In a groundbreaking announcement at San Diego Comic-Con, Japan’s legendary superhero Ultraman teams up with Marvel’s iconic Spider-Man for the first time ever in ULTRAMAN: ALONG CAME A SPIDER-MAN. This epic serialized Japanese manga from Shogakukan is set to launch on August 13 in the US (August 14 in Japan), coinciding with the debut of Marvel Comics’ ULTRAMAN x AVENGERS series.
Revealed during the “What’s New at VIZ” panel, ULTRAMAN: ALONG CAME A SPIDER-MAN is written by Shigenobu Matsumoto and illustrated by Tomo Hirokawa. This unique manga crossover features the infamous Marvel supervillain Doctor Doom joining forces with Ultraman’s nemesis Alien Mefilas and his destructive Kaiju, with cameo appearances by The Avengers.
“…manga crossover features the infamous Marvel supervillain Doctor Doom joining forces with Ultraman’s nemesis Alien Mefilas and his destructive Kaiju…”
This collaboration is part of a major cross-cultural event, amplified by the recent success of the new animated film Ultraman: Rising on Netflix. The manga will be distributed in the US by VIZ Media, with chapters 1 and 2 available on August 13. Fans can follow the series digitally on the VIZ Manga app, with new chapters released every Tuesday. A print edition is set for Summer 2025.
In addition to this exciting team-up, Marvel Comics is also set to release ULTRAMAN x AVENGERS, a four-issue crossover event penned by Kyle Higgins and Mat Groom, with art by Francesco Manna. This series features an epic battle against the mighty Galactus, marking another milestone in the collaboration between Marvel Comics and Tsuburaya Productions.
Kei Minamitani of Tsuburaya Productions expressed excitement about the project, highlighting the fascinating contrast and eventual reconciliation of the heroes’ approaches. Marvel Comics Editor-in-Chief C.B. Cebulski also emphasized the thrilling blend of comics and manga, promising an epic cosmic showdown with insightful themes and touching moments.
Prepare for a global event that’s sure to captivate fans of both manga and superhero comics, uniting these beloved characters in an unprecedented adventure.