Marvel Just Redefined Its New Final Universe killing Tony Starkis Iron Lad, the leader who has assembled and empowered the team so far. Finals #6 sees the team finally fully assembled, preparing for a rescue mission. However, the Ultimates are led into a trap by Bruce Banner’s Legendary Hulk. With Doom’s escape plan for the Ultimates deactivated, the heroes have no choice but to fight the Hulk and his Immortal Weapons for their lives while waiting for Doom to teleport the team out.
Towards the end of the fight, Tony Stark is grabbed by the Hulk and crushed in his armor. She-Hulk faces Hulk in battle to try to save Tony, but she too is overpowered. Just before Hulk can deliver the killing blow, Doom manages to reconnect the team to the Ultimates Network and teleport them out of Hulk’s base on K’un-Lun.
However, Doom is too late to save the entire team, as the Hulk’s attack ends up taking Tony Stark’s life. This is a devastating loss for the Ultimates, as Tony was the team’s main architect, providing most of their advanced weaponry, equipment, and even powers. Finals #6 comes from Deniz Camp, Juan Frigeri, Travis Lanham and Federico Blee.
Tony Stark is killed by the Hulk
The Ultimates come together for the first time, only to face tragedy
Introduced at the start of the new Ultimate Universe in 2023 Final Invasion From Jonathan Hickman, Bryan Hitch, Joe Caramagna and Alex Sinclair, this teenage version of Tony Stark was a vital player. He assumed the identity of Iron Lad in homage to the Ultimate Iron Man, Howard Stark, creating a super-powered resistance movement against the villainous Maker. As such, he not only gathered the Ultimates, but visited the heroes whose powers were stolen by the Creator, trying to give them the life they should have had. It’s because of Tony that heroes like Ultimate Spider-Man, Ultimate Ant-Man and Wasp and Ultimate Hawkeye exist.
Tony’s death is a huge blow to the Ultimates, robbing them of their team leader and putting them at a huge disadvantage. Tony Stark played a key role in not only providing the Ultimates with their powers, but also in pushing the team against the Creator as he planned his larger campaign. Without it, the fight against the Creator and his forces becomes much more difficult and crucial direction is missing.
Marvel’s Ultimate continuity has a long tradition of hero deaths being permanent.
The Ultimate Universe Has Always Been Darker Than Mainstream Marvel
Their deaths tend to be permanent – ​​a terrible sign for Tony
Tony Stark’s death in the new Ultimate Universe is shocking and will likely be permanent. Tony’s death brings to mind the original 2000s Ultimate Universe’s relationship with death. In addition to a few examples at the end of the original Ultimate Universe, most notably Peter Parker, most of the dead characters were never resurrected. This included mainstays of the main Marvel Universe such as Wolverine, Daredevil, Scarlet Witch, Doctor Strange, Black Widow and the Asgardians, as well as Thor. The original Ultimate Universe was never afraid to kill off major characters, and Tony Stark’s death proves that tradition is alive and well in the new version.
Tony Stark’s death is a huge turnaround for the Ultimate Universe, as well as a huge defeat for the Ultimates. Although their future is now uncertain, any path they take to defeat the Creator will certainly be more challenging without him. Tony’s death further proves that the Ultimate Universe’s willingness to kill off major characters remains an important part of the continuity’s identity. While it’s unclear whether Tony will stay dead, historical precedent points in that direction. THE Final Universe has changed forever, and now the Ultimates will have to decide what to do next without their former leader Tony Stark.
The Ultimates #6 is now available from Marvel Comics.