It's the fourth and final day in our sneak peak at the renovations of Marvel's Ultimate Comics Universe. We've already heard from Jonathan Hickman about Ultimates and Ultimate Comics: Hawkeye as well Nick Spencer regarding his take on Ultimate Comics: X-Men. Today we wrap things up with Brian Michael Bendis and Marvel EIC Axel Alonso.
Brian Michael Bendis and Sara Pichelli are starting it back at #1. That's right, an all new Ultimate Spidey and an all new #1.
To the right, find Sara Pichelli's promo piece for the new series. She is the new regular artist for UCSM, and we'll be seeing more than 12 issues per year.
Bendis expressed great anxiety at this experiment, at what he, Hickman, and Spencer are attempting to do with the new Ultimate U and especially with this title. He stressed just how impressed he's been with the work of the other two writers, singling out Spencer's Infinite Vacation as a real favorite. He's genuinely excited about the cohesion of storytelling that will now be possible with three writers who greatly respect one another and can work in tandem.
"Our best moments are when we took these chances," Bendis said. He wants to do something completely new and completely different. This is the mandate of the Ultimate Marvel U.
We will be seeing the characters that have been developed over the years in books like Ultimate: Fantastic Four and Ultimatum. They are not forgotten or discarded.
Bendis describes the developments in Death of Spider-Man as a "whopper." Being very careful to not show his hand.
The writer also remarked on the rumors that he'd be leaving the Ultimate comics line, and while today's call is proof of his continued involvement, he wanted to emphasize the fact that Marvel would have to pry the book from his cold, dead hands.
Asked whether this reboot would also involve a tonal change, Bendis said there are certain element of the Spider-Man story central to the character, so we'll be seeing commonality in terms of humor and relationships. That said, "Whopper."
We'll be seeing a lot of crossover from the initial 160 issues, with several characters returning. But also plenty of new villains and side characters.
Bendis has also been doing his spider biology research, so expect new super powers.
I asked whether normal citizens or other heroes of the Ultimate U would be conscious of the Spider-Man swinging around being different or somehow alive after being shot. This will play a major role in Fallout. I also asked about Spidey's stature within the the Ultimates, especially with regard to Captain America. At the onset of the Death of Spider-Man story, Cap was intent on pulling Peter from his vigilantism, intent on getting the kid some training. In his mind, Spider-Man was more of a concern than a helping hand. Do Cap or SHILED share the same low opinion of this new wall-crawler? Bendis explained that Peter's actions in the most recent issue leave Peter "hurt" and that level of bravery doesn't go unnoticed. This new Spider-Man, whoever he is, has a very different place in the eyes of the superhero world, and Cap's reaction is central to Fallout.
Here's a look at Marko Djurdjevic's glorious cover series for Ultimate Comics: Fallout, the event which leads to the new Ultimate Universe. Damn, we love these things. Don't you just want a Trapper Keeper of this?
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It’ll get renumbered again when they get close to the 200th issue.
It feels like they’ve only just done this already. Gotta say that new look is the nuts though, Pichelli is amazing.
Ahh… renumbering.
lol this renumbering stuff is getting ridiculous. my longbox is gonna be so confusing
Im usually not a fan of renumbing but I have to say it looks like marvel is seriously refocusing the entire lineup this time. instead of just having loeb slap shit together and have it delayed for months on end.
…again? Grrr. I really dislike renumbering
I’m surprised they’re still sticking with the whole “Ultimate Comics” thing as opposed to just “Ultimate”
I’m incredibly excited about the entire new lineup especially knowing bendis is still writing spidey and hickman on The Ultimates is the best news i’ve heard in years.
The number on the cover of the book matters to me only in helping to assure me I’m reading the latest issue. 🙂
I’m digging this new costume, which might be my favorite since the introduction of the symbiote.
@gobo You know, I wondered about that too, but as I think about it, I do think it helps to identify the line as unique. In a sense, just using the word “Ultimate” in front of Spider-man could be viewed as the same as “Spectacular” or “Amazing.” By making it “Ultimate Comics” first, they’re making it a little more clear that this is its own unique line/universe. I’m cool with that.
How peculiar…in the space of 1.5-2 years, the title went from Ultimate Spider-Man to Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man then back to Ultimate Spider-Man and now back to Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man.
Was anybody besides me hoping for somebody else on this relaunch to accompany Hickman and Spencer? I feel like there’s a real opportunity to let some fresh creative voices take control. For those of us who already give up on the main Avengers books because of Bendis, I couldn’t help but wish for a Jeff Parker, Abett & Lanning, Van Lente, Gage, etc. to be the other writer.
Bendis was asked about the new numbering and he immediately turned the question over to editorial. He said he just turns in the scripts and they worry about the number that goes on front.
I can see why they’re renumbering here. It sounds like a natural point to do so. Let’s say the last instance wasn’t nearly so necessary.
Me, I’m excited that they’re really trying to get a handle on the Ultimate U and keep it cohesive with three talented writers working closely together. I don’t know if I’ll be reading all of the titles going forward, but I’m going to give each of the main three a shot. And USM is something I’m reading and enjoying anyway.
The best news out of this is Sara Pichelli taking over as the regular artist. I love her work, and I’m excited to see more of it.
@cubsmodano – I have loved Bendis’s indie stuff more than his Marvel ones, but I ahev to say I’m glad he is on Spider-man. Ultie Spidey is is baby, he deserves to be on it for as long as possible.
OH NO, THEY’RE RENUMBERING A BOOK I LIKE! EVEN THOUGH IT DOESN’T AFFECT THE STORY WHATSOEVER I FEEL THE NEED TO SHOUT AND SHOUT ABOUT IT!!!!!
My personal feelings on this aside, if pachelli is drawing it, I’m buying it. Nuff said.
Even though my feelings for Bendis has waned over the years I will admit this:
Not many writers get this opportunity to stick with a series this long. He’s been able to write his own Spidey book with only a few events and renumberings to change his pace a bit. So I’ll give him props to wanting to keep going even at this stage of the book.
At the end of the day this is probably the one book I look forward to the most. I bought the first two trades in 2005 and I’ve followed it (in that format as with all my comics these days) religiously since – to me though I only have two trades since the last renumber so it does feel very recent, not that it matters, I have been having enough trouble keeping track of what trades I’m supposed to buy though! I know it has crossed over with other Ultimate books of late that I don’t follow.
Hell, the Death of Spider-Man isn’t out in trade for a long time yet, but I’m going to go out on a limb and surmise he didn’t die.
(By the way I’m already anticipating the response “Oh didn’t he?…”)
🙂
I just hope this doesn’t turn into a cope out by having peter go into hiding and become ben reily…
Did Bendis just say that Mark Millar and Jeph Loeb were just dicking around and cramping his style? I dont think Ultimate Universe needs such cohesion. Ultimate Spidey was the only book that mattered before and it will be the only book that matters now.
Any word on if these will all be digital day-and-dates?
Can anyone recommend any good runs of trades from the 616? I listen to the podcast (a bitch when trying to avoid spoilers) and I remember there was a couple of years when it was supposed to be great, when it was weekly with a group writers on it I think?
I was looking about on Amazon recently and I don’t get the impression they’re anywhere near as easy to follow in trade form (Hey look, a different kind of “numbering” issue).
Anyone heard anything on price points for the reboot?
@PaulMontgomery Amen on Pichelli. That’s the best bit of this news. And, you know, I’m personally VERY glad Bendis is sticking with the series. This has been *my* Spider-man for years now. I don’t read any of the “proper” Spidey books, and I’m okay with that.
@BritishNightwing
I’m speculating, but everything I hear from recent interviews with guys like Bendis and Quesada leads me to believe that they’ll be $3.99. My wallet hopes I’m wrong, because I’m interested in all these new Ultimate titles. But the incomplete, inaccurate monthly sales figures of late seem to indicate that DC’s “Hold The Line” campaign has yet to translate in increased revenue.
But here’s hoping I’m wrong!
Can’t wait to see more work from Pichelli. Bendis gets some of the best artists to do Ultimate Spider-Man.
It’ll be interesting to see what Bendis means by new and different. Will it feel as new and different as the ultimate line did when it was first launched? I hope so.
@boosebaster You kind of just have to dive in. Anything with “Gauntlet” on it is a safe bet. That said, USM is my Spidey.
When is the relaunch starting?
Cheers Paul I’ll give Gauntlet a go. I get the diving in thing in, in theory, but it’s a bit harder with trades!
Ultimate Comics just sounds bad. Sticking with Ultimate is the way to go. It just has a way better ring to to it.
@daccampo my thoughts exactly. Ultimate spidey could be seen as just another adjective.
Sara Pichelli is quickly becoming one of my favorite artists
I’m with everyone else. I do not like renumbering.
I think it might be interesting to find out when the anti-renumbering folks and the pro-renumbering (or apathetic about renumbering) folks started reading comics. The reasons they read certain titles might also be pertinent.
Basically, my theory is that people who buy the titles they buy primarily for the characters are more concerned about numbering than the people who buy titles based on the creators involved.
For myself, I shifted from following characters to following creators sometime in the mid-late 90s. I can still cite some specific issue numbers and stories from early 90s X-Men and Flash stories, but fast forward ten years and I can’t tell you any issue numbers from Rucka’s Detective run, or Bendis’ Daredevil.
And honestly, if comic books changing their numbering is the biggest annoyance in your life, you’re pretty freaking lucky.
I may actually pick this up. I was loving Ultimate Spider-Man until Ultimatum, and just haven’t gotten back around to picking it up. It might be nice to see an Ultimate story that will be vastly different from the regular Spider-Man. We’ll see how the pull list looks when this gets ready to drop.
Nice touch with the Trapper keeper line.
Trapper keeper should reinvent itself as a ipad/tablet case.
@Neb SINCE Ultimatum USM has been one of my favorite books.
I love La Fuente’s art Pichelli is great too.
If anyone wants to see her really shine it on check out the Namora one shot by her and Jeff Parker from last year. Sea monsters and underwater adventure awaits!
*whew*
I was a bit nervous Bendis was leaving Ultimate Spider-Man. I know I shouldn’t have been, but I was. Let’s see another 150 issues!
Wait does the cover series mean that a bunch of those characters are coming back from the dead? Because quite a few of the people on those covers died during Ultimatum…
Hmm…
Also the renumbering thing always annoys me. Because it’s a marketing play that mostly works for the SINGLE issue because of the crazy people who have to own every number one issue. It arbitrarily inflates sales. It annoys me even more that it’s coming so soon after they renumbered at 150, considering the polybag issue is 160.
@jmstump I think the cover series is just a retrospective. During the X-Men press call, Spencer emphasized that heavy hitters like Xavier, Wolverine, and Cyclops are dead and remain dead.
Look, the last “relaunch” didn’t work. Loeb and Millar had other work that was more important to them come up. It’s a shame that Ultimate X (good book) and USM (good book) got wrapped up in a poor relaunch. Now they are going back to the well with a couple of guys that want to write Marvel comic books and can put out regular work. It could be great and the pitch sounds like what I want out of the Ultimate line, a handful of good books in the same universe. If they function cohesively, all the better.
This numbering thing sure is weird. I get the point of it but’s it’s still weird. it’s about the only medium it happens really, i’d guess. magazines and newspapers don’t do it. do they? they tried that with doctor who season 5. “let’s make it season 1 again!” despite the fact it should be season 32.
but i REALLY like the look of that spidey costume. it reminds me of that kid from that really kick-ass book? I forgot it’s name.
Renumbering is rather pointless, but it doesn’t bother me – although I’m more likely to pick up a book if its in its hundred-plus issues, mainly because I like respect for continuity and the title must be pretty good to get that far. I’m more upset about the fact that Loeb’s gone. I know his run in the Ultimate U. hasn’t been too popular, but I don’t think you can deny that the line has been much better since the post-Ultimatum relaunch. And personally, I loved New Ultimates, although I can see the issues people have with it. It was different from Millar’s Ultimates (also amazing but for completely different reasons), but had really strong characterisation as well as the mandatory superhero action.
BTW, does anyone know what Loeb’s doing next, comics-wise?
@jasonstephanopoulos I think the line has been much worse since Ultimatum. Ultimate Spider-Man was the main book to get me into comics, but I dropped after the first arc because of how much Peter sucked as a hero, and Ultimate avengers was just boring and filled with unlikable characters. I’m hoping this relaunch is better.