Ultramega by James Harren, Volume 1

Product Information

PORTLAND, Ore. 12/08/2020 — Image/Skybound Entertainment will supersize fan frenzy this March with new series Ultramega by heavyweight James Harren (Rumble, BPRD) and featuring the talents of multiple Eisner award winning colorist Dave Stewart.

Kaiju: They also double as The Virus as they mutate not only the bodies of their hosts but their minds as well. Pacific Rim? Puny. Godzilla? A guppy. Readers beware: no series launch in 2021 could possibly be bigger than ULTRAMEGA. Literally. In All of the Marvels, which would be one of the best comics of 2021 if it were not a prose book, author Douglas Wolk points out that at its start, monsters were as core to the Marvel Comics universe as crimefighting or romance. Since 2018, Al Ewing and numerous artists have been reminding us that they still are. The Ultramega is a power given to three unassuming characters that transform into gigantic Ultraman lookalikes when they come into proximity to someone infected with this cosmic kaiju virus. But, the virus is so widespread that the Ultramega warriors are worn down to nubs with the constant fighting. Ultraman rarely had this problem, even though there was a kaiju fight in just about every issue. It’s a new diversion from the old formula that breathes life into the giant monster genre. The kaiju themselves don’t resemble Ultraman baddies as the chunky lizards and insect-like monsters. Ultramega’s foes are many tentacled monstrosities, macabre in design and brutal in nature. Later, in a 1995 interview, Cornell admitted "we made a huge mistake with Ultramega OK, because we left our home surroundings and people we'd been involved with and used this producer that really did affect our album in a kind of negative way. The producer was suggested by SST because they could get a good deal. I regret it, because in terms of material, it should have been one of the best records we ever did. It actually slowed down our momentum a little bit because it didn't really sound like us." [2]

Writer

Purple Is Powerful: Jason and later Noah have purple Ultramega forms, and purple is generally a predominant color where Ultramegas are concerned. Telling a story from the early days of the infamous Judges of the long-running Judge Dredd strip, writer Michael Carroll and artist John Higgins’ Dreadnoughts explores the presence of police brutality just 14 years into our future — only six decades before the time frame of the original Dredd story — and how it begins the descent into Dredd’s fascist police state of Mega-City One. Flower" was the only single released from the album. Its music video, directed by Mark Miremont, aired regularly on MTV's 120 Minutes, helping to call attention to the early Seattle grunge scene. Reed, Ryan (January 18, 2017). "Soundgarden Finalize 'Ultramega OK' Remix for Reissue". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 7, 2017.

For the price, this is worth it. I highly recommend it. Not just this issue, but grab the first two issues as well because this is a truly original take on kaiju and heroics in a dystopian world. Above all else, this comic is good because it’s something new and original with that Shonen flair in the main character. Gladiator Games: Without Ultramegas to fight, the Kaiju turn to staging gladiatorial "games where they dress prisoners up in Ultramega costumes and throw them into a toy model city to be brutalized and killed by Kaiju warriors.Villain Forgot to Level Grind: The Kaiju King is about as strong as he was when he killed Earth's first three Ultramegas, but a number of factors give the much weaker and less experienced Noah the edge his predecessors didn't. Firstly, they're fighting in the ruins of the old city which is filled with either Kaiju or their mostly willing slaves, so he doesn't have to worry much about collateral damage. And perhaps most importantly, he's unaware that he and the villain are half-brothers, so he isn't rendered off-balance by the familial connection he has with his opponent like how it was with their father. And on top of all of that, Kaiju King is now very out of shape from years of inaction. Jason refusing to kill his pregnant first wife Lilith despite her having been infected by the Kaiju virus. This allows her and their baby to become the Kaiju Queen and Kaiju Prince/King years down the line. Indisputably one of the top science fiction novelists of this era, if not the top, Jemisin walks into the medium of comics as if she was born to it — which, in an era of high profile creators dipping into the comics world, is not at all a given. You would never guess this is her very first graphic novel, and not simply because she’s working with one of the best artists in the industry right now. Jamal Campbell breathes vibrant life and character into Jemisin’s intricate multi-species alien society, and their partnership leaves plenty of room for him to deliver his impeccable grasp of expression, motion, and framing. The last time Jamal Campbell drew a whole comic, it was also one of the best in its year, and with Jemisin on board it is not at all surprising that Far Sector makes the cut this year. —SP Noah goes through so much emotionally in the arena that it’s a helluva ride to read. The most surprising part of this issue though is the amount of dark humor. There have been gags and playful moments previously, but in this issue, it’s as if Doug Stanhope wrote some of these lines. Does the action keep up though? Without a doubt yes. It’s bloody and intense. So ultimately, Ultramega #3 delivers on the action and so much more.

An Image Comics title written and drawn by James Harren ( RUMBLE and B.P.R.D.) inspired by tokusatsu superhero shows like the Ultra Series. Abusive Parents: The Kaiju Queen mostly just treats her son, the Prince/King, with withering contempt despite his efforts to please her. Citadel City: ALL surviving cities are this after the first Ultramegas fall. They actually do quite well at keeping Kaiju out.

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Offing the Offspring: Ern's young son was sleeping near him when he became an Ultramega… and saw that said son was infested with the Kaiju virus. Ern is still traumatized from what happened next. On the positive side, I can praise the issue’s art with few reservations. This is where the creative team’s enthusiasm and talent show most successfully and charmingly. The kaiju in this series are clearly meant to be disgusting, and boy are they. There’s flesh and blood and gore abound, and Harren and Stewart sell the idea that alien invasion and the battle against it are pure hell. There are some creative visual reveals that I won’t spoil, as well as a multitude of moments that call to mind the likes of Ultraman and Evangelion in a good way. I also adore the highly detailed architecture and the electric feel of the coloration. My only complaint art-wise is that the sense of scale feels a bit inconsistent at times.

Fling a Light into the Future: Jason does this with the Eye by blasting it into the Earth to keep it safe from the Kaiju King and in hopes that someone else will find it and continue his fight as a new Ultramega. Sadistic Choice: Odis is made to choose between letting all of Avalon go hungry when the Kaiju Klan threaten to steal the yearly supply drop or giving up Noah in exchange for the food. He reluctantly chooses the latter, to his own shame. Rewarded as a Traitor Deserves: Red Gara's betrayal of his fellow humans to the Kaiju is "rewarded" by being thrown into their Gladiator Games to die alongside their human prisoners the very instant he gets injured and ceases to be immediately useful. Image/Skybound Entertainment will supersize fan frenzy this March with new series ULTRAMEGA by heavyweight James Harren (RUMBLE, BPRD) and featuring the talents of multiple Eisner award winning colorist Dave Stewart. Kaye, Don (January 14, 1989). "Soundgarden 'Ultramega OK' ". Kerrang!. Vol.221. London, UK: Spotlight Publications Ltd. p.25.Body Horror: The Kaiju mutations for one. But while morphing into an Ultramega is rather instantaneous, returning to human form is a gradual and more queasily proportional process. It’s hard not to love the try-hard underdog monster hero, and Kaiju No. 8 is another great example. — RB Ungrateful Bastard: The Kaiju have little appreciation for the humans under their thrall despite their loyal service, treating them as expendable cannon fodder at best and punching bags at worst. Powers, Ann. "Soundgarden: Ultramega OK" [ permanent dead link]. Blender. Retrieved on May 20, 2009.