10 Characters Marvel Should Have Given the Ultimate Treatment Too

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Over the past two years, Marvel’s Ultimate line has been a major success for the publisher. While overall comic sales haven’t been as strong as usual, the Ultimate titles have performed well and generally pleased fans. This line has introduced fresh takes on beloved Marvel characters, with many becoming instant favorites. Talented creators like Jonathan Hickman, Deniz Campa, Chris Condon, Bryan Hill, and Peach Momoko have delivered exciting new versions of classic heroes, driving sales and enthusiasm for the Ultimate universe.

The new Ultimate Universe features some fantastic Marvel characters, and the creative team clearly made strong decisions in building its world. However, several iconic characters were left out, and their inclusion would have been a great addition. Here are ten Marvel heroes who deserved the ‘Ultimate’ makeover and could have really enhanced the series.

10) Gorgon

As a big Wolverine fan, I have to admit the recent Ultimate Wolverine run didn’t quite hit the mark for a lot of us. A lot of readers, myself included, weren’t thrilled with some of the story choices. Honestly, I think bringing in some of Logan’s really dangerous foes could have made the series much stronger. Specifically, I always thought Gorgon would have been a fantastic addition to the Ultimate Universe – whether in Ultimate Wolverine, Ultimate X-Men, or even with The Ultimates. He’s a seriously powerful character who never really gets the spotlight he deserves, and I think he could have really shined in that setting.

9) Kang

The comic series The Ultimates is a standout title, featuring a team of Avengers striving to free the world from the control of the Maker. While already a great read, it had the potential to be even better. The story boasts fantastic villains, and introducing more of them – perhaps even Kang – could have elevated it further. It would have been compelling to see Kang either working as an agent of the Maker, attempting to overthrow him and take control, or completely controlled by the Maker himself. Though The Ultimates is already excellent, the addition of Kang could have been a truly amazing element in this version of the Marvel Universe.

8) The Eternals

The Eternals are a compelling concept that hasn’t been fully explored in Marvel comics. The new Ultimate Universe offered a great opportunity to finally utilize their potential. The Maker, with his own ambitions, would inevitably clash with the Eternals, given his goals differ from the Celestials’ plan. It would have been fascinating to see them either fighting alongside the Maker or opposing him and Earth’s heroes. These incredibly powerful characters had a lot of narrative possibilities in the Ultimate line and deserved more focus.

7) Silver Surfer

The recent Ultimate Universe: Two Years In issue was fantastic, especially the new take on the Guardians of the Galaxy. It’s disappointing that the broader cosmic side of Marvel hasn’t had much focus in this new universe, because it could have opened the door for a really exciting character: the Silver Surfer. While his story is usually tied to Galactus, the creators could have introduced him without necessarily including that character. Given the Silver Surfer’s prominence in 2025, the Ultimate books were a perfect place to debut a version inspired by the movies, mirroring how the original Ultimate comics influenced the MCU. A Silver Surfer appearance would have been a great way to broaden the cosmic scope of the Ultimate Universe.

6) Cassandra Nova

In my opinion, Ultimate X-Men was the strongest of the Ultimate Marvel titles. Its success came from how it diverged from the traditional X-Men stories. Writer and artist Peach Momoko brought a fresh perspective, blending horror and magical girl manga influences to create something truly unique. While the series was great, it would have been exciting to see classic X-Men villains like Cassandra Nova appear. Nova could also have been a good fit for Ultimate Wolverine, potentially boosting its popularity with readers. She’s a well-liked character among both longtime fans and newcomers, and would have added another layer of interest to either book.

5) Rogue

Rogue is a fan-favorite X-Men character who’s recently become the team’s leader again in the main X-Men comics. Her popularity extends beyond dedicated fans, especially with the buzz around X-Men ’97, and it’s a shame we never saw her appear in the Ultimate Universe. While Ultimate X-Men featured a similar character, it was never confirmed if it was the same Rogue as depicted in some of Momoko’s artwork. She would have fit well into titles like Ultimate Wolverine or even The Ultimates, considering her past connections with the Avengers. Rogue is a consistently compelling character, and the new Ultimate Universe could have offered many interesting opportunities for her.

4) Maverick

As a big Wolverine fan, I’ve always thought Maverick was a seriously underutilized character. He has such a cool history tied to Logan – being part of Team X back in the ’60s with Wolverine and Sabretooth, and even involved in the Weapon X program! It felt like a missed opportunity when the Ultimate Wolverine comic came out, especially since Sabretooth was included. Seeing Maverick show up there, either as an ally or enemy of Wolverine, would have been fantastic. Honestly, I think he could have been exactly what that series needed to really take things to the next level, kind of a ‘killer app’ to make it even better. He deserves more spotlight!

3) Norman Osborn

The Ultimate Spider-Man comic series was very popular, and Harry Osborn was a central figure – some even argue he was the main character. However, Harry’s father, Norman Osborn, loomed large over the story. While characters frequently mentioned him and he appeared briefly in a flashback, he remained largely absent. It would have been exciting to see Norman in the present day, especially since the series hinted at a connection between his brain and the AI controlling Harry’s armor. Unfortunately, that storyline never developed. As a crucial part of Spider-Man’s history, it would have been fantastic to see Norman play a bigger role in these new stories.

2) Matt Murdock

The Ultimate Universe had a Daredevil, but surprisingly, it wasn’t Matt Murdock – the Beyonder wore the mask instead. It was odd not seeing Matt at all, considering how popular he is in Marvel comics. He would have been a great addition to titles like Ultimate Spider-Man or The Ultimates, either as a street-level vigilante or an insider taking on villains like Kingpin and the Maker. While he didn’t need to be Daredevil specifically, it would have been fantastic to see his character appear in that universe. He’s a compelling character who could have easily thrived in several of the Ultimate titles.

1) Jessica Jones

Jessica Jones is a fantastic character who first appeared in the 2000s, but she hasn’t been featured as prominently since her original writer, Brian Michael Bendis, left Marvel. The new Ultimate Universe books presented a great opportunity to bring her back into the spotlight. She could have easily been integrated into any of those titles – perhaps as an investigative reporter battling the Maker, or even working for him. Given her background, she’d have been a natural fit in Ultimate Spider-Man, especially with Ben Parker and J. Jonah Jameson starting a new news website, and she’s previously worked alongside reporters in titles like The Pulse. Her established connection to the Avengers also would have allowed her to seamlessly join The Ultimates. Jessica Jones is a major character, and the Ultimate books could have served as a reminder of her strength and popularity.

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2026-01-09 22:16