Ultraverse


The Ultraverse was a comic book imprint published by the American company Malibu Comics which is owned by Marvel Comics. The Ultraverse was a shared universe in which a variety of characters—known within the comics as "ultras"—acquired super-human abilities.

History

The Ultraverse line was launched by Malibu Comics during the "comics boom" of the early 1990s. Ultraverse emphasized tight continuity between the various series in their line; Malibu made extensive use of crossovers, in which a story that began in one series would be continued in the next-shipping issue of another series. Various promotions for special editions or limited-print stories also encouraged readers to sample issues of the entire line. The Ultraverse line came to dominate Malibu's catalog. Several characters from the series Ultraforce were featured in a short-lived animated series by the same name in 1994-1995.
As American comics sales declined in the mid-1990s, Malibu canceled lower-selling series. The company was purchased by Marvel Comics in November of 1994. Reportedly Marvel made the purchase to acquire Malibu's then-groundbreaking in-house coloring studio. Other versions say that Marvel purchased the line to prevent DC Comics from buying Malibu, in order to increase DC's market share.
In September of 1995, Marvel canceled the entire Ultraverse line, but re-launched a handful of the more popular titles as well as a number of crossovers with Marvel characters. The initial move was foreseen with popular franchises and characters from the Avengers guest-starring in their books. The "volume 2" series each started with "#∞" issues and were canceled a short time later. Within the Marvel Comics multiverse, the Malibu Universe is designated as Earth-93060.

Black September

The Black September event connects issues that were part of the countdown to Black September — Ultraforce #8-10, Ultraforce/Avengers Prelude, Avengers/Ultraforce, Ultraverse/Avengers — after which all the surviving Ultraverse titles restarted with a special "∞"-numbered issue.
After Black September, only a few of the more popular series were rebooted and relaunched, with some being radically altered. The history and continuity of the Ultraverse was retconned in numerous ways, and a number of characters simply ceased to exist. This now-modified Ultraverse lasted less than a year and a half before being cancelled once again. The last comic produced in the Ultraverse was Ultraverse Future Shock.

Revival

In June 2005, when asked by comicsrama whether Marvel had any plans to revive the Ultraverse, Marvel editor-in-chief Joe Quesada replied:
Senior Vice President of Publishing Tom Brevoort has stated in the past that the reason Marvel cannot discuss the Ultraverse properties is because of non disclosure agreements in place with certain parties, which has been speculated to pertain to Scott Mitchell Rosenberg's contractual position as "ongoing producer deal for all Malibu Comics properties".

Titles

TitleIssuesInitial cover dateFinal cover dateNotes
Angels of Destruction11996one-shot
Black September∞1995one-shot. It follows the reality-changes effects of the crossover with the Marvel Universe.
Break-Thru1 – 219931994mini-series. First Crossover of the Ultraverse, following the chief heroes to the moon.
Codename: Firearm#0 – 519951995Six-issue limited series by Malibu Comics for its Ultraverse line. It was written by David Quinn and Marv Wolfman, with art by Gabriel Gecko and Klebs Junior. The series was about an English sleeper agent for the Lodge named James Hitch, who was given a second personality, Peter Cordova, to aid in his cover. Alec Swan, the original Firearm, appeared as a backup story.
Curse of Rune1– 419951995mini-series
Eliminator#0 – 319951995mini-series that follows Rick Pearson, an ex-agent of the Aladdin organization, rebuilt like a cyborg.
Elven#1 – 419941995Four issue comic book mini-series written by Len Strazewski and drawn by Aaron Lopresti. It was about a character with abilities similar to those of Prime, save that instead of being a fan of comic superheroes such as Superman, Elven was a fan of Elfquest and similar fantasy depictions of elves. Her Ultra form and abilities reflected this, with the liquid substance produced by her body shaping itself into an Elf-like appearance, and her powers subconsciously channelled into magic-like applications.
Exiles#1 – 419931993Written by Steve Gerber and illustrated by Paul Pelletier, with plot contributions from Tom Mason, Dave Olbrich, and Chris Ulm. It is known for the creators' deliberate decision to flout the accepted comic-book trope that a group of random people, who were plucked from their ordinary lives and told that they must join together to fight evil and prevent disaster, would become an effective team. Instead, key strategic mistakes led to the team's newest recruit, Amber Hunt, triggering a catastrophic explosion that killed or maimed everyone else on the team and destroyed their headquarters. This occurred at the end of issue #4, although issue #5 had been falsely solicited months in advance in order to preserve the shock value of the team's unexpected death and the comic's abrupt cancellation; retailers who had been misled into ordering Exiles #5 were subsequently reimbursed.
Firearm#0 - 1819931995Comic book series created by writer James Robinson and artists Howard Chaykin and Cully Hamner, which lasted 18 issues, with an additional 0 issue. The 0 issue included a 35-minute Firearm short film, on VHS. The series was about Alec Swan, a private investigator who, against his own wishes, becomes embroiled in cases involving the strange and the ultra-human.
Flood Relief11993one-shot. The story is a charity-driven comic about the deluges in 1994.
Foxfire1 – 419961996After Black September, it follows Rose Autumn, a half-human hybrid from the future.
Freex1 – 1819931995Short-lived comic book series from created By Gerard Jones and Ben Herrera. It concerned a team of teenage superheroes. The group that would come to call themselves the Freex were apparently created when a group of newborn infants were injected with a substance called "wetware", a mix of mutated DNA and nanotechnology that had been created by the advanced but isolated underground society called the Fire People. The nurse who injected these children would later go on to become the superhero Contrary, who utilized other Fire People technology to assist and organize Ultraforce. Also had a special: Giant Size Freex.
Godwheel1 – 419951995mini-series. The ultra-heroes and villains ares transported to the Godwheel by the God Argus.They ended finding the Asgardian God Thor.
Hardcase1 – 2619931995Also had a special : Hardcase Premiere Edition
Lord Pumpkin11994one-shot
Lord Pumpkin / Necromantra1 – 419951995mini-series: countained two flipbooks, Lord Pumkin and Necromantra.
Mantra1 – 2419931995Follows an immortal warrior named Lukasz that inhabits the corpses of different people throughout time. After a battle with his enemy Boneyard, Lukasz was left in the corpse of the woman Eden Blake and forced to become a sorceress. The series had a special :Giant size Mantra.
Mantra vol. 2∞ – 719951996
Mantra - Spear of Destiny1 – 219951995mini-series
Power of Prime1 – 419951995mini-series
Prime1 – 2619931995Has the special: Prime: Gross and Disgusting and "Prime #½"
Prime vol. 2∞ – 1519951996
Prime / Captain America11996one-shot
Prime vs. the Incredible Hulk11996one-shot
Prototype0 – 1819931995A series about a superhero owned by a company. Ultratech build the armor Prototype for mechandise proposites. The series follow the second Prototype Jimmy Ruiz and his predecessor in the armor Bob Campbell. Also had a special: Giant Size Prototype.
Ripfire019941994One Shot.
Rune0 – 919941995It had a special :Giant SIze Rune
Rune vol. 2∞ – 719951996
Rune: Hearts of Darkness1 – 319961996mini-series
Rune vs Venom11996one-shot
Siren∞ – 319951995Mini-series that follows Jennifer Pearson, daughter of Eliminator and thief of profession, in his travel in the Marvel Universe.
Siren Special11996one-shot
Sludge1 – 1219931994It had a special :Sludge: Red X-Mas
Solitaire1 - 12November 1993September 1994Superhero comic book created by Gerard Jones and Jeff Johnson in 1993 for Malibu Comics. It was published consistently from November 1993 until September 1994, when the series was, with the eighth issue, turned into a mini-series to be cancelled at the twelfth issue. Solitaire is a crime-fighting superhero. He uses detective skills and a network of street-level informants to wage a one-man war on crime a la DC's Batman. He is not, however, without superpowers, as Batman is. Solitaire has a rapid healing ability which allows him to recover from stab wounds, gougings, and even gunshots.
The Night Man1 – 2319931995Series that follow the adventures of the jazz musician Johnny Domingo. He gained ability to hear the thoughts of evil people in the same way that the Strangers. The series also had an annual: The Night Man: The Pilgrim Conundrum Saga #1
The Night Man vol. 2∞ – 419951995
The Night Man vs Wolverine119951995One-shot
The Night Man / Gambit1 – 319961996mini-series
The All-New Exiles∞ – 1119951996At one point, Marvel bought the publication rights for the Ultraverse comics. In the "Godwheel" event it was established that the Ultraverse is part of the Marvel Multiverse, meaning that travel between the main Marvel Universe and the Ultraverse is possible albeit difficult. One of the consequences was that a new team of Exiles was formed and included among them characters from the main Marvel Universe.
The All-New Exiles vs X-Men019961996One-shot
The Phoenix Resurrection#01996One-shot. Crossover between the Ultra-heroes and the X-men.
The Phoenix Resurrection: Aftermath11996one-shot
The Phoenix Resurrection: Genesis11996one-shot
The Phoenix Resurrection: Revelations11996one-shot
The Solution0 – 1719931995Follows a team of four ultra-mercenaries: Dropkick, Outrage, Shadowmage, and Tech, in his fights against other mercenaries.
The Strangers1 – 2419931995A series about six people that were traveling in a train when it were struck by a lightning, gaining superpowers. The series also had an annual: The Strangers : The Pilgrim Conundrum Saga #1
Ultra Monthly#1-619931993In-Universe Magazine about Ultra-heroes.
UltraForce0 – 1019941995Follows the foundation of the Main team of Ultra-heroes: Hardcase, Prime, Prototype, Topaz, Ghoul and Contrary. The Marvel's superhero Black Knight joins in the later issues.
UltraForce vol. 2∞ – 1519951996After Black September, Ultraforce had a new rooster, with the Black Knight as team leader.
UltraForce / Avengers Prelude11995one-shot. The Ultraforce meet Sersi of the eternals.
UltraForce / Avengers11995one-shot. Crossover between the two teams, follows Avengers/Ultraforce, and leads to the Black September.
UltraForce / Spider-Man11996one-shot
Ultraverse Double Feature: Prime and Solitaire11994one-shot
Ultraverse Future Shock11997one-shot
Ultraverse Origins11994one-shot. Origin pieces originally released as back-up material in various comics.
Ultraverse Premiere#01993one-shot - Also a Miniseries in flipbooks of other books. Issues 1-11
Ultraverse Unlimited1 – 219961996mini-series
Ultraverse Zero: the Death of the Squad1-419951995Miniseries that told the adventures of the first team of Ultra-heros: The Squad.
Warstrike1 – 719941994The series followed Brandon Tark, a mercenary with precognitive powers that activated when h was near death. It had a special :Giant SIze Warstrike
Witch Hunter11996one-shot
Wrath1 – 919941994The series followed an Aladdin agent. It had a special :Giant SIze Wrath

Characters

Crossovers with Marvel Comics