Ultraman (manga)

Ultraman

Cover of volume 1
ULTRAMAN
Genre Science fiction, action
Manga
Ultraman
Written by Eiichi Shimizu
Illustrated by Tomohiro Shimoguchi
Published by Shogakukan
Demographic Seinen
Magazine Monthly Hero's
Original run November 1, 2011 – ongoing
Volumes 5

Ultraman (stylized as ULTRAMAN) is a manga written by Eiichi Shimizu and drawn by Tomohiro Shimoguchi of Linebarrels of Iron fame. Published in Monthly Hero's since the magazine's inaugural issue,[1] it is a manga sequel of the 1966 Ultraman television series.[2][3] The series has been collected in 4 volumes consisting of 21 chapters,[4][5][6] with a fifth volume released on November 5, 2014.

Story

Several years have passed since the events of Ultraman, with the legendary "Giant of Light" (光の巨人 Hikari no Kyojin) now a memory, as it is believed he returned home after fighting the many giant aliens that invaded the Earth. Shin Hayata's son Shinjiro seems to possess a strange ability, and it is this ability, along with his father's revelation that he was Ultraman, that leads Shinjiro to battle the new aliens invading the Earth as the new Ultraman.

Characters

Science Special Search Party

Shinjiro Hayata (早田 進次郎（ハヤタ・シンジロウ） Hayata Shinjirō)
The protagonist. When Shinjiro was born, he was seen to possess a strange "Ultraman Factor" (ウルトラマン因子 Urutoraman Inshi) that makes him superhuman, with his mere grasp able to break bones and his leap allowing him to span buildings. When aliens begin invading Earth, Shin Hayata and Dr. Ide give Shinjiro a special Ultraman Suit (ウルトラマンスーツ Urutoraman Sūtsu) to battle the monsters invading the Earth.
Shin Hayata (早田 進（ハヤタ・シン） Hayata Shin)
Shinjiro's father and the original Ultraman. At the beginning of the story, he has been given the title of Minister of Defense. Although the Ultraman entity has left his body, and he only has vague memories of his time as Ultraman, he still possesses some Ultraman Factor within him that allows him to fight to some extent, but he returns to the sidelines after being hurt in the battle with Be Mular.
Mitsuhiro Ide (井手 光弘（イデ・ミツヒロ） Ide Mitsuhiro)
A former member of the Japan Branch of the Science Special Search Party (科学特捜隊 Kagaku Tokusō-tai), and now chief of the Institute of Science and Technology (科学技術研究所 Kagaku Gijutsu Kenkyūsho). He secretly has known that Shin has recently transformed into Ultraman to fight monsters, revealing this fact to his friend at the Giant of Light Memorial (光の巨人記念館 Hikari no Kyojin Kinenkan), the secret base of the Science Special Search Party. He gives Shinjiro the Ultraman Suit and reveals the truth about his father to him. Although he usually appears stoic, he is angered by the Alien Adasic's actions.
Dan Moroboshi (諸星 弾（モロボシ・ダン） Moroboshi Dan)
A mysterious man who works with the Science Special Search Team, but only seems to appear at the scenes of murders which an alien is the culprit. He feels that Shinjiro is too immature for the responsibilities placed on him as the new Ultraman. Moroboshi shares his name with the main character of Ultra Seven, and is able to use a battle armor similar to Shinjiro's which looks like Ultraseven.
Akiko Fuji (富士 明子（フジ・アキコ） Fuji Akiko)
A former member of the Science Special Search Team with Hayata and Ide, but is now Moroboshi's superior officer.

Aliens

Be Mular (べムラー Bemurā)
An alien who appears in shadow to Shinjiro, allegedly in an attempt to bring the Earth into the Stellar Cluster Council. He also claims to be the first enemy, but his true reasons for his actions are unknown. He is named after the Ultraman monster Bemular.
Ed, the Zetton Alien (ゼットン星人・エド Zetton Seijin Edo)
The last of the Zettonian race, Ultraman's fierce enemies in the past. This time, he assists the Science Special Search Party in their fight against the other more dangerous alien species, providing them with the technology of the Ultraman Suits.
Adacic Alien (エイダシク星人 Eidashiku Seijin)
A mysterious alien hiding as a human on Earth, preying upon people in the guise of a serial killer, and one of Shinjiro's first foes as Ultraman. He resembles the Baltan Aliens, which were designed after the Cicada Man from Ultra Q.
Igaru Alien (イガル星人 Igaru Seijin)
A short alien that stalks the popular idol Rena Sayama.
Red (レッド Reddo)
A resident of the Alien City who is a popular boxer, but has recently been dethroned by Jack. He resembles the monster Red King.

Others

Endo (遠藤 Endō)
A police officer who unwittingly is drawn into the world of aliens living on the Earth during his investigations. His daughter is a huge fan of the original Ultraman.
Kurata (倉田)
Endo's junior partner.
Rena Sayama (佐山 レナ Sayama Rena)
A popular idol around Shinjiro's age. She is a fan of both the original and the new Ultraman, dedicating her third single "Ultlove" (ウルトラブ Urutorabu) to him. She has seemingly fallen in love with the new Ultraman, unaware that he is Shinjiro.
Jack (ジャック Jakku)
A human who lives in the Alien City who possesses powers rivalling that of the resident extraterrestrials, even winning in a boxing match against Red. He acts as an informant to Moroboshi. His real name is unknown. He seems to possess a bracelet that resembles the Ultra Bracelet used by Hideki Gō to become Ultraman Jack in The Return of Ultraman.

Publication history

No.Japanese release dateJapanese ISBN
1 September 8, 2012ISBN 9784864683012
2 March 5, 2013ISBN 9784864683210
3 September 5, 2013ISBN 9784864683418
4 March 4, 2014ISBN 9784864683586
5 November 5, 2014ISBN 9784864683777

References

  1. ↑ "コミックナタリー - 「鉄のラインバレル」コンビが描く新たなウルトラマン始動". Natalie.mu. 2011-07-21. Retrieved 2014-03-15.
  2. ↑ "コミックナタリー - ヒーローズのウルトラマン本、夏コミ企業ブースで頒布決定". Natalie.mu. 2011-08-02. Retrieved 2014-03-15.
  3. ↑ "コミックナタリー - ヒーローズ創刊、ラインバレルコンビがウルトラマン描く". Natalie.mu. 2011-11-01. Retrieved 2014-03-15.
  4. ↑ "コミックナタリー - 「鉄のラインバレル」の清水×下口描く「ULTRAMAN」1巻". Natalie.mu. 2012-09-05. Retrieved 2014-03-15.
  5. ↑ "コミックナタリー - 清水×下口「ULTRAMAN」3巻発売でTシャツプレゼントも". Natalie.mu. 2013-08-18. Retrieved 2014-03-15.
  6. ↑ "コミックナタリー - ウルトラヒーローが書店を行脚！「ULTRAMAN」4巻記念". Natalie.mu. 2014-03-05. Retrieved 2014-03-15.

External links