Volume One
I picked this up since I was a fan of the old Ultraman TV show when I was a little kid. This story is a direct sequel to the original series, ignoring the myriad subsequent Ultra-series. Earth has been at peace for the several decades since Ultraman went back to wherever it was he came from. Shin Hayata, Ultraman's human host, eventually retired from the Science Patrol, married, had a son, and rose to become the Minister of Defense. Shin no longer remembers his time as Ultraman, although since he retains a certain measure of super-strength, I have to wonder where he thinks this power came from.
The protagonist of the story is Shinjiro Hayata, Shin's son, who has inherited Shin's super-strength. His father is aware of this, but, oddly, never discusses it with him. Shinjiro hides his powers until one day he decides to try to impress a girl who's being bullied by some older boys, and accidentally cripples one of them.
The third major character is Mitsuhiro Ide, a member of the Science Patrol from the old days. He runs a sort of "Ultraman Museum". At one point, he reveals to Shin that hostile aliens have begun to take an interest in the Earth again, and that the museum is actually a front for the continued research of the supposedly long-disbanded Science Patrol.
The fourth major character is Bemular. In the old show, Bemular was the first monster Ultraman fought. Here, he's a human-sized alien who confronts and attacks Shinjiro. Shin (who has remembered that he was Ultraman*) defends his son, and sends him off to safety at Ide's museum. Ide reveals to Shinjiro that they've built an exo-suit to help magnify and control his powers, which may one day surpass Shin's. Shinjiro dons the suit and rushes to confront Bemular, who is beating the crap out of the now somewhat elderly Shin. Shinjiro manages to drive Bemular away, but is left with more questions than answers.
Overall
I enjoyed this book. The art is pretty good, it suits the subject matter. The exo-suit only vaguely resembles the original Ultraman outfit, but it looks OK. So far, the action has been kept at a human-sized level, I'll be curious to see if that continues. So far, it's been a standard, "Kid discovers that he's the secret heir to the legendary hero" story, but I feel that it's reasonably well-handled. I'm looking forward to seeing more of this.
*Ide reveals that back in the day, the Science Patrollers all knew that Shin was Ultraman, but kept quiet about it for Shin's sake. I'm personally OK with this revelation. It makes sense to me.
Replies
Volume Twelve
The Star Cluster Council tells the people of Earrh that the Ultra race inadvertently damaged spacetime, and that they're working to fix it, but if they can't, they have a contingency plan to shift Earth into another dimension. Adad battles the Leo Brothers in Hong Kong, and Dan races to his aid. Elsehwwere, Red has a "disagreement", and Shinjiro races to his aid.
Overall
Interesting developments. The plight of the refugees is well-portrayed as they are confined to a sort of "alien ghetto". Again, lots of lengthy fight scenes, whoch I feel would be shorter in an American comic.
Another "all-out battle issue." I don't know how I got the idea that Dan and Rei are the "Leo Brothers" (actually, I do), but they're not. The Leo Brothers are Leo and Astra... (I guess?). So Dan did kill Rei, I guess? Was that Fuji in chapter 72? Is she Hayata's wife/Shijiro's mother? Yes, I agree that there were many interesting developments in this volume, but the storytelling remains often unclear. (I'm glad it's not just me.) Do you ever read those little BTS autobiographical features at the end of each volume? I u sually skip those, but perhaps they provide additional insight...?
I read them, but they don't add much about the story.
I just finished reading them myself.
You're right.
Volume Thirteen
Shinjiro and Red join Don and Adad in hong Kong to help them against the Leo Brothers. The Star Cluster Council sends a giant teru teru bōzu to eliminate them all. Don and Shinjiro opt to oignore orders and stay and fight it.
We learn that Edo is the Supreme Chairman of the Star Cluster Council and that Rena is not an "Earthian".
The Leo Brothers join up with the SSSP and reveal that the business about the damage to spacetime was a lie and the the Ultra race are condiered evil because they impose their ideals on the universe.
Taro investigates a murder in Missouroi that my be alien-related.
While Shinjiro ponders whether the Ultras might be evil, Rena shows up at HQ to visit him.
Overall
Some interesting developments here, I hadn't expected the Star Cluster Council to turn out to be shifty, I'm interested to find out what they're up to.
Interesting revelations about Edo and Rena (not to mention the Star Council and the Ultramen... if what they say is true).
"Windam" is from other Ultra-series, but I'll be damned if I can tell you off the top of my head which one(s). Same with the teru teru bōzu "rain doll." (I do not know Ultraman the way you know Doctor Who.)
I'm originally from the St. Louis area, and that bit about two neighbors in "Missouri, USA" shooting themselves because each suspects the other of being an alien is so Missouri.
The one thing I learned from reading those BTS back-ups is that the creators of this manga pitched a reboot based on Ultraman, but the publisher wanted an actual sequel. So they tweaked their plans and pretty much went a head with what they wanted to do all along. That makes so much sense.
Volume Fourteen
Aliens are hunting humans as part of the alien equivalnet of a TV show to amuse welthy alien refugees.
Elsewhere, in a scene that's all "teen romance", Rena tells Shinjiro that she thinks she has super-powers. Later, one of th Ultras tries to warn her about them.
Meanwhile, the SSSP, the cops and a mysterious "scientific research institute" led by Shiro Maki (who is reveaaed to be an alien) are investigating the alien murders.
Taro comes to Japan and confronts the murderers, all of whom flle except for the hostess, Valky, an agent of the Star Cluster Council. Taro and Valky fight. She kisses him and then flees.
Edo reveals that the "hits" on Adad and the Leo Brothers have been called off.
Overall
Some interesting twsits and reveals, here.There's lots or references to and re-imaginig s of characters from various Ultra shows innhere. I'm sure that I'm missing lots of them.
I have nothing to add, really. Good summary.
Apparently, Eiichi Shimizu wanted Taro's "ultra-form" to be fire, but he was pressured by his partner, the editorial staff and others to give him armor, which debuted this volume. He then admited in the BTS editorial manga that giving Taro armor was the right decision.
Volume Fifteen
Valky once again approaches Taro. Dan talks to Shnjiiro about whether or not the Ultras are evil. Impostior Ultramen battle Taro and the Leo Brothers. The impostors take a hostage, who is freed by Adad and Bemular.
Sin, Shinjiro and Dan are held prisoner by Mephisto (a.k.a. Mefilas), who is acting on behalf of the Council., in order to discredit the Ultras.He calims that all the aliens that invaded Earth in the past did so on the Council's orders. Edo arrives and free Shin, Shinjiro and Dan, while revealing to them and Mefilas that he's the Supreme Chancellor of the Star Cluster Council.
Overall
Curiouser and curiouser, as Edo seems to be acting against what people are saying the Council's motives are. Someone seems to be playing a double game, but who?
I like that part of the story is set in another American city, this time San Francisco. Valky seems to be an original character, not one from any of the TV series. I thought the same thing about "Mephisto" as well, until he was revealed to be Mephilas. (Zarab is also involved.) Big EYKIW concerning the Star Cluster Council.
I see you've started to move on from where you left off. I should be caught up in a couple of days.
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