In this review of The Ultimates #18, Tony Stark makes a last-ditch effort to warn the world of The Maker’s return (and to recruit).
THE ULTIMATES #18
Writer: DENIZ CAMP
Artist: JUAN FRIGERI
Main Cover: DIKE RUAN
Variant Covers: INHYUK LEE, ADAM POLLINA, ANDREA SORRENTINO
Page Count: 32 pages
Release Date: November 19, 2025
This review contains spoilers
As The Ultimates #18 begins, Iron Lad, using the Ultnet, hacks and transmits a message to every electronic receiver on the planet explaining everything that has been going on thus far in the series. Stark describes that the reason the world “feels wrong”, why injustice and inequality occurs, is all due to the machinations of the Maker. He elaborates that the Ultimates have not been acting as terrorists but rather freedom fighters against the leaders of the world, whom he calls out by name. Nick Fury, leader of H.A.N.D. tries to contact his mole, Janet Van Dyne, but it’s too little too late.
As Stark describes the Ultimates’s mission, Ms.America makes a visit to Midas’s bunker, as he lays recuperating from his battle with the team way back in issue 2. Ms. America get the satisfaction of finally dispatching her former captor, disintegrating him into the cosmos.
At the same time, mass protests against the world-authoritarian regime reach their boiling point, both on the streets and the gates of Fort DeCosta. Luke Cage leads his team of Avengers to storm the fort, surprise attacking DeCosta’s troops. These events are cross-cut with Thor and Sif’s efforts to defeat Loki’s undead army in Asgard, She-Hulk’s rampage against A.I.M. and assorted Ultimate Universe denizens either offering support or receiving the call to action from Stark.
On the Trikskellion, Captain America has a heart to heart with the Maximoff twins, now kept in a detention center on the satellite base. While the twins are apprehensive of their captors, Cap reassures that he really has their best interests in mind, and that they were turned into weapons of mass destruction by a corrupt system, and moreover, that redemption can be achieved.
Lastly, Danny Rand and Shen Qui climb an unnamed mountain in their search for their weaved destiny. With all of the Ultimates (save a mysteriously absent Jim Hammond) activated, and 0 months remaining before the Maker’s return, the future remains unclear for our heroes…
The Ultimates #18 represents all of Camp and Frigeri’s realpolitik synthetized into one issue. There’s an enthusiasm in these pages that cannot be denied. Camp’s talent for speech writing is on full display, as much of Tony’s words ring just as true for our universe as it does the twisted, cracked-mirror word of 6160. There’s nothing quite as exciting as when all the good guys rally together for a righteous cause.
I do have some concern that The Ultimates #18 acts more as a recap than any actual plot progression. Sure, Camp and Frigeri do rap up the “Ms. Marvel vs Midas” conflict/plot thread, but the rest of the book is more montage than story. While I like checking in with the cast, some of these sequences feel superfluous, like Thor and Sif in Asgard, which I assumed was wrapped up back in issue 11.
However, I do like that Camp addresses some of the dangling character hooks from previous issues in The Ultimates #18. Camp hasn’t forgotten about the Maximoffs and Danny and Shen Qui, that’s good. It’s a shame that this title and the rest of the Ultimate universe is wrapping up so soon. I might have actually appreciated a slow burn to really grow to enjoy these guys.
Frigeri’s art is still impressive, albeit not revolutionary. Some thrilling splash panels here and there, a few cool digital effects when Ms. America uses her abilities. It’s still strange to see anyone other than Peach Momoko draw Maystorm and Armour, even if just for a cameo. I might have appreciated a little bit more detail on who is part of Luke Cage’s Avengers. I can kind of make-out a Ghost Rider and a Deadpool, maybe a Spider-Woman, but otherwise seems to be a group of indiscernible generics.
The Ultimates continues to impress, even if the new Ultimate Universe begins to lose its momentum. I’m hoping Camp and Frigeri can stick the landing on the finale, as this kind of optimistic energy can only go downhill, I fear.
