SoraRabbit Short Hop 007: Marvel's Biggest Hero

Anyone who has spent any amount of time on my blog should be well aware that I’m a die-hard Ultraman fan. (Although I still have the majority of the series to watch.) My interest originally stemmed from a comic book I found starring the character and when I later located the original series, my interest rose and I wanted more. I’m currently collecting all the blu ray collections as they’re released and am working my way steadily through the entire franchise. If you want to know more, make sure to check out my overview post about the Ultra Series.

So, as you can imagine, when I first heard that Marvel had obtained the licensing rights from Tsuburaya Productions to make comic books based on Ultraman, I was understandably excited. Marvel is my favorite comic book company, so I had high hopes. My only fear was that the creative team may not be familiar enough with the property to do it the justice that it deserves.

Thankfully my concerns proved to be unwarranted. It turns out the writers are big tokusatsu fans and have done their research. From the writing to the art, this first issue makes it clear this comic book was crafted by fans. (Or at least creative people familiar enough to capture the essence of the series.) After waiting for months with bated breath, I was relieved to find the comic exceeded my expectations. In today’s Short Hop it is my great pleasure to take you through the first issue of Marvel’s Rise of Ultraman and give you my thoughts on the issue and what’s coming next.

Look at this gorgeous cover. (Credit: Marvel Comics, Tsuburaya Productions. Art: Alex Ross)

We open with a flashback to 1966. (Which, if you remember, is when the first series originally aired.) Here we get our first major change to the subject matter. Instead of Shin Hayata colliding with Ultraman’s pod, Dan Moroboshi takes that role. (Moroboshi was the main character of the follow up series Ultra Seven.) An explosion takes place, leaving Moroboshi’s fate in question.

Before I continue, I’ll just list out some of the changes to get them out of the way. Since this is a re-imagining and a modernization, some elements have been changed, but they’re not necessarily negative changes. I’m not a purist by any means, I understand the need for different interpretations. I just found these noteworthy.

Moroboshi taking Hayata’s place in the accident was a big change to the story. In this version, Hayata is not actually a member of the United Science Patrol. He flunked out, but was not told why. Fuji’s first name has been changed from Akiko to Kiki, which I suppose I’m okay with. So far Arashi and Ide have not appeared, but I’m sure the writers just didn’t want to over-stuff the first issue. (They have to be in this, right?) Another big change is that the Science Patrol seems to be a much bigger organization in this. In the original series, the Japanese branch we followed consisted of five official members. In this there are many more than that milling about the base. The Science Patrol also appears to operate in secret, making reference to “neural pods” which seem to wipe people’s memories. In the original they were out in the open and had the full cooperation of civilians and the various country’s governments.

The characters all seem to be on-brand, but it may be too soon too know for sure. Hayata is just as compassionate and impulsive as you would expect. Fuji is curious and brave. Captain Muramatsu is as gruff and by the book as his television counterpart and also shows his propensity for bending the rules when necessity dictates. (I really hope he doesn’t turn out to be evil.)

Okay, enough of that. Like I said, the changes are not major and in my opinion don’t take anything away from identifying with the original source material.

The year is now 2020. As Fuji (I’m not going to refer to her as Kiki. It’s more proper to refer to the characters by their surnames.) arrives at work we learn that she is avoiding her friend Hayata for some reason. She’s a cadet studying K-Rays, the primary component of the USP’s weapons. We also see a statue of Moroboshi, showing his supposed fate.

Someday I will have my own statue. (Credit: Marvel Comics, Tsuburaya Productions. Writer: Kyle Higgins & Mat Groom. Art: Francesco Manna)

We learn that Fuji is being held in check, forced the learn the basics while she’s eager to jump right into the action. She’s not being given access to learn more about K-Rays, she hasn’t been issued her own K-Ray, she’s not allowed on the field… all in all, she’s frustrated with her position in the USP. However, that changes quickly as Captain Muramatsu soon tags her to rush into the field with him. His K-Ray has been damaged and he needs her to fix it as he rushes off to face a Kaiju threat.

The pair race off in the VTOL (the Vertical Take-off and Landing jet) to face down the Kaiju, who’s terrorizing workers in a factory. This is where we learn another change that I waited to mention until now… these Kaiju are not aliens or mutations like in the original series… these Kaiju are invading from another dimension. They cause odd disruptions in reality as they do this— things like an unnatural darkness and altered matter. The Kaiju attacks, injuring Muramatsu’s arm. Fuji shoots the creature with her Lightning Gun and the pair are eventually saved by Hayata (who is totally not supposed to be there).

This version of Hayata is revealed to be a bit of wild card. He first gained the notice of the USP for inventing a Kaiju Energy Tracker. This was confiscated from him, but he built another one and used that to find them. He also apparently made his own Lightning Gun and has Anti-sonic implants that prevent memory wipe. He’s pretty resourceful. Muramatsu is not a fan, and Fuji is also mad, thinking he’s putting her job at risk.

Intrigue! (Credit: Marvel Comics, Tsuburaya Productions. Writer: Kyle Higgins & Mat Groom. Art: Francesco Manna)

After this we get a brief conversation over dinner. Hayata misses his friend and is a bit jealous over her getting the job that he was denied. Overall, he’s happy for his friend, though. Fuji has been avoiding him because she feels guilty they chose her and not him. Also we hear more of her job woes. She feels there is a lot more going on than the USP are telling her.

Soon after this, an unidentified spacecraft is shot down by one of the USP’s laser turrets. Fuji is summoned to the crash site at Muramatsu’s orders, Hayata tagging along for the ride. (They were in his car, after all.) The injured Captain reluctantly allows Hayata to help. This is an Emerald Alert, and those are dangerous. They need to deal with this before it’s too late.

Captain Muramatsu is a tough boss. (Credit: Marvel Comics, Tsuburaya Productions. Writer: Kyle Higgins & Mat Groom. Art: Francesco Manna)

Turns out, this is the second UFO mankind has ever encountered. The first was in 1966 and it killed one of their best men. (Dan Moroboshi.) Due to this, they have protocols in place to shoot any aliens on sight. This really brings Fuji’s concerns about the USP to focus… in the original series the Science Patrol was always concerned about extraterrestrial threats to Earth— their first responsibility was to Earth and its people— but they didn’t indiscriminately kill aliens without first knowing they were threats.

Ultraman emerges from the downed space pod, speaking in an alien language. Muramatsu orders Hayata to shoot the alien, which Hayata does. Fuji and Hayata can both see this is wrong, and that the creature is in pain. Muramatsu says the alien must be finished off, but Hayata can’t bring himself to do it.

Poor Ultraman. (Credit: Marvel Comics, Tsuburaya Productions. Writer: Kyle Higgins & Mat Groom. Art: Francesco Manna)

Hayata touches Ultraman’s finger and there is a bright flash of light. To Be Continued! In the original television series, Ultraman merged with Hayata to save his life. In the comic it seems to be done to save Ultraman’s life.

The backup story in this issue is an Ultra Q story, exploring the foundation of the United Science Patrol. This is a very nice touch… for those who have read my post about Ultra Q, you know that this is the series that preceded Ultraman. This story is mainly in black and white, like Ultra Q was. And the featured Kaiju was Bemular, a classic Kaiju in the series. Plus he looks like a guy in a costume, which I love. This is an excellent artistic choice.

I need an electric sword. (Credit: Marvel Comics, Tsuburaya Productions. Writer: Kyle Higgins & Mat Groom. Art: Michael Cho)

The Ultra Q story follows two new characters, Satoru Ichinotani and Kyoko Kato, as they hunt Bemular in Paris. They are members of a Japanese Kaiju-hunting group named Q. (Trivia time: Ichinotani was the surname of the Professor that assisted the Ultra Q gang in several of their adventures.) They locate an empty canister of gas with an unknown origin and purpose. Bemular seems weakened. Also Kato has a killer electric sword, which is awesome.

After a tense battle, the pair meets up with a Paris group that seems to have a similar agenda as them. The gas was theirs, an attempt to weaken the Kaiju. The leader of the group, Commander Ancel, suggests they all discuss teaming up. This is another great callback… in the original Ultraman, the main HQ of the Science Patrol was in Paris.

Not all is at it seems, however. One of the Paris members, Agent Morheim, stays behind and communicates with a strange hologram creature. They discuss infiltrating the group. Poor Ichinotani interrupts and is blasted by Morheim’s laser eyes, seemingly killed.

I also need laser eyes. (Credit: Marvel Comics, Tsuburaya Productions. Writer: Kyle Higgins & Mat Groom. Art: Michael Cho)

Also featured in this issue are three cute backup comics called Kaiju Steps. These star an adorable cartoony version of the classic monster Pigmon, teaching us and Cadet Pierre about Kaiju. This was one of the highlights of the comic for me, mostly because the art was done by my favorite comic artist group Gurihiru. (You may remember them from my Gwenpool post.)

Good ol’ Pigmon. (Credit: Marvel Comics, Tsuburaya Productions. Writer: Kyle Higgins & Mat Groom. Art: Gurihiru)

Also in this issue is a two page splash showing hints of future issues. In this we see Ultraman battling an upgraded version of Bemular, multiple Ultramen posing in silhouette, and a clash between Ultraman and Ultra Seven. (Confirming Moroboshi’s return?)

This is going to be an epic battle. (Credit: Marvel Comics, Tsuburaya Productions. Writer: Kyle Higgins & Mat Groom. Art: Ed McGuinness & Espen Grundetjean)

So a lot has been covered in the first issue. There is something shady going on in the secretive United Science Patrol, and it seems to have started way back in 1954, at the group’s founding. Ultraman has returned to Earth for unknown reasons. Dangerous Kaiju are breaking through to the Earth, causing effects on reality. Also the USP may or may not have been infiltrated by dark forces that have mastered the art of laser eyes.

This issue leaves me with many lingering questions: Why are Ultraman and Ultra Seven grappling in the preview? What secrets are the USP hiding? Who is the woman in 1954 with the laser eyes and creepy hologram? Where is Moroboshi and is he truly dead? Where are the inter-dimensional Kaiju coming from and why? Why was Ultraman (or Ultra Seven?) there in 1966 to begin with? Why did he return in 2020? And what is the adorable Pigmon’s true agenda? I’m sure many of these questions will be answered in coming issues… and many more mysteries hinted at. (Except Pigmon. He’s probably just comic relief.)

The biggest question I had coming into this appears to have been answered at least. When this project was first announced I couldn’t help but wonder if it would take place in the main Marvel continuity known as Earth-616. After reading this issue I would say that it seems not, since no one in the mainstream Marvel Universe was mentioned by the characters. I really doubt an organization as big as the USP would have escaped the notice of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers. The biggest evidence that this is its own universe is the fact that they only know of two alien visits… whereas in 616 aliens visit pretty much daily.

The coolest thing about Marvel, though, is that anything can happen. This Earth likely will have its own Universe designation, allowing for cross-overs with other well-known characters. Which brings me to one more note.

Usually I don’t care much about variant covers. On occasion I will get a variant instead of the standard cover if I think it looks cooler. (And if it doesn’t cost more.) Usually the normal cover is fine by me. But with this comic, the choice was actually a difficult one. The standard cover was done by Alex Ross. You can see it at the beginning of this post. I’m not the biggest Alex Ross fan (unpopular opinion alert!) but his cover for this is amazing. Ultraman looks majestic and you really get a sense of his size. That’s the one I went with.

I was very much tempted, though, to get this Spider-Man variant. Look at this beauty!

This would be the best team up. (Credit: Marvel Comics, Tsuburaya Productions. Art: Olivier Coipel)

So that’s my recap and some thoughts. What did I think of the issue? It was fantastic. The writing was great and the pace was steady. Issue one had a lot of heavy lifting to do in terms of world building and character setup, but it didn’t get bogged down in excessive exposition; the needed details unfolded naturally with hints to more of the story still untold. The only downside is that it was necessarily low on action.

The art is crisp, the colors pop. There’s a lot of variety with the backup story and the Kaiju Steps comics. There was a lot of attention to detail that went into this issue. I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next.

All in all, I very much enjoyed Ultraman’s first steps into the Marvel family. It was entertaining and shows great potential for the future. This is just the first issue in a five issue limited series. I figure they went that route with it as a test to see how well it sells.

An Ultraman comic could be seen as a risky venture for Marvel. Ultraman is gaining some traction with Western audiences, mostly thanks to the Netflix anime and the Mill Creek blu ray releases. But he’s still somewhat obscure.

Still, a willingness to try new things and take gambles like this are two of Marvel’s defining traits. They may always return to the status quo, but they venture away from it on occasion. I truly hope this gamble pays off and someday I can return to do another post recapping the 50th issue… but time will tell.

If you’re an Ultraman fan or have found yourself even mildly intrigued by any of my Ultra posts, I would suggest giving Rise of Ultraman a try. It needs our help if it’s going to stick around. I want Marvel to continue telling stories in this new Universe. I want to see where all this is heading. This first issue shows it’s got the potential for greatness.

Thank you for reading my new Short Hop. If you’d like for me to cover the rest of this limited series, drop me a comment or email and I would be happy to oblige! Until then, keep looking for that treasure!