This past June, Netflix’s Ultraman Rising gave Japan’s mightiest hero a comeback in the US. Then during the 2024 Comic-Con weekend, he took over the Marvel Comics panel on July 27th, announcing two crossovers with Tsuburaya Productions. Earth’s goliath will protect the planet alongside the Avengers, followed by Spiderman protecting him from the devious Doctor Doom. How did Tsuburaya Productions managed to create an ultimate alliance with one of the greatest comic studios?
Tsuburaya And Marvel’s Relationship
Marvel bringing over the kaiju fighter into the MCU may sound stranger at first, but there’s a reason why they can make crossovers with him. In 2019, Tsuburuya Productions contacted their US license distributor, Danny Simon. The studio wanted to introduce Ultraman to new fans in the US through the world of comics. Simon contacted Marvel Comics to see if they would take on the opportunity.
This was around the same time Shannon Tindle and John Aoshima began production for the 2024 Netflix Original animated film with Tsuburaya Productions. Almost as if they predicted the friendly giant could become popular in the present-day, Danny received an agreement for a five-comic series with their license.
The series was called The Rise of Ultraman, a reimagining of 1966 original series with writer Matthew Groom and artist Kyle Higgins leading production. The story revolves around the friendship of Shin Hayata and Kiki Fuji. The United Science Patrol (USP) wanted to discover the secret of the giant warriors who were. Shin and Kiki discovered their secret after coming into contact with the merger from a strange meteor.
Joining The Avengers
After the success of the first series, Shin Hayata continued his story in two sequel series, The Trials of Ultraman and The Mystery of Ultraseven. Then on May 22nd, 2024, Marvel and Tsubaraya announced Shin would be joining the next generation of the Avengers in Ultraman x Marvel Avengers.
After Peter Parker disappeared from New York, an intergalactic being visited Shin, and the kaiju began to act strange around Earth. Who could be this mysterious galactic stranger he met? So far, their identity is concealed and they could be any of Marvel’s heroes from outer space such as Nova, Silver Surfer, and Guardians of the Galaxy.
On the front cover of the crossover’s first issue, it offers fans insight whose in the next-generation Avengers. We have Sam Spade, the Falcon as the team’s leader, followed by Miles Morales, Ms. Marvel, Wasp and Repulsor Ray. As of now, the crossover is planned to produced four comics. Groom and Higgins would not reveal what happened to Spiderman until two months later.
Spiderman And Doom Head To Japan
On July 27th, the Marvel Comics panel at San Diego Comic-Con announced Tsuburaya’s project will be releasing another crossover project in Japan and the US. Spiderman will star in VIZ Media’s newest manga series, Ultraman Along With A Spiderman with Sword Art Online illustrator, Tomo Hirokawa, and Duel Masters’ writer, Shigenobu Matsunobu. Unlike the grand adventure with Shin Hayate, Peter Parker will be on a journey of fighting his heroic morale.
On one of the Earths, the original Avengers fought against Doctor Doom in an intense battle in New York. Suddenly, a building collapsed crushing several civilians who couldn’t escape the disaster. This made Peter upset, blaming himself for not focusing on saving people while the Avengers fought the supreme sorcerer. He soon enters a strange space vessel called the Interdimensional Train.
Curious about where the friendly neighborhood Spiderman was going, Doom sneaks aboard. The train takes them to Tokyo, Japan, the home of the red-and-silver goliath. After demonstrating his Ultrabeam during his battle against a kaiju, Doom plans to destroy Ultraman to obtain Spacium, the element substance that granted his dynamic growth and beams.
Now with Spiderman’s disappearance explained, the crossovers are planned to release simultaneously till the end of this year. Ultraman Along With A Spiderman will release on August 13th, with the Avengers following behind on the 14th.
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