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The New Ultimate Universe Reading Order

In 2019, Jonathan Hickman successfully relaunched the X-Men with the Krakoan Age. In 2023, he came back with a miniseries set up to help him do the same with the Ultimate Universe. Ended in 2015 and destroyed by the Secret Wars event (also by Hickman), the original Ultimate Marvel Universe (Earth-1610) still left behind it a few characters, like Miles Morales (Spider-Man), Jimmy Hudson (the son of Wolverine), Aaron Davis (Miles Morales’ uncle), The Maker (evil Reed Richards), and more. 

For the New Ultimate Universe, everything starts with The Maker coming back and setting up his own new alternate universe. He indeed went to Earth-6160 and used time travel to stop the apparition of most superheroes, which allowed him to become the leader of that Earth. However, he was defeated and trapped inside The City, a futuristic infrastructure that will reopen in 24 months. Before that happens, the heroes have to prepare themselves and contend with other menaces, including the secretive Maker’s Council.

As a result, the New Ultimate Universe came with a programmed end. One that was confirmed by Marvel Comics. In April 2026, the last issue will be published. But let’s go back to the reading from the beginning.

What to read before the New Ultimate Universe?

First of all, you don’t need to be familiar with the original Ultimate Universe. But if you are curious and adventurous, this is a big read, and we have a guide to help you navigate Earth-1610. And once you have finished with this, you can also check out what happened to the surviving characters.

But the New Ultimate Universe is supposed to be new-reader-friendly. And it is, if you skip Jonathan Hickman’s Ultimate Invasion miniseries and start with the Ultimate Universe #1 one-shot, which introduced Earth-6160 and its heroes to new readers.

That said, if you would like to learn more about The Maker, I invite you to explore our guide to his origins. 

The New Ultimate Universe Reading Order

Written by Jonathan Hickman with art by Bryan Hitch, Ultimate Invasion is the launch point for Marvel’s New Ultimate Universe line. The Maker escapes imprisonment on Earth-616 (the main Marvel Universe) and reshapes reality faster than the superheroes can respond, leading to the emergence of a new Earth (1610).

The Ultimate Invasion miniseries ends with the creation of the New Ultimate Universe and directly leads into Ultimate Universe #1, written by Jonathan Hickman with art by Stefano Caselli, which establishes the new world’s foundation.

New Ultimate Universe: Year One

This Ultimate Universe one-shot led to the launch of new ongoing titles. The series can be read independently; you can even skip the one-shot and start with one of the series and stick with it, but if you want to explore the universe beyond one or two series, here is the guide to everything available. 

Ultimate Spider-Man by Jonathan Hickman and Marco Checchetto introduces us to a middle-aged Peter Parker who lives a quiet life with Mary Jane and their two children, until tragedy strikes. When Tony Stark reveals to him what was supposed to be his destiny and helps restore his lost potential, Peter must decide whether to embrace this new chance at heroism, balancing family life with the rekindling of a power and responsibility he was never meant to have.

Ultimate Black Panther by Bryan Hill and Stefano Caselli takes us to Wakanda, ruled by T’Challa and Okoye. As Lord Ra and Lord Khonshu, working for The Maker, are annexing African territories, the wankandians must choose if they will only protect themselves or intervene to help others. 

Ultimate X-Men by Peach Momoko focuses on a Japanese teenager named Hisako Ichiki (known as Armor) who begins experiencing strange, uncontrollable powers as she can manifest a psionic exoskeleton. Hisako and other students realize they are mutants, and a cult called the Children of the Atom is after them.

Ultimates by Deniz Camp and Juan Frigeri follows Tony Stark, A.K.A. Iron Lad, who begins building a network of super-powered heroes with this universe Reed Richards (A.K.A. Doctor Doom), fight The Maker’s Council and prepare for the inevitable return of their enemy.

*The Ultimates Free Comic Book Day 2024 Issue is set between Ultimates #1 & #2.

It’s been a year since the events of Ultimate Invasion, it’s the midpoint of the story, and the Ultimate Universe: One Year In one shot offers a recap and a glimpse at the other side, the villains. It’s about how The Maker and his “Council” have maintained control of the world, the impact of the superhero resistance, and the introduction of new key characters. 

New Ultimate Universe: Year Two

Following the Ultimate Universe: One Year In one-shot that sets the stage for the second year of the Ultimate line, the story continues with the launch of a new ongoing series.

Ultimate Wolverine by Christopher Condon and Alessandro Cappuccio is about the Winter Soldier, the most lethal weapon of the “Tsars of Russia and Limbo,” and members of the Maker’s Council: Magik, Colossus, and Omega Red. 

A five-issue limited event by Deniz Camp, Cody Ziglar, and Jonas Scharf, Ultimate Spider-Man: Incursion is a crossover that sees Miles Morales, who has to go to Earth‑6160 to save his baby sister, Billie. During his adventure, he teams up with Peter Parker and other superheroes.

  • Ultimate Spider-Man: Incursion [2026]
    Collects Ultimate Spider-Man: Incursion (2025) #1-5, Free Comic Book Day 2025: Amazing Spider-Man/Ultimate Universe #1 (Ultimate Universe story)

It all had to end. What started with Ultimate Invasion was leading to this, Ultimate Endgame. The Maker can finally come out of The City, and the heroes of the Ultimate Universe have to defeat him once and for all, while the rest of the world is already at war.

As the last issue will be published in April 2026, updates may need to be made.

After that, if you want to follow the next part of the Marvel universe relaunched by Jonathan Hickman, go read Imperial, which is setting up an overhaul of the cosmic universe.

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