Warning: contains spoilers for Ultimate Universe #1!The Avengers‘ iconic “A” is one of the most famous symbols in superhero iconography, but Marvel just gave it a dark new meaning that will tarnish it forever. As fans meet a version of Tony Stark like they’ve never seen him, the “A” becomes associated with an act of dire evil that can’t be forgiven or forgotten.
In Ultimate Universe #1, Tony Stark begins his battle against the Maker’s Council – the group of villains who have secretly divided up the world, running it in secret in a state of perpetual war. After Tony attacks the evil Captain Britain, the Hulk has the bright idea to frame him for a horrific terrorist attack.
While it’s the Maker’s Council who actually carry out the execution of thousands of innocent people, they do it by hijacking a Stane/Stark satellite emblazoned with the Avengers’ “A.” While the symbol is one of hope and heroism in Marvel’s main canon, that just changed forever in the Ultimate Universe, with this attack turning the sigil into an international symbol for senseless death and terror.
The Avengers “A” Has Become a Symbol of Terrorism
Hulk’s Dark Cabal Are Framing Tony Stark
The new Ultimate Universe is the result of the villainous Maker tampering with time to create a version of Marvel’s timeline he can rule. As a result of his efforts, this world’s Tony Stark is far younger than the mainstream version, and ‘his’ company was until recently operated by Howard Stark and Obadiah Stane. Stane was a member of the Illuminati-like Maker’s Council, holding North America in his grasp, and preparing it to become an international ‘villain’ in order to continue the planet’s never-ending cycle of conflict.
When Stane died, Howard learned the full truth about the Maker, and defeated the villain to give Earth a chance at living outside his control. Now, Tony is on a mission to restore the world to how it should be, but the Maker’s Council are fighting back, both with their immense powers and their unassailable propaganda machine.
The Ultimate Universe Needs Avengers
Tony’s New Team Have All Been Wronged by the Maker
In this world, the “A” usually associated with the Avengers was apparently the Stane/Stark logo, and is emblazoned on the satellite that just killed thousands. In Marvel’s original 2000s Ultimate Universe, the “Avengers” name wasn’t initially used, with the same heroes calling themselves the Ultimates. It’s not yet known which name will be used in the new Ultimate Universe (which is its own, separate continuity), however with thousands killed to destroy Tony’s reputation, ‘Avengers’ would be a truly appropriate name. Tony Stark has a LOT to avenge, as do the other heroes in his group so far: the exiled and imprisoned Thor, a Captain America left in the ice, and a Reed Richards who saw his family murdered before spending his life as the Maker’s pet.
Whether Tony likes it or not, his father’s symbol now represents the growing effort to depose the Maker’s Council, and will be seen as a confirmation of villainy across the world. In the Ultimate Universe, the Avengers‘ symbol is about to become one of the most hated in the world, beginning a power struggle that will define this alternate reality for years to come.
Ultimate Universe #1 is available now from Marvel Comics.
