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Ultimate Marvel Universe, The Complete Reading order

In 2000, Marvel Comics redefined its heroes for a whole new generation with the launch of the Ultimate Marvel imprint. Explore the stories of Ultimate Spider-Man, Miles Morales, Ultimatum, and the imprint’s relaunch with our complete Ultimate Marvel Universe comics guide, now available in Omnibus, Epic Collection, and classic trade paperbacks!

Welcome to Earth-1610! Or, more specifically, welcome to the Ultimate Universe, an alternate reality featuring reimagined and modernized versions of your favorite superheroes. Marvelophiles discovered this world in 2000 with the official launch of the Ultimate imprint.

Behind the Ultimate Marvel was Bill Jemas, a lawyer who had worked mainly in the collectible-trading-card industry. He was first appointed executive vice president of Marvel Entertainment Group in 1993, and put in charge of Marvel’s editorial direction in 2000. He replaced editor-in-chief Bob Harras with Joe Quesada, and with him, formed the public face of Marvel Comics. Together, they transformed Marvel Comics with the addition of the Marvel MAX line, the development of Marvel Knights, the increase of trade paperbacks, the removal of the Comics Code, and, of course, the creation of Ultimate Marvel.

For Jemas, it was simple. Marvel was “publishing stories that were all but impossible for teens to read — and unaffordable, to boot.” He worked on a reboot concept, though Quesada preferred to launch a new imprint, evolving in parallel with the classic Marvel continuity. Coming from indie publishers at the time, Brian Michael Bendis was chosen to write the first comic book of the Ultimate imprint, Ultimate Spider-Man, with art by Mark Bagley — who had drawn Spider-Man and Venom in the 1990s. The duo would go on to create 111 issues together, becoming one of the longest partnerships in American comic book history.

The Ultimate Imprint soon expanded with the publication of Ultimate X-Men under writer Mark Millar and artists Adam Kubert and Andy Kubert. Millar’s style was quite different from Bendis and would come to help define the Imprint as the writer would take on The Ultimates, a reimagined version of the Avengers, penciled by Bryan Hitch, and Ultimate Fantastic Four, co-created with Bendis and Kubert.

Obviously, The Ultimate line found success with readers, delivering more accessible and cinematic stories, where classic superhero tropes were modernized but also criticized. While Bill Jemas was fired from Marvel in 2004, the Ultimate Universe would go on for many years, continuing his expansion and going on classic phases such as badly received miniseries (Ultimate Iron Man) and crossover events (Ultimatum), some creative changes and even a relaunch with “Ultimate” becoming  “Ultimate Comics.”

One of the biggest changes made in this relaunch was the introduction of Miles Morales as the new Spider-Man, following the Death of Spider-Man arc. Created by Brian Michael Bendis and  Sara Pichelli, Miles made his first appearance in 2011, the same year that The Maker, the supervillain identity of Ultimate Reed Richards, introduced by Jonathan Hickman. Both of those characters are still around today and part of the legacy of the Ultimate Imprint, which came to an end in 2015 when the Marvel Universe was destroyed at the end of Secret Wars. It also inspired the creation of a new Ultimate Universe under the direction of Jonathan Hickman in recent years.

Ultimate Marvel Universe, The Menu

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Ultimate Universe Omnibus Collection

While Marvel Comics has reprinted a few Ultimate stories in the Omnibus line in the 2010s, the Collection really took shape in the past five years with the release of many volumes making the Ultimate Universe collectible in the famous Omnibus format! 

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Ultimate Universe Epic Collection and Other Editions

Launched 25 years after its creation, the Ultimate Epic Collection is dedicated to reprinting stories set in the Earth-1610 universe! While classic editions and other collections can be difficult to find or are out of print, the Ultimate Epic Collection offers a new way for new and seasoned readers to collect those comics! This collection is ongoing, with Marvel Comics releasing several books per year.

The Ultimate Universe had previously been reprinted in the Ultimate Collection series, as well as in hardcover books. Many of these books are now out of print and will eventually be replaced by the Modern Epic Collection. In the meantime, here is a list of the paperback and hardback trades released between 2006 and 2017.

Ultimate Iron Man

Ultimate Spider-Man (TP and HC for Vol. 1-7; only HC for Vol. 8-12)

Ultimate Marvel Team-Up (TP)

The Ultimates (TP)

Ultimate X-Men (TP and HC for Vol. 1-5; only in HC for Vol. 6-9 and Ultimatum)

Ultimate Fantastic Four (HC Only)

Ultimate Galactus Trilogy (TP or HC)

  • Ultimate Galactus Trilogy (Ultimate Nightmare (2004) #1-5, Ultimate Secret (2005) #1-4, Ultimate Extinction (2006) #1-5, and Ultimate Vision #0.)

Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man (TP)

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The Complete Original Ultimate Universe Reading Order

Discover the Ultimate Universe in more detail right now! Although this reading guide is based on the classic trade paperback collection, it can also be used if you opt for the digital experience.

I. Ultimate Marvel Reading Order (2000–2009)

“With great power comes great responsibility.” Nearly 40 years later, a new Peter Parker discovers the importance of those prophetic words under the creative guidance of Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley while six awkward teenagers and their mentor, Charles Xavier are the only force standing to protect the Homo sapiens from Magneto and his mutant terrorist cell in the Ultimate X-Men by Mark Millar and Adam Kubert. 
 
Take also a wild tour through the ever-exciting Ultimate universe in company of Peter Parker as he encounter strange new allies and enemies – including Wolverine, the Hulk, Iron Man, the Punisher, Daredevil, the Fantastic Four, the Man-Thing, the X-Men, Doctor Strange, the Black Widow, Shang-Chi and more!

Daredevil was first mentioned in Ultimate Marvel Team-Up #6, before making his debut in the next issue and starring alongside Elektra Natchios in a limited series. The following stories are set in the past and can be read independently. You can choose to read them before the previous comics, now, or later!

Coming from sci-fi writer Orson Scott Card was the Ultimate Iron Man duology, revealing the secret origins of Tony Stark. The two series were originally canon, before being retconned into being a fictional Japanese anime version. 

To face the new dangers and other weird menaces, Nick Fury, head of the elite espionage agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., has an idea: Put these bizarre characters who appeared overnight on his payroll! He wants a small but lethal army known as The Ultimates, created to protect us all from the rising threats to mankind!

While Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch are reinventing the Avengers for this new reality, Ron Zimmerman and Duncan Fegredo are introducing a new superhero in Ultimate Adventures: Hawk-Owl, a parody of Batman. This title is mostly self-contained, aside from an appearance by the Ultimates, and can be read independently (although it is generally disliked).

How did Reed Richards, Johnny Storm, Susan Storm & Ben Grimm became the Fantastic Four? References to the team have been made, but it’s now time to meet the team and discover their origins, under the creative team of Mark Millar, Brian Michael Bendis, and Adam Kubert.

Welcome to the Zombieverse! Reed Richards is ready to jump to the other universe, but not prepared for what is waiting for him in this other Earths: Zombies! This is the first appearance of the Zombieverse. Go check out our Marvel Zombies Reading Order to know more about this alternate reality!

It is time for the Gah Lak Tus Trilogy! Courtesy of writer Warren Ellis, a reimagined version of the World Devourer is introduced in the Ultimate Universe, and at the center of a trilogy of miniseries. It’s also in the first book that the Ultimate Vision

The Ultimate/Supremeverse crossover! Reed Richards has accidentally punched a hole into an adjacent universe and on the other side is the Squadron Supreme (of Earth-31916)! Their mission: to arrest young Reed for high crimes against their world! What happens when the Squadron collides with the heroes — and villains — of the Ultimate Universe?

Ultimatum! From Jeph Loeb and David Finch comes Ultimatum, the big crossover event created to keep the interest of the readers! Unfortunately, it was massively unpopular and panned by critics. Following the events from Ultimates 3 and Ultimates Origins, the heroes of the Ultimate Universe must now stop the master of magnetism Magneto as he is determined to destroy the world!

Ultimatum, An Issue-by-Issue Reading Order

Ultimate Spider-Man #129 | Ultimatum #1 | Ultimate Spider-Man #130 | Ultimate X-Men #98 | Ultimatum #2 | Ultimate Fantastic Four #58 | Ultimate X-Men #99 | Ultimatum #3 | Ultimate X-Men #100 | Ultimate Fantastic Four #59-60 | Ultimate Spider-Man #131-132 | Ultimatum #4 | Ultimate Spider-Man #133 | Ultimatum #5 | Ultimatum – Spider-Man: Requiem #1-2 |  Ultimatum – Fantastic Four: Requiem #1 | Ultimatum – X-Men: Requiem #1

II. Post-Ultimatum: Ultimate Comics Reading Order (2009–2011)

The start of a new era for the Ultimate Universe! The imprint was relaunched as “Ultimate Comics”, with Ultimate Spider-Man becoming Utimate Comics: Spider-Man and new titles such as Ultimate Avengers expanding the line. 

The aftermath of Ultimatum was naturally explored in Ultimate Armor Wars from Warren Ellis and Steve Kurth, featuring Tony Stark in a race against time to save his crippled corporation and stop the theft of his armored arsenal. A black-operations superhero team under the name Avengers was created by Mark Millar and Carlos Pacheco, while UNew Ultimates featured the reconstruction of the team, by Joeph Loeb and Frank Cho. 

Similar to the Galactus Trilogy is Ultimate Comics: Doomsday, a trilogy of miniseries from Brian Michael Bendis and  Rafa Sandoval, dealing with what remains of the Fantastic Four after Ultimatum, and an unknown threat trying to alter the entire Ultimate Universe.

Although Ultimate Comics Thor from Jonathan Hickman and Carlos Pacheco is a prequel story covering a large period of events set before the first Ultimate series, it is generally recommended to read it here, around the New Ultimates, closer to the publication order. 

One of the biggest story arcs in the Ultimate Universe was without a doubt the Death of Spider-Man, which saw Peter Parker fight The Green Goblin and the Ultimate Six. Following his death, a young guilt-ridden Miles Morales took on the mantle.

III. Ultimate Comics: Reborn (2011–2014)

The Ultimate Universe is Reborn… Again! Following the tragic events of the Death of Spider-Man, Marvel Comics orchestrated a second relaunch, with the release of several number #1. Miles Morales becomes the main Spider-Man in Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #1 and will eventually meet the Spider-Man from Earth-616 in the first crossover between the Ultimate Universe and the main continuity!

The Avengers and the New Ultimates teams merge into one single team, The Ultimates, starring in Ultimate Comics: The Ultimates, written by Jonathan Hickman. The writer was also behind the first Hawkeye solo series in this universe, while the X-Men were now in the hands of Nick Spencer and Paco Medina.

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For the 50th Anniversary of Spider-Man, the Marvel Universe’s friendly neighborhood Peter Parker meets Ultimate Comics’ new kid on the block, Miles Morales — Courtesy of the multiversal machinations of Mysterio!

Spinning out from the end of the Age of Ultron event (you don’t have to read it) is the Cataclysm crossover event from the Ultimate Universe. All you have to know is that Galactus ends up on Earth-1610 with an incredible hunger. No universe is safe, and this creates a Cataclysm! From Brian Michael Bendis, with artists Bryan Hitch and Brandon Peterson.

  • Cataclysm: The Ultimates’ Last Stand
    Collects Hunger #1-4; Cataclysm #0.1; Cataclysm: The Ultimates’ Last Stand #1-5; Cataclysm: Ultimate Spider-Man #1-3; Cataclysm: Ultimate X-Men #1-3; Cataclysm: Ultimates #1-3; & Survive #1.

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IV. Ultimate Marvel NOW! (2014–2015)

In the wake of Cataclysm came another relaunch for the Marvel Universe! After the event, the Ultimates disbanded, and a new team led by Miles Morales took over in All-New Ultimates, by Michel Fiffe and Amilcar Pinna. Miles Morales also found himself entangled in the biggest Spidey event in Spider-Verse, before facing the revival of his own Peter Parker in his own relaunched series! 

Ultimate FF introduces us to the Future Foundation, a team of Earth’s biggest minds dealing with a multiversal threat that is also present in Jonathan Hickman’s Avengers and would be responsible for the end of the Marvel Universe. 

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This is the Spider-Verse! Written by Dan Slott, this now classic Spider-Man event put all the Spider-Men (and Women) in danger. Morlun and his family, the Inheritors, are hunting them down throughout the multiverse, and every single Spider-Man ever is needed to save the day! That is not officially part of the Marvel Universe, but Miles is part of this adventure! Go check out our Spider-Verse reading guide for more details.

And not long after this event, Miles Morales will meet the All-New X-Men when the young time-displaced X-Men find themselves in his universe.

This is the End of The Marvel Universe! From the Ultimate Universe to the future of 2099 and every other Earth, Worlds are being destroyed in Jonathan Hickman’s Secret Wars. The heroes of the Ultimate line are facing final extinction in Ultimate End. 

After the Secret Wars

The Marvel Universe has been rebooted, with select characters from the Ultimate Universe moving to the mainstream universe.

Discover here what happened to the characters of the Ultimate Marvel Universe on Earth-616, or check out our Reading Guides for Miles Morales and The Maker.

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Note: An earlier version of this guide appeared on our site in 2021. It has been refreshed and updated with more information, the latest releases, and new pictures.

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