BIG BANG ADVENTURES #18, from Big Bang Comics! on September 12th, 2022, delivers two stories of superhero fun and adventure starring Big Bang’s ultimate hero – Ultiman.
The Details
- Written by: Gary S. Carlson
- Art by: Ron C. Williams, Mike Matthew, Jeff Weigel
- Colors by: Shayne Cui. Jeff Weigel
- Cover art by: Ron C. Williams
- Cover price: $4.99
- Release date: September 12, 2022
Is It Good?
We can’t say enough good things about Big Bang Comics’s dedication to upholding the legacy of wholesome, classic superhero comics in the spirit of the Gold and Silver Ages. BIG BANG ADVENTURES #18 hits just the sweet spot for Silver Age comics fans with two tales that mix equal parts action and imagination.
Can the Silver Age of comics be faulted for pseudo-sci-fi shenanigans and an overabundance of corniness? Yes, and true to form, you get some of that pseudo-sci-fi and corniness in this issue. Ultiman embodies everything you love about the essence of Superman, right down to the super-wholesome Boy Scout demeanor and “golly gee” dialog. If you miss the heart of Superman before deconstruction and making superheroes “grounded” became the standard practice at the Big 2, Ultiman has you covered.
Both shorts are amusing and entertaining with the second short, Ultiman and the Ultra Baby, leaning more towards the amusing side of storytelling. Both stories have a solid pace, interesting story concepts, corny-yet-endearing dialog, and satisfying conclusions that complete each story but pave the way for more.
Read through the next section if you want a more specific critique of each story.
As much as the writing taps into all the nostalgic goodness of the Silver Age, the art team adds a second helping of nostalgia for good measure. The lines are simplistically clean but detailed enough to get the sets and characters right. The colors are vividly bold. And the panel layouts and compositions are charmingly old-school.
The Big 2 just don’t make them like this anymore, but perhaps they should.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Ultiman Meets Faust’s Four
One day, Carl Kelly, aka the first Ultiman, receives a distress signal from the Pentagon. He flies to Washington and receives a briefing that Frederik Faust and his collection of evil scientists are planning to launch a rocket so that Faust can become the first person to walk on the moon. Fauts’ plan involves killing the kidnapped scientist who helped him develop the technology and sabotaging his competitors by making a deal with a demon from Hell. When Ultiman arrives in Transylvania, he finds the launch won’t go as planned, and Faust may become a victim of his ambitions.
With a comic like this, you almost get concerned about using the word ‘classic’ too much, but that’s the best word to describe this story. From the retro 60s vibe to the over-the-top demon to the subversive twist on the Fantastic Four origin story, everything about this story works. This is a classic superhero adventure story with a classic villain origin story to boot.
Ultiman and the Ultra Baby
Chris Kelly, aka the second Ultiman, spends his retirement with his wife and young daughter in seclusion. When Chris’s daughter, Kristie, accidentally gets a hold of meteor fragments that give Ultiman his power, mayhem ensues.
This story leans into the comedy more than the first story by giving readers a peak into the private life of superheroes and the unusual challenges of being a superparent. The setup makes sense, albeit too conveniently, and the resolution is sweet.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
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BIG BANG ADVENTURES #18 is just the wholesome, Silver Age-inspired comic version of Superman you’ve been sorely missing in your life. Both shorts fit perfectly into the Silver Age style with wholesome heroes, over-the-top villains, and satisfying conclusions that leave the door open for more.
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