Tony Stark becomes the first new superhero of the reborn Ultimate Universe

27.09.2023 - 19:41 / gamesradar.com / Peter Parker / Joe Caramagna / Tony Stark / Reed Richards / New

Ultimate Invasion #4 completes the set-up for the new Ultimate Universe with the conclusion of the limited series. And while it doesn't answer all the outstanding questions fans have - like whether Peter Parker will be the new Ultimate Spider-Man - it does set up Tony Stark as the first new hero of the reborn Ultimate Universe.

But the twist is, he's not Iron Man. And what's more, he's taking on a legacy that belongs to a totally different character in the mainstream Marvel Universe - one readers know all too well.

The first chunk of Ultimate Invasion #4 by writer Jonathan Hickman, artist Bryan Hickman, inker Andrew Currie, colorist Alex Sinclair, and letterer Joe Caramagna focuses on Tony's dad, Howard Stark, who is the new Ultimate Universe's Iron Man, building his own time-manipulating Immortus Engine to stop the Maker from taking over his reality.

Working alongside his reality's Reed Richards (who wears a blue version of Doctor Doom's cloak and armor), Howard Stark is able to complete his Immortus Engine. He activates it, leaving the Maker (himself a variant of Reed Richards from the original Ultimate Universe) vulnerable to an attack from the new Ultimate Kang, who wears an advanced suit of armor in Kang's classic green and purple color scheme.

In the fight, Kang and the Maker go head-to-head, with Kang explaining to the Maker that the original Immortus Engine is based on his own future tech, stating that the moment of their fight is his "origin."

Remember that for later - it's important.

The fight concludes with Howard Stark using his armor to create a stasis field around the Maker's floating city, locking everyone inside into a state of eternal torpor, effectively ending the Marker's plans.

Only the masked Reed Richards escapes, bringing with him a broken Immortus Engine. He finds Tony Stark, who vows to finish what his father started and defeat the Maker once and for all. To do so, he first repairs and improves the Immortus Engine, then builds his very first suit of armor.

Here's where things get really interesting.

As Tony puts on his red and silver armor, masked Reed asks him if he's going to be the new Iron Man. But Tony says he's going to take his own codename, Iron Lad. As in the armored identity used by Kang's younger self when he co-founded the Young Avengers in the mainstream Marvel Universe. 

And what's more, Tony's armor is revealed as looking exactly like the armor worn by the version of Kang who fought the Maker - the guy who just told the Maker that this story is his "origin." 

So let's add it up: Tony Stark is Iron Lad. Tony Stark built the Immortus Engine. Tony Stark is wearing Kang's armor.

The new Ultimate Tony Stark is not just Iron Lad - he's the new Ultimate Kang. It's all