Ultimate Thanos, the version of the Mad Titan introduced in Marvel's Ultimate Universe, returns in an impressive alternate cover that advertises the upcoming Ultimate Invasion event, which could possibly reintroduce this iconic franchise to modern readers.
In June 2023, the Ultimate Universe will return for the first time since its destruction in the cataclysmic Secret Wars event in 2015. The limited series Ultimate Invasion is written by Jonathan Hickman and drawn by Bryan Hitch, and it will be introduced by a set of variant covers, called Ultimate Last Look, for Marvel's ongoing titles, featuring the most popular characters of the Ultimate Universe. The variant cover for Guardians of the Galaxy #3, by Korean artist Stonehouse, showcases Ultimate Thanos in all his dreadful glory, holding one of the most powerful weapons in any Marvel universe, the Cosmic Cube.
Ultimate Thanos Could Be Returning Along With The Rest Of The Ultimate Universe
Ultimate Thanos was created by Mike Carey and Pasqual Ferry, making his debut in Ultimate Fantastic Four #2006. This version of the Mad Titan bears some similarities with his counterpart of Earth-616, but also some striking differences. Ultimate Thanos was conceived to be more similar to DC Comics' Darkseid who is the original inspiration for Thanos. Ultimate Thanos rules with an iron fist over a vast empire called the Endless Resurgence, which he created after finding the powerful artifact known as the Cosmic Cube. In his quest for absolute power, this Thanos met the Ultimate Fantastic Four, and he ended up being outsmarted and killed by their Reed Richards, who would later become the villain known as the Maker.
This connection is actually pretty interesting because the Maker has been teased as the main villain in the upcoming Ultimate Invasion series. Marvel has been unusually tight-lipped about this series, teasing that it could actually lead to the full return of the Ultimate Universe, but without confirming it outright. The Ultimate line redefined superhero comics in the 2000s, and there are several characters that fans would love to see again. Ultimate Thanos is certainly one of them because this version of the Mad Titan did not enjoy the same spotlight and attention as his more famous counterpart, appearing only in a handful of issues.
Ultimate Thanos Is Obsessed With Conquest, Not Death
Ultimate Thanos has a set of psychic powers that Earth-616 Thanos never displayed, such as the ability to possess other people's bodies even while several star systems away. He also possesses a degree of immortality (like every Thanos does), but has no fascination for nihilism or death per se, being instead obsessed with the absolute conquest and submission of the universe (again showing similarities with Darkseid). Marvel fans and nostalgics of the Ultimate Comics line will have to wait until this June to find out if this version of Thanos is really coming back, along with the rest of the Ultimate Universe.
Source: Marvel.com.