GATCHAMAN #7, by Mad Cave Studios on 2/26/25, finds the Science Ninja Team enlisting a martial arts expert to hone their skills when they receive an alert that a Galactor mecha is attacking Porcelain City.
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: February 26, 2025
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover Price: $4.99
- Page Count: 30
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of GATCHAMAN #7:
Recap:
When we last left the Science Ninja Team in Gatchaman #6, the team took a day off for a beachside picnic and a little relaxation. Jinpei, however, used the opportunity to trick his teammates into undertaking a treasure hunt in the nearby caves. Surprisingly, the treasure hunt turned out to be real, but getting the treasure turned out to be more trouble than the team could handle.
Plot Analysis:
In Gatchaman #7, a new adventure begins with an opportunity and a challenge. The Science Ninja Team enjoys a field trip to the World Martial Arts championships with Dr. Nambu. There, the highest-ranking competitor, Daiku Hayashi, wins the tournament for the fifth year in a row, which makes him the perfect candidate to train Dr. Nambu’s recruits.
Later, Daiku arrives at an auxiliary training facility set up by Dr. Nambu to observe and train the Beta, Gamma, and Delta teams. But before the first session gets underway, Gatchamn receives an alert about an attack on Porcelain City.
The Science Ninja Team arrives in the God Phoenix to find a giant moth mecha, sent by Galactor, spraying the city with a strange gas. The usually peaceful people inhale the fumes and become rage-fueled and violent. Dr. Nambu orders the team to quell the angry mob and buy time while the God Phoenix gathers enough data to formulate an antidote.
The issue ends with a whirlwind of martial arts moves, the moth mecha returning for a repeat performance, and a match between brothers.
First Impressions:
After the last issue’s kid-friendly break, writer Bullen Bunn returns the series to peak form in Gatchaman #7. Bunn has an impeccable handle on the kind of adventure storytelling that made the original series so popular by giving the team an engaging mix of interpersonal chemistry, intriguing developments behind the scenes, and wild action against Galactor’s attacks.
Artwork and Presentation:
Chris Batista and Sabrina Cintron bring the series to life in a way that hits the nostalgia sweet spot. The art team doesn’t try to recreate the original anime style. Instead, the team gives you a bright, vivid, bold aesthetic inspired by the original series. The look is familiar, but it’s not a less-good copy because the look stands on its own.
Art Samples:
Story Positives & Negatives:
The Positives:
Cullen Bunn returns the series to its high-flying adventure roots with a solid setup, giant mechs, and an overwhelming threat in the form of a city gone mad. Bunn, more commonly known for his horror comics, nails the vibe and atmosphere of the original Gatchaman series.
The Negatives:
There’s not much to find in this issue that even qualifies as a nitpick. Cullen Bunn nailed the scripts, and the artwork looks great.
Final Thoughts:
(Click this link 👇 to order this comic)
GATCHAMAN #7 is a return to form for the series when the Science Ninja Team confronts a new attack from Galactor on a peaceful city. Cullen Bunn has the formula for what made the original Gatchaman so successful down pat, and the art team’s inspired art is pitch-perfect.
We hope you found this article interesting. Come back for more reviews, previews, and opinions on comics, and don’t forget to follow us on social media:
If you’re interested in this creator’s works, remember to let your Local Comic Shop know to find more of their work for you. They would appreciate the call, and so would we.
Click here to find your Local Comic Shop: www.ComicShopLocator.com
As an Amazon Associate, we earn revenue from qualifying purchases to help fund this site. Links to Blu-Rays, DVDs, Books, Movies, and more contained in this article are affiliate links. Please consider purchasing if you find something interesting, and thank you for your support.