The Maker’s Ultimate Universe (Universe-6160) in Marvel Comics has been weirder and more dangerous than Earth Prime and the Ultimate Universe that came before it. There have been twisted versions of classic characters like Bucky Barnes and John Walker, Reed Richards being turned into Doctor Doom, and Spider-Man being happily married with kids (yes, that is odd).
As wild as those things are, nothing could have prepared me for what writers Deniz Camp and Alex Paknadel did in Ultimate Universe: Two Years In.
Ultimate Universe: Two Years In No. 1
- Writers: Alex Paknadel and Deniz Camp
- Artists: Javier Pulido, Phil Noton, Pat Boutin, Francesco Manna, Lee Ferguson
- Colors: Javier Pulido, Phil Noto, Erick Arciniega
In this issue, the Guardians of the Galaxy (Cosmo Starstalker, Captain Marvel, Star-Lord, and Ultimate Nullifier) were attempting to fuse Maker’s timeline with a dead universe. This would allow Maker’s “doomed universe” to continue and restore their reality. Sadly, it doesn’t work, and two of their teammates were killed in the process. This leads to Star-Lord blaming himself for their deaths and secluding himself from the rest of the Guardians of the Galaxy.
Captain Marvel’s need to “save everything” sends her down a path to find cosmic beings and friends that could help their cause. First, there was Ultron-82, who decided to stay behind and observe life. She said it was the only way to defeat the Maker. Next up was Churnn of the Nova Corps. Sadly, he was killed by the Badoon, who didn’t join the Corps for centuries (another change thanks to Maker).
The Guardians of the Galaxy's last option was something no one could have seen coming: They meet a cosmic being who's far his counterpart in the regular Marvel Universe: The Man Without Fear, the Devil. No, not Matt Murdock, Attorney at Law.
This is a version of the character that looks like Matt Murdock, but who also has the ability to move in and around the fourth wall in ways that even Wade Wilson can’t. Among the things he can do is read a character’s thought bubbles and alter the way they act and think. He even knows that there are people reading the comic book they're in. Granted, he says “There are things outside this reality, looking down on us! Hidden hands with unyielding demands," but we get the idea.
This was a cool take on Daredevil and another addition to the list of strange characters in the new Ultimate Universe. And while this doesn’t make a lot of sense at first, the creative team added something that connected him to his primary Marvel counterpart.
Like Matt Murdock, an act of heroism reduced the Devil from seven million senses to thirteen, and he became the Beyonder Without Fear. So, like Matt Murdock on Earth-616, a tragedy that came from bravery turned him into something greater. Sure, he was once an omnipotent being, but the mishap will lead him to save an untold number of people throughout space and time.
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