Seen In: Ultimatum #2 In the early 2000s, Marvel Comics sought to launch a new line of comics, which would feature many of their most popular characters reimagined for the 21st century and free of the continuity that could be daunting for new readers. Dubbed the Ultimate line, it began with Ultimate Spider-Man, continued with Ultimate X-Men and later The Ultimates (the Ultimate Universe's version of the Avengers). But as time continued, the Ultimate Universe became more and more separate from the Marvel Universe and had accumulated a fair bit of continuity. So the very reason for the creation of the Ultimate books, to launch a line of comics that were free of continuity, ceased to apply once the Ultimate books acquired a fair bit of continuity and even began crossing over with other universes. In an effort to streamline things, Marvel launched a limited series called Ultimatum, which focused on Magneto, enraged after the death of his children Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch, attempting to destroy the planet. The series was notable for just how completely awful it really was, loaded up with schlock deaths that were only intended to disgust readers. But even with all the cheap offing of characters, there is one that stands out. When searching for the Wasp, Hawkeye and Yellowjacket discover her...and they discover the Blob eating her corpse, commenting that it "tastes like chicken." Even in the midst of so much poor taste, showing the graphic death of the Wasp for no reason other than to make a cannibal joke is truly a new low.
Percival Constantine is the author of several novels and short stories, including the Vanguard superhero series, and regularly writes and comments on movies, comics, and other pop culture. More information can be found at his website, PercivalConstantine.com
