10 Less Popular Marvel Heroes Who Can Shine in the Ultimate Universe

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The new Ultimate Universe has reimagined several iconic Marvel Comics heroes and villains. Spider-Man, the X-Men and more have made their debuts in this rebooted continuity, and more familiar characters are on the way. This universe might be the best way for more obscure side characters to finally get their due.

Marvel’s rebooted Ultimate Universe has shown it’s ready to radically change major characters and teams. Using side characters from mainstream comics in exciting new ways is not off the table. These can include former sidekicks or heroes who’ve never made a major splash. In the case of some of these heroes, they might even be able to step outside the shadow of more well-known characters.

10

Rick Jones Is Almost Always a Sidekick But Rarely The Hero

First Appearance: The Incredible Hulk #1 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby

In the mainstream Marvel Universe, Rick Jones is a fairly forgotten character despite his arguable importance in the lives of several heroes. He’s most known as the first friend of the Incredible Hulk, being Jimmy Olsen to Hulk’s Superman. Later, he shared a relationship with both the Mar-Vell and Genis-Vell versions of Captain Marvel, similar to DC’s Billy Batson/Shazam. He also became a new version of Bucky and fought alongside Captain America before becoming entrenched with the Hulk once more and even gaining his own gamma powers.

The Hulk, Captain Marvel, and Captain America are all somewhat too drastically different in the new Ultimate Universe, but Rick Jones can still be a factor in some capacity. Bucky Barnes doesn’t exist in this universe so that Rick Jones might become a similar ally for Captain America. Better yet, he could remain a civilian who interacts with the various superheroes of this world, helping them uncover the truth surrounding the villain known as The Maker.

9

Jack Flag Was Never a Notable Captain America Ally

First Appearance: Captain America #434 by Mark Gruenwald and Dan Hoover

Jack Flag was born Jack Harrison, and the young man became a patriotic-themed vigilante when the authorities failed to stop his town from being taken over by the Serpent Society. Later, he joined the fight with his idol, Captain America, with Jack Flag and Free Spirit as sidekicks for Cap in the early 1990s. Unfortunately, neither made a major mark and have been entirely forgotten.

Jack Flag might be used in the new Ultimate Universe in a similar yet fresh fashion, making him once again a young hero inspired by Captain America. Of course, he would soon learn that the role of heroism isn’t as easy as it seems, with Captain America and the Ultimates having to eventually step in and save the showboating wannabe. From this point, it might be cemented that the Ultimate Universe isn’t the place for sidekicks.

8

War Machine Can Be the New Ultimate Universe’s True Iron Man

First Appearance: Iron Man #118 by David Michelinie, John Byrne and Bob Layton

War Machine, a.k.a. James “Rhodey” Rhodes, is a well-known ally of Iron Man, having served as Tony Stark’s bodyguard and friend before gaining his armored persona. War Machine was once just as, if not more popular, than Shellhead, back when Iron Man was a relatively obscure character.

Tony Stark/Iron Lad seemingly died in the pages of The Ultimates, leaving room for another armored hero. With Iron Lad out of the picture, Ultimate War Machine can be the main armored hero in the Ultimate Universe. This would ironically match the Marvel Cinematic Universe, where Tony Stark is currently dead. From here, Earth-6160 can explore familiar Iron Man stories, albeit with someone who isn’t an industrial or mechanical genius.

7

Goliath Should Be Way Bigger Than Giant-Man

First Appearance: The Avengers #32 by Stan Lee and Don Heck

Also known as Black Goliath, Bill Foster was a side character for Ant-Man/Hank Pym, who also used the Goliath name himself alongside titles such as Giant Man and Yellowjacket. Goliath wasn’t a major deal in the Marvel Universe like the character he spun off from. This was especially true in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, where he never even became Goliath proper.

In The Ultimates, Hank Pym now has reservations about being Giant-Man, so there’s no better time to replace him with Goliath. In Marvel’s new Ultimate Universe, Hank Pym has brain damage due to The Maker’s machinations, so Bill Foster should take over as the scientific expert. Likewise, with Iron Lad gone, he’ll fit into this role more than ever.

6

Dakota North Can Investigate the Seedier Side of Earth-6160

First Appearance: Dakota North #1 by Martha Thomases and Tony Salmons

Dakota North was the protagonist of a somewhat experimental Marvel Comics series, with the character herself being a private investigator who usually looked into the fashion industry and related industries. While part of the Marvel Universe, she had a somewhat more grounded tone and was, in some ways, a predecessor to the streetwise Jessica Jones. The latter isn’t in the new Ultimate Universe, so it might be time to put her forebear back into the limelight.

Ultimate Dakota North could work alongside and even against heroes such as the Ultimates to uncover the truth about what The Maker has done. In doing so, she and characters such as Nick Fury might discover that the fashion industry, the entertainment industry and other parts of everyday culture have all been intercepted and influenced by the villain. Seeking to free humanity, she would act to remove The Maker and superhumans from their dominance over society.

5

Spider-Woman Can Finally Be Given a Worthy Variant In the New Ultimate Universe

First Appearance: Marvel Spotlight #32 by Archie Goodwin and Marie Severin

Spider-Woman might sound like she’s related to Spider-Man, but she’s usually completely unrelated to Marvel’s main hero. This has been a major detriment to the character, and it cements how she was only really introduced to narrowly securely a copyright. The original Ultimate Universe tried fixing this by making Jessica Drew/Spider-Woman a clone of Peter Parker, and the new Ultimate Universe can take her in a similar direction.

With Peter Parker/Spider-Man and Harry Osborn/Green Goblin working together in the Ultimate Universe, companies that rival Oscorp might try to have their own answers to this duo. This could lead to the introduction of the Ultimate Spider-Woman and Ultimate Hobgoblin, both made through crude imitations of the heroes. From there, Jessica Drew would actually be a firm part of Spider-Man’s world, all while still having the capacity to be her own hero.

4

Brother Voodoo Can Be the Doctor Strange Equivalent of Earth-6160

First Appearance: Strange Tales #169 by Stan Lee, Len Wein and John Romita Sr.

Brother Voodoo is a more esoteric master of the mystic arts, and he’s largely been overshadowed in this capacity by Doctor Strange. Likewise, he’s recently used the name Doctor Voodoo, somewhat reducing him to a mere sidekick or side character for Doctor Strange. Stephen Strange isn’t the Sorcerer Supreme in the new Ultimate Universe, so Brother Voodoo finally has a chance to carve out his own path.

Jericho Drumm might have escaped The Maker in Earth-6160, allowing him to become Brother Voodoo and hone his magical skills. Likewise, he could look into mystical issues that Doctor Strange (or the Sorcerer Supreme seen in Ultimate Black Panther) might have otherwise avoided. Underestimated by The Maker, Brother Voodoo could be a key ally to the Ultimates.

3

Marrow Can Finally Return to the Spotlight

First Appearance: Cable #15 by Jeph Loeb and David Brewer

Marrow was one of the biggest X-Men in the 1990s, or at least Marvel wanted her to be. Seen frequently in major stories, crossovers, and even video games such as Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes, Marrow was primed to be one of the biggest Marvel heroes of the era. Unfortunately, she quickly fell by the wayside and has only been used occasionally.

In the Ultimate Universe, mutants are treated quite differently depending on what country they’re from. They’re still persecuted, but their treatment isn’t quite what it’s like in the mainstream Marvel Universe. This creates the opportunity to introduce Marrow and make her more important than ever. Morlocks might still exist in the new Ultimate Universe, and Marrow could be their leader. This would make her analogous to Callisto and make her a political revolutionary figure, raising the stakes around the character more than ever.

2

Blue Marvel Should Be the Main “Marvel” of the New Ultimate Universe

First Appearance: Adam: Legend of the Blue Marvel #1 by Kevin Grevioux and Mat Broome

Blue Marvel is a later addition to the Marvel Universe, and he’s the result of a retcon. A massively powerful hero who once operated in the 1960s, he was forced into brief inactivity due to the political climate surrounding the revelation that he was African-American. Since then, he’s been on teams such as The Ultimates in the mainstream Marvel Universe, but he’s never been as big as his power level might suggest.

Because Mar-Vell and related characters aren’t in the new Ultimate Universe (besides Captain Marvel appearing with the new Ultimate Guardians of the Galaxy), Blue Marvel can be the premiere “Marvel” hero. He might be changed this time around, however, to be a much younger hero struggling to control his mighty powers. If nothing else, it would be his biggest push in years.

1

Photon Can Shine a New Light On Herself

First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #16 by Roger Stern and John Romita Sr.

Monica Rambeau was the second Captain Marvel in Marvel Comics, and for a while, she was the second-most prominent. Since then, however, she’s been replaced by both the children of the original Captain Mar-Vell and the now somewhat controversial Carol Danvers, the former Ms. Marvel. Since then, Monica has used names such as Photon and Spectrum, with the former perhaps representing her light-based powers the best.

Carol Danvers is dead in the new Ultimate Universe, so Monica won’t have to wrestle with her for the spotlight. Given that someone else is using the Captain Marvel name as part of the Ultimate Guardians of the Galaxy, Monica Rambeau would work best as Photon, showcasing her unique powers compared to other versions of Captain Marvel. Instead of being an Ultimate member, she might debut elsewhere in another book, such as Ultimate Spider-Man. This would eschew a cosmic tone for the heroine and give her more potential as a grounded character.

“}]] The new Ultimate Universe could revamp several overlooked Marvel side characters, finally making these secondary heroes more important than ever.  Read More