For years, the fabric of time and space has been pierced by Kaiju and aliens, determined to infiltrate the Earth. This time, someone else has slipped through, someone far friendlier…
ULTRAMAN: Along Came a Spider-Man marks the first ever crossover between our valiant hero, Ultraman, and Marvel’s iconic Avengers, most notably our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, in parallel with Marvel’s own Ultraman X Avengers — both of which were released on the same day.
The first two chapters of the new shonen manga are available now through the VIZ Manga app. New chapters are set to release every Tuesday, accessible for free for all VIZ Manga subscribers!
The story kicks off with the classic Spider-Man introductory monologue. His name is Peter Parker, he was bitten by a radioactive spider, his uncle Ben was killed — most of us know this part (but it’s hard not to get excited every time.)
The story itself begins in media res as chaos ensues around our hero. Buildings smashed, innocent civilians falling from lethal heights, explosions erupting and sending plumes of smoke into the sky. Artist Tomo Hirokawa guides us through the disarray. Inky black smatterings, voluminous clouds brought to life with dramatic hatching, webs of hairline fractures, crumbling structures, and tight expressive action lines weave together a tapestry of destruction.
The only thing resembling safety lies in the familiar shapes of our heroes, the Avengers. Iron Man, Thor, Doctor Strange, and Captain America are redefined in classic Japanese manga style. The crew works alongside Spider-Man in pursuit of the infamous Doctor Doom as he embarks on his ruthless conquest of Earth.
When a building full of people is deemed unsalvageable by the rest of the Avengers and left to collapse, Spider-Man is left in a state of denial and rage. His regret is exploited by Doctor Doom, who weakens Spider-Man’s morale by questioning the nature of heroism. Wouldn’t a true hero just end all the suffering? Put humanity out of its misery?
Before he can fully process it all, Spider-Man and Doctor Doom find themselves separated from the rest on the legendary Train from the Vary Dimension, first shown in Ultra Q, hurtling through infinite realms. Half-tones, light effects, and a wide range of patterns create a textural landscape that sprawls through the manga, picking up in full psychedelic gear as the mystery-train bolts through reality.
Literally kicked off the train by Doctor Doom, Spider-Man plunges into the unknown. As he falls, we are forced to contemplate some of the most quintessential aspects of the superhero narrative. War, death, and pain are inevitable, and the cycle is never-ending. Can superheroes truly revel in winning battles when the fight against evil is Sisyphean at its core?
ULTRAMAN: Along Came a Spider-Man is setting itself up to answer this question, already building the momentum to eventually define what exactly a hero is in this day and age. Cynicism is often mistaken for realism, and the fight for equity and justice can feel daunting beyond salvation. We have all been in Spider-Man’s headspace in our own lives at times.
Our hopes are not fully extinguished yet, though. In the final frames of the first chapter, a recognizable figure soars through the open air of the Land of Light, headed for the same place as our dispirited Spidey. Ultraman’s Tokyo, Japan.
When Spider-Man crash-lands, things are unimaginably worse than back home in the big apple. A giant lizard-Kaiju (also coincidentally named Peter) smashes through the crowded streets of Tokyo, whipping about an insane tongue. Spider-Man attempts to warn an unmoving civilian, but this is the one civilian that doesn’t need saving. Shin Hayata faces the threat, with three minutes on the clock, and transforms into Ultraman to save Japan.
Spider-Man is a street-level hero. He represents humanity, and never loses touch with his love for us. Although Ultraman is a higher being, the two have a lot in common. Though he is elevated, Ultraman goes out of his way to make himself accessible to humanity, giving a piece of himself to humanity on the street, as Shin Hayata. Both Shin and Peter must balance great power, great responsibility, and mortal limitations. Watching their mutual understanding blossom is bound to be a gripping adventure.
This Spider-Man is a bit different than the one we’re used to. His snark and wit have been downplayed for now, it seems, for a relatable existentialism, and yet somewhere between the lines there feels to be a promise that his charm will be reignited when met with the right stoic companion. (Don’t worry, though, he still manages to sneak in some funny jokes, especially when it comes to his culture shock towards Japan.)
Deliberate linework, dynamic poses, and a variety of cinematic angles make it easy to forget you’re not watching a movie as you read Ultraman: Along Came A Spider-Man.
With the help of Marvel Comics Executive Editor Tom Brevoort and Tsuburaya Fields Media & Pictures Entertainment’s Transmedia Producer Jeff Gomez, Author Shigenobu Matsumoto has created an entirely believable world-meld and opened the gates to a sandbox any Marvel or Ultraman fan will be elated to play in. Fans are already toying with the infinite possibilities of what’s to come when Doctor Doom pairs up with the diabolical Alien Meflias and his army of destructive Kaiju to take down our two suited heroes.
A complete printed edition of the Ultraman: Along Came A Spider-Man manga will be distributed by VIZ in Summer 2025 but for now, be sure to download the VIZ Manga app for weekly chapter updates!
