ULTIMATES #24 — The Final Battle on Gamma Island

The penultimate year of the Ultimate Universe concludes with a massive, all-or-nothing confrontation. She-Hulk and her remaining allies face off against the villainous Hulk on Gamma Island in the final issue of ULTIMATES.

There is a specific kind of gravity that pulls a series toward its end. It’s not just about wrapping up threads; it’s about the emotional weight of the final confrontation. ULTIMATES #24 arrives as the capstone to Year Two of Marvel’s Ultimate Universe, and the stakes have never felt higher. This isn’t just another issue; it’s the curtain call for the team we’ve followed, and the creative team of writer Deniz Camp and artist Juan Frigeri are readying for a showstopper that demands attention.

The setup is visceral and immediate. She-Hulk stands at the center of the storm, leading the remnants of the Ultimates against a threat that has become all-too-familiar in its brutality: the Hulk. But this isn’t the hero we know; this is a villainous version of the character, and the clash is set against the radioactive backdrop of Gamma Island. The description promises a brutal, all-or-nothing battle, which suggests that the usual constraints of comic book combat are off the table. This is raw, high-stakes conflict.

What makes this issue a must-pick right now is the culmination of a two-year arc. You’re getting the payoff for every subplot, every character beat, and every world-building choice that Camp and Frigeri have made since the start. Frigeri’s art has been grounding the Ultimate Universe in a tangible, dangerous reality, and seeing him handle the scale of a Hulk versus the team showdown on a single island promises to be a visual treat. It’s the kind of issue where the art needs to carry the weight of the narrative, and Frigeri is more than up to the task.

If you’ve been following the Ultimate Universe’s reimagining of these icons, this is the issue that will likely define how the era is remembered in retrospect. The dynamic of Jennifer Walters trying to hold her team together while facing the ultimate physical manifestation of rage is a compelling tension. Even for those who haven’t read every preceding issue, the emotional core of a team standing together against an overwhelming, corrupted force is universally accessible and deeply satisfying.

Here’s the insider aside: keep an eye on the Dike Ruan variant cover. The energy it conveys often hints at the tone of the interior art, and for a finale this big, the visual storytelling on the cover is often a preview of the intensity inside. These copies move quickly when they’re the end of a major era, so if you want to secure a copy that holds up on your shelf, don’t wait. This is the book that closes the chapter.