Ultimatum (comics)
Encyclopedia
ULTIMATUM is a fictional terrorist
organization in the Marvel Comics
universe
. It was founded by the Flag-Smasher
in his attempts to destroy nationalism
. ULTIMATUM became the occupying army of Rumekistan when Flag-Smasher became the ruler.
, NATO, Interpol, and other law enforcement agencies.
The Flag-Smasher
serves as the Supreme Commander, with various regional leaders; the rest of the organization is apparently organized along military lines. A member must be an adult who professes a belief in ULTIMATUM's one world philosophy; background in the military or experience as a soldier of fortune is preferred. Known bases of operations have included a former HYDRA
base in the Swiss Alps, a base in an unrevealed location above the Arctic Circle, and a ski lodge on the Symkarian-Latverian border.
ULTIMATUM has access to technology and paraphernalia as highly advanced as any on Earth. The organization has access to various modes of transportation, including submarines, jet-propelled skis for flight by individual members, and teleportation devices. Agents wear white or black berets, white masks covering the entire face, goggles, white jackets, black shirts, white or black pants, and white gloves and boots. They are typically armed with automatic firearms, and are also equipped with jet-skis with electromagnetic grips and fuel tanks (worn on back), grappling hooks, and hook thrusters.
on the order of Captain America. ULTIMATUM hired Sabretooth
to assassinate Symkarian Prime Minister Limka in an attempt to start a war between Symkaria and the United States. The fiancée of King Stefan of Symkaria was also assassinated, but the assassination attempt on King Stefan failed, allowing the exposure and defeated attempt of ULTIMATUM to cause a war between Symkaria and the United States. ULTIMATUM agents attempted to blow up Ellis Island, but failed in the attempt to destroy the Arc de Triomphe and Ellis Island. ULTIMATUM attempted to distribute arms to subversive elements in the United States to create nationwide chaos, but their major arms stockpile was captured by the Punisher
and Moon Knight
.
An unnamed ULTIMATUM terrorist has the distinction of being the only person deliberately and directly killed by Captain America
since World War II
. Captain America has to choose between shooting the terrorist and allowing him to kill several innocent people, and he chooses to kill the terrorist. Despite the clear moral choice, he is wracked with guilt for several issues and then he volunteers to turn himself over to the relevant authorities.
During the Acts of Vengeance
, U.L.T.I.M.A.T.U.M. attacked the Punisher
and Moon Knight
on the orders of the Prime Movers.
Although Flag-Smasher was the founder of ULTIMATUM, its initial funding secretly came from the Red Skull, who used its activities to create political chaos benefiting his own fascist ends. Upon Flag-Smasher's discovery of the Red Skull's involvement, the Skull had other ULTIMATUM leaders who were loyal to him stage a successful coup against Flag-Smasher through its Symkarian campaign. Presumably the ULTIMATUM rank and file were never aware of the Red Skulls' control of the organization. Following the Symkarian debacle, Flag-Smasher regained control of ULTIMATUM and purged the organization of members known to be loyal to the Red Skull.
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
organization in the Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
universe
Marvel Universe
The Marvel Universe is the shared fictional universe where most comic book titles and other media published by Marvel Entertainment take place, including those featuring Marvel's most familiar characters, such as Spider-Man, the Hulk, the X-Men, and the Avengers.The Marvel Universe is further...
. It was founded by the Flag-Smasher
Flag-Smasher
The Flag-Smasher is the name used by two fictional supervillains appearing in the Marvel Comics universe. The original was most often a foe of Captain America while other adversaries of the Flag-Smasher include The Punisher, Moon Knight, Ghost Rider, The Runaways, and The Liberteens.-Fictional...
in his attempts to destroy nationalism
Nationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
. ULTIMATUM became the occupying army of Rumekistan when Flag-Smasher became the ruler.
Organization
The purpose of ULTIMATUM is to unite mankind by abolishing the concept of nationalism and bringing about the end of all nations, thereby making possible the establishment of a world government. In Flag-Smasher's absence, the organization has worked to subvert existing governments or foment wars to destabilize such governments in order to make possible their domination by the Red Skull. The organization seeks to accomplish its goals through terrorist activity against governments and institutions and symbols representing nationalism, and supplying arms to subversives. ULTIMATUM operates worldwide, primarily in Western Europe and the United States. The organization has been outlawed by the United Nations, and its members are sought by S.H.I.E.L.D.S.H.I.E.L.D.
S.H.I.E.L.D. is a fictional espionage and a secret military law-enforcement agency in the Marvel Comics Universe. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in Strange Tales #135 , it often deals with superhuman threats....
, NATO, Interpol, and other law enforcement agencies.
The Flag-Smasher
Flag-Smasher
The Flag-Smasher is the name used by two fictional supervillains appearing in the Marvel Comics universe. The original was most often a foe of Captain America while other adversaries of the Flag-Smasher include The Punisher, Moon Knight, Ghost Rider, The Runaways, and The Liberteens.-Fictional...
serves as the Supreme Commander, with various regional leaders; the rest of the organization is apparently organized along military lines. A member must be an adult who professes a belief in ULTIMATUM's one world philosophy; background in the military or experience as a soldier of fortune is preferred. Known bases of operations have included a former HYDRA
HYDRA
HYDRA is a fictional terrorist organization in the Marvel Universe.Despite the name's capitalization per Marvel's official spelling, the name is not an acronym but rather a reference to the mythical Lernaean Hydra...
base in the Swiss Alps, a base in an unrevealed location above the Arctic Circle, and a ski lodge on the Symkarian-Latverian border.
ULTIMATUM has access to technology and paraphernalia as highly advanced as any on Earth. The organization has access to various modes of transportation, including submarines, jet-propelled skis for flight by individual members, and teleportation devices. Agents wear white or black berets, white masks covering the entire face, goggles, white jackets, black shirts, white or black pants, and white gloves and boots. They are typically armed with automatic firearms, and are also equipped with jet-skis with electromagnetic grips and fuel tanks (worn on back), grappling hooks, and hook thrusters.
Fictional organization history
Agents of ULTIMATUM once hijacked an American airliner and took its passengers hostages to exchange for the surrender of Captain America. The Swiss base was captured by Captain America and SHIELD. ULTIMATUM attempted to destroy the world's technology through an electromagnetic pulse, but the Arctic base and electromagnetic pulse generator were destroyed by D-ManDemolition Man (comics)
Demolition Man , also known as D-Man, is a fictional character in the .-Publication history:Dennis Dunphy first appeared in The Thing #28 , written by Mike Carlin and illustrated by Ron Wilson...
on the order of Captain America. ULTIMATUM hired Sabretooth
Sabretooth (comics)
Sabretooth is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics supervillain created by writer Chris Claremont and artist/co-writer John Byrne. The character first appeared in Iron Fist #14...
to assassinate Symkarian Prime Minister Limka in an attempt to start a war between Symkaria and the United States. The fiancée of King Stefan of Symkaria was also assassinated, but the assassination attempt on King Stefan failed, allowing the exposure and defeated attempt of ULTIMATUM to cause a war between Symkaria and the United States. ULTIMATUM agents attempted to blow up Ellis Island, but failed in the attempt to destroy the Arc de Triomphe and Ellis Island. ULTIMATUM attempted to distribute arms to subversive elements in the United States to create nationwide chaos, but their major arms stockpile was captured by the Punisher
Punisher
The Punisher is a fictional character, an anti-hero appearing in comic books based in the . Created by writer Gerry Conway and artists John Romita, Sr., and Ross Andru, the character made its first appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man #129 .The Punisher is a vigilante who employs murder,...
and Moon Knight
Moon Knight
Moon Knight is a fictional character, a mercenary-turned-superhero appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character exists in the Marvel Universe and was created by Doug Moench and Don Perlin...
.
An unnamed ULTIMATUM terrorist has the distinction of being the only person deliberately and directly killed by Captain America
Captain America
Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
since World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Captain America has to choose between shooting the terrorist and allowing him to kill several innocent people, and he chooses to kill the terrorist. Despite the clear moral choice, he is wracked with guilt for several issues and then he volunteers to turn himself over to the relevant authorities.
During the Acts of Vengeance
Acts of Vengeance
"Acts of Vengeance" is a comic book crossover storyline that ran through several titles published by Marvel Comics from December 1989 to February 1990.-Publication history:...
, U.L.T.I.M.A.T.U.M. attacked the Punisher
Punisher
The Punisher is a fictional character, an anti-hero appearing in comic books based in the . Created by writer Gerry Conway and artists John Romita, Sr., and Ross Andru, the character made its first appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man #129 .The Punisher is a vigilante who employs murder,...
and Moon Knight
Moon Knight
Moon Knight is a fictional character, a mercenary-turned-superhero appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character exists in the Marvel Universe and was created by Doug Moench and Don Perlin...
on the orders of the Prime Movers.
Although Flag-Smasher was the founder of ULTIMATUM, its initial funding secretly came from the Red Skull, who used its activities to create political chaos benefiting his own fascist ends. Upon Flag-Smasher's discovery of the Red Skull's involvement, the Skull had other ULTIMATUM leaders who were loyal to him stage a successful coup against Flag-Smasher through its Symkarian campaign. Presumably the ULTIMATUM rank and file were never aware of the Red Skulls' control of the organization. Following the Symkarian debacle, Flag-Smasher regained control of ULTIMATUM and purged the organization of members known to be loyal to the Red Skull.
Members
- Red Skull (Johann Schmidt)Red SkullThe Red Skull is a name shared by several fictional characters, all supervillains from the Marvel Comics universe. All incarnations of the character are enemies of Captain America, other superheroes, and the United States in general....
- secretly funds the group - Anarchy (Erin Mackey) (agent) - once defeated the Punisher and Moon Knight
- Nicholas Choepke
- Basil (deceased)
- Flag-SmasherFlag-SmasherThe Flag-Smasher is the name used by two fictional supervillains appearing in the Marvel Comics universe. The original was most often a foe of Captain America while other adversaries of the Flag-Smasher include The Punisher, Moon Knight, Ghost Rider, The Runaways, and The Liberteens.-Fictional...
- son of United Nations delegate from Switzerland; assassinated by Domino (Neena Thurman) after he began to abuse his authority - Michael Straka - old friend of Domino; he allied with Cable in Rumekistan
- Sanjini Hatari
- Vladimir Korda Krontz
- William Luft
- Ivan Rice
- Mikel Rivvak
- Major Toler Weil - agent for the Red Skull, and former regional leader in Europe
- Dmitri Novotny
- Lynette Webb