The End is Here (No, But For Real This TIme)
Cover to “The End 2099 #5” (published April 8th, 2026) written by Steve Orlando with art by Gabriel Guzman, Ibraim Roberson, Stefano Nesi, and Daniel Picciotto and colors by Andrew Dalhouse, Java Tartaglia and Fabi Marques.
Cover art by David Marquez and Jay David Ramos
Previously, we were left in a bad state with our heroes, as their biggest gun, Hyperion, was literally just consumed by who was once described as “the Galactus of the Negative Zone.” But with everything riding on Spider-Man 2099 and the others, can the heroes escape the Negative Zone with the Ultimate Nullifier and save not just their timeline, but all the other timelines from being devoured by Abyssus? That’s the question to be answered in The End 2099 #5, the conclusion to the mini-series that offers a possible ending to how the iconic future Marvel Universe wraps up. Join me as I break down this issue and offer my thoughts and review!
Warning: The following article contains spoilers for “The End 2099 #5”.
Endgame for 2099
Way too many characters to list here as the 2099 Universe valiantly fights for survival.
We begin back on Viadrome as Abyssus mocks Mephisto, noting that his hand selected Abyssal Warriors from across the multiverse have the advantage against the 2099 champions. We see a fantastic shot of just that as countless heroes fight each other for their shot at survival. Abyssus specifically mentions his two big guns which are seemingly dominating the battle: Jean Grey from earlier in her 616 history and House of M Scarlet Witch. Mephisto concedes the point, but we know he’s full of crap given his secret gambit in which he snuck a handful of 2099 heroes to go steal the Ultimate Nullifier from the Negative Zone.
A blast of concentrated, raw Nova Force rips into Antithesis.
On cue, we return to those aforementioned heroes as they’re fighting not just for the Nullifier, but for their very lives as Antithesis, the master of the Negative Zone, seeks to destroy them in the wake of having just vaporized Hyperion. Antithesis isn’t having any of this “may we please borrow your Ultimate Nullifier, sir?” business, as he turns his attention to the rest of them. But he doesn’t take into account the raw, unmitigated power of the Nova Force, as Nova 2099 literally blasts his arm off (while melting his own in the process due to not channeling his energy through his pistols). Blade 2099 picks up the Nullifier as Nova gruffly tells them to beat it. Spider-Man 2099 doesn’t want to leave him behind, but Nova isn’t taking no for an answer. Red Hulk teleports the others away as Nova pops his claws and charges directly at the tyrant of the Negative Zone in classic Logan fashion.
Strange 2099 proves to be the real MVP for her timeline as she manages to lock down both Jean and Wanda at the same time.
Back on the battle world, Strange 2099 blasts the two Abyssal Warrior MVPs (Jean and HoM Wanda) with “time god magic,” freezing their brains in between seconds, which admittedly is a good strategy against opponents who basically do whatever they feel like at the speed of thought. Other 2099 heroes, such as Punisher and Spider-Woman, reluctantly fight at each other’s side as US Agent from Earth 9119 defects, joining Captain America 2099 to literally blow out the kneecap of Red Hulk from the 616 ‘verse. Strange 2099 seeks to change the venue to give them a fighting chance against the loyal Abyssal Warriors, but Bloodwielding disrupts her spell, cutting her forearm off as he rejoins the battle. Silver Surfer joins him, warning him that he can no longer tolerate the rules of this battle as he seeks to engage with the Power Cosmic-fueled Dracula. Suddenly, the heroes charged with grabbing the Ultimate Nullifier return, arriving in spectacular fashion, their prize in hand. Abyssus is shocked, but soon regains his composure, claiming that the presence of the weapon that could destroy him means that the terms of this battle are now over. He commands that his forces retrieve the Nullifier for him, but Bloodwielder merely smiles and suggests that he and the others will do just the opposite, pointing out that their loyalty to him will only go so far, especially considering he threatened their worlds in the first place.
Abyssus decides to stop playing games.
This, as you would imagine, pisses Abyssus the hell off as he delivers a blast that craters the battlefield, seemingly destroying his own forces and those of Mephisto’s as well. But Bloodwielder and the Silver Surfer remain, down but certainly not out. Surfer presents the Ultimate Nullifier as Bloodwielder wagers that Galactus, trapped within Knull as he serves as his host, detests the Void King and would welcome the chance to escape. Galactus literally tears himself free as the Devourer of Worlds proves Dracula correct, taking the opportunity to end this madness once and for all. Knull protests, pleading for Galactus to see reason and not destroy them both, but Galactus refuses, aiming to correct his mistakes as he reminds the King in Black who the real devourer is. He activates the Nullifier, erasing them both but leaving behind, curiously enough, his heart…?
Mephisto appears, revealing he was quite fine and unscathed from Abyssus’ cosmic blast as both the heralds remind him of their agreement. Mephisto teleports the Abyssus Warriors back to their respective settings, erasing their memories of what has transpired while the surviving 2099 champions are allowed to retain their memories. Mephisto is petitioned by Bloodwielder to grant him a boon and is actually given the heart Galactus left behind. Surfer rightfully points out that this is a terrible idea, but Mephisto doesn’t seem to care as he dismisses the Surfer, officially declaring that their truce is now over.
Our comic comes to an end as Mephisto reveals he knew more than he let on (SHOCKING) and that he foresees pain and death for both Bloodwielder should he attempt to use the heart of Galactus for his own ends, as well as the heroes. We get a brief summary of what to expect from Spider-Man 3099, Nova (who survived his battle with Antithesis), the Avengers, and others before we appropriately end with Miguel O’Hara, the flagship hero of the 2099 setting, as Mephisto states that whatever befalls the world of 2099, it’s Spider-Man who will be there on the front lines ready.
If there was every a hero to perfectly sum up 2099, it would be Miguel O’Hara.
A Shaky But Adequate Conclusion
Galactus ends both himself and Knull using the Ultimate Nullifier.
The End has finally arrived for the 2099 Universe. And it was… something.
The series as a whole is what I would consider to be fine, a limited series event that is entertaining as a whole but ultimately not something I would revisit anytime soon. That’s not a slight, intended or otherwise, against the story’s quality or anything. As I’ve said before while covering the series, the whole 2099 line is something I acknowledge as an important part of 90s Marvel storytelling, but outside of Spider-Man 2099, it just never really captured my imagination. Again, not a dig at the story as a whole or the finale issue, just an acknowledgement of my own personal tastes and preferences. All that said, I did think this issue had some bright spots and succeeded more than it stumbled.
Abyssus finally meets his—or rather, their—end at the hands of the Ultimate Nullifier. Throughout the series, we see Galactus play the role of an imprisoned host, with Knull effectively driving behind the wheel. Here, the Devourer of Worlds finally manages to gain his freedom, but at the ultimate cost of, well, ultimate nullification. We were long led to believe that the Nullifier, one of Marvel's original “McGuffin” items, would be key to resolving this nightmare doomsday scenario, and we were proven right. And seeing Galactus be the one to pull the trigger was satisfying, to say the least. It was good seeing Galactus regain his sense of self and dignity as the narrative made it clear that while Knull is a creature of malice and evil, Galactus simply is.
Bloodwielder comes in clutch at the last possible moment.
Bloodwielder, aka Dracula 2099, stands out as a pivotal figure that enables Mephisto’s gambit to pay off, as he backstabs his master, enabling the 2099 timeline to survive and also resulting in the Abyssal Warriors being properly returned to their respective times. Obviously, there is the huge lingering plot thread with Galactus’ heart being gifted to the man once known as Vlad the Impaler. What could such a thing possibly entail? The implications are boundless, but the story is over (for now).
Ultimately, I feel the ending was a bit convenient, though. Certainly, some characters died—namely Hyperion, Doctor Octopus, Radioactive Man, and Hulk (despite him miraculously just appearing in a couple of panels last issue)—so there were stakes. But virtually all the Abyssal Warriors get warped back home with the clever “they won’t remember anything.” For continuity’s sake, yes, this makes sense, as otherwise you risk completely fracturing the timeline, and some of these characters (Red Hulk of 616) are very important in the very near future. But it feels almost phoned in. On one hand, I feel giving it another issue may have allowed the pacing more time to wrap things up without feeling rushed, but on the other, another issue may be asking for too much. I think Steve Orlando does a serviceable job wrapping everything up, ultimately, but it still feels rather neat and more like checking things off a to-do list rather than an organic ending.
And speaking of ending, it doesn’t quite feel like a definitive ending, either. The whole point behind the “The End” series is that they’re supposed to feel like a potential conclusion to that character or characters involved. This honestly feels like a prelude to something bigger, thanks to a Power Cosmic-empowered Dracula now having the heart of Galactus and Mephisto more or less getting exactly what he wanted in the end (even if that was just to survive). And yet, I would legitimately come back to see a follow-up story to this, if only out of mild curiosity. At least I think I would. Still, we walk away knowing the fates of the main 2099 cast, which is a better conclusion than simply ending it outright.
By far the coolest of the 2099 cast in this series, Nova 2099 is a character I’d love to see more of.
The art comes to us courtesy of Gabriel Guzman, Ibraim Roberson, Stefano Nesi, and Daniel Picciotto, whereas the colors are woven in due to the efforts of Andrew Dalhouse, Java Tartaglia, and Fabi Marques. This results in great spreads and panels, but admittedly a lack of continuity. As always, the book never wants for action, even when the action on the page is probably the least important thing narratively happening at the moment. The team is able to give us multiple chaotic melee sequences where every character, including the background ones, is detailed and dynamic, so nothing looks phoned in or out of place. Everything sustains the futuristic, apocalyptic themes that have been ever present since the first issue, and it feels, from the line work and vibrant colors masterfully put to page, as if there are truly huge stakes at play. The writing conveys that, too, but the art truly carries the story and does the heavy lifting here. Nova 2099’s last stand is a really great sequence, especially after blasting his arms nearly clean off the bone to unleash raw, untempered Nova Force directly at Antithesis.
Final Thoughts and Review
Overall, I’d say The End 2099 #5 is a fine comic book in of itself. The action is great and the art, while not a single shared vision from start to finish, is a highlight. The story does suffer from what I feel are pacing issues that plagued the book from the beginning, got better, and then ultimately got bogged down with in the end. The conclusion is also a bit too neat for my tastes and with a huge dangling plot thread that suggests it could be revisited at a later date even though the whole concept of the series is to offer an “end” to the titular characters of this timeline. As I said, I probably won’t revisit this story, but I also don’t feel like I’ve been cheated out of my time and money, either.
The Heart of Galactus, which may or may not be a relevant plot point in the future.
Final Review: 6.5/10
The fantastic myriad art carries an admittedly so-so conclusion to what ends up being a so-so mini-series. Even so, there’s fun to be had here. The End 2099 #5 gives us a send off to the 2099 timeline that doesn’t quite seem so final, which depending on your mileage and investment in these characters, may be a good thing or a bad thing.