Marvel’s new Ultimate Universe line has been a phenomenal success, largely thanks to Jonathan Hickman and Marco Checchetto’s ‘Ultimate Spider-Man,’ which consistently outperforms the main ‘Amazing Spider-Man’ series. Yet, despite this popularity, Marvel is committed to ending the Ultimate line in 2026.
This significant revelation came during Marvel’s “Next Big Thing” panel at NYCC this past weekend. With ‘Ultimate Endgame’ set to launch in December, bringing the ongoing storyline involving The Maker to a head, it seems this beloved imprint is indeed wrapping up, with no immediate plans for relaunches or reboots.
Marvel had previously announced that Hickman and Checchetto would conclude their ‘Ultimate Spider-Man’ run with issue #24 in December. Now, they’ve confirmed that all ongoing Ultimate comics, including Deniz Camp and Juan Frigeri’s ‘The Ultimates’ (which won IGN’s Best Comic Book Series or Original Graphic Novel of 2024), will wrap up between December and April 2026.
“It’s hard to talk about without getting emotional,” stated Camp in Marvel’s press release. “It truly is the culmination of everything Jonathan started. All the narratives from my book and everyone else’s are converging. It’s going to be definitive, epic, and emotional, with significant losses… it’s going to be wild.”
“You’ll be able to embark on this journey—from beginning, to middle, to end—and cherish it for years, passing it on to future readers,” added Dan Buckley, Head of Marvel Comics and Franchise.
On a brighter note, Marvel also unveiled a new monthly Iron Man series at the panel. This new title will be penned by Joshua Williamson (known for Superman) and illustrated by Carmen Carnero (from Exceptional X-Men).
Here’s a glimpse into the new series:
The formidable Iron Man is a hero for the ages, but the brilliant mind behind the suit is a genius unlike any other. Years ago, Tony Stark faced death head-on, creating the Iron Man armor as a means of survival. What happens when death inevitably comes knocking again? What new weapon will he forge then? Or, what if… someone else creates it first? These unsettling questions have plagued Tony for years, a ticking time bomb within him. The enigmatic Madame Masque has pondered these same questions, and with the vast resources of Advanced Idea Mechanics at her disposal, she is poised to create the next formidable weapon.
Expect Iron Man #1 to arrive in comic stores on January 28, 2026.
In other exciting news from NYCC, the classic story of Batman: Knightfall is slated for a multi-part animated movie adaptation, and DC is finally set to publish a controversial, long-canceled Swamp Thing comic after 36 years.