The Ultraman series is enjoyed by people of all ages and walks of life. 60 years have made the Giant of Light a hero known globally — And yet, the vast majority of those stories have come from Japan. One could even consider Ultraman to be one of Japan’s great cultural exports. With Beware the Baleful Baltan, Sky Turtle Nova has mounted their love letter from America to the series, returning to the building blocks that made the series while telling new stories for a younger audience!
The series brings together a sextet of twelve-year-old geniuses in different fields as the next generation of heroes, training under the legendary SSSP as part of the titular “Ultra Academy.” Our titular character is Jack Newton, chemistry prodigy with a passion for volcanoes (as so many of us had in our own childhoods), and joining him are bird boy Xenon “Eno” Schmalz III, tech whiz Arthur “AI” Khan, botanist Willa Olmstead, forensics fan Jane Ramirez, and astronomer Aurora Fofana. (plus her service dog, Quasar!)
Each of these kids, despite all their intelligence, are, well, kids, and so their difficulties growing up are just as threatening as the aliens skulking around, attempting to invade!
We did say this was called Beware the Baleful Baltan, you know. The space invaders are back, this time with a new plan involving undersea volcanoes — and interpersonal chaos. Can the kids find a way through their own dramas and come together to save the world? Don’t worry, kids, Ultraman will surely appear! …Right?
Writer Rebecca K. Reynolds has weaved together a new interpretation of the original 1966 Ultraman, taking it from its original 1990s setting and placing it firmly in the modern era without sacrificing the tone that helped it find its way into the hearts of viewers young and old 60 years ago. The end result is an easy-to-read book that manages to be poignant when it needs to be, and hilarious just a few pages later.
Beware the Baleful Baltan is the first entry in a greater Ultra Academy series, and we can’t wait to see what classic Kaiju or Alien next finds itself not only facing Ultraman, but the next generation he protects.
Beware the Baleful Baltan drops on September 23rd everywhere fine books are sold. To stay up-to-date with future Ultra Academy news, stay close to Ultraman Connection!
