By T.W. Worn — Of all the questions that have filled my head, the one that shows up both the loudest and most often is, "Where do we go from here?" Global pandemics, ideological violence, and the reveal of Kermit the Frog on "The Masked Singer"…these have all been blows to our society that we never thought we would have to deal with in our lifetime.

Many people I know — sometimes myself included — have wondered of late when we will be able to go back to normal. But the more I reflect on that idea, the more I realize that there is no "going back." Thanks to the bullshit abstract laws of spacetime, we can only move forward. So, instead of trying to figure out how we can go back, I would rather we take some time to ask: where do we go from here? 

Ultramega #1 asks a similar question. In a world where a bizarre space virus is spreading across the globe and turning people into giant monsters, a handful of ordinary people are blessed (or cursed, depending on your view) to be protectors of the planet from this space virus by a hyper-dimensional being that resembles both Dr. Manhattan and Viewtiful Joe. This blessing allows those chosen to morph into Ultraman-esque kaiju to fight for the people. But the writer/artist, James Harren, spends just as much time on giving us gruesome action sequences as he does telling us the story of broken men who are "too old for this shit." It's a bizarre balancing act of humor, gore, shlock, and horror. We aren't following heroes who are giving it their all to save the planet; it's people who are alone and scared of what they have to do to keep their loved ones safe. 

Each character in this series has something on the line worth fighting for, even though all they want to do is have things go back to normal. They long for when the world was easy, and they didn't have to sacrifice their lives in the name of some celestial honor. Everyone wishes they can live a life without the fear and panic of a monster attack, but the most they can do is press forward into a terror-filled unknown.

Another thing we rarely see in kaiju media is body horror and grotesque violence. The art in Ultramega #1 is both stylized and filthy. A high performance machine coated in a thick layer of grime and viscera. The colors of Dave Stewart layer the filth and bile like a parfait. There is a textural element to every panel, both churning your stomach and pleasing your eyes. Everything about the aesthetic should be unpleasant, but end up being beautiful and cohesive. What should be repulsive ends up being a feast that I found myself gorging on repeatedly. 

And it isn't just the fights that feel this way. While yes, a kaiju does have a limb torn off, causing a flood of blood to fill the streets, causing civilians to drown and then suffocate as it begins to congeal and scab. But even before this, the world that is given to us is one of decay and rot. The streets and buildings are dirty. The citizens are sick. Every street corner seems to be coated in a slurry of street gunk and mud. The perfect location for a virus to spread, and for bedlam to call its home. 

I do not want to spoil much of this issue. So for the sake of brevity and a lack of spoilers, remember this question once you get to its end: Where do we go from here?

Overall: Ultramega #1 is a bloated feast of grime and bile, but deep within its filth is a beautiful story about hope and commitment. Any fan of horror — especially body or kaiju horror — should make this a must read. 9.8/10

REVIEW: Ultramega #1

Ultramega #1
Writer/Artist: James Harren
Colorist: Dave Stewart
Letterer: Rus Wooton
Publisher: Image Comics
A cosmic plague has spread, transforming everyday people into violent, monstrous kaiju. Only the Ultramega—three individuals imbued with incredible powers—hold the line against this madness. Their battles level cities and leave untold horror in their wake. Now, the final reckoning approaches for the Ultramega…but is this a war they can even win?
Fight monsters and stand with humanity in this new Skybound original from the greatest artist of his generation, JAMES HARREN (RUMBLE, BPRD) and Eisner Award-winning colorist DAVE STEWART. Each issue is extra-sized, with a 60-page debut that can barely contain its giant heroes, creatures, and devastation!
Release Date: March 17, 2021
Price: $7.99
Read It Digitally: Ultramega #1 via comiXology

Read more great comic book reviews!

I'm T.W. Worn (@twworn) and where do we go from here?