Writer Jonathan Hickman (Secret Wars) and artist Bryan Hitch (The Ultimates), will unveil a new vision of the Marvel Universe next month in Ultimate Invasion.
A four-part limited series, it's set to spark the beginning of a new age of Marvel Comics in the same vein as the groundbreaking Ultimate Comics line that defined the 2000s. This saga will see the Illuminati reunite to prevent the Maker, one of the few survivors of the fallen Ultimate Universe, from remaking his home universe.
Now, you can see that explosive confrontation for the first time in a trailer for June 14's Ultimate Invasion #1. Showing a twisted glimpse at the aftermath of the Illuminati’s dramatic failure, it appears we're getting a reality that combines both the traditional Earth-616 Marvel Universe and the Ultimate Universe which was dreamed up by Mark Millar, Brian Michael Bendis, Mark Bagley, Hitch, and more during the early 2000s.
"[Revisiting the idea of Ultimate Comics] couldn't 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," Hickman explains. "And it certainly couldn’t be what I did, which was a final chapter of a pre-existing universe."
"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. I’m pretty happy to say that it feels like we’ve accomplished those things and we’re very excited for everyone to get to read it."
Hitch adds, "It’s been more than 20 years since I started work on The Ultimates, a project that would have a big impact on my own career and beyond, so when Marvel came to me with the idea of revisiting the Ultimate Universe with the man who so brilliantly and spectacularly destroyed the last one, I was both feet in!"
Hickman is no stranger to creating alternate realities, and it's about time Marvel reveals what the heck The Maker (who was the Ultimate Reed Richards once upon a time) has been up to. As for Hitch, he established the tone of the Ultimate Universe alongside Miller and was the one who gave that world's Nick Fury the likeness of actor Samuel L. Jackson...which led to him being cast in the MCU!
Ultimate Invasion #1 goes on sale on June 14 (a week sooner than previously advertised!).