The Ultimates Omniversal 1: Start With the Impossible Paperback – July 19, 2016

Ultimates is a brand new title written by Al Ewing, and it is a sight to behold for more reasons than one.First up, it's actually new! So many titles released under the ANAD (All-new all-different) banner are anything but those two descriptions. Amazing Spider-Man, X-men, Avengers: these titles are, for all intents and purposes, just continuations of situations from before Secret Wars (the supposed line-wide reboot) and rarely order anything new that is halfway decent. Some titles, however, such as All-new Wolverine, Iron Man (Riri Williams), Old Man Logan, Steve Rogers: Captain America, and the Ultimates do fit those descriptions, and Ultimates is especially a breath of fresh air. It's different because this team is more than space-swashbuckling action like Guardians of the Galaxy; rather, they deal with cosmic threats like Galactus and mysteries about who is really causing all the trouble in the omniverse.Second, it's scale is stupidly large! The sheer size of the problems and the theories Ewing writes about are nothing short of mind-boggling with "holy crap!" moments around every page turn. While the first issue is a bit slow, when the team meets Galactus at the end of that issue, the series takes off and never slows down! They go from one problem to the next relying on their wits, cunning, and tech to get them through, only really using their powers when they have to. The exception there is Miss America as she can create doorways throughout space-time and does it regularly to keep the plot going.Now for the sad part that is not the writer's fault: Ultimates may be one of the best titles in ANAD Marvel right now, but it's sales are very low. I beseech you, if you love sci-fi/fantasy and/or love Marvel comics as a whole, or are even new to comics as a whole, check this book out. Buy it so it won't get cancelled as it is one of the few good titles in ANAD Marvel.

The Ultimates is an amazing book, which captures so much of Marvel's blood, it's almost impossible to give enough credit. The Ultimates captures the cosmic spirit of Jack Kirby, daring to reach beyond the stars, and into the unknowable beyond. It presents itself in truth as the modern day Fantastic Four funny book. With Reed and co. largely absent from the new MU, Blue Marvel and co. take it upon themselves to solve everything. They are not a team of responders, they are an ensemble of ultra-talented futurists, stitching our fractured omniverse back together, reading almost as if it were a direct continuation of Hickman's Secret Wars. Ewing takes command of these larger than life concepts, writing with such vindication, that I forgot at times that I wasn't actually reading a Hickman book. Combined with Rocafort's talents, the two create a project both urgent and insightful, a must read for fans of the cosmic side of the MU, eager to understand the metaphysics which make the comic book world tick.And none of that's to say anything about the excellently diverse and compelling cast of central characters. Truly, The Ultimates is something special, and one of my favorite new Marvel titles.

If you can think of 3 to 5 good Galactus stories, get this book. Alternatively, If you have been reading Marvel for AGES, get this book. Beyond that, especially if you're a new reader, avoid this. It's an absolutely wonderful book with ideas I don't remember from any other Marvel book/writer BUT..... it's not new reader friendly. The various big/shock moments will have no meaning and ultimately be wasted.

In the aftermath of Multiversal Rebirth at the end of Jonathan Hickman's Secret Wars (2015), the All-New, All-Different Marvel Universe was a very different place. With that opportunity writer Al Ewing used this series as a chance to do something new, something of a cosmic scale. Reading this again years later, I'm reminded why I enjoy Ewing's writing. He thinks big and never looks back. Though the change brought about in this book to a major Marvel character has since been undone in Gerry Duggan's Infinity Countdown (2018), this is not a book to be overlooked. The best way to describe it, and Ewing alludes to this himself, is what Tony Stark's Illuminati could have been if it hadn't operated in the shadows. That's a pretty good selling point to me. That and the fantastic team of underutilized characters who each get their chance to shine. Ewing is a writer who can take what's come before and shape it into his own fantastic vision. Pair him with artists like Kenneth Rocafort and Christian Ward, each able to handle the cosmic concepts given to them with ease, and you've got a winning book. Though it bears little resemblance to the alt-universe Mark Millar creation it's a series I recommend reading if you can get your hands on it. I'll be following up with the second volume of the series and its follow-up title later, so keep an eye out for that if you've found what I've had to say interesting.4/5

Just the start of what I'm hoping to call the best series of Cosmic players in the marvel universe! All the questions are getting answered all the backgrounds refreshed if not slightly altered to fit (masterfully mind you) and the art is great! I hope this compliment helps.....Ewing+Starlin= Marvel Cosmic Bible LEGIT!

They dip around through dimensions in spacecraft trying to right what they perceive to be cosmic wrongs. Great storyline and the best artwork currently of all Marvel comics. If you are into the cosmic side of Marvel this is everything you ever dreamed of. If you prefer more street level comics this one's probably not for you.

This was an excellent read and introduced me to some characters I was not entirely familiar with. It's an interesting guide to all new all different marvel and a good lead up to civil war 2. Provides the opening salvos for civil war 2 when their actions lead to the reintroduction of Thanos