10 Marvel Ultimate Universe Characters Who Are Way Better Than the Originals

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The more things change, the more they stay the same. Nowhere is this more on display than in superhero comics, where everything that was old can be new again. For decades now, superheroes have been stuck in a sort of holding pattern, constantly recycling storylines and character progression all in the name of preserving the status quo.

A lack of meaningful change leads to things becoming stale, which is why the new Ultimate Marvel Universe, with flagship titles like Ultimate Spider-Man and The Ultimates, are breaths of fresh air in the comic book landscape. With bold, politically charged stories, the Ultimate Universe is an act of protest against the status quo, creating daring reinventions that far surpass their original versions.

10

America Chavez Has A Whole Future to Save

This universe-hopping heroine finally has a direction to go in

In the grand scheme of comic book history, characters like Miles Morales, Kamala Khan and America Chavez are brand new, having only debuted within the last fifteen years. But whereas the Brooklyn Spider-Man and the second Miss Marvel have had the fortune to star in leading roles in theatrical films and animated series, America Chavez has mostly been relegated to being an unlockable character in Lego games. The only true notable appearance that America Chavez has made outside the printed page is in 2022’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, portrayed by Xochitl Gomez, where she is depicted as being lost in the multiverse, trying to find her way home.

Because America Chavez debuted in 2011, a transformative time in the comic landscape that saw the MCU coming into blockbuster status, writers have often struggled to find an independent direction for her, usually having her feature in team books. In just a few issues of Deniz Camp’s The Ultimates, Ultimate America Chavez immediately stands out in comparison to her 616 counterpart. Given Marvel’s affinity for brand synergy, one would be forgiven for thinking that she was 616-America, but this new version is native to Earth-6160, in her 30s, and has a history with both Captain America and the Guardians of the Galaxy, who are back to their roots of being time-displaced heroes.

9

J. Jonah Jameson Does Better When Fighting Real Menaces

A world without superheroes has produced a remarkably Jollier Jonah

J. Jonah Jameson is one of the greatest supporting characters ever created. While he is more famous for his feud with Spider-Man, the publisher of the Daily Bugle possesses a deep sense of honesty and integrity. In a world full of superheroes that so often cause collateral damage, Jameson sees himself as the voice of the average person, holding the heroes of the world accountable. This gave Jameson’s conflict with Spider-Man an interesting twist, as there is some truth to what Jonah believes; Spider-Man often causes destruction without explaining himself and usually torments Jonah just for laughs. Since modern Spider-Man comics as a whole have abandoned their character motivations, this dynamic has been entirely lost.

Instead of the screaming stereotype fans are so often stuck with these days, the J. Jonah Jameson of Earth-6160 is a remarkably calmer and softer person. He still possesses all the charm, intellect and journalistic integrity that the 616 version of Jonah does; it’s just interpreted in a much different way, as he is now the one with the quips. It is kind of funny that it took a technocratic authoritarian dystopia for Jonah to relax, but it also makes his campaign of truth more impactful, as he is intentionally taking on the machines of misinformation head-on.

8

Jim Hammond Fights Again as the Original Human Torch

The first man of fire is given a new spark of life in the pages of the Ultimates

Jim Hammond, the original Human Torch, is as old as Marvel itself. At a time when the publisher was known as Timely Comics, the company produced Marvel Comics #1 in October 1939, which starred Namor the Sub-Mariner and the Human Torch, the two oldest superheroes in the publisher’s canon. Jim Hammond was built as a synthezoid, an android that has all the same, albeit synthetic, internal organs as a human being, and battled Namor before joining forces with the Sub-Mariner and Captain America during World War II. As a point of fact, within the Marvel Universe, Jim Hammond was responsible for killing Adolf Hitler.

Despite the historical significance of Jim Hammond, he has been so often overshadowed by the far more famous Human Torch, Johnny Storm of the Fantastic Four. That is what makes his inclusion in the new Ultimate Universe so significant, as he is essentially the same character as his 616 counterpart, there is simply no Fantastic Four to hog the spotlight. Due to the machinations of the Maker, a villainous variant of Reed Richards, all the modern superheroes of Marvel Canon do not exist in their current form, meaning that the fate of the world is in the hands of nearly-unrecognizable heroes and relics of a bygone era.

7

Hank Pym Wants to be a Better Version of Giant-Man

This founding Avenger is painted with a more sympathetic brush

Hank Pym, the first and most famous of the astonishing Ant-Men, is not a character who is often treated with respect in the grand history of Marvel. There was a time before when Hank was considered one of the foundational heroes of Marvel, an original Avenger and an icon of adventure. But most of his publication history has been overshadowed by his mental breakdown and domestic abuse of Janet van Dyne, the Wasp. Regardless of Jim Shooter’s insistence that the actual incident was a miscommunication between writer and artist, what was supposed to be a tale of Hank’s redemption has become his most damning moment.

Because of the historical significance of his breakdown and abuse, any adaptation of Hank Pym is undeniably influenced by this dark chapter, as shown by Ant-Man’s mental decline into Yellowjacket in 2010’s Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. The Ultimate Universe interpretation of Hank Pym, debuting in the pages of The Ultimates, stands out from inverting Hank’s story, now making him the victim of brain damage done to him by the malicious Maker. It goes a step further when Hank is informed of the life he should have led, essentially his prime universe self, and is horrified at who he was destined to become. Terrified at walking the path of a hero, Hank is encouraged by Janet, showing how great of a pair they are in any universe.

6

Erik Killmonger Found a New Role in Ultimate Wakanda

From a cartoonish bad guy to a true revolutionary freedom fighter

Sometimes there are comic book characters who are so iconic that they are constantly the stars of numerous adaptations, drawing upon decades and decades of storytelling. Spider-Man is one of the most adapted superheroes of all time, each adaptation being influenced by the Wall-Crawler’s comic history. Sometimes some characters are so obscure in the comic world that they are only ever known for their adaptations. N’Jadaka, also known by the alias Erik Killmonger, falls squarely into the latter category. Despite debuting in 1974, Killmonger is far more famous for his inclusion in 2018’s Black Panther, where his American upbringing clashes hard with Wakandan elitism.

By essentially translating that same character dynamic into the new Ultimate Universe, Killmonger works so much as a character on Earth-6160, because in the MCU, where the status quo is something to be upheld, particularly by the royal king Black Panther, Killmonger has to be wrong by the nature of the story. Regardless of the validity of his statement, he is still the enemy of the story and must be stopped. But in the Ultimate Universe, where the truth of our own reality is shown for the bleak authoritarian dystopia it actually is, Killmonger becomes a true freedom fighter that the audience is now meant to root for.

5

Captain America Is Fighting for His Lost Country

A true man out of time, fighting for a bygone era

The letter on his head definitely does not stand for France, it stands for something that doesn’t exist anymore. In a similar position to Killmonger, Captain America has been stuck as the defender of the status quo that has become increasingly eroded over the last few years. His dedication to protecting people, regardless of world politics, means that he has become so divided from his foundational ideology. Because comic books as a whole have made a gradual but noticeable shift away from political parallels and towards more science-fiction-driven plots, Captain America has meant less than he has in years.

In times past, Steve Rogers as a character was driven by the societal changes made in his absence. He was so often baffled at how the world he woke up to was one of technological marvels, but filled with increased apathy towards the people around him. In a sense, his arc was grappling with the American Dream by waking up to the American Reality. By making America, the nation, a relic of the past, the new Ultimates series truly makes Steve Rogers a man out of time, a sentinel of liberty fighting for the memory of a world that literally died while he was asleep, while he woke up in the American Nightmare.

4

Harry Osborn Became a Hero When Left on His Own

This green Goblin carved out a new legacy for himself in the new Ultimate Universe

Harry Osborn is one of the most iconic characters in all of Spider-Man’s supporting cast. In so many ways, Harry is the perfect parallel to Peter. If Norman Osborn, the first and most famous Green Goblin, represents a twisted father figure, a demented and demonic Uncle Ben who terrifies and hurts rather than inspires and uplifts, then Harry is a twisted brother figure. His friendship with Peter gives his exploits as the Goblin tragic poetry, with him and Spider-Man becoming parallel figures haunted by their respective father figures. Harry’s death casts a perfect shadow over Spider-Man’s journey, making him the perfect companion for Peter to discover his heroic morals within the new Ultimate Universe.

Harry, the first and only Green Goblin on Earth-6160, is characterized by his cold outlook towards the world, instilled in him by a father who never had anything nice to say. Coupled with his MCU Iron Man-inspired armor, his ruthless and often careless approach clashes hard with Spider-Man’s classic costume and old-school approach to heroism, creating a fascinating dynamic. Peter and Harry were never true friends in this reality, which made their developing friendship a highlight of the comic series that saddened fans due to his death in battle with Ultimate Kraven the Hunter.

This version of the Golden Avenger could spell doom for the rest of his teammates

Tony Stark, the invincible Iron Man, has become such a popular character since his starring role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that it seemed every future story told would be influenced by his on-screen persona. Robert Downey Jr.’s interpretation of Tony Stark has become so synonymous with the armored Avenger that it’s even made its way into the comics, seeing Tony grow a goatee and become much more sarcastic and quippy. Characters like Iron Man, who once existed on the edge of pop culture knowledge, thrive on reinvention and the occasional remixing of ideas. The Ultimate Universe Tony Stark, this time a teenager and the son of Iron Man, Howard Stark, is one such beautiful remix.

Taking the concept of Teen Tony, which was done to perfection in 2010’s Iron Man: Armored Adventures, and merging it with the central twist from “The Crossing,” a story that saw the revelation that Kang the Conqueror had been manipulating Iron Man for years, creates a truly unique Tony Stark. One who will do anything to change the world, even if it means waging war across time with the Maker by changing history. His lack of nuance and a string of recruitment failures could be seen as a side effect of his youth, but it can also be interpreted as the callousness of a conqueror, unconcerned with pieces so long as he wins the game.

2

Captain Britain Joined The Maker’s Villainous Council

From a forgotten obscurity to a prominent pain in the sides of the Ultimates

Brian Braddock, the defender of the British Isles known as Captain Britain, is exactly nobody’s favorite hero. Despite being created by superstar X-Men scribe Chris Claremont, Captain Britain has typically languished on the outskirts of public knowledge. Most people forget he exists outside the very real market of UK comic readers and for having a Spider-Variant prominently featured in several crossovers, known as Spider-UK. As a shy bookworm, Brian Braddock was approached by the wizard Merlyn, who offered Brian the chance to become Captain Britain, one of countless members of an interdimensional Captain Britain Corps.

The new Ultimate Captain Britain is a stark departure from his more traditionally heroic origins. A truly detestable and sadistic madman, Henri Duggary was a French nobleman who took the mantle and powers of Captain Britain by force, hunting Tony Stark and the Ultimates like someone possessed. Just the fact that Captain Britain is French is both funny and clever, a clear statement about the British history of colonialism. As a brutal and repugnant Captain Britain, Henri Duggary is showing that the king of the colonizers, England itself, is not immune to being colonized and having its own national identity eroded.

1

Peter Parker Shines as an Adult Amazing Spider-Man

After being stuck in a rut for decades, Spider-Man is finally allowed to soar again

You would be very hard-pressed to find somebody who prefers the current Amazing Spider-Man run to its Ultimate counterpart. Spider-Man, more than any other comic book superhero, has been stuck in a never-ending recycling of old storylines, status quo changes and gimmicks. First, he ran a company, then he got a sidekick. Now he keeps dying. And because the gaps between each boring gimmick are getting shorter, they are harder to ignore. By contrast, since its inception, the new Ultimate Spider-Man series has moved with forward momentum, pushing its characters and plot ahead with daring characterization and clever twists on old stories.

There is a very strong sentiment among fans that the classic Spider-Man that so many generations fell in love with ceased to exist in 2007 following “One More Day.” Since then, the Amazing Spider-Man title has been starring a lookalike, a body double meant to fool readers into believing they are watching progress when they are reading the literary equivalent of jingling keys. The currently ongoing Ultimate Spider-Man series treats its central characters with respect and honors the central themes that have made Spider-Man so enjoyable since 1962. Peter Parker is a living and breathing character once more, making decisions for the good of himself and his family and trying his best to be a friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.

“}]] The new Ultimate Universe has impressed fans with exciting new takes on heroes like Spider-Man and Captain America that overshine the originals.  Read More