Deniz Camp is threading a fascinating thematic line in his Ultimate Universe work. Sometimes he’s overtly speaking truth to power, like when an island nation’s native population is dealing with the deadly ramifications of radioactive fallout. But in Ultimate Universe: One Year In #1 he’s a little sneakier about it, though the themes are clear: you can’t win against the system.
The issue is ostensibly a check-in on the Ultimate Universe, which happens in real time – i.e., every month an issue is released, either one month passes in the pages of the book, or between issues. There’s also a ticking time bomb to the universe in the impending return of The Maker, the evil Reed Richards who was locked away and will come back later in 2025, having had about 10,000 years to plan his revenge. It’s also a tease of what’s to come, thanks to a look ahead at Chris Condon and Alessandro Cappuccio’s Ultimate Wolverine.
The latter is more of an apértif, while the main thrust of the issue by Deniz Camp and Jonas Scharf is a full meal. And it’s a complicated, hard to read one (purposefully so) that shows what Nick Fury has been up to through the decades, thanks to The Maker’s behind-the-scenes tampering in the timeline. And what he’s been up to is killing heroes and villains, twisting their origin stories, and doing the work so dirty The Maker and his Council can’t do it in the open.
And because of that, Nick is feeling intense regrets. He’s decided to do something about the Council and Maker, now that heroes have begun to emerge… He may not be able to save the world on his own, but he’s aching to give it a chance.
I’m going to put a spoiler warning here, but this is a particularly pressing read this week because… He fails. And as it turns out he’s failed multiple times before. The Maker’s Council is a system of global quadrillionaires who have rigged the system so they can never lose. They control everything, even the level of dissent from the people. Given most of America is talking about the murder of the United Healthcare CEO and his killer Luigi Mangione — a man who was seemingly once part of the system itself — this comic ends up being very prescient and timely.
Without wading too far into the overall discussion about a murder on a comic book website, like in real life Nick has soured on the system but can’t make the changes he knows need to happen. The narrative is literally controlled by those in power, so what progress could he possibly make? How can you create change in society if the whole thing is a machine working against you at all times, to favor those in charge and kill those who are not with impunity?
It’s a tried and true maxim that Marvel Comics reflect the world outside our window. But frankly, whether due to something as mundane as publishing schedules, or the more insidious reason that Marvel is part of major corporation itself, it’s not often the place to find biting cultural commentary in the modern day. So that Camp and company are sneaking this all in (with the explicit approval of Marvel editorial, to be clear) is an achievement in and of itself. That it is so biting, so present, so necessary that a big issue like this feels of the moment, truly reflecting the world outside, is a triumph.
Ultimate Universe: One Year In #1 Rating:
Ultimate Universe: One Year In #1 Official Synopsis:
THE CLOCK IS TICKING DOWN TO THE MAKER’S ARRIVAL! Deniz Camp flips the narrative on ULTIMATES and takes us inside the Maker’s Council! The heroes of the Ultimate Universe aren’t the only ones who have been preparing for the return of the Maker, and the clock is ticking down… This unique one-shot sets the stage for the second year of the Ultimate line and includes the debut of the Ultimate versions of two major Marvel characters!
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