Marvel Comics released on New Year’s Eve ultimate endgame #1, The first of a five-part miniseries, telling the final story of its relaunched Ultimate Universe. To help sell the event, the publisher launched a True Believers Blind Bag program, where readers could purchase a bagged-up physical copy featuring one of the various covers of the book. Or 500 hand-drawn sketches by prominent Marvel artists like Pepe Larraz or Peach Momoko. Two of those actors are Downey and Kevin Feige. No, really, and Downey agreed Four, Two versions each of his former and future self as Iron Man and Doctor Doom, with signed and unsigned versions.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Downey’s pictures have led to ultimate endgame #1 will likely become Marvel’s best-selling comic in years. At the time of writing, it’s unclear what this means, as there haven’t been any hard sales figures given by DC for its Absolute books recently, but it’s a notable milestone nonetheless.
This is also a funny bit of luck: endgame is being written by Deniz Camp, who also writes Supreme, And for the fourth issue of that book – which focused on the doom of that world, the evil Reed Richards (the creator), and the lack of the Fantastic Four. At the beginning of that issue, he joked that “If you want to understand Robert Downey Jr. as Doom this is the book for you.”
Marvel is already looking to expand its blind bag program with the upcoming Daring Relaunch in March. Meanwhile, Downey will face Doom in Avengers: Doomsday on 18 December, and ultimate endgame Its second issue is released on 4 February.
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
<a href