We might debate the quality of the comics in the early 1960s compared to the present and find them lacking, perhaps juvenile or simple. But one needs to remember a number of things. Compared to the rest of the comic book industry Marvel's titles were adult, intelligent, and reflected the real world. Americans watched Leave it to Beaver, Dobie Gillis, and other fun but ultimately idillic setting shows. Compared to them even, Marvel was adult. Why? Personal angst, self doubt, moral questions about responsibility and ethics were all part and parcel of the entire work of Stan Lee and his Marvel Universe. Finding similar dilemmas in other mediums of popular culture aimed at the same audience concurrent to the early Marvel universe is only found in literature. Lee's work, as illustrated by Ditko, Kirby, Heck, Colan and many many more, was simply revolutionary for both the medium as well as popular culture. Previous comic book heroes were icons, perfect in motive, unquestioned in society. Marvel heroes were moral, but filled with questions, angst filled, and considered to be criminals at least at first. In Lee's world society assumed that if you wore a costume and had powers you were a menace. A mask meant that you had something to hide. Lee's Marvel Universe was more like our world and reality than any previous comic universe.

The Ultimate Marvel Universe as envisioned by Bill Jemas, Joe Quesada, Brian Bendis and Mark Millar reimagined the Marvel Universe. Stan Lee's stories were the basic formula for the original stories and the writers accompanied by artists set out to consider the same characters while using the values and ethical considerations of the present. In this world Tony Stark makes use of Martinis to brace himself for the dangers he faces as Iron Man. Hank Pym , Ant Man, is a wife beater. Captain America is a flawed but still true warrior. Hulk is a mess. And Thor seems to be either a Norse God, or a sufferer of delusions. Spider-Man as reimagined is less of a dork, more troubled by real world issues. But Peter Parker under Bendis is nonetheless still a child of Stan Lee's imaginations.

But, and this is the question that needs to be asked, did the Marvel Universe of the past truly reflect the world around it? and does the current flock of Ultimates titles fairly reimagine the world as seen through the eyes of Stan Lee's original concepts? I have two answers... One, yes Marvel 1960s did reflect our world and the Ultimate Universe does justice to Lee's creations and concepts. And two, comics are entertainment, the quality of their ability to entertain is related to how much we see ourselves in that entertainment. We might well marvel at Superman flying or Batman's detective work, but we do so from a certain distance. Marvel, Ultimate and otherwise is an intimate experience. I like, even love, DC comics, but reading Marvel is a different experience. An equal if different quality of story. In my 3 years covering the comics world I have had the honor of interviewing a number of talents who have worked on the Ultimate universe. I never interviewed Stan Lee so I am quoting and sourcing an interview done at ComicBookGalaxy.com here. I recommend and request that you go read the entire text of that interview.

-- I asked Mark Millar --

Alex Ness: At Marvel, your work on The Ultimates really seems to break the rules that had developed on really any of Marvel's books. Was that your goal?

Mark Millar: No, definitely not.

There's a rule, I suppose, that The Flash ISN'T a pedophile, but it's not one I'd break just for the sake of it. It has to make sense in terms of the story. Again, I keep telling people that these characters seem radical because Marvel WAS radical. It's all become foggy in the memories of some people, but Marvel upset parents in the 60s because the characters were too real. The Ultimate line is just an extension of this same idea.

AN: Ultimate X-Men has been great with you at the helm. How much of the concepts for different visions of the team came straight from you and artist teams and how much from editorial dictat?

MM: There is no editorial dictat in the Ultimate line. They've been the most liberal people I've ever worked for. I can't speak for the Marvel Universe because I have no experience of this, but my Marvel career has been the most easy-going relationship I've ever had in the business.

See the original full text of this interview at PopThought.com

-- I asked Bryan Hitch --

Alex Ness: I came to the ULTIMATES rather late and really only became a convert thanks to some enlightenment and evangelizing by Mark Millar. It's not a hard work to appreciate as a stand-alone product, but of course, is a reimagining of an ongoing property. But moving on, how did you choose the visual identities of the assembled cast and did your choices bother anyone like Samuel Jackson or anyone similarly borrowed?

Bryan Hitch: I understand from those who know that Sam Jackson is flattered. He's the only one really based on someone real, though it does occasionally help to visualise somebody playing the characters just to get a feel for how they would act. Samuel Jackson was and is the perfect Nick Fury, better than Mark's original choice of Bette Midler anyway.

AN: Do you have any particular issues with the adult content in the books and does it matter? Would you draw them in any event?

BH: I don't see the material in Ultimates as being particularly adult, intelligent, certainly, but not necessarily adult. Mark's Authority was much more adult. Anyway, I am far more depraved than Millar and the poor daft Scots Bastard couldn't hope to keep up.

AN: And what character would you like to see Marvel address in an ULTIMATES fashion that it hasn't done yet?

BH: Any as long as the new approach was sound and benefited from the rethink. Mark and I are bringing in some new ones in Volume 2 of Ultimates, and there are some further plans beyond that. The new approach for Ultimate FF is exciting, and like the Ultimates is different enough to stand on its own without the need to compare it with the earlier incarnation in the MU, but is also familiar enough to appeal to long-time fans. I had a great time doing the designs, and Adam Kubert is to be the regular artist with Bendis and Millar co-writing. Everything seems to be working out very nicely, and you can see the results in DEC!

See the original full text of this interview at PopThought.com

-- Stan Lee was asked by Chris Ryall --

"Ryall: Now, do you have time to keep up with the current comics scene? We talked before about this, but do you read the Ultimate titles?

Lee: Well, I don't have time to keep up, but I have looked at the Ultimates. I think they look great.

Ryall: Retelling your stories for a new generation...

Lee: Yeah, I've looked through them, they really are great."

See the original full text of this interview at ComicBookGalaxy.com