Ultra the Multi Alien was a hero that I used to think of as a one-off creature character, like the monsters that appeared so often in early Marvel comics. Looking back though, he was given a real push, appearing in multiple issues of Mystery in Space. I wonder why he never made it to the Big (or even Middle) Leagues? Maybe the popularity of other characters like Adam Strange pushed him out of his series, or maybe his look was too similar to Metamorpho's, who knows? At any rate, I always thought is would be cool to see him in battle with The Super-Skrull, so here goes!
12 comments:
WOW!!!
...that's it, no other suggestion or comment is needed, just...
WOW!!!
Is DC still publishing comics with Ultra, or for that matter, Ultraa?
I see what you mean about Metamorpho: Nice artwork and nice combination.
Your second guess is probably closer to the mark, Ross. Although, Ultra's upper half looks more like a hodgepodge of Two-Face and Eclipso!
Anonymous: Ultra (or at least the New52 version of him) was a McGuffin character running through the Justice League United title -- first being rescued as a child in the initial "JL Canada" arc and then being protected by the JLU from the Legion who had come back to stop Ultra from eventually coming Infinitus. If you are a JL or Legion completist the stories are probably worth reading if you can get copies from your library, but I wouldn't spend any actual money on them.
Maybe the fact that he lived in a future time, and so couldn't cross over with other characters as easily as Adam Strange or Metamorpho, was a factor in his not catching on?
(Admittedly, in later years, some DC writers seem to have forgotten that detail: He appeared as a contemporary character in a 'Superman: Batman' storyline, and at least once in Action Comics during the 'New Krypton' storyline...)
Thanks, Ross! I've always been a huge Ultra fan!
BTW, Adam Strange didn't push out Ultra. Just the opposite. When Julie Schwartz was pulled off of Mystery in Space in '64 to revitalize Batman, new MIS editor Jack Schiff didn't have any feel for Adam Strange, so after a few issues he replaced Adam's series with Ultra. But eight issues later, MIS got canceled and Ultra vanished for decades.
Hence the "Whatever Happened To...?" story about him in Superman's version of TB&TB.
@Anon: I don't remember any Ultra story in DC Comics Presents. Are you thinking of Ultra's encounter with the Martian Manhunter in Adventures in the DC Universe #5?
Nope! I'm pretty sure it was a back-up story in DCP.
@Anon: sorry, dude. Bob's right. It was ADVENTURES IN THE DC UNIVERSE vol. 1/#5 (Aug. 1997); second story.
I mentioned earlier today I'd love to write a number of these stories, and this is a big one for me. I always loved the idea of Ultra back when I first saw him and loved characters like Super Skrull. I can see Ultra having been another Superskrull but fighting for humanity and that he's not only. I can see this being a part 2 say linked to #1380 with the Toltarians. I've a full idea for this 2 parter where Ultra and Mimic fight off an invasion of the Super Skrull Squadron aka the Toltarians. Any one want to commission me to write this or any story cover out there let me know. LOL
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