REVIEW: ‘Ultraman x the Avengers’ Issue #1

Ultraman x the Avengers #1 is published by Marvel Comics. It is written by Kyle Higgins and Mat Groom, with art by Francesco Manna, colors by Matt Milla, and letters by Ariana Maher. In this issue, members of the Avengers find themselves in a new universe with giant aliens and kaiju.

This crossover does not take long to merge the universes. With Multiverses becoming more common within Marvel and beyond, it is easy to excuse characters jumping between worlds. But the story begins small, only sending Miles Morales across the Ultraman’s universe first. This allows for newcomers to learn the rules and the characters. This is a world where Ultraman is the only superhero, and Shin Hayata doesn’t even consider himself to be a superhero in the first place.

Higgin’s choice for an enemy threatening both universes is bold, but it is as close to a Kaiju as Marvel can muster. The pace moves quickly, hurtling between locations and scenarios. There are early battles that showcase what Ultraman can do against kaiju and other massive threats. Then, by the end of the issue, more members of the Avengers are brought through, and the crossover begins in earnest.

The dialogue and the understanding of the characters by Higgins and Groom are spectacular. Miles is a brilliant first encounter for those in Ultraman’s universe. He is friendly and funny, witty and intelligent. He also understands the concept of moving universes, so there doesn’t have to be a typical fight between heroes when they first meet. Higgins and Groom have a hilarious approach where Miles accepts the rules of that world, unphased by the reveal of Ultraman.

Explaining some aspects of communication is effortless. Higgins also excels when the other Avengers step through, capturing their distinct personalities. Iron Man gives Ultraman’s supporting cast archetypes that help introduce them to newcomers. The Avengers lineup is not based on anything canonical within current books but instead just a handful of cool and contemporary heroes who will be effective in this universe.

The art is sensational. Both of the selling points of either universe are terrific inside Ultraman x the Avengers #1. The immense size of Ultraman and the villains he faces are captured superbly, with a first battle that showcases the power of the vast alien robot. The spectacle and scale are exhilarating, especially as a massive Marvel character is brought into that universe.

The Avengers have also been terrifically designed. Manna recreated their costumes wonderfully, not entirely out of place within the new world. There are only brief glimpses of monsters, but a brilliant mixture of designs exists.

The colors take the Marvel characters into a very dark location. The planet Ultraman is on is devoid of superheroes, so it is not as bright and vibrant as those costumes naturally bring to an area. Everything from the sky to the outfits is gloomy and melancholy.

Light does begin to enter the book when Ultraman’s eyes and energy rays glow, but even Miles’ spider suit doesn’t bring the contrast up. It is when reinforcements arrive that the issue gains more color. The lettering has extraordinary clarity and is phenomenally easy to read.

Ultraman x the Avengers #1 brings together two pillars of pop culture. This crossover is of an enormously high quality, embracing the depth of each world. Where some mergers of universes barely dip beneath the surface of the characters. But this issue uses very relevant figures in either dimension, referencing small details in either backstory that shows how well the writers know the characters. There is a big cast and a variety of voices on display.

Ultraman x the Avengers #1 is only the beginning; so much time has to be spent dealing with exposition, but the mesmerising art and excellent dialogue make every word enjoyable.

Ultraman x the Avengers #1 is available where comics are sold.