The Transformation Of The Marvel Universe Begins In Ultimate Invasion

On 5/4/2023 at 3:08 PM, ADour said:

The solicitations include price tags.

First issue sits at $8.99 with 56 pages. Second issue is $5.99 with 40 pages. If the second issue is also oversized, maybe the third and fourth will be too.

I get that they're oversized...but $8.99? I can't justify paying $9 for a comic book, even if it's something that looks as good as this does. Marvel HAS to realize that sales are going to suffer with this book because of the price tag. The regular $4 price point was already beyond pushing it, and I'm fairly certain that $4.99 will become the new standard in the next year or two.

On 5/4/2023 at 1:29 PM, GarimusPrime said:

Somebody mentioned elsewhere that this series is going to be $8 per issue?? Can anybody confirm that?

The solicitations include price tags.

First issue sits at $8.99 with 56 pages. Second issue is $5.99 with 40 pages. If the second issue is also oversized, maybe the third and fourth will be too.

I thought we were done with the lame Ultimate Universe after Secret Wars. They scrapped everything but Miles and the Maker. I am a Hickman fan, but probably gonna skip this one.

Somebody mentioned elsewhere that this series is going to be $8 per issue?? Can anybody confirm that?

Next month, readers will witness a transformation of Marvel characters and storytelling that could only come from two of the industrys greatest visionaries, writer Jonathan Hickman and artist Bryan Hitch, in ULTIMATE INVASION #1. The start of a redefining four-issue saga, ULTIMATE INVASION #1 will see the heroes of the Marvel Universe clash with one of the few survivors of the Ultimate Universe (which met its doom in 2015s Secret Wars), a confrontation that ends with the promise of something all-new and vastly different than anything thats come before.Fans can get their first look into this revolutionary new project this Saturday in FREE COMIC BOOK DAY: SPIDER-MAN/VENOM #1. With a print run of nearly 500,000 copies, this issue will showcase a dramatic scene from ULTIMATE INVASION #1 where the Maker presents Miles Morales with an offer he may not be able to refuse, while the reunited Illuminati desperately tries to shut down the Makers attempt to reshape the Marvel Universe.In the coming weeks, readers will behold a glimpse into this breathtaking new world and get reintroduced to new versions of familiar characters in a thrilling trailer. In addition, a limited number of retailers can participate in a virtual press conference taking place within the next few weeks, where theyll have a rare opportunity to learn about the overall development and impact of the series directly from the creators themselves, Hickman and Hitch. Details will be provided shortly in the Marvel Mailer.[Revisiting the idea of Ultimate Comics] couldnt be replicating or revisiting what Bryan did in the original Ultimates creating a streamlined, modernized version that would eventually become the spine of the MCU. And it certainly couldnt be what I did, which was a final chapter of a pre-existing universe, Hickman explained to Entertainment Weekly. We also thought the very idea of Ultimate Comics needed to be inverted from what the original universe was we wanted this to be something that could really only exist in the comic space: a new way of thinking about, and enjoying, a new version of the Marvel Universe. Im pretty happy to say that it feels like weve accomplished those things and were very excited for everyone to get to read it.Check out all the covers along with interior art and an all-new teaser image that utilizes a data graphic from the debut issue, and pick up ULTIMATE INVASION #1 on June 21.ULTIMATE INVASION #1 (OF 4) 75960620234800111Written by JONATHAN HICKMANArt and Cover by BRYAN HITCHColors by ALEX SINCLAIROn Sale 6/21

Yeah, Bryan Hitch's art was always cinematically epic in framing and scope---it was perfectly realized for movies. The writing though.......the situations in some stories ( especially early on in The Ultimates) could be ugly and mean-spirited. I'm not going to paint the whole run with a brush from just a couple of issues, but I did not like that tone. Letting cynicism take a dump on hope doesn't make for appeal, at least in my book.

On 2/23/2023 at 11:58 PM, TheArrow said:

I had a LOT of criticisms when the Ultimate line debuted. Redundancy, brand-confusion, needless/POINTLESS maturation of the main-line characters for the movies, and a fair chunk of internal ugliness in the stories. They lacked a lot of the charm and appeal of the mainstream Marvel Universe.Yeah, I was never much of a fan of it. And along the way, my criticisms were borne out, because Marvel kept looking back, nodding their heads to the mainstream, especially in the movies. Like it was all a big c**k-tease, with a bit of wink to it.It all came across as a "throw crap at the wall, see what sticks" kind of exercise....which.........honestly, has been a perennial Marvel ( and DC, for that matter) ploy for decades.And so this run of stories, while trying to feign that they are of consequence, simply add up to just being more inconsequential. It's like the NEW UNIVERSE stuff, all over again, and that proved to be just as inconsequential too.

Some great points here. It really did seem like their ideas for "lasting consequences " was killing off characters they would never be able to touch in the mainstream Marvel Universe.

It was pure schlock for shock. And Ultimate End was just "let's see how many characters we can kill in 22 pages".

I mean, The Ultimate line had its moments. Ultimates 1 and 2 were cinematic in scope and had a significant influence on the early MCU films. but as the years stretched on the entire point of the line lost track of what the initial purpose was.

To read or not to read..... hmmm

I had a LOT of criticisms when the Ultimate line debuted. Redundancy, brand-confusion, needless/POINTLESS maturation of the main-line characters for the movies, and a fair chunk of internal ugliness in the stories. They lacked a lot of the charm and appeal of the mainstream Marvel Universe.Yeah, I was never much of a fan of it. And along the way, my criticisms were borne out, because Marvel kept looking back, nodding their heads to the mainstream, especially in the movies. Like it was all a big c**k-tease, with a bit of wink to it.It all came across as a "throw crap at the wall, see what sticks" kind of exercise....which.........honestly, has been a perennial Marvel ( and DC, for that matter) ploy for decades.And so this run of stories, while trying to feign that they are of consequence, simply add up to just being more inconsequential. It's like the NEW UNIVERSE stuff, all over again, and that proved to be just as inconsequential too.

On 2/22/2023 at 1:46 PM, RobertD said:

No. Nooooo..! It was dead! it was dead and we were all the better for it. When they finally killed it during Secret Wars it was the ultimate "and nothing of value was lost" situation. They shed the dross, kept what was usable and that was finally that.

I actually have a lot of love for the ol' 1610 and say with sincerity that Hickman's Ultimate work is underappreciated gold, but my god did it turn in to a complete cluster towards the end. Ultimate End was a nonsensical mercy killing.

Oh man, this is where Im at too.. by the end the whole idea of easy jump on, not hindered by decades of continuity was replaced by confusing and unrecognizable characters.

I got swept up into the whole thing with The Ultimates. Hitchs artwork was unlike anything in comics. By the time they got to the Ultimate End, the whole idea had overstayed its welcome. End was more of a car crash you cant look away from than anything resembling what Id consider a story. And it mercifully was over.

arent most of the characters on the cover dead? It too bad they cant put the whole Ultimate experiment back in the bottle, Miles Morales included.

i can understand revisiting for an anniversary so here is hoping it ends again once this limited series is done.