While the MCU is not ending anytime soon, one big arm of Marvel Comics is about to reach its conclusion following the news that the Ultimates Universe will end with 2026’s “Ultimates Endgame.” Not a half ending or reboot, but a true and final ending, which is something many fans online did not quite believe given the way many “endings” turn out to be anything but. However, Ultimates writer Deniz Camp recently took to social media to dispel rumors that the series was ending for “being too woke,” or that anyone was being “pushed out.”
Marvel Comics revealed at New York Comic Con that their Ultimates Universe would end next year, but the announcement led many to believe that Ultimate Spider-Man creator and the man behind the creation of the universe, Jonathan Hickman, had been done wrong by Marvel. Camp has now made it clear that this is not the case.
“It’s not fake news, but it’s a sensationalistic headline that misses a lot of the nuance. It implies people are getting pushed out, which I don’t think is the case (from everything I’ve heard/everyone I’ve talked to). [Hickman] just didn’t think Marvel would be bold enough to do this. [He’s] very supportive of, and excited for, this, I know that for sure.
“It’s true that the original plan was not to ‘end’ the universe. A lot of my run is setting up characters I hoped would go on past me. I think I’ve made that clear and obvious. BUT. John was ending his run at 24; that was always the case. He was done. Peach [Momoko] and Bryan [Edward Hill] were both ending their stories when the Maker got out as well. That was their decision.”
The Ultimates Universe Is Reaching a “Natural Conclusion.”
Camp continued to share that he originally hoped that some aspects of the Ultimates Universe could have continued on their own merits, but the actual decision to “end it end it” is not something that was just made on the spur of the moment.
“Ultimates would have continued and new books launched (I was pushing for Hawkeye, Guardians was discussed, etc). This was all very vague. But then, Wil Moss came to me and said, ‘Hey, I think we’re going to end it. End it end it.’ This was a long time ago, at least a year before now, I think, but I’d have to check.”
Camp also made it clear that, despite some online comments and opinions, the “woke” arm of the Marvel world was not brought to an end for that reason, nor another ridiculous suggestion that has done the rounds on social media since the announcement last week.
“Not because the books are ‘too woke’ (if it were that, they’d interfere with the writing of it, which they haven’t) or because the main line is jealous (this is silly, money is money to them), but because everything seemed to be coming to a natural conclusion.”
While fans will be sad to see the end of the Ultimates Universe, going out on a high is always a preference to overstaying your welcome, and it seems that things are reaching a conclusion before that can happen. “Ultimate Endgame” is set for release in 2026.