Review: ULTRAMEGA #1 Is R-Rated Tokusatsu
Image Comics and their Skybound imprint released Ultramega #1 this week. Written and illustrated by James Harren with colors by Dave Stewart and letters by Rus Wooten, Ultramega is a new take on the tokusatsu genre that definitely appears to have some roots in the popular series Ultraman. Image Comics was kind enough to supply me with a copy of the 60-page comic for review, and you can find my thoughts below. You can purchase your own copy from local comic stores, comiXology (affiliate link), or wherever else you like to buy comics.
[A] cosmic plague has spread, transforming everyday people into violent, monstrous kaiju. Only the Ultramega—three individuals imbued with incredible powers—hold the line against this madness. Their battles level cities and leave untold horror in their wake. Now, the final reckoning approaches for the Ultramega…but is this a war they can even win?
If you’ve ever read or watched Ultraman and wanted it to be rated R, Ultramega is for you. The story is decent, with a man who’s charged with defending the world from kaiju that spring up by his presence. The kaiju spawn, and he has to transform and fight them. It is extremely bloody though, and there’s a lot of swearing. If you are like me and can’t handle blood very well, don’t read this comic.
Harren is making his writing debut with Ultramega #1, and he does an okay job. It’s not the tightest writing I’ve seen, but it doesn’t meander. He has a story that he wants to tell, and he accomplishes it. His art is horrifying, which is very fitting and appropriate. Stewart’s colors are good although I wish there was less of a green tint over most things. Yes, that tint is there purposefully, I just personally feel it’s a little overused.
If you want to see giant superheroes beating up monsters in an R-rated adventure, Ultramega is definitely for you. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed and it’s easy to see Harren’s influences from early anime OVAs, Evil Dead, and much more.
