Marvel’s New Ultimates series is about to kill off a member of the team and I think I know who it is (and maybe even why)

Marvel has revealed that its latest volume of UltimatesThe flagship title of its relaunched Ultimate Marvel continuity, will end with his debut arc with “The loss of a key member“- and I think it will be Iron ManTony Stark. This version of Iron Man is younger, and more idealistic, and I can’t think of a more brutal alternative for a shocking, game-changing character death.

The Ultimates #6 – written by Deniz Camp, with art by Juan Frigeri – will feature the climactic battle between the freshly assembled squad and the villain Last Hulk. The synopsis for Ultimates #7 promises at least one heroic casualty from the fight, and looking back at the series up to this point, I think the creative team has set up Tony Stark for a tragic fall.

The Ultimates Until now, Tony has been treated as his main protagonist – to take him off the board at this point in the series would be a radical departure from the expectations of readers.

The Ultimates lose a member at the end of their first arc and I think it will be Tony Stark

The Ultimates #6 – Written by Deniz Camp; Art by Juan Frigeri; Color by Federico Blee; Lettering by Travis Lanham

In a parallel to the original early 2000s Ultimates series – as well as the original 1960s debut of Avengers – Writer Deniz Camp’s first arc The Ultimates Will end in a violent confrontation with the Hulk. I love the way Camp is recalling Marvel history here, echoing familiar story beats, and consistently offering some novel subversion of the lore he has to play with. It makes sense that the team’s first battle against a supervillain would have major consequences, but which of the heroes introduced so far will bear the cost of those consequences is the real question.

There are several reasons why I think Tony Stark will be the hero to fall into battle in Ultimates #6. Known as “Iron Lad” in this timeline, this is a more inexperienced version of ​​Stark, and Marvel’s advanced solicitation for this issue hints that it will lead the team into danger:

Ultimates assemble to take down the Hulk! The entire roster of the ULTIMATES unites for the first time in this high-octane, climactic conclusion to the first arc! Iron Lad has a plan to defeat the Hulk, the most powerful and imposing member of the Maker’s Council – but has he got his team over their heads?

While younger, and perhaps less prepared to face the Hulk, Iron Lad is thus far depicted as still embodying the core heroic virtues of the Tony Stark most fans are familiar with. I’d bet that includes his propensity for self-sacrifice, should it come to that.

First, why the final killing of Tony Stark seems like such a wild prediction

The Ultimates #6 – Available November 6th from Marvel Comics

In order to make my case that the series is going to kill off the Iron Lad, I’d like to dig in and examine everything we know about Ultimates #6 and #7, and consider it in the context of what happened in the first five issues. First, however, I should address the inevitable counterpoint to my argument. That is, I should begin by considering the case against Last Tony Stark dies so early in the series. Of all the characters in the rebooted final timeline, the most narrative energy is, without a doubt, devoted to building Tony.

Spoiler alert for my argument for killing him off, though This is exactly what would make the loss of Iron Lad so impactful for both Ultimates readers, and the surviving Ultimates team membersMoved. But I understand that many readers will see the investment of time and page space as signaling that he is also important to the overall trajectory of Ultimates Story to kill at this stage, even for a huge dramatic payoff. Certainly, many fans will argue that the loss of one of his newly recruited team will continue Iron Lad’s story, rather than the other way around.

My case for why the new Ultimate Iron Man makes the most sense for Marvel to kill off

The Ultimates #7 – Written by Deniz Camp; Art by Juan Frigeri; Available December 4 from Marvel Comics

The Ultimates was the story of ​​a superhero team together against all odds, to fight against an almost insurmountable level of adversity. Iron Lad was undoubtedly positioned as the team’s leader, and the protagonist of the series – Which would make his death the biggest obstacle yet for the team to face. In one way or another, almost all the heroes of this incarnation of the Marvel Universe owe their empowerment to Tony Stark, making him the most pivotal character in history, and making his death more of a devastating blow than any other character could be. Immediately. .

The way I look at it, killing the Iron Lad in Ultimates #6 would be a huge shock to fans — but beyond that, it would be the most consequential storytelling move writer Deniz Camp and Marvel could make, in terms of how it would affect each character in a significant way. The ultimate Marvel as a project, especially in this second iteration, is all about offering a radically new paradigm for its characters to work within. It’s not just a matter of setup, but also of follow through.

That is to say, the series needs to continue to push the story in unexpected directions, and nothing would do that more effectively than the death of Tony Stark. The loss of Iron Lod would change the whole nature of history; It would force the series’ other characters to step forward and take on more prominent roles, and most importantly, it would emotionally resonate in a way that no other character can match at this point. Personally, I think it would be better if Tony Stark were taken off the table than the newly introduced Hawkeye, or Last America Chavez.

Let’s be real – a superhero death doesn’t have to be permanent to be impactful

If The Ultimates Can provide a devastating moment, I am satisfied

This version of the Ultimate Universe is a product of time travel and timeline hopping, so I’d hazard a guess as to who the series might kill off in The Ultimates #6 can’t be gone permanently – and I’m fine with that. Too much of the discourse surrounding the death of superheroes is fixated on whether it has to be “forever,” or for a long time, to be meaningful, and I don’t think that’s right. Storytelling is about crafting moments that stick with readers; If a character death is done right, the emotional impact it can have is all that matters.

I will close by noting that the cover for The Ultimates #7 is with Iron Lad, along with Captain America, Hawkeye and more of the Ultimates – and if I were to kill off a major character in a story like this, I’d have them on the cover of the next issue as a misdirect. This may be a bit of conspiratorial thinking, but it is worth noting that the cover of Ultimates #8 gives nothing away, suggesting that Marvel will keep a lid on any more potential spoilers until issue #6 is out, and the main death has happened.

I think killing off Last Tony Stark would be a bold move for this story, and would ratchet up the stakes of the series exponentially. Even if a time-displaced version of ​​this character was brought back later, if the author Deniz Camp and artist Juan Frigeri can give me a truly heartbreaking death scene for this incarnation, I will be excited and impressed. Do these Last Incarnation of Iron Man die, or live to feel guilty for the death of another member of the team, Ultimate Marvel Once again captivated me with the wide open possibilities of her story.

The Ultimates #6 Will be available November 6, 2024 from Marvel Comics.