The third major chapter in Marvel’s Ultraman universe starts this week with Ultraman: The Mystery of Ultraseven. Kyle Higgens and Mat Groom return to explore the Ultra universe even deeper while introducing an Ultra that is unnamed and may be a threat to humanity. Otherwise known as Ultraseven, the creative team aims to introduce this unique version of Ultraman into the comics for new and old fans.
You can catch up fairly quickly with this series by reading Ultraman vol. 1 and Ultraman vol. 2, both of which have thorough reviews on AIPT.
Ultraman: The Mystery of Ultraseven #1 opens with characters on another planet many years ago. We’re given tidbits on kaiju attacking, why they might attack, and how Ultra characters serve a purpose. There’s some intriguing worldbuilding going on here with some big promises to answers readers have had from the very start.
Meanwhile, our main hero is powerless but sees the same flashback visions readers are privy to. It’s a clever way to progress both the plots of the past and the present while adding new context and information. The cutting between expository flashbacks and the present keeps the pace and plotting interesting and moving forward nicely. With little Ultraman knowledge, I will say the cliffhanger was a surprise and should be enough to drive readers to pick up the next issue.
Our main hero is powerless!
Credit: Marvel
The main story in this issue is drawn by Davide Tinto with color by Espen Grundetjern, both of which capture the epic nature of the Ultra in the flashbacks and the pressing danger in the present. We get to see Ultraseven fight in an epic double-page layout, for instance, and the color effects of the Ultra in the past are well done too. The look, whether it’s the pencils or colors, continues to trend in a bright, hopeful, and all-ages way.
Following the main story is “From Rise to Fall Part 2”, drawn by David Lopez with colors by KJ Diaz. This backup is simply great, adding new context to the dire situation our main character is in. Not only does this backup add new details about the first aliens who came to Earth, but sets up a major villain you won’t expect either. The art in this backup is well done with moody, atmospheric art and color. Since it’s a flashback, the art style change is well done, juxtaposing well with the brighter and more hopeful-looking main story.
Gurihiru supplies the art for two comic strip-style stories in the ongoing “Kaiju Steps” backups. Each one is equally goofy but twisted in a dark sort of way. It’s certainly not a tale for kids, yet is drawn like a cartoon strip from a newspaper.
As third chapters go, Ultraman: The Mystery of Ultraseven #1 raises the stakes, adds new backstory, and is an exciting new chapter in the evolving Ultraman universe. Ultraman: The Mystery of the Ultraseven amps up the stakes and offers refreshing worldbuilding.
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