Way back in 2021, Ultramega from Skybound and Image Comics made a huge splash. The monster mash-up of Kaiju tropes from writer/artist James Harren and colorist Dave Stewart felt like a mash-up itself… Taking Godzilla movies, the apocalyptic setting of The Walking Dead, and the familial heart of a Daniel Warren Johnson book, stewing it up into something fresh, new, and exciting. Three more issues came out, the series was nominated for an Eisner… And then, nothing. Until now.
More than three years since the last issue was released, Ultramega #5 finally hits comic book stores this week. If you’ve forgotten what happened in the first half of the miniseries? I’d highly recommend a refresher before hopping into this new issue, which was provided for review by Skybound. Helpfully, Image Comics has put the full first issue online, free. But the short version of the story is Earth was dealing with giant, monstrous invaders from outer space. Their only defenders were three Ultraman-style beings called Ultramegas… And they lost.
The first four issues followed Noah, the son of the last Ultramega, who desperately wanted to live up to his father’s legacy in a ruined world. Spoilers, but he did finally become Ultramega, with some awful twists along the way.
While there was plenty going on in the first half of the series, issue #5 blows out the mythology exponentially. Even without the break, picking up this issue feels like a deep dive into unknown waters, and it’s initially disarming to jump back into the series — particularly because the first half of the oversized issue is following new characters and situations. It does eventually loop back to more familiar environs. But even then, a series already built on literally big ideas feels positively bursting at the seams with them. Perhaps it was the long break? Or maybe this was the plan all along. Either way, this issue is not a great entry point for new readers… And even faithful readers might need to take their time with this one.
On the flip side, Harren’s visuals, along with Stewart’s colors, match the wild ideas of the script, and continue to provide the main draw for Ultramega — no pun intended. From alien landscapes to monster battles, the designs are weird, funny, and often downright scary. While this started with more typical Kaiju designs, we’re starting to veer into the territory of Miyazaki meets Moebius in this issue. Again, it’s a lot to process. But you’ll want to spend time combing the pages to enjoy — or recoil from — the creative creatures.
What’s perhaps missing from this issue, or at least most of it, is the heart that characterized the first half of the series. That may be a function of delivering a metric ton of exposition and backstory, which was necessary to provide at some point, though this issue feels less like the second half of the series than the exponential jump from Alien to Aliens. Still, there’s a lot to like, and a hint that emotional tether will return in issue #6. Fingers crossed we don’t need to wait another three-plus years.
Ultramega #5 hits stores on September 18, 2024.
Ultramega #5 Rating:
Ultramega #5 Official Synopsis:
Following the devastating events in volume one, Noah takes on the Ultramega mantle from his father, but will he be able to save the world…or has the world been doomed from the start?
When Kaiju invaded Earth, three humans were granted the power of Ultramega to save humanity…They failed. Now, a new Ultramega has risen in this brutal world without heroes or hope. But the Kaiju Queen isn’t the only challenge he must face. Deep in the stars, they gather. Psychotic. Cold. A WORLD of ULTRAMEGA.