Marvel’s new “Final Universe” has largely been a hit. “Final Spider-Man” by Jonathan Hickman & Marco Checchetto has been a constant best-seller, “The Ultimates” by Deniz Camp is probably the most openly political superhero e-book in the marketplace, and Peach Momoko’s manga-inspired “Final X-Males” is a refreshing reinvention … however you recognize what they are saying about all good issues.
The “Final Universe” reused the branding of the 2000s’ “Final Marvel,” which restarted acquainted Marvel characters from the ground-up. Threading that connection was the Maker, the Reed Richards from the unique “Final” universe (Earth-1610), who way back turned evil. The Maker created the brand new Final universe (Earth-6160) and twisted historical past to make an authoritarian dystopia.
Within the kick-off mini-series “Final Invasion” (by Hickman and Bryan Hitch), Tony Stark managed to imprison the Maker in a pocket dimension, however just for 24 months. After that, he’d escape, leaving Tony solely two years to seek out heroes and repair the world. Every situation of “The Ultimates” has ended with an “X months remaining” countdown reminding readers of the ticking clock.
That clock is down to 2 months; the Maker will return in “Final Endgame,” a crossover occasion written by Camp starting this December. I, and plenty of others assumed, this was solely the “Endgame” for the present story arc, identical to “Avengers: Endgame” was for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And whereas some are nonetheless anticipating Marvel to say “psych,” all indications recommend this actually is the tip. That means no character is secure in “Final Endgame.”
Marvel introduced at New York Comedian Con that each one the continuing “Final” titles are concluding by April 2026. Camp additionally confirmed it’s the “actual” ending, however he additionally requested followers to see the brilliant aspect: “Most tales in comics do not get to finish on their very own phrases. Ours does.”
The Final Universe may have the ending Hickman’s X-Males did not
Bleeding Cool has reported that Hickman took up architecting the brand new “Final” Universe on the situation of a restricted run. In BC’s phrases, Hickman did not need “a repeat of the Krakoa state of affairs.” What does that imply?
In 2019, Hickman took over writing the X-Males. His kick-off mini-series “Home of X” (drawn by Pepe Larraz) and “Powers of X” (drawn by R.B. Silva) did not simply begin a brand new story, additionally they constructed an entire new setting for different X-Males writers. Professor X and Magneto based a brand new mutant homeland on the residing island of Krakoa; the mutants created a brand new language, blackmailed their manner into the geo-political order, and the traces between hero and villain dissolved as all mutants are welcomed on Krakoa.
Totally different writers explored distinctive niches of an overarching story, with Hickman serving because the “showrunner.” Hickman solely noticed Krakoa as “Act 1, ” although … till he polled his writers and realized they wished Krakoa to proceed (per Leisure Weekly).
So, Hickman left “X-Males” earlier than Krakoa ended anyway in 2024. However whereas his departure was amicable, Hickman nonetheless regrets not getting to complete the X-Males story he meant to write down. It makes complete sense that he would not need to expertise that once more.
The brand new “Final Universe” may also keep away from the destiny of the 2000s “Final Marvel,” which stored going for 15 years and have become as labyrinthine as the unique Marvel Universe. The ending is bittersweet (“I am unhappy too,” Momoko admitted on Twitter/X), but it surely might really give the “Final Universe” longevity. Every collection had a single artistic imaginative and prescient from starting to finish. Thus, in years to come back, readers will have the ability to learn the entire thing comparatively simply, which is not true for many Marvel comedian books.
