I truly enjoyed this new adventure of Spider-Man in a multiverse in Japan! After failing in a fight with Doom, Spider-Man is transported to Japan where he is now in a world of Kaiju and the infamous Ultraman! I loved the artwork and imagery of each panel. The Japanese characters gave me a nostalgic feel that reminded me of old style manga from the 80s and 90s. I like how the Kaiju were drawn in a retro style too, giving the reader a class Godzilla feeling in all the fights.
I wish it was longer and contained more volumes (I think it contains 3 within it) but I also can't wait for Vol.2!

I can't say I'm familiar with Ultraman, but I love crossover fanfic and this has that vibe. Spiderman gets hit by a multiverse train (no, really) and carried off to alt-reality Japan complete with Kaiju. He fights/tries to save the Kaiju with Ultraman while Doctor Doom plots nefarious things.

As it is a manga the art sometimes felt a little chaotic to me but regular manga readers probably won't notice. Overall this was a fun, quick read and I'll probably check out some of the other Ultraman x Marvel crossovers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Viz Media for the review copy.

A Special Thanks To Viz Media and NetGalley for the ARC.

WARNING: The Following Review Contains Spoilers.

It’s a crossover that is perfect for any fan of Superheroes and Tokusatsu. In fact, it features two icons in the Tokusatsu genre! Tsuburaya Productions’ Ultraman and Marvel’s Web-Slinger, Spider-Man find themselves working together for the first time. Grab your beta capsule and web shooters, because it’s time for the review of Ultraman: Along Came a Spider-Man Volume One.

Worlds collide once more. This time, it finds two beloved heroes working together for the first time after a battle with Doctor Doom sends Spider-Man across dimensions and around the world to Japan. But there is something different, Kaiju roam the land and Japan is protected by a Giant of Light, Ultraman! However, lurking in the shadows is a new alliance that threatens not only the two heroes, but the world! Can the wall-crawler adapt to his new surroundings and the combination of Giant Heroes and Villains?

The creative team of writer Shigenobu Matsumoto (Duel Masters) and artist Tomo Hirokawa (Sword Art Online: Alicization Lycoris (manga) and Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization) brings readers on an intriguing journey, where Spider-Man is not only isn’t used to being in a dimension where nobody has ever heard of him or the Avengers, but in a world where Kaiju roam freely and a Giant of Light known as Ultraman is this Earth’s protector. Keep in mind, this story is different from Marvel’s other Ultraman Crossover, Ultraman x Avengers but we’re treated to a team-up almost 60 years in the making. As for Ultraman, we see the return of the SSSP (Science Special Search Party) and the first Ultraman, Shin Hayata. The story is truly a tribute to both heroes and their legacies.

A fun fact about Spider-Man and his ties to Tokusatsu, it began in 1976, when Toei produced a live-action television series based on Stan Lee and Steve Ditko’s Spider-Man comic book series. But it was vastly different from its American counterpart, where this wall-crawling hero (Takuya Yamashiro/Spider-Man) piloted a Giant Mecha and fought giant monsters, which would influence the Super Sentai Franchise, particularly the Giant Mecha part. While I enjoyed the two heroes meeting for the first time, I feel that we’re introduced to a Spider-Man and Avengers that are modeled after their Cinematic counterparts, which isn’t entirely a bad thing but it is clear to see that this version of Peter is younger, inexperienced, and more attuned to Pop Culture references, but still has what it takes to be a hero. Despite the age gap between the two heroes, Matsumoto delivers a great story for both Ultraman and Spider-Man fans, one that can serve as a great starting point for new fans of either hero. The story isn’t complicated and has a great pace for new readers to keep up with, and even includes nods and Easter eggs in certain parts of the story, not to mention having an epic villain team-up consisting of Doctor Doom and Alien Mefilas.

When we get down to it, I enjoyed the character interactions amongst each other, Hayata is more stoic and professional, having the advantage with the support of the SSSP, and his friends/coworkers. It is fascinating that Hayata and his friends help guide Peter through uncertainty and being in another dimension. Spider-Man is a friend to many, but on his own for the most part. Let’s move on to the artwork in this volume. Tomo Hirokawa was a perfect choice for illustrating a science fiction-type story involving two iconic heroes. Their rendition of Ultraman was striking, and their presence in every scene gave me goosebumps, this quickly became one of my favorite variations of the hero. Overall, the art looks great, the action moves swiftly, and best of all was the scenery and the Kaiju designs.

This is just an okay book. It doesn't provide much depth to Ultraman or Spiderman. I can see the appeal for High/Low but I personally just found the story to be boring and the art to be incredibly repetitive.