ULTIMATE LINE GETS NEW COVER TREATMENT & OTHER NEWS

[MattBrady]

Press Release

“MARVEL GOES FOR THE GOLD, WITH NEW COVER TREATMENT ON BLOCKBUSTING ‘ULTIMATE’ LINE”

Marvel Entertainment’s Ultimate line of comics has proven to be the “Gold Standard” in all areas of its production: characters, stories, art, writing, and sales. Now, the House of Ideas is determined to go the ultimate distance by adding a gold color treatment to the signature cover borders of key Ultimate books.

“This unique signature look to represent the “Gold Standard” will allow fans to quickly identify new number 1’s and the beginnings of story arcs in the Ultimate line” says Marvel Publisher Dan Buckley. “The next twelve months will be like no other in the Ultimate world and we don’t want our loyal readers to miss a thing”.

The new look of the Ultimate books will be timed to coincide with the special ULTIMATE VISION backup story produced by writer Mark Millar and artist John Romita JR.. This story is a prelude to the ULTIMATE EXTINCTION limited series which concludes the Gah Lak Tus Trilogy. The Ultimate Vision backup will have six connected parts of four pages each and will appear in the following titles. (There are no current plans to make the Ultimate Vision backup story available in trade)

NOVEMBER 2005
1. ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #86
2. ULTIMATE X-MEN #65
3. ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR #25

DECEMBER 2005
4. ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #87
5. ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #88
6. ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR #26

The coming year is bright with Marvel’s plan for the Ultimate line:

* ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN continues with Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley, bringing us new stories like “Deadpool” in March 06 and “Clone Saga” in September 06 (coinciding with issue #100). Issue #104 will also bring a milestone: Bendis and Bagley break Stan Lee’s and Jack Kirby’s FANTASTIC FOUR record for consecutive issues of a Marvel comic.

* ULTIMATE X-MEN’s new scribe Robert Kirkman kicks off a new story, “Date Night”, in January 06, with Tom Raney on art. This will be followed by a new storyline in April 06 with artist Steve Dillon and then the return of Raney in June.

* ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR will bring us “President Thor” in May, with Mark Millar and Greg Land. The duo’s last story for the title, “Frightful” will start in May 06. The new creative team begins their soon-to-be-historic run in August.

* ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR / X-MEN will conclude the two-art mini epic that will begin in December’s ULTIMATE X-MEN / FANTASTIC FOUR. That exciting conclusion will be courtesy of writer Mike Carey and artist Pasqual Ferry and be delivered in February 06.

* The hugely-anticipated ULTIMATES 3 will be served up by fan-favorites Jeph Loeb and Joe Madureira in October 06.

* ULTIMATE EXTINCTION invades Earth in January, written by Warren Ellis and drawn by Brandon Peterson. The story will unite all the heroes of the Ultimate Universe against – Gah Lak Tus!

* Popular novelist Orson Scott Card will continue his story of the Ultimate Tony Stark in ULTIMATE IRON MAN 2, with art by Pasqual Ferry.

* ULTIMATE WOLVERINE VS HULK begins this December 05, by LOST creator Damon Lindelof and Leinil Francis Yu.

In addition to this senses-shattering line up of adventures, Marvel Entertainment is also very proud to announce the return of Annuals to the line, beginning in July. Creative teams will be announced soon.

Inaugurated in 2000 with ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #1, the Ultimate titles have captured the imagination of comic fans young and old with their unique re-imaginings of the iconic Marvel characters. Many of fans’ most favorite heroes and villains have been reintroduced with Ultimate incarnations and the books have become bestsellers, garnering much fan and critical acclaim. Marvel has added many more Ultimate titles to the line over the past 5 years and plans to grow the alternate universe at a steady pace, adding creators and stories that reinforce the company’s commitment to the highest quality.

Please visit Marvel.com for all lake-breaking news of Marvel’s Ultimate titles and all of their other sure-to-please classic Marvel Universe books.

[Vyper]

Oooookay...

[DejaEntendu]

wait, when's Singer's run on X-Men?

[Goldenboy]

Wow. The Vision Mk.III looks very cool.

Since there's obviously going to be questions about this:

1)Vision I - Herald of Ga-lak-tus, currently in S.H.I.E.L.D. HQ

2)Vision II - Robot built by Hank Pym based on robotic parts found in the Vision I. Status unknown (likely dismantled).

3)Vision III - We'll have to wait and see I guess.

[Velocity]

Originally posted by MattBrady
< new number 1’s and the beginnings of story arcs in the Ultimate line”

....


WHAT?! WHY?!

[algertman]

Kirkman on X-Men could be cool, his MARVEL stuff is hit or miss with me

Dillon on X-Men rocks

[Velocity]

Originally posted by Goldenboy
Wow. The Vision Mk.III looks very cool.

Since there's obviously going to be questions about this:

1)Vision I - Herald of Ga-lak-tus, currently in S.H.I.E.L.D. HQ

2)Vision II - Robot built by Hank Pym based on robotic parts found in the Vision I. Status unknown (likely dismantled).

3)Vision III - We'll have to wait and see I guess.

euuh I think that the Mad one is Vision I with metal tits.

[Rich Johnston]

Originally posted by MattBrady
Issue #104 will also bring a milestone: Bendis and Bagley break Stan Lee’s and Jack Kirby’s FANTASTIC FOUR record for consecutive issues of a Marvel comic.

*cough* SergioAragones'GrooTheWanderer *cough*

[KyleCowstar]

Awesome news. I am also wondering about what happened to Singer's year run on Ultimate X-Men. But, I'd rather have Kirkman anyways . I'm not the biggest fan of the Ultimate line, but I know some of my friends are now some lucky people. Wow, I need a job. My only complaint (hey, I only have 1!) is that the reg. Universe seems dull in comparison to all the great stuff happening in the Ultimate books .

[Erge]

I dig the Ultimate Universe, but I don't know about the whole Gold Standard thing. Guess it can't hurt.

[HBKShowstoppa]

Originally posted by Velocity
....


WHAT?! WHY?!

no it just means new minis. not new #1s. its confusing.

[KyleCowstar]

Originally posted by Velocity
....


WHAT?! WHY?!

It'll stand out and say "Hey it's a new storyline! Check this out!"

I think it's a good idea. I think you misunderstood and think every new storyline will be numbered as #1, but it's saying that new arc issues will have a gold border as well as #1's of new Ultimate series and minis.

[fistofkhonshu]

Is Nick Fury Ronin?

[KyleCowstar]

Originally posted by fistofkhonshu
Is Nick Fury Ronin?

How is that relevant to this thread?

[neondisease]

So why does a robot need tits larger than it's head?

Stupid cow.

[Velocity]

Originally posted by neondisease
So why does a robot need tits larger than it's head?

Why do must girls in California?

[Tiger47]

Originally posted by MattBrady
Press Release

“MARVEL GOES FOR THE GOLD, WITH NEW COVER TREATMENT ON BLOCKBUSTING ‘ULTIMATE’ LINE”

Marvel has added many more Ultimate titles to the line over the past 5 years and plans to grow the alternate universe at a steady pace, adding creators and stories that reinforce the company’s commitment to the highest quality.

...What happened to not growing the Ultimate line??

[Severance]

and I thought The Gold Standard might be something interesting, like last years Young Guns promotion - but no, it's just a return to gold foil covers.
Underwhelming news.

[Phobophobe]

Whenever I see "Gah Lak Tus," I can't help hearing Warren Ellis dialogue being read by the Mac-style "retarded robot" voice:

"Thees ees War-ron Ell-ess with Bad Seeg-nahl. Buy my coh-meek boo-uks, me soo-per mean tuff-guy pleez geev moh-nee."

[khuxford]

Wasn't the original Ultimate Vision backup feature supposed to be 3 issues with 8 page backup stories, instead of spreading it in 6 issues you need to buy now??? I'm glad that you have to buy Ultimate Spidey and FF to get to know about Vision (who is more from the Ultimates/Avengers line). This concept is worse than most other milking efforts I've heard of recently.

(possibly ignorant question) anyone know if those issues are being bulked up a few pages or are the Spidey and FF readers going to lose 4 pages of story about the characters they actually bought the damn book for?

Check the list in my sig...I buy those books (tho' Spidey is something I'm torn about right now).

[Positive Man]

So, since I only buy Ultimate Spider-Man, of those three titles, I'm going to get three parts of a six part story?

I'm NOT going to buy three books I don't want to get the other three parts...

I just can't afford it.

[SuperStories]

I definatly do not like spreading the story out over six comic books. As a collector who likes to get all of his stories in order, I have one pile for Ultimate Spider-man, one box for Ulimtate X-Men, and one for the Ultimates/Galactus arc, and then the Fantasic Four. Which one would I easily get and find to read the Ultimate Vison? To me I would so much rather have a single or two issue copy then have it spread out and seperated.

[Lobok]

Originally posted by neondisease
So why does a robot need tits larger than it's head?

Stupid cow.

Created by Hank Pym. He gets... lonely at nights.

[JLAJRC]

Yea, I'm not a big fan of forcing people to buy titles they don't read either to finish the Ult Vision storyline either. I criticized DC for doing it, now I'll criticize Marvel for doing it. Why not just put out a one-shot?

[Psivage]

The female version of Vision is pretty damn hot. Wonder if she will remain name Vision or changed to Jocasta