This week we’re grateful for the VIZ Manga app and website for giving us Ultraman: Along Came a Spider-Man chapters 11 and 12 absolutely free! Things are clicking into place as Ultraman and Spider-Man’s relationship develops in the face of a mysterious threat.
Back in Peter Parker’s home universe, Iron Man has been tirelessly working to figure out how to retrieve Peter from the alternate dimension. Thor, on the other hand, has faith that Peter will find his way back to them.
‘All things return to where they belong,’ is pretty easy to say when you’ve got a magic boomerang-hammer that never leaves your side. However, as much as we might want Tony to seek Peter out, there’s something about Thor’s faith in Spider-Man that we can’t help but understand. Spider-Man has always proven himself, so why would this be any different? Should the Avengers stop looking for him? Is abandoning his rescue mission an act of ultimate trust or ignorant negligence?
Meanwhile in Tokyo, the Avengers are not even on Peter’s radar. In fact, Peter is busy getting worked up over his reputation after reading of his own defamation in tabloids. When banks are found ravaged, covered in giant spiderwebs, it’s natural that fingers would be pointing to the newest spider-adjacent stranger in town.
In an effort to clear his name, Spider-Man arrives at the scene of the crime and discovers the culprit is a literal giant spider. Things quickly devolve into some serious spider-to-spider combat until the spider retreats.
Of course, we know that this spider is actually Gango, the shapeshifting Kaiju. Gango retreats to his master, the vengeful tween Onita, whose malice is somehow more chilling than that of both Alien Meflias and Doctor Doom. There’s something uncanny about this level of vindictive nihilism manifesting in a child.
SSSP Agent, Fuji would agree as she happens upon Onita’s secret hideout, which is full of spiderwebs encasing the limp bodies of his victims. Despite his juvenile demeanor, Onita is a villain as true as any other. Is it bias to have a semblance of hope left for him simply because he is young, or is every child salvageable no matter how scorned?
These seem to be the thoughts running through everyone’s minds as Onita’s true intentions with Gango are revealed. As Fuji desperately tries to usher Onita out of his manic frenzy, Onita justifies his selfishness and lack of compassion, “Make things right? Make what right?! Nothing’s ever been right for me!”
Onita is a perfect example of how self-pitying calcifies into an impenetrable rage if not addressed and dealt with. Feeding into the fantasy that the world owes Onita allows him to manifest his energy into one request to Gango: Become a Kaiju that can crush ANYTHING!
And thus arrives the ultimate form of the Brainwave Kaiju, Gango. What was once a small neutral alien body, ready to be imprinted on, is now a towering, fanged beast hungry for demolition.
Shin Hayata leaps into action, becoming Ultraman and taking on the mighty Gango but he is adequately challenged. After all, Gango is made to grant that mad wish — to crush anything it its way.
Spider-Man catches wind of this and steps up to the plate, asking Ultraman officially, for the first time, if he can fight beside him!
At last Ultraman and Spider-Man are together, Ultraman using his size, combat skills, and light energy to his advantage and Spider-Man banking on his size, agility, and webs. Together, they cover all possible weaknesses.
In this world, both Ultraman and Spider-Man are technically aliens. Both of their identities rely on them being outsiders, moved forward through time and space by their desire to protect and defend despite not being understood or protected themselves.
Now, the two heroes can relate to one another, watch each other’s backs, and utilize their respective skills in a fluid dance of mutual respect and understanding. Plus they can kick Gango’s butt! Or so we hope…
Find out next week on the VIZ Manga app or website with new chapters of Ultraman: Along Came a Spider-Man,and stay tuned here at Ultraman Connection for weekly updates!
