Warning: contains spoilers forUltimate Universe: One Year In #1!One year into Marvel’s newUltimate Universe, the publisher has officially named this new continuity’s strongest character, dethroning theSentry. The villainous time traveler known as the Maker rewrote this world’s timeline to eliminate or corrupt the strongest heroes, throwing the characters fans thought they knew into disarray.
Since it’s already been revealed that Marvel powerhouses likeSentry and Black Bolt are already deadon Earth-6160, the hierarchy of power in this universe is still wide open. However, as Nick Fury sees it inUltimate Universe: One Year In #1- written by Deniz Camp and drawn by Jonas Scharf - the evil version ofHulkis officially the"strongest thing on Earth, and the most dangerous."
Given Fury is the head information broker of the Maker’s regime, it’s a safe bet that there are no secret powerhouses he doesn’t know about. Withthe Maker having corrupted Bruce Banner’s Hulkto serve as his right hand man, the strongest creature in the Ultimate Universe is officially on the side of the villains.
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Ultimate Universe: One Year In #1by Deniz Camp, Chris Condon, Alessandro Cappuccio, Jonas Scharf, Mattia Iacono, Travis Lanham and Bryan Valenza
With Sentry’s tattered remains sitting in the Maker’s Damage Control storage facility (as seen inFree Comic Book Day 2024: Ultimate Universe/Spider-Man),the Hulk’s raw power and his place on the Maker’s Council officially make him the world’s most powerful character- for now, at least. As Fury labels him “the Incredible Enlightened Hulk,” this is a version of the character that rules parts of Asia and the West Coast of North America and acts as a spiritual leader. Bruce Banner’s calm and mindful attitude belies his new villain status, and he wasable to take on the entire Ultimates teamas their biggest threat yet.
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In Hulk’s battle with the Ultimates, he’s also revealed to lead a team of ‘Immortal Weapons’ that assist him in battle, but he hardly needs help. Another display of the new Hulk’s extraordinary power reveals thathe’s also this world’s Iron Fist.When he lands his Atomic Iron Fist on the universe’s new She-Hulk, it’s explicitly noted that this move carries a punch equivalent to fifteen atomic bombs.The fight ended with him brutally wounding Iron Lad, leaving him presumed dead. Ultimate Hulk is not only the strongest but one of the scariest things on Earth-6160.
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Even though Bruce Banner’s label from Fury makes him the most powerful character onEarth, that still leaves options out in the cosmos that could surpass his extreme level of power. Thebrand-new Ultimate Guardians of the Galaxyare set to debut in the upcomingUltimates #8by Camp and Juan Frigeri, with new versions of Star-Lord and Captain Marvel that have a chance to compete with Hulk’s strength.
As the Maker’s Council continue their efforts to snuff out new heroes before they’re created in this alternate timeline, strong characters will continue to be co-opted or eliminated until their reign is stopped. Sadly, that will only happen once the Ultimates can find a way to take down theHulk- and without allies likeSentryand Black Bolt to match him, that’s easier said than done.
Ultimate Universe: One Year In #1is available now from Marvel Comics.
Ultimate Marvel
Created in 2000, the Ultimate Marvel imprint redesigned the entire Marvel Comics universe with a new set of origin stories and relationships. The reboot reinterpreted Marvel continuity from scratch in an attempt to simplify and update the company’s 60-year history for modern audiences. With famous comic book writers such as Brian Michael Bendis, Warren Ellis, and Mark Millar at the helm, the Ultimate universe (named Earth-1610 within the Marvel multiverse) lasted 15 years and provided plenty of inspiration for the MCU.
Hulk
The Hulk, a Marvel Comics superhero created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, is physicist Bruce Banner transformed by gamma radiation. He morphs into a giant, green-skinned creature of immense strength and invulnerability when angered. Struggling with his transformations, Hulk allies with other heroes, battling villains while balancing his intellect with uncontrollable rage, making him a central figure in Marvel’s universe.
