Ultraman, the Avengers and Spider-Man Team Up in New Comic Collaborations From Tsuburaya Productions and Marvel

Comics to be Released Simultaneously in Japan and the U.S.
Source: Tsuburaya Productions press releases

Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Chairman and CEO: Takayuki Tsukagoshi) has revealed details on two comic book collaborations with Marvel that will team Japan's famous Ultraman with the iconic American superheroes The Avengers and Spider-Man. Through a comic book series in the United States and a manga series in these heroes will join forces to take on some of the most evil and legendary villains in comic book history. Each story will be told by a different creative team in Japan and the United States.

Published by Marvel Comics, Ultraman x Avengers is an epic four-issue crossover event bringing together the greatest hero of Japan and Earth’s Mightiest Heroes for an epic battle against the most powerful supervillain of them all—Galactus.

Japanese publisher Shogakukan, in collaboration with Tsuburaya Productions and Marvel Comics, is releasing Ultraman: Along Came a Spider-Man (ウルトラマンアロング・ケイム・ア・スパイダーマン, Urutoraman Arongu Keimu a Supaidāman), marking the first time that Ultraman and Marvel’s most renowned character Spider-Man join forces in a Japanese manga.

Both Ultraman x Avengers and Ultraman: Along Came a Spider-Man are scheduled to be released simultaneously in comic stores and online distribution in each country on Wednesday, August 14, 2024.

Ultraman x Avengers

Published by Marvel Comics, the four-issue miniseries is penned by Kyle Higgins (The Rise of Ultraman) and Mat Groom (The Trials of Ultraman, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers) and drawn by Francesco Manna (The Amazing Spider-Man). This series marks the fourth Ultraman installment with Marvel penned by Higgins and Groom and continues a landmark collaboration between Marvel Comics and Tsuburaya Productions.

A collected edition of the complete set to hit retail in Spring 2025.

Additionally, the Japanese translation of Ultraman x Avengers will be published by Shogakukan Shueisha Productions. The series will also be available on Tsuburaya Productions' official Japanese subscription digital platform service TSUBURAYA IMAGINATION. The distribution schedule will be announced at a later date.

Ultraman x Avengers #1
Writers: Kyle Higgins, Mat Groom
Artist: Francesco Mana
Cover Artist: Dike Ruane
Variant Covers by: EJ Su, Francesco Mana, Paco Medina
Scheduled Release Date: August 14, 2024
SRP: $4.99

THE GREATEST HERO OF JAPAN AND EARTH'S MIGHTIEST HEROES JOIN FORCES FOR AN EPIC ADVENTURE! Spider-Man has disappeared from New York, an intergalactic invader has arrived on Ultraman's doorstep and the Kaiju of Earth are acting even more mysteriously than usual. This can only mean one thing: It's time for Ultraman to meet the Avengers! But what cosmic threat is great enough to require a team-up of Marvel's mightiest champions and Japan's greatest hero? Find out as Shin meets Sam, Spacium Ray meets Repulsor Ray and "THWIP!" meets "SHUWATCH!" - in the epic crossover event: ULTRAMAN x AVENGERS!

Ultraman x Avengers #2
Writers: Kyle Higgins, Mat Groom
Artist: Francesco Mana
Cover Artist: Dike Ruane
Variant Cover by: Francesco Mobili
Scheduled Release Date: September 18, 2024
SRP: $4.99

Our assembled heroes are immediately split up - as Captain Marvel and Ultraman team up against two giant, rampaging Kaiju… while Captain America leads a dangerous extraction mission into the heart of the USP! But they may find their best efforts come too late, as our heroes receive the three word message that chills the blood of all sentient beings: "GALACTUS IS COMING!"

Ultraman x Avengers #3
Writers: Kyle Higgins, Mat Groom
Artist: Francesco Mana
Cover Artist: Dike Ruane
Variant Cover by: Giuseppe Camuncoli
Scheduled Release Date: October 23, 2024
SRP: $4.99

It's finally here, the battle to end them all, as the fate of the cosmos hangs in the balance! In one corner - the devourer of worlds, Galactus, AND HIS NEW HERALD, ALIEN ZARAB! In the other, the assembled forces of Captain America's Avengers and Ultraman's Ultra Guard! But can our heroes really hope to take on such an apocalyptic threat… and even if they can, what consequences might that have for multiple universes?

Ultraman: Along Came a Spider-Man

Based on a concept by Tsuburaya Productions with the cooperation of KAMEN RIDER HIBIKI screenwriter Shinji Oishi, written by Shigenobu Matsumoto (Duel Masters) and drawn by Tomo Hirokawa (Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization, Sword Art Online: Alicization Lycoris), the manga features one of Marvel’s greatest supervillains of all time, Doctor Doom, who joins forces with Ultraman arch-nemesis Alien Mefilas and his cadre of destructive Kaiju, with cameo appearances by The Avengers. Marvel Comics Executive Editor Tom Brevoort and Tsuburaya Fields Media & Pictures Entertainment’s Transmedia Producer Jeff Gomez served as creative consultants for the series.

Japanese publisher Shogakukan is serializing Ultraman: Along Came a Spider-Man on their Weekly Corocoro Online site starting August 14. The series will also be released on the TSUBURAYA IMAGINATION Japanese digital service. The distribution schedule will be announced at a later date.

Ultraman: Along Came a Spider-Man will be distributed in the United States by VIZ Media, kicking off with chapters 1 and 2 on August 13 in the US (August 14 Japan time), making for a truly global event. VIZ is launching the manga series digitally on the VIZ Manga app, with new chapters released every Tuesday. The latest chapter each week will be available for free, and readers can subscribe to VIZ Manga to read the full series. VIZ will also publish a print edition of the complete manga in the United States, set to hit retail in Summer 2025.

■ Comment from Kei Minamitani, Tsuburaya Productions

The contrast in how our two sets of heroes approach their roles is fascinating to see play out, but they have a lot of similarities as well. In both the Shogakukan and Marvel titles, we watch how our heroes grapple with these differences before ultimately reconciling to find greater solutions.

It has been incredibly special to explore the concept of heroism through the perspectives of these two very different sets of heroes and we are excited for fans to join them on these two adventures.

■ Comment by C. B. Cebulski, Editor-in-Chief of Marvel Comics

We’re thrilled to bring together Marvel comics and manga in such an exciting way, uniting our biggest hero with Ultraman against ultimate villains like never before.

This manga will be an epic showdown at a cosmic level, but it will have insightful themes and touching moments as well. We’re excited for fans to experience this story around the globe

■ Comment from Shigenobu Matsumoto, Writer

Ultraman and Spider-Man! I've always had a special affection for them. These two join forces to fight monsters!

What is justice? They provide an unshakable answer to this eternal question for heroes.

Where will they end up? Please come and see for yourself!

■ Comment from Tomo Hirogawa, Illustrator

I'm very happy to be entrusted with the responsibility of drawing two of the biggest heroes in the world, Ultraman and Spider-Man. I am under a lot of pressure, but I am working hard every day with high spirits!

I'm looking forward to seeing the cooperative tag-team battle between the American and Japanese heroes!

Ultraman: Along Came a Spider-Man
Original Concept: Tsuburaya Productions (Cooperation: Shinji Oishi)
Writer: Shigenobu Matsumoto
Artist: Tomo Hirokawa
Scheduled Release Date: August 14, 2024 (Japan), August 13, 2024 (United States)
Distributor: Shogakukan (Japan), VIZ Media (International)

On Marvel Earth, Spider-Man joins forces with the Avengers to battle Doctor Doom in New York City. But when several civilians are killed in a building collapse as a result, Spider-Man becomes demoralized and finds himself whisked away in a strange spacecraft called the Interdimensional Train. Doctor Doom stows aboard and both find themselves in the Tokyo of the Ultraman universe! Witnessing Ultraman battle a giant Kaiju, Doom craves the Giant of Light’s power and joins forces with Alien Mefilas and his army of Kaiju from the Monster Graveyard to steal it.

About Tsuburaya Productions

Tsuburaya Productions is one of the leading independent production companies in Japan. Founded in 1963 by Eiji Tsuburaya, the company continues to produce content that has been licensed to both the domestic and international markets. The company also engages in licensing, merchandising, publishing, and live stage shows and events, exploiting the IP it creates and owns.

About Tsuburaya Fields Media & Pictures Entertainment Inc.

Tsuburaya Fields Media & Pictures Entertainment Inc., located in Los Angeles, is active in the production and distribution of Ultraman entertainment content for North America and other markets. Headed by Danny Simon, the new subsidiary will expand the Ultraman North America licensing program into the UK, EU, South America, and MENA markets thereby solidifying the franchise’s place on the global stage.

About Marvel

Marvel is one of the world’s most prominent entertainment brands, built on an unparalleled library of iconic characters and stories that have shaped pop culture for 85 years. The Marvel brand spans entertainment, including film, television, publishing, licensing, games, live events, digital media, and more.

About Shogakukan

Shogakukan, founded in 1922, began by launching educational magazines targeting elementary school children. Currently, while expanding from children’s magazines to the general magazine field, it has also become a general publishing company with a book division that releases picture books, illustrated guides, dictionaries, encyclopedias, literary works, among many others.

About VIZ Manga

VIZ Manga is a leading digital manga subscription service, with over 10,000 chapters featuring legendary manga creators across a wide range of interests. The latest chapters are free and published simultaneously with Japan. The app is available for iPhone, iPad, Android devices, and at viz.com/vizmanga. Territories include the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.