The Ultimates elevates the comics that came before it by grounding them in our modern political climate, reinvigorating superhero stories with the hopefulness they were originally made to inspire.

In a year of thrilling dramas like Severance and Yellowjackets, in addition to the comedic masterpieces of Nathan Fielder’s The Rehearsal and Danny McBride’s The Righteous Gemstones, Tim Robinson’s new series The Chair Company blindsided me.

“So you say I’ve got a funny face,” croons MJ Lenderman as harsh guitars give way to softer melodies at the start of “Wristwatch” (2024).