So. What is “Ultimate Marvel?” It’s a chance to rewrite a little of your favorite character. It’s a little grit, instead of a lot of polish. To coin a new phrase, “This is not your father’s comic book.” For those of you who think the Ultimate Marvel storyline is current RL times, you’re wrong.
Things are different. Not completely different, but some things are different from Main Stream. Mutants are hated, not just a little bit, we’re talking outright, and total hatred. Take a look at the image to the right and see an illustration straight out of the Ultimate X-Men for a clue.
The United States is portrayed as a Mutant Hating Society. Our room is no different. Public display of your powers will accompany you with an “Ultimate Ass Kicking.” Probably Friends of Humanity style.
Ultimate Marvel is an M rated book. When Weapon X captures the X-Men, Sabretooth tells Beast that Storm isn’t his girlfriend anymore, because she’s everyone’s girlfriend now. Obviously it doesn’t show you what happens, or say if anything did, but that’s a bit on the wild side ain’t it? Another little piece of shock for those of you still not believing “Ultimate Marvel” is not the same as Mainstream… Jean Grey executes an innocent man, a father of two, in cold blood to save Scott Summers.
This is of course goes without saying, that not all the inhabitants of the Ultimate Marvel Universe are cold and sadistic, but it’s just an FYI that bad stuff -can- happen in this universe.
Your heroes are not safe, just because they wear white.
Welcome to Marvel: What If?!
Genosha: Genosha has risen swiftly from its origins as a small island ruled by a culture based entirely on the exploitation of mutant slave labor. Following Magneto’s rise as a freedom fighter overthrowing the former regime, Genosha expanded as a refugee for mutants facing persecution worldwide. Forming these mutants into a powerful military force, Genosha threw back a large scale assault by the U.S. Sentinel Fleet, then used the salvaged technology to assist their spread into Africa as “Peacekeepers”, taking over unstable territories and propping up their chosen leaders in the form of Genoshan “Proctorates”.
Similar expansion has taken part in the war-torn territories of the former Soviet Union, while trade deals and negotiations have formed strong alliances between Genosha, Japan and the countries making up the European Union. Lesser deals exist with China and Russia, more practical in nature than friendly… the diplomatic environment between the countries inhibited by Russia and China’s long standing policies of abuse, military drafting, and outright extermination of mutants, as well as a lack of desire on those superpowers’ parts to risk their existing trade deals and alliances with the U.S. and Canada.
Genosha’s government is described as a Monarchy led republic, though many would simply call it a tyrannical dictatorship under the iron fist of the charismatic mutant known as Magneto. His children are anticipated to inherit the throne of Genosha upon his passing or willing retirement, though faith in their ability to rule and defend their people is not strong among critics of the system. A republic senate made up of representatives from each of Genosha’s proctorates meets regularly to create laws and discuss matters of national and foreign policy. Magneto possesses total veto power over any of the Senate’s decisions though, and is not shy about executing it.
While Genosha claims to operate with ‘equality’, the vast majority of leadership positions are filled by mutants. Mutant superiority as taken as a simple biological fact among many within the Genoshan ‘Empire’, resulting in humanity being cast as second class citizens left unable to compete with the advantages of “Homo Superior” in a merit based system. This has led to resentment, further fueled by certain mutant citizens abusing their ‘lessers’ without fear of reprisals other than the occasional slap on the wrist. Several underground organizations, with tactics varying from terrorist violence to peaceful posters and public protests exist, though few are able to operate long in the face of Magneto’s elite operates and secret police forces.
Russia: Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia has seen much of its global power and influence falter. The rise of Genosha cost it in territories and resources, and to this day, the Russian government holds some resentment towards the ‘Mutant Empire”, even as they are forced to negotiate and deal with them on an equal level. Its’ policies regarding mutants is one of the strictest in the world, with mandatory registration and military service. Border tensions are frequent with the Genoshan proctorates, and the area remains a hotbed of mercenary/terrorist conflict suspected of being fostered by the former KGB. They boast their own version of the “Ultimates”, though the team is considered by many outside Russia to be considered to be made up of ‘cheap knock-offs’ of the more popular and world renowned American heroes like Iron Man and Captain America.
China: One of the world’s leading superpowers in military, science, and economics, China sustains an oppressive regime over its people, with any uprisings or serious calls for political change rapidly silenced. China has been accused of human rights violations and illegal genetic experimentation many times, but has evaded or ignored sanctions every time. Mutant population in China is staggeringly low compared to the rest of the world, leaving many to theorize that the Chinese utilize methods of testing for mutation in the womb as part of their birth control policies, resulting in abortion, or the newly born infant being declared dead and shipped off to secret testing and training facilities.
Canada: Home to the ‘reincarnation’ of the Weapon X project following SHIELD’s public disavowing of its methods, Canada offered a refuge to notables like Col. Wraith, General William Striker, and Dr. Cornelius following the destruction of their facility at the hands of the X-Men and an out-of-control Magneto clone known as “Joseph”. These men, along with the Director of Department H, are considered to be responsible for Canada’s public friendly “Special Educational Facilities”. Large college-like campuses used for the training of Canada’s registered Metahumans. While much more cosmetically pleasing than Russia’s grim training compounds in Siberia, the Canadian facilities… overseen by Department H and the NIMROD system… are still heavily monitored and overseen by military forces. Children are tested for mutation and metahuman abilities once every five years until they are of adult age, beginning at age five. Once identified, the children are transferred to the nearest facility where their education can be continued, along with extensive testing to catalog their power capabilities and how it might best be used. Their curriculum is adjusted based on these test results. The choice to enter military or government service after graduation is voluntary… in theory. Subtle neurological programming methods are applied throughout the students’ school careers, leading to increased and manipulated beliefs in national duty and patriotism. Canada has generally presented a tempered and moderate policy when interacting with the Genoshan alliance, remaining diplomatically friendly, while holding to its policies of ‘humane’ metahuman management. When pressed during world events, they generally side with the United States on decisions of global policy.
United States: The United States has always been the most volatile element on the global political scene, teetering from extreme to extreme. Following the events of 9/11, and the establishment of the multi-trillion dollar “SHIELD” organization, the U.S. has set the standard and the limitations on matters such as genetic manipulation and weapons of warfare worldwide. Relations with other countries varies based on the current administration in power. Prior to President Bush’s assassination at the hands of Apocalypse’s horsemen, the country pursued a very violent and intolerant method of mutant ‘pacification’, using heavily armed Sentinels to exterminate all detected mutants, while SHIELD covered up civilian casualties incurred from the general public. The assassinations left Senator Roberta Kelly as the next in line for command. Kelly, known for her heavy support of anti-mutant policies, was expected to continue the existing status quo, but instead began pushing for reforms and diplomatic relations with the expanding Genoshan Alliance. In retrospect, this is attributed to the influence of Professor Charles Xavier, a public advocate for mutant/human integration and a known former associate of Magneto.
Accusations that Kelly was becoming merely a puppet of Xavier and Magneto cost the 2004 election to Greydon Creed. Under Creed’s leadership, military buildup resumed, seeking to restore the Sentinel armada and other assets lost during battles with Apocalypse and the being known as Galactus. Diplomatic relations with Genosha cooled rapidly, though tentative cooperation exists for the purpose of preparing for battle with Apocalypse. Due to that looming threat, the U.S. has held back from further offensives against Genosha, though espionage and Black Ops work continues on both sides.
Currently, New York City stands as an ‘exception zone’ to many U.S. policies regarding mutant registration. It holds the only U.S. intercontinental airport that will allow travel from known mutants. From there, mutants must pass through border checkpoints surrounding the state to be legally permitted anywhere else within the U.S. Unauthorized mutants past this border are subject to arrest and incarceration according to U.S. Law. These ‘arrests’ are generally carried out by Sentinel forces and have a very high lethality rate. U.S. born mutants face steep fines and possible incarceration if they do not register following the discovery of their mutation. Crimes committed by mutants and metahumans are subject to greater penalties based on the perceived lethality and destructive capabilities of their powers.
Generally, mutants in the U.S. face steady intolerance and monitoring if their status is known, leaving them to choose between registering and coping with such harassment and discrimination, or hiding their capabilities and living as ‘human’, risking severe penalties or even death if discovered. New York boasts a more progressive culture, and open minded environment in regards to most mutants, and therefore possesses the greatest population density of them in the world, outside of the isle of Genosha itself. This has caused New York to develop both public and private agencies such as Code Blue and the Thunderbolts to manage metahuman crime.
Arcadia: The Arcadia campus in New York City was originally founded in 2002, by wealthy investors seeking to provide an environment where university level education could be provided to young men and women possessing metahuman abilities, for the purpose of educating them to use their powers safely and productively in concert with their chosen occupation. However, in 2005, the Arcadia campus went bankrupt, and was purchased by the “Mojoworld Entertainment” corporation. From that point, the curriculum at Arcadia… while still providing standard educational courses in lieu with state and federal guidelines… oriented towards grooming the ‘next generation of Mojoworld Stars’. Enrolled students can find themselves ‘hijacked’ for roles in “Mojoworld Productions” at any time on campus, with their lives open for recording and distribution through any of Mojo’s channels. Students tend not to find out about this fact until after they have signed the necessary paperwork to be accepted, and Mojoworld offers generous scholarship offers to encourage enrollment.