A very well done re-imagining of Ultraman, done through the lens of modern superhero comics and films. I'm definitely looking forward to reading the rA very well done re-imagining of Ultraman, done through the lens of modern superhero comics and films. I'm definitely looking forward to reading the rest of this series....more
We get so many great meetings this volume - another meeting between Char and Sayla (or rather Artesia and Casval) - the first meeting between Char andWe get so many great meetings this volume - another meeting between Char and Sayla (or rather Artesia and Casval) - the first meeting between Char and and Amuro, and the meeting between Amuro and Lalah Sune. These moments are all just so wonderfully done, made even better by what is saved for the color splash pages - By having Amuro and Lalah's first meeting be in color, the impression that she leaves with Amuro is made so clear. The same way, the first face-to-face meeting between Char and Amuro is so wonderfully done - both knowing that they're on opposing sides of the war, but only Amuro recognizing Char as his arch enemy, and the mud on their knees as free Amuro's car from the ditch making so clear that both have their hands dirty, but with something other than mud.
It's a wonderfully done volume, with some especially done action scenes as well, which also shows just how far Amuro has come as a mobile suit pilot....more
I'll have a review of this going on Bureau 42 in July. In short, the manga is a good adaptation of the light novel (and anime), though the manga uses I'll have a review of this going on Bureau 42 in July. In short, the manga is a good adaptation of the light novel (and anime), though the manga uses more super-deformed character designs in comedic moments than the show did. Generally, the manga feels like it plays up the comedy a little bit more than the show, though the dramatic beats *are* there....more
This is certainly a mixed bag, when it comes to the storylines. On the one hand, the first Annual, with the Flyers, is very well done, as is the wholeThis is certainly a mixed bag, when it comes to the storylines. On the one hand, the first Annual, with the Flyers, is very well done, as is the whole storyline with The Wheel. On the other hand, the clear "Seven Samurai"/"Magnificent Seven" storyline that kicks off the the comic's first original story after the events of A New Hope is a bit much....more
So, we now know who the kid in the mask is, and whether or not he is The Friend. (view spoiler)[Specifically, the kid in the mask is Sadakiyo, and no,So, we now know who the kid in the mask is, and whether or not he is The Friend. (view spoiler)[Specifically, the kid in the mask is Sadakiyo, and no, he's not the friend - but he's seen The Friend's face. So, the question is, who is The Friend. (hide spoiler)]...more
A very interestingly done time travel story, and Colin Baker's new companion in this story is, quite possibly, one of my favorite Doctor Who companionA very interestingly done time travel story, and Colin Baker's new companion in this story is, quite possibly, one of my favorite Doctor Who companions of all time....more
The (admittedly incredibly good) flashback arc has concluded, and now we return to the White Base - first as they come into port at Belfast, before moThe (admittedly incredibly good) flashback arc has concluded, and now we return to the White Base - first as they come into port at Belfast, before moving to Gibraltar and the Mediterranean as part of the final push to drive Zeon forces from Earth, with Operation Odessa.
As with the earlier volumes, Yasuhiko's art is incredibly good, and while he's still working from Yoshiyuki Tomino's original framework, with the TV series, he builds on it in ways which do in incredible job of expanding of some of the characters. In particular, M'quve gets some considerable character growth. Miharu also gets some additional screen time, as opposed to basically being a one-episode wonder in the show.
However, after Miharu's arc, the focus of this volume is particularly on action, and the action sequences here are played out brilliantly. We have a tense cat-and-mouse duel in Gibraltar leading up to the fourth battle between Char and Amuro - along with the various parts of Operation Odessa. Yasuhiko does an excellent job basically doing a montage in sequential art. Where the original series budgetary limitations restrained the scope of this larger war, Yasuhiko is able to use the implied gaps in time between panels to let our mind fill in the pieces.
Unfortunately, with the conclusion of combat on Earth, and the next volume likely taking us back to space, this does mean that we won't get my favorite episode of Mobile Suit Gundam - the episode where a Zeon Patrol blunders across The White Base, in the forests of Northern Europe, and hopes that the Feddies will be just as caught off guard as they are, and they attempt a sneak attack. The plan doesn't work - but in the episode the Zeon troops survive, and no one on White Base is killed, so the incident serves as a nice psychological rest break, focusing on the idea that sometimes in war, a lot hinges on luck, not everything goes according to plan, and occasionally you legitimately get moments where you can end up saying "Someday, when all this is over, we'll look back on this moment and laugh."...more
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