The primary villain and creator of the new Ultimate Universe is The Maker. Who is that? Reed Richards from the original (1610) Ultimate Universe. During the 2010 “Ultimate Doomsday” trilogy by Brian Michael Bendis and Rafa Sandoval, he became a villain and stayed that way. Reed as the Maker proved so popular that after the original Ultimate Universe was retired, Marvel editorial brought him over to Earth-616.
Since then, the Maker decided to build his own “perfect” universe: Earth-6160. He tampered with history to keep most heroes from getting their powers, and remade the planet in his image, divided into fiefdoms overseen by his ruling council. The Maker is currently imprisoned, but it’s only a matter of time before he escapes. (As of the recently published “Ultimates” #7, the world has eleven Maker-free months left.)
The synopsis of “Ultimate Universe: One Year In #1” suggests the issue focuses on the Maker’s council of lieutenants and how they’re ruling without him around anymore:
“THE CLOCK IS TICKING DOWN TO THE MAKER’S ARRIVAL! Deniz Camp flips the narrative on ULTIMATES and takes us inside the Maker’s Council! The heroes of the Ultimate Universe aren’t the only ones who have been preparing for the return of the Maker, and the clock is ticking down … This unique one-shot sets the stage for the second year of the Ultimate line and includes the debut of the Ultimate versions of two major Marvel characters!”
One of those new characters is definitely Ultimate Nick Fury. The other is assumed to be Ultimate Wolverine, who is getting a solo series this January. However, the preview pages focus on Fury. The first page opens with a man named Keith Kincaid (a minor Marvel Comics character, usually depicted as a civilian doctor). He and his family are enjoying a family barbecue, but blue narration boxes inform us he’s really a terrorist. Why? He said the Ultimates might have a point.
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On the second page, Kincaid is atomized by what seems to be a lightning bolt but was really a pin-point shot from a helicarrier above.
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In the Ultimate Universe, Nick Fury is not the leader of S.H.I.E.L.D. but of H.A.N.D. (Heroic Anomaly Neutralization Directorate). From that name and what we know so far, it seems likely the Directorate was created by the Maker to preemptively take out any superheroes who might rise.
In the normal Marvel Comics, the Hand is a cult of demon-worshipping ninja assassins. The shared name is no coincidence but was clearly chosen to convey these guys are bad news. (More proof: H.A.N.D.’s helicarrier is nicknamed “the Beast,” the name of the demon who the Hand worships.)
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In the fourth panel, Fury admits he knows Kincaid was no threat but had to “put on a show” for his superiors. He then calls the following events his “last confession” — will he be making it out of “One Year In” alive?
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“Ultimate Universe: One Year In” #1 is scheduled for print and digital release on December 11, 2024.