Have you guys noticed the influence of the Original Ultimate Universe (Earth-1610) wain considerably in the MCU?

From the start, the MCU was heavily inspired by the Ultimate Comics, with The Avengers being a loose adaptation of Mark Millar's The Ultimates. Since then, the films have incorporated elements like the Triskelion, a Sam Jackson Nick Fury, the Chitauri, the Hulk being created by attempting to replicate Project: Rebirth, Nick Fury mentoring Spider-Man, all of which are elements that derive from Earth-1610. Even designs, like that of the Helicarrier, and the costumes of Captain America, Hawkeye and Falcon are based off their Ultimate counterparts.

Now, as the MCU goes on, I can't help but notice these elements are not just dialed back, but almost retracted entirely. There's been an emphasis on comic accurate suits and designs, and adapting storylines from the mainstream MU. First Steps especially feels like a direct adaptation of Jack Kirby's stories (probably because adapting Ultimate FF didn't go so well the last time).

It's a pretty jarring course correct when going back the original Phase 1 films. I'm sure it's because of Ultimate Marvel becoming less and less en vogue in the 2020s, but has anyone else noticed the trend?

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eBICgamer20102025-10-30 04:20

I did a write up about it long ago, during my 25th anniversary look back of that universe.

My hot take is that Ultimate Universe was the perfect template to do a cinematic universe. Sure, colorful suits are nice to have but limited continuity was actually a blessing in disguise.

It overstayed its welcome, yes, but it also ended. 15 years of continuity is more than enough for a majority of people. And while messy, it did its fair share of selling people the believable part of Marvel, and Marvel did its fair share correcting the more undesirable parts of that universe. There you have it, the MCU.

StatisticianLivid7102025-11-02 23:15

It helped that fury was based on Samuel L Jackson too, so you had that easy connection

ElectricMilk4262025-10-30 04:56

The MCU has always been very dynamic, not dogmatic. It doesn’t rely on any one continuity or universe but CREATIVELY takes from many. And this has been its greatest strength. IMHO.

Lou-Shelton-Pappy-002025-11-02 05:36

On top of that, the influence of the Ultimate Universe and its “realistic” way of doing things not only waned when people accepted more outlandish elements in the MCU, but also because the big event comics people remember happened in the main comics, not the Ultimate Universe.

lanwopc2025-10-30 05:05

Thankfully, other than Fury, the characters aren't very alike in personality, thankfully. Playing up the Avengers as a paramilitary unit, rather than a group of costumed adventurers with secret identities who patrol NYC worked okay. Fortunately, the MCU didn't copy Millar's cynical tone though.

Significant_Silver992025-10-30 05:07

This is why i think people wanting to turn Earth-828 into the MCU's Ultimate Universe is dumb and shows how people don't care at all about the FF and they just wanted to see them as cowards that let everyone die in their universe

eBICgamer20102025-10-30 05:09

The Ultimate Universe even beat Galactus first try. That Galactus wins theory offended me knowing how much I have been delving into the back half of 1610 post-Ultimatum.

GarySoneji2025-10-30 05:10

It’s because of the malaise felt by the general public toward science fiction and fantasy. The early MCU had to balance the fantastical events of the comics with the dull reality of life to make them accessible. After years of gradually peeling back the layers and introducing more complex elements, they’ve started embracing the cartoonish side that helps makes these characters stand out.

IamJohnnyHotPants2025-10-30 06:43

Phase 1 started 17 years ago. There is nothing jarring about this.

Sycosocial202025-10-30 11:06

Thanks for reminding me

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FafnirSnap_94282025-10-30 10:22

The Ultimates was such a clear and inescapable source of inspiration early on. Undoubtedly because of how relatively "grounded" it was in the early 2000s. But as you mentioned, time goes on the MCU expands and starts to get into the more and more fantastical so they start to pull from other sources as well.

I also think it's worth watching other contemporary comic book films at the time of the first phase of the MCU. The Dark Knight Trilogy, and the Amazing Spider-Man movies were coming out. And they leaned in to that more grounded take on a superhero. Sure the MCU has aliens and such but compare that to where we are now and that's relatively tame.

walkinmermaid2025-10-30 13:18

I wish it went back to what it once was hahhaa. I don’t dig the overpowered character thing.

the_old_coday1822025-10-30 15:36

Different writers pull from different comic runs.

spidervenom6192025-11-01 01:27

The only good things about the 1610 Universe was Clint and Natasha Friendship (and they even screwed that pooch up), Clint being a Married husband (even though it still should have been with Bobbi Morse but I digressed,) The Maker (yes), Sue Storm's character for the most part, and Black Nick Fury.

Other then that, everything else suckedddddd. I'm sorry but MCU Cap would straight up killed 1610 Cap and MCU Tony would probably do the same to 1610 Tony, They also heavy nerfed Wanda for no reason at all.

NumbN00ts2025-11-02 04:10

Yeah, I mean them straight calling the main line MCU 616 in the movie was kind of a hint. Considering that the original Ultimate Universe was kind of bad besides Spider-Man, I’m also not shocked. Reading the Ultimates was a horrible experience. Kind of made me realize why I’m not a fan of the 1st phase movies.