved with feels that way. What comes out the other side of the event will be different, and these sets that up. This is the end of something we’ve been working on for 15 years and it’s just the beginning.”
Peter Parker of the Ultimate Universe made a powerful exit and paved the way for Miles Morales who has become a fan-favorite.
“Miles is still so fresh and wide-eyed that he’s great for a story like Secret Wars. All the Avengers have been through everything, but Miles has not,” explained Bendis.
Miles is guest starring in All-New X-Men as the young mutants are trapped in his world.
“There are little bits and pieces in what’s going on right now in All-New X-Men that will play out in Ultimate End and beyond. That storyline came about because I knew we would be doing this and I wanted to get the story in before we wrapped up.”
The acclaimed writer said he knew of Marvel’s long-term plan and revealed how it helped him craft this final adventure.
“I did know for awhile this was coming. That was very freeing and allowed me to make, for lack of a better word, a bucket list for the Ultimate Universe. I wanted to do the story with Peter Parker, I wanted to do the crossover with the X-Men. The story right now in Miles Morales leads into Secret Wars, but also gives a lot of legitimate closure to the mythology of the Ultimate Universe.”
And the biggest drop sure to excite fans:
“You will see Peter Parker in Ultimate End,” said Bendis.
Here’s the entire Marvel liveblog if you want to read more. If you want to relive or experience the Bendis/Bagley era here’s a link to their Ultimate Spider-Man Omnibus.
By Editor