Welcome back to Comic Book Corner where, today, Ethan is here to review and talk about the most ambitious crossover event in history, ULTRAMAN x AVENGERS!
Two big universes and fandoms are colliding with Marvel and Tsuburaya Productions comic book crossover series, ULTRAMAN x AVENGERS. With a plethora of characters and special abilities in each world, what delights will be see combine?
This series is a continuation of the Ultraman comic miniseries verse that reimagines the Showa Ultraman Earth. If you have not read these, you’ll likely be confused. You should read The Rise Of Ultraman, The Trials Of Ultraman and Ultraman: The Mystery of Ultraseven before this new series, if you’d like to get the most out of it.
THE GREATEST HERO OF JAPAN AND EARTH’S MIGHTIEST HEROES JOIN FORCES FOR AN EPIC ADVENTURE! Spider-Man has disappeared from New York, an intergalactic invader has arrived on Ultraman’s doorstep and the Kaiju of Earth are acting even more mysteriously than usual. This can only mean one thing: It’s time for Ultraman to meet the Avengers! But what cosmic threat is great enough to require a team-up of Marvel’s mightiest champions and Japan’s greatest hero? Find out as Shin meets Sam, Spacium Ray meets Repulsor Ray and “THWIP!” meets “SHUWATCH!” – in the epic crossover event: ULTRAMAN x AVENGERS!
Official synopsis, issue #1
This issue was written by Matthew Groom and Kyle Higgins with pencils by Francesco Manna, colours by Matt Milla with lettering by VC’s Ariana Maher. The cover art was done by Dike Ruan.
Recap
The first issue opens on Planet Zarab, destroyed, with Galactus offering one Alien Zarab the chance to be his herald as, for a moment, that Zarab’s illusionary powers effected even Galactus, impressing him. Like the Surfer before him, to save his world, Zarab agrees to the offer and is changed by the power cosmic.
Back on Earth, Shin Hayata, Kiki Fuji and Mitsuhiro Ide are investigating a transuniversal event they detected in Japan. Out of the portal, they detect Spider-Man, Miles Morales, and after a little conversation they decide to work together, for now. They transport Spider-Man to Scotland where he’s detecting some Multiversal shenanigans. Along the way Spidey and Ide explain to each other their deals.
In Scotland, they find Alien Zarab, now Gold and able to not only to turn into others and be undetectable but also copy their powers. Shin goes Ultra and teams up with the newly arrived Monster Attack Team, who combine to form Ultraman Jack. The battle doesn’t last long as Zarab leaves, shortly after activating a beacon.
Spider-Man feels their Multiversal spider sense going off again and the Avengers arrive through a portal.
Back on Ultra Guard Island, everyone becomes acquainted and Captain Marvel fills us in on what happened on the Avengers side to cause this. Galactus was about to attack their Earth and Reed made a device that shunted him to another universe. Due to Miles’ own connection to multiverse, he was dragged along too, and the Avengers assembled to save Spider-Man and defend the other earth from the threat they made. They also form a plan: some of them will go to the USP and steal back Jack’s super power source that their other worldly director, Mortheim, stole from them at the end of The Mystery of Ultraseven. This is so Tony can power the weapon he came up with to the destroy Galactus’s planet eating device and attach it to Jack. Meanwhile, the rest of them will go deal with the two kaiju who appear at the end of the issue looking more upset than normal.
The Bad
My only complaint is not even a real complaint. This crossover is just the continuation of comic Ultraman series and, while I love that and the comic does a great job of catching you up to speed if you are starting here, dedicating a lot of real estate to explaining the everyone’s deal (per the comic crossover law of 1612). I feel like you’ll have a lesser experience if you haven’t read those other miniseries, and I feel like the majority of people picking this up won’t have, namely fans of traditional Marvel rather than Ultraman. Other than that, I’m not a fan of Shin’s new Tim Buckley haircut.
The Good
This issue is good overall, first of all. Everyone has good chemistry and I love that we are jumping right to teaming up, skipping over the usually legally mandated “crossover misunderstanding fight that ends in a draw” that plagues a lot of comic crossovers. The art is as wonderful, as ever with these Ultraman miniseries, and are coloured in a way that really sticks with you. When my biggest complaint is “I don’t like a character’s haircut” and “I was expecting it to be more a stand alone thing and not the full continuation of the Comic Ultraman verse,” you know I’m having to dig deep for things to moan about.
Here’s an example of the art I love so much. The way Shin and Ultraman’s inner conversation takes place outside of the page’s panelling is exquisite. I also just adore how etherial Ultraman looks here.
The Conclusion
To wrap this up, I’m obviously I’m going to tell you to go buy it* and it’s probably a safe bet to preorder issues two and three while your at it. They’re dropping in October and preorders for four are not out yet. You can either do this at your local comic book shop or, if like me you don’t have one nearby anymore, Amazon has them for Kindle. If you like the other (extremely delightful and well worth your time) Ultraman miniseries, you will love this. To be honest, I feel like you have already bought yourself at least one copy if that is the case.
What did you think? Did you enjoy this issue? Do you think Ultraman can take Galactus? Can you wait for issue #2? I can’t! As always, I’ve been Ethan: Writer, reviewer, future Ultra Guard member and liaison to The Toku Source and I’ll shuwatch you next time!
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