Warning: Spoilers for Ultimate Spider-Man #11Marvel news Final Universe was a huge success, but a Spider-Man The moment showed how successful the real-time structure of the books has been for the line. It's not a perfect device, but it's still an impressive achievement and a neat trick that changes the way these stories are told.
In Ultimate Spider-Man #11 by Jonathan Hickman, David Messina, Matt Wilson and Cory Petit, Uncle Ben makes an offhand comment that reveals how smart the real-time flow of the new Ultimate Universe has been.
Ben and Peter Parker meet at Aunt May's memorial to commemorate one year since the alleged terrorist attack that killed her. Readers may not realize it, but it's also been almost exactly one year in real time. This synchronicity is one of the many factors that help this universe feel so present, because it's moving forward just like the readers.
The real-time structure of the Ultimate New Universe did wonders for its overall pacing
Especially in Ultimate Spider-Man
The original attack occurs in Final Universe #1, the one-shot by Jonathan Hickman and Stefano Caselli that was released almost exactly a year ago, on November 1, 2023 (one year and three weeks before Ultimate Spider-Man #11, to be exact). Final Universe #1 features the false flag attack in New Yorkbut the following year, Ultimate Spider-Man explored the aftermath of the attack, as Peter, Uncle Ben and Harry Osborn – who lost his father – deal with grief in different ways.
This passage of time also has its own massive implications for the broader story of the Ultimate Universe. At the end of the Final Invasionthe Hickman and Bryan Hitch miniseries that established this universe, the Creator, who created this world's authoritarian regime, was locked away for precisely two years. Unfortunately, he was locked in his own time-dilated base known as “the city.” Over these two years outside, he will have thousands of years inside his prison to plan his revenge. The only question is what the world will be like when he emerges.
Most Marvel and DC Comics initiatives like this don't work that well
Yes, fans should celebrate when the comic book schedule works
A cynical reader might scoff, saying that Ultimate Spider-Man #11 is not exactly a year later Final Universe #1, but It's easy to forget how difficult scheduling comics can beespecially if you want the book to have a consistent creative team, and the month-to-month structure has been present since the beginning of the book. Part of this consistency is due to the rotating art team of Marco Checchetto and Messina, who trade off issues and arcs, with Wilson, the always fantastic colorist, providing an internal consistency in the corresponding art.
Modern comics are often criticized for being “uncompressed,” having their stories stretched out beyond the time they actually need to be told. What once could have been a single issue can now take four. Decompression happens both at the macro level – how long it takes to tell a story – and at the micro level – how much time a creator spends on an idea, story or small moment. Real-time storytelling means that creators Ultimate titles can't be unpacked much anywaybecause the universe has to move forward in real time.
Ultimate Spider-Man It's not the only book that benefits from this structure
Last X-Men of Peach Momoko also benefited
Last X-Men Peach Momoko's was another major beneficiary of the real-time framework. The book stars a cast of young students and the real-time structure means they go through distinct and different parts of the academic year to issue. The structure is reminiscent of the Persona video game series, which is also (mostly) set according to the strict schedule of a school year. Momoko's background on the often seasonal Japanese cultural references she's making only adds to the sense of realism this real-time structure brings.
As exciting as this schedule is, it's also not perfect. The structure requires large time jumps between each problemand there were moments that could have been given more space. Likewise, the structure means that the easiest format for these books is relatively self-contained issues, meaning that the immediate aftermath of any issue-ending cliffhangers must be told in flashback or exposition, limiting the types of stories told. . That said, these minor complaints aren't big enough to significantly detract from the positive impact the structure had on the plot's momentum.
What does next year hold for Ultimate Universe?
And will Marvel be able to follow this schedule?
The ultimate test of this format will be to see if all the books can maintain their destiny as they head toward the Creator's inevitable return. The first step in this direction is the next one-shot Final Universe: One Year Later #1 by Finals writer Deniz Camp and artist Jonas Scharf, who promises to outline the plot for next year. However, a lot can happen in the space of a year and we hope that everyone Final Universe books, not just Spider-Manwill continue to impress on this front.
Ultimate Spider-Man #11 is now available and Final Universe: One Year Later #1 is available on December 11, 2024, both from Marvel Comics.