Ultimate Incursion #1

Ultimate Incursion #1, released in 2023, serves as the critical prologue to the relaunch of Marvel's Ultimate Universe. Written by Jonathan Hickman with art by Bryan Hitch, the issue was designed to re-establish a narrative framework for a modernized, distinct reality separate from the primary Marvel 616 continuity. The story centers on the Maker’s systematic efforts to reshape the multiverse, grounding the relaunch in a high-stakes, multiversal premise that Hickman has historically favored in his approach to Marvel’s cosmic architecture.

The aesthetic direction by Bryan Hitch leans into the grand, cinematic scope that defined his earlier work on The Ultimates. By revisiting the concept of an alternate universe, the creative team aimed to provide a fresh entry point for readers who felt alienated by the dense, decades-long history of the standard Marvel line. Upon release, the issue was noted for its deliberate pacing and its role as a bridge between the defunct original Ultimate line and the 2023 iteration, receiving praise for its clarity in setting up a complex, long-form mystery.