GATCHAMAN #5, by Mad Cave Studios on 11/27/24, concludes the first arc with a catastrophic battle in the skies between the Science Ninja Team and Galactor’s Sundew Mecha.
Credits:
- Writer: Cullen Bunn
- Artist: Chris Batista, Sabrina Cintron
- Colorist: Carlos Lopez
- Letterer: Buddy Beaudoin
- Cover Artist: Inaki Miranda (cover A)
- Publisher: Mad Cave Studios
- Release Date: November 27, 2024
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover Price: $3.9
- Page Count: 34
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of GATCHAMAN #5:
First Impressions:
Cullen Bunn’s action-packed love letter to the Gatchaman series comes to a climactic close of the first arc with action, edge-of-your-seat tension, and a satisfying conclusion. Readers familiar with Cullen Bunn’s writing may know him as a horror writer, but after reading Gatchaman #5, you might change your mind about his versatility.
Plot Analysis:
When last we left the Ninja Science Team in Gatchaman #4, Jun was joined by the Beta Team to free the kidnapped scientists aboard the Devil Stars’s secret base. Meanwhile, Gatchman led his team to battle with the Sundew Mecha before it destroyed the city. The issue concludes with the Sundew Commander ignoring orders to disengage.
In Gatchaman #5, Jun and the Beta Team set out in the stolen Devil Stars ship, heading back to base per Dr. Nambu’s orders. However, Jun knows the Science Ninja Team needs her help, so she orders the Beta Team to change course. Meanwhile, the Sundew Commander presses his advantage against the God Phoenix, eventually trapping the indestructible ship in its tentacles. Suddenly, alarms sound aboard the Sundew Mecha, and Berge Katse announces he’s remotely activated the self-destruct to ensure the God Phoenix’s destruction. He ends the message by thanking the Sundew Commander for his sacrifice.
Phew! That’s a lot of high action and high stakes to hit you in the gut in short order. Cullen Bunn, who isn’t known for breakneck pacing in his horror comics, dives into the action at top speed. Through the bits of dialog that accompany the action, you understand the stakes and the urgency immediately.
Jun and the Beta Team arrive on the scene unnoticed. Jun leaps from the ship and quietly infiltrates the Sundew Mecha to pause the self-destruct sequence. She radios the rest of the Science Ninja Team to join her in taking out the Sundew Mecha from the inside. What follows is a mad dash to take out as many Galactor guards and the Sundew Commander as quickly as possible.
The issue concludes with the self-destruct restarted and a stern lecture.
Overall, Gatachaman #5 is a thrilling end to the first arc in a near-perfect adaptation by Cullen Bunn. Everything you love about the original Gatchaman is intact, and the finale ends on a strong note with a promise for more.
Artwork and Presentation:
Chris Batista and Sabrina Cintron earn two big thumbs up and a tip of the hat for nailing the look of the Science Ninja Team, high-flying action, and doing it all with an impressive amount of panel detail. This issue is an example of some of the best-looking art Mad Cave has produced.
Art Samples:
The Bigger Picture:
Series Continuity:
For original Gatchaman fans wondering where this story fits in the timeline, the specific milestones aren’t specified, but we do know this series takes place before Berge Katse’s untimely demise in Gatchaman, Episode 105.
Final Thoughts:
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GATCHAMAN #5 ends the first arc on a high note with big action, big stakes, and a satisfying conclusion. Cullen Bunn may be known as a horror writer, but his skill in this adaptation is impressive, and the art team’s modern interpretation of a 50-year-old property looks fantastic.
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