Marvel Entertainment and Tsuburaya Productions have announced at the Tokyo Comic Con that they will be collaborating on a new line of Ultraman comics and graphic novels next year. Tsuburaya CEO Takayuki Tsukagoshi said, “We are delighted to announce the partnership with Marvel, one of the leading entertainment companies that has produced fascinating characters and stories loved by fans across the globe for over 80 years. We can’t be more excited to explore and create new stories for the Ultraman franchise with Marvel and bringing them to both Marvel and Ultraman fans all around the world.”
Created by Eiji Tsuburaya in 1966, the Ultraman TV series revolved around Shin Hayata, a member of the Science Patrol that protects Earth from alien invaders and giant monsters. Unbeknownst to his fellow officers, Hayata can trade places with Ultraman, a giant warrior from another world, to physically battle these foes. The series has spawned many spin-offs, including a manga sequel by Eiichi Shimizu and Tomohiro Shimoguchi that was adapted into an anime on Netflix.
“As one of the world’s most popular franchises, Ultraman has brought together some of the most passionate fandoms in pop culture today, and we can’t wait to bring his story to even more fans around the globe,” said Marvel Editor-in-Chief C.B. Cebulski. “Like Marvel, Ultraman captivated generations by telling spectacular stories grounded in the real world, and it continues to be a beloved classic through its television shows, movies, toys, games, comics, and more. We are so thrilled to introduce new chapters to the Ultraman Multiverse next year.”
Full details on the first collaboration, including its creative team, will be released soon.
