The current Marvel Ultimate Universe was launched two years ago on the premise that it was an alternate version of Earth where the villainous Maker (an evil version of Reed Richards from the ORIGINAL Ultimate Universe, a world where only the Maker and Miles Morales are the survivors) took control of, and then molded into his perfect version of Earth, meaning that no superheroes were allowed to exist. However, Howard Stark was able to trap the Maker for two years’ worth of time. In those two years, Howard’s son, Tony, was able to bring back as many superheroes as possible before the Maker returned. Well, those two years will be up on New Year’s Eve this year, with the release of Ultimate Endgame #1, the story of how the Ultimate Universe will handle the return of the Maker.
As it turns out, the “endgame” of the Ultimate Universe will also mark the BEGINNING of Marvel Comics’ involvement with the somewhat controversial new comic book collectible trend known as “Blind Bags,” with Marvel announcing its first blind bag with Ultimate Endgame #1, which will involve one of a kind sketch variant covers among the possible covers fans can “win” with the Blind Bags.
What are Blind Bags?
Credit:Â Image via Marvel
As noted when we wrote about the blind bags for the recent Batman #1, blind bags are essentially “mystery bags.” The comic book comes sealed, and you don’t know what the cover will be inside the sealed bag. The above cover is the main cover for Ultimate Endgame #1, drawn by Mark Brooks. You COULD get that cover, but you also might get one of many different variant covers, including the ones that stores are allowed to order themselves (including variants that are normally only available for ever 25, 50 or 100 copies that a store orders), plus some special ones only available in the blind bags.
These have proven to be quite popular among comic book collectors, especially among the online collecting community who like to “break” comic books in live streams online. Some fans feel that this is essentially just gambling, and it is akin to the sort of “lottery” systems that have driven collectors in the world of Pokémon cards and other collectible markets.
What special sketch variants has Marvel announced?
Unlike Batman #1’s “Blind as a Bat” bags, the Blind Bags for Ultimate Endgame #1 will be the same price as the main cover.
Marvel recently announced what covers fans can get in the blind bags:
· MAIN COVER BY MARK BROOKS
· FOIL VARIANT COVER BY DERRICK CHEW
· VARIANT COVER BY CAFU
· VARIANT COVER BY SANFORD GREENE
· VARIANT COVER BY ALEXANDER LOZANO
· VARIANT COVER BY PEACH MOMOKO
· VARIANT COVER BY DAN PANOSIAN
· VARIANT COVER BY RYAN STEGMAN
VARIANT COVER BY SKOTTIE YOUNG
BLACK AND WHITE VIRGIN VARIANT COVER BY SKOTTIE YOUNG
VARIANT COVER BY CHIP ZDARSKY
BLUE LINE BLANK VARIANT COVER
BLIND BAG EXCLUSIVE VIRGIN VARIANT COVER BY PEACH MOMOKO*
BLIND BAG EXCLUSIVE VIRGIN VARIANT COVER BY MARK BROOKS*
BLIND BAG EXCLUSIVE HOMAGE VARIANT COVER BY STONEHOUSE*
BLIND BAG EXCLUSIVE SURPRISE VARIANT COVERS –INCLUDING ARTIST SKETCH VARIANTS BY VARIOUS SURPRISE ARTISTS*
Some of the “surprise” artists are revealed above, including Mark Bagley, Pepe Larraz, and Leinil Francis Yu!
Ultimate Endgame #1 goes on sale on December 31st.
Source: Marvel