Ultraman X Avengers #1 Begins a Kaiju Sized Crossover
The worlds of Japan’s greatest hero and Earth’s Mightiest Heroes collide to stop a massive danger threatening their existence. Traveling through an interdimensional portal, Spider-Man lands in a world full of kaiju and protected by Ultraman. But the ferocious kaiju have been acting strangely due to a mysterious being invading their universe. Spider-Man calls upon the Avengers to assist with this threat. In a lifetime crossover, prepare for a thrilling tokusatsu adventure as Kyle Higgins, Mat Groom, and Francesco Mana start Ultraman X Avengers #1.
With the series being a crossover, Higgins and Groom need to get readers up to speed on not only the Avengers but the world of Ultraman, too. The pair do a good job of easing new readers into the basics of Ultraman as a character, his supporting cast, and his world. Considering how the Ultraman franchise has been going on for nearly 60 years, they tap right into the core, which appeals to both new and old fans of the series. Ultraman X Avengers #1 continues Higgins’s and Groom’s previous Ultraman comics at Marvel, and it is nice to see what Shin Hayata and the others have been doing since The Trials of Ultraman. Overall, the first issue does excellent work crafting an engaging take on a beloved character and series that honors the legacy of what came before.
An essential aspect of a crossover is making the characters from their respective worlds feel distinct and fit. Having Spider-Man be the first Marvel hero in Ultraman’s world makes sense not only because of his science fiction background but also because of his youthful nature, which matches Shin’s. They both carry great power and even greater responsibility, so they make a good pair in the beginning. And to up the grand cosmic scale of the threat, Galactus serves as a perfect antagonist due to his looming and threatening presence that will take both the Avengers and Ultraman to defeat. Higgins and Groom blend the worlds of the Avengers and Ultraman smoothly, where it lives up to the monumental nature of the crossover.
Manna, who also drew the past Marvel Ultraman titles, makes a welcome return as he marries the differing artistic natures of the traditional Marvel universe with Ultraman’s. I appreciate his sleek visuals and expressive characters while nailing the glorious nature of Ultraman battling a kaiju. He captures the grand scale of Ultraman while seamlessly combining it with the Avengers’. In addition, Francesco Manna’s bold colors and VC’s Ariana Maher’s excellent lettering make it an engaging beginning.
Ultraman X Avengers #1 by Higgins, Groom, and Mana offers an exciting crossover that lives up to the hype. With two momentous series crashing into each other, the team creates a thrilling story that will require all of the heroes to work together to stop it. Much like Ultraman himself, the beginning is huge, but it will only get bigger and more grandiose as it goes on.
Story: Kyle Higgins and Matt Groom Art: Francesco Mana
Color: Francesco Manna Letterer: VC’s Ariana Maher
Story: 8.8 Art: 9.3 Overall: 9.0 Recommendation: Read
Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Purchase: Kindle
