I wasn't at wizard world chicago so I can't speak firsthand about it, but the reports at newsarama and comicon/pulse seem pretty reliable to me.

As far as the back story, according to the quotes I've seen the main characters will be substantially younger than their mainstream counterparts, all in their teens or early twenties. The first issue will supposedly contain Reed and Sue's first meeting.

Like I said, don't take anything for fact until you see it somewhere offical, not just word of mouth. According to "word of mouth news" last year we should be reading UFF by Morrsion #10 right now.

While I was thrilled about rumours of Morrison on FF. I now feel there is no real need for an Ultimate version. They are kind of the family values heroes, and their continuity is pretty straightforward. Especially in comparison with the rest of their compatriots.

I see no problem with them predating the rest of the heroes though. The Four are primarily adventurers, and not super-heroes in the typical fashion. Most of their activities are probably unseen or classified. People are freaking over mutants in the Ultimate Universe. Knowing Galactus came for dinner would probably caused world wide riots.

"I see no problem with them predating the rest of the heroes though" - It would be confusing as hell. One of the good things about the Ulitmate books is that they tie into one another quit a bit. If the FF was set a year or 2 earlier it would mess that up. They won't be set in the past, but at the same time in the other books.

"The Four are primarily adventurers, and not super-heroes in the typical fashion" - So are the X-Men, but they've been changed in the Ultimate Univserse (they go out and help the police etc... on almost a nightly bais).

"Most of their activities are probably unseen or classified. People are freaking over mutants in the Ultimate Universe. Knowing Galactus came for dinner would probably caused world wide riots" - What doyou think Miller and Bendis will do in the Ulitmate FF book when he shows up? Thats what makes the Ulimate books so good, people and the world act like they would in the real world. They won't change that and "cover it up" they will deal with it in the book.

Also someone said something about wanting to see the Skrulls in the Ultimate univserse - they are already there in the current Ultimates storyline.

Yeah. I was kind of annoyed that they weren't called Skrulls. I was glad to see them though.

Don't get me wrong, I love the Ultimate Universe as much as the original. In fact I think there are not that many differences on a thematic level, just no forty years of continuity to scare off new readers.

With the exception of Ruse and Planetary, Ultimate Spider-Man is he best comic to happen so far this decade.

I just only want to see Ultimate FF if they get a writer who will truly bring something new to the table. While Bendis and Millar do great people, Morrison would have brought the sci-fi wierdness of The Four to bear (check out his Doom Patrol). Warren Ellis would be another excellent choice.

I'm not sure what you'd consider official, I don't remember much more to the Morrison rumors than a line here or there. What I'm seeing are full stories complete with quotes from both Bendis and Millar. Plus mention of an artist and I think someone else involved to do character/costume design. Its been mentioned in every comic news site's coverage of Wizard World Chicago that I've seen. If its a rumor its a well supported one as links to some of the stories can be found on Bendis's website.

Now I'll admit that things do happen and on occasion things don't materialize, in some cases even after issues are completed, and this may be a case where that happens, and this could be one of those things: I don't know at what stage in planning Marvel announces these things but I'm confident its more than a rumor.

In Ultimates #10 or #11 one of the aliens says that they have many names, one of which is Skrull.

"I'm not sure what you'd consider official" - The words coming out of Quasada's mouth, Wizard reporting it as news, or a book.

"What I'm seeing are full stories complete with quotes from both Bendis and Millar" - Morrison talked about doing UFF as well. Remember, this is still the internet and 99% of what is on here is bull####. 2 weeks before the NHL draft happened I wrote an artical on a hockey news site suggesting that the Leafs trading a player like Sundin to Florida for the #1 pick. A week after put that up a friend sent me 3 links where my "idea" had turned into a news item on websites, reporting that "the two teams are apparently talking".

In Ultimates #10 or #11 one of the aliens says that they have many names, one of which is Skrull.

"I'm not sure what you'd consider official" - The words coming out of Quasada's mouth, Wizard reporting it as news, or a book.

"What I'm seeing are full stories complete with quotes from both Bendis and Millar" - Morrison talked about doing UFF as well. Remember, this is still the internet and 99% of what is on here is bull####. 2 weeks before the NHL draft happened I wrote an artical on a hockey news site suggesting that the Leafs trading a player like Sundin to Florida for the #1 pick. A week after put that up a friend sent me 3 links where my "idea" had turned into a news item on websites, reporting that "the two teams are apparently talking".

Would Wizard's website count? I've seen it there as well as a number of other places. Complete with partial quote from Quesada. Check their news archives for August 8th.

As far as 99% of the internet being nonsense, that maybe but I'm not talking about fan sites or message boards. I'm talking about sites for whatever reason make it their business to report on comic book news. I'm willing to trust them, particularly when it comes to news concerning major announcements at a well attended comic book convention.

like i said, morrison talked about it before too. I'm not saying it won't happen, I'd like it too. Just don't assume its a sure thing until its printed.

Its official! In Wizard #144 in black and white on page #28.

Ultimate Fantastic Four is due in December. Co-written by Bendis and Millar, with art by Adam Kubert.

Oh yes! It's on!

The UFF would have to go back in time a little, because fury and stark talk about them in the 2nd issue of ultimates BEFORE the ulitmates were created.

My idea is they might do some flashback. THats the only way to keep up in the timeline.

If most of The Four's adventures have been clandestine in nature, it won't be that confusing. The article I rad also said they were going to be much younger, which I take to refer to Reed and Ben. So even if they were operating first, it won't have been ten or twenty years, just a couple. I think it would have been cool if they were way earlier though. It's not like there are any newscameras when you're on Monster Island, in deep space with Galactus, or deep in the media friendly Latveria.

I just don't know if Kubert is the right artist for this book. I love his work, but The Four should be sleek and futuristic. I would have tried to get Alan Davis back. Heck, I would have Alan Davis and Mark Farmer do the whole thing. Still, I'm glad it's hapening at all, and I love Bendis' writing.

To put Salvador Larocca back on an FF book also would be an ultimate dream, since he's been kicked off Xtreme, and has yet to start on one of the other X-Books.

He's the second best Four artist after Byrne.