On Wednesday afternoon, during a liveblog press conference about changes coming to the Ultimate Comics line, Marvel announced Ultimate Comics: Hawkeye by Jonathan Hickman and artist Rafa Sandoval. The series will be a four issue miniseries, starting in August, and will run consecutively with Ultimate Comics Ultimates, also by Hickman (see here).
The series will be part of the “Ultimate Comics Universe Reborn” banner, which follows the events of the “Death of Spider-Man” arc happening now in Ultimate Spider-Man and Ultimate Avengers vs. New Ultimates, and continuing in the weekly July series Ultimate Fallout.
Ultimate Fallout, beginning this July, will be a bridge between “Death of Spider-Man” and this rebirth of the Ultimate Comics line. It will touch on all the prominent characters who will be featured upcoming and showing how the Death of Spider-Man affected them. It will be written by all the writers working on the new books, including Hickman.
Jonathan says that the four-issue Ultimate Comics: Hawkeye series takes place at the same time as the first four issues of Ultimate Comics: The Ultimates. However, he assures that fans don’t need to read the two books together, but the conclusion of Hawkeye’s mission will help set up the new direction for Ultimate Comics.
This series will cover Hawkeye’s past, including his training and how he got recruited by Nick Fury. Hawkeye’s past will be woven into his current mission, which involves “an event” in Southeast Asia. The death of Hawkeye’s family will be dealt with in the series, but there will several crossroads for him and he will need to leave some baggage behind in the process.
The cast of the mini will feature Nick Fury, “a ton of new characters”, The Hulk, Jean Grey/Karen Grant and more.
Marvel says that Hickman will be doing stuff in Ultimate Comics: Hawkeye that you’d have to cancel an entire franchise to do in the classic Marvel Universe.
Hickman said that he is interested by Hawkeye having a military background and having served in S.H.IE.L.D. so long, both of which distinguish him from the classic version of Clint Barton.
Hickman thinks the S.H.I.E.L.D. of Ultimate Comics is far more powerful and pro-active than in the classic Marvel Universe. Everything revolves around them. They don’t just show up at the end of stories.
“We can keep saying we’re building a cohesive universe, but I don’t think people will really get what we mean until we see it,” said Hickman, teasing that “Hawkeye’s mission will affect the X-Men as much as anybody.”
Rafa Sandoval is ahead of the other Ultimate Comics artists right now, so Jonathan has already seen pages and calls it “amazing.”
To read a full transcript of the liveblog see below:
Ultimate Comics Event, May 4
(05/04/2021)
Wednesday May 4, 2021
3:00
UltimateKidNova:
Hello and welcome to the third Ultimate liveblog of this week!
3:00
Comment From figgy999
Hello everyone!
3:01
UltimateKidNova:
I’m Marvel.com Associate Editor Ben Morse and joining us shortly should be Assistant Editor Marc “Strommy” Strom!
3:01
Comment From Ezekiel Rage
Hello
3:01
Comment From Chad Adams
Hey!!
3:01
UltimateKidNova:
Today we’re announcing another project, this time starring a character in their Ultimate Comics solo debut!
3:01
Comment From BaIfro
Good Afternoon
3:02
Comment From figgy999
Strommy prefers to be called “Parasol Man” now
3:02
Comment From marvelprince
hey guys
3:02
Strommy:
Hello all! Marvel.com Assistant Editor Marc Strom here, ready to kick off the latest Ultimate Comics liveblog!
3:02
Strommy:
What do you think we’ll announce today?
3:02
Comment From HolySock
It’s Balfro! Hey Strommy!
3:02
Strommy:
@Figgy Only Isaiah can call me Parasol Man, sir.
3:02
Comment From figgy999
Ultimate Parasol Man!
3:03
Strommy:
I like your thinking!
3:03
Comment From LoneWolfPanda
Can’t wait to hear the next title and team tackling it.
3:03
UltimateKidNova:
As always, we will be monitoring your comments for questions and otherwise, but if they don’t appear in the main stream, that doesn’t mean we’re not seeing them, it’s just that there are hundreds of comments and only two of us. We will get to them as best we can.
3:03
UltimateKidNova:
We are soon to be joined by today’s mystery guests, at which point we will announce to today’s project. So sit tight and bask in the glory of Strommy!
3:04
Strommy:
Lots of good guesses from you guys…Just kicking off the call!
3:04
Strommy:
James Viscardi announces Ultimate Comics Hawkeye by Jonathan Hickman and artist Rafa Sandoval!
3:05
Comment From BaIfro
WOOHOO!!!
3:05
Comment From SannomJDG
Yeah Hawkeye!
3:05
Comment From Chad Adams
HAWKEYE!!! AWESOME!!!
3:05
Comment From pgizinski
FINALLY!
3:05
Comment From marvelprince
NIce!!
3:05
Comment From VJ_Ostrowski
Sweeeeeeeeet!!!! Two Hickman books!
3:05
UltimateKidNova:
Ultimate Comics Hawkeye will be a four issue series running consecutively with Ultimate Comics Ultimates
3:06
Strommy:
Remember to send us your questions, guys, and we’ll pick some to ask Jonathan on this call.
3:06
Comment From Plawsky1
Yay for Sandoval!!!
3:06
UltimateKidNova:
You don’t need to read the two books together, but the conclusion of Hawkeye’s mission will help set up the new direction for Ultimate Comics
3:06
Comment From LoneWolfPanda
i approve of this
3:07
Comment From Nick Coffman
Not what I was expecting, but that sounds pretty cool. Will it focus on current events or Hawkeye backstory?
3:07
UltimateKidNova:
Jonathan is interested by Hawkeye having a military background and having served in S.H.IE.L.D. so long, both of which distinguish him from the classic version of Clint Barton
3:07
Strommy:
@Nick Jonathan said that the four issue series takes place at the same time as the first four issues of ULTIMATE COMICS: THE ULTIMATES, also by Hickman.
3:08
Comment From Ezekiel Rage
And where is cap? Is he Spider-Man?
3:08
Strommy:
@Ezekiel You’ll just have to keep reading to find out where Cap is.
3:08
UltimateKidNova:
This series will cover Hawkeye’s past, including his training and how he got recruited by Nick Fury
3:09
UltimateKidNova:
Hawkeye’s past will be woven into his current mission
3:09
Comment From pgizinski
So this series will explain why Hawkeye is not in Ultimate Comics: Ultimates?
3:09
UltimateKidNova:
@pgzinski It will
3:09
UltimateKidNova:
Rafa Sandoval is ahead of the other Ultimate Comics artists right now, so Jonathan has already seen pages and calls it “amazing.”
3:10
UltimateKidNova:
An event in Southeast Asia will kick off this story and Hawkeye’s mission.
3:10
Comment From Plawsky1
Can we see some preview art?!
3:10
UltimateKidNova:
@Plawsky1 We will have some neat preview art coming after this call on Marvel.com
3:11
UltimateKidNova:
This book will tie into Ultimate Comics X-Men as well as Ultimate Comics Ultimates.
3:11
Strommy:
Getting quite a few questions about the supporting cast in this mini, would you guys like me to ask that for the first question?
3:11
Comment From VJ_Ostrowski
Sandoval’s art is great. Very pumped. 3/3 on creative teams, if you ask me.
3:11
UltimateKidNova:
“We can keep saying we’re building a cohesive universe, but I don’t think people will really get what we mean until we see it.” -Jonathan Hickman
3:12
UltimateKidNova:
“Hawkeye’s mission will affect the X-Men as much as anybody.” -Jonathan Hickman
3:12
Comment From HolySock
Do you need to read Hawkeye to understand the X-Men series?
3:12
UltimateKidNova:
@HolySock No, all the books will keep you caught up
3:14
Who would you like to see appear in Ultimate Comics Hawkeye?
Nick Fury
( 17% )
Captain America
( 8% )
Black Widow
( 38% )
The X-Men
( 17% )
Iron Man
( 6% )
Other
( 15% )
3:15
UltimateKidNova:
Jonathan will be doing stuff in Ultimate Comics Hawkeye that you’d have to cancel an entire franchise to do in the classic Marvel Universe.
3:15
Comment From Nicholas Schoonbeck
so he’ll be on a new mission but it will aslo explore his past?
3:15
Comment From HolySock
Nick Fury needs to appear in every issue of every book
3:15
UltimateKidNova:
@Nicholas Correct
3:15
Comment From Nicholas Schoonbeck
excellent. so many books to buy. I need a new job to keep up!
3:16
UltimateKidNova:
Jonathan thinks the S.H.I.E.L.D. of Ultimate Comics is far more powerful and pro-active than in the classic Marvel Universe. Everything revolves around them. They don’t just show up at the end of stories.
3:16
Comment From pgizinski
This will be the first time in a long time that I’ll be buying ALL of Ultimate Marvel
3:17
UltimateKidNova:
The death of Hawkeye’s family will be dealt with in the series, but there will several crossroads for him and he will need to leave some baggage behind in the process.
3:17
UltimateKidNova:
Strommy asking about guest stars and supporting cast
3:18
Strommy:
Just asked about supporting characters!
3:18
UltimateKidNova:
We will see Nick Fury, a ton of new characters, The Hulk, Jean Grey/Karen Grant and more
3:18
Comment From HolySock
THE HULK
3:18
Comment From marvelprince
Can you tell us about his state of mind once the book starts? Is he still all suicide-y?
3:19
Strommy:
@Marvelprince Jonathan mentioned that a lot of time has passed since he lost his family, so while they’ll of course deal with that but they’ll also be moving him forward.
3:20
Comment From Chad Adams
Will it tie into Ultimate X??
3:20
UltimateKidNova:
The arc of Hawkeye’s character is still its own confined story in addition to the bigger stuff that will affect the X-Men and the rest of the Ultimate Comics Universe
3:20
Strommy:
@Chad Ultimate X will end and lead into Ultimate X-Men, which this series will tie into.
3:20
Comment From HolySock
How much time has passed since Death of Spider-Man?
3:20
UltimateKidNova:
Jonathan wants people to remember he has done plenty of short stories before and can do “more than big, massive, long stuff”
3:20
Strommy:
@HolySock Read ULTIMATE FALLOUT to see where things go after the Death of Spider-Man
3:21
Comment From HolySock
DAMN YOU STROMMY
3:21
Comment From Jon Wilson
I think the idea of a character spotlight mini running alongside the main series and interweaving with it is very cool.
3:21
Strommy:
So do you guys want me to ask about Hawkeye’s look/weapons next? Seem to be getting a lot of questions in that line.
3:21
UltimateKidNova:
No villain tease from Jonathan at this time, he says you’ll want to see the first issue
3:21
UltimateKidNova:
Strommy asking about costume and weapons
3:22
UltimateKidNova:
“Ultimate Hawkeye can use anything as a weapon.” -Jonathan Hickman
3:22
UltimateKidNova:
Hawkeye will have a new costume that echoes the original Bryan Hitch design
3:22
Strommy:
And he will be using a bow in the first issue!
3:22
Comment From Chad Adams
+1 for original costume
3:23
Comment From Chad Adams
+2 for bow
3:23
UltimateKidNova:
Ok, Jonathan taking off now, but Strommy and I will be sticking around for a bit to answer questions and comments as best we can
3:23
Comment From Lance Mattingly
so is everything in the ultimate universe kinda starting to tie into one story?
3:23
Comment From Ezekiel Rage
I think a Costume that combines the best parts of both costumes would be cool
3:23
Comment From Plawsky1
But what about fingernails?!
3:23
UltimateKidNova:
@Plawsky1 He can use ANYTHING
3:24
Comment From HolySock
fingernails grow back
3:24
Strommy:
@Lance One of the things both Nick Spencer and Jonathan Hickman have been talking about the last few days is they’re really trying to make a cohesive universe with the Ultimate books, so yeah, you’ll see them playing off of each other more. But each series will still stand on its own, and you don’t have to buy the entire line to understand what’s going on in a particular book.
3:24
Comment From pgizinski
Using a Bow and the Hitch costume - FANTASTIC!
3:24
Comment From Chad Adams
Any chance on getting my question about bringing back dead characters answered?
3:25
UltimateKidNova:
@Chad Certainly nothing has been confirmed about bringing back dead characters…nor will it be here
3:25
Comment From marvelprince
ooooh. intriguing
3:25
Comment From HolySock
There’s nothing worse than being forced to read books you don’t want to read. Although I will be reading them all. I just like the option that i don’t have to
3:26
UltimateKidNova:
Quick reminder that we’ll be having our fourth and final liveblog tomorrow at 3 PM. Want to thank you guys who have been sticking with us all week long.
3:26
Comment From Chad Adams
I’m sooooo excited for the new UU
3:26
Comment From marvelprince
any hints as to tomorrows reveal?
3:26
UltimateKidNova:
@marvelprince Well, there’s certainly at least one major character we haven’t discussed yet…
3:27
Comment From KvAdam
How many ongoing titles will we have after Ultimate Fallout?
3:27
UltimateKidNova:
@KvAdam So far we’ve confirmed two ongoing series following Ultimate Fallout: Ultimate Comics Ultimates and Ultimate Comics X-Men. Ultimate Comics Hawkeye will be a four issue limited series.
3:27
Comment From Nicholas Schoonbeck
live blogs are awesome!
3:28
Comment From Chad Adams
Is it Geldoff??
3:28
Comment From marvelprince
I think I understand you UltimateKidNova…Ultimate Squirrel Girl it is
3:28
UltimateKidNova:
These are…guesses.
3:29
UltimateKidNova:
For those of you asking why Hawkeye is a limited series and not an ongoing…buy the book and maybe it will become one!
3:29
UltimateKidNova:
We’ve got the covers to Ultimate Comics Hawkeye on the way thanks to our ace Editorial Director Agent_M
3:29
Comment From marvelprince
These liveblogs are amazing btw. Being able to provide instant feedback is very cool
3:29
Comment From Nicholas Schoonbeck
the only way to get more comics is to buy more comics!
3:30
Comment From marvelprince
Thanks so much nova and strommy!
3:30
UltimateKidNova:
Seeing a lot of interesting questions…that will be answered tomorrow! Am I talking to you? Be here tomorrow!
3:30
UltimateKidNova:
Those covers headed your way are from Adam Kubert and this up and comer named Neal Adams, by the way
3:30
Comment From Chad Adams
Thanks for answering our questions see u tomorrow
3:31
UltimateKidNova:
Seeya, Chad!
3:31
Comment From Nick Coffman
Glad to see the Ultimate Universe is sticking around. It is what got me into comics and kept me there. Any hints about tomorrow?
3:31
UltimateKidNova:
@Nick We will have a guest tomorrow who has not been on any of the calls thus far.
3:32
Comment From pgizinski
Ditto to what Nick said. Ultimate Comics was my introduction to comics. Glad to see it’s being taking care of.
3:32
Comment From BaIfro
Can’t wait for tomorrows Ultimate Reveal 4
3:33
Comment From Ezekiel Rage
I began reading comics in the early 90ies so you could consider me hardcore for not dropping out in the mid 90ies XD
3:33
UltimateKidNova:
I dropped out in the mid-90′s, Ezekiel. You’re a better man than I.
3:34
Strommy:
Hey, the ’90s was good stuff, man! I was there the whole time.
3:34
Ultimate Comics Hawkeye #1 variant by Adam Kubert
3:34
Comment From figgy999
I havn’t gotten in to the Ultimate U yet, but these live blogs have convinced me to jump on.
3:34
Ultimate Comics Hawkeye #1 variant by Neal Adams
3:34
Strommy:
Welcome aboard, Figgy! Awesome stuff coming up. You won’t regret it.
3:35
Comment From Crushotron
So he IS going to be using a bow
3:35
UltimateKidNova:
@Crushotron It’s a Hickman guarantee!
3:35
Comment From Lance Mattingly
i used to read amazing spider-man and was skeptical of the ultimate comics at first but they are definitely what kept me into comics so long.
3:35
Comment From Plawsky1
AWESOME KUBERT COVER!!!
3:35
Comment From marvelprince
Goodness, I love that Kubert cover
3:35
Comment From pgizinski
Both covers look fantastic.
3:35
UltimateKidNova:
We are wrapping up guys, get those last minute questions and comments in.
3:36
Comment From Ezekiel Rage
Reminds me of early UXM. Nice. Also, i like the purple in Neals cover
3:36
Comment From Jon Wilson
When I got back into comics after the Iron Man movie, the backlog of Ultimate books was one of the first things I devoured.
3:36
Comment From HolySock
Looking forward to this. Now I’m off to play pool. See you all on the flipside
3:37
UltimateKidNova:
Ok folks, we are set for today. Please join us again tomorrow at 3 PM EST for the momentous FINAL Ultimate liveblog of the week!
3:37
Comment From Crushotron
Hawkeye is one of the few people that can wear purple while still looking manly.
3:38
UltimateKidNova:
Thanks to Jonathan Hickman for dropping by today, to “Canada’s Strongest Man” Jim Viscardi for setting the whole thing up, and YOU for joining us!
3:38
Comment From BaIfro
Thank you, cheers!
3:38
Comment From Ezekiel Rage
Agreed See ya tomorrow guys^^
3:38
Comment From marvelprince
Another slam dunk for me. 3/3 characters and creative teams. Can’t wait guys. Catch u all tomorrow
On Wednesday afternoon, during a liveblog press conference about changes coming to the Ultimate Comics line, Marvel announced Ultimate Comics: Hawkeye by Jonathan Hickman and artist Rafa Sandoval. The series will be a four issue miniseries, starting in August, and will run consecutively with Ultimate Comics Ultimates, also by Hickman (see here).
Hickman said that he is interested by Hawkeye having a military background and having served in S.H.IE.L.D. so long, both of which distinguish him from the classic version of Clint Barton.
