KAMEN RIDER KUUGA (VOL. 1), from Titan Comics on December 6th, 2022, begins a new era in the Kamen Rider legacy when Detective Ichijo hunts a spider-like monster from ancient times, but only a masked strange has the strength to stop it.
The Details
- Written by: Shotaro Ishinomari, Toshiki Inoue
- Art by: Hitotsu Yokoshima
- Translation by: Jonathan Clements
- Letters by: Jessica Burton
- Cover art by: Hitotsu Yokoshima
- Cover price: $12.99
- Release date: December 6, 2022
Is It Good?
Continuing their foray into adapting popular Manga titles for a Western market, Titan Comics brings readers another version of the long-running and eclectic Kamen Rider mythology with KAMEN RIDER KUUGA (VOL. 1). Kamen rider is unique in that there have been different Kamen Riders over time, but nearly all of them are different with completely different origin stories. While they look similar, all Kamen Riders are not the same, and KAMEN RIDER KUUGA (VOL. 1) is certainly different.
KAMEN RIDER KUUGA (VOL. 1) follows Detective Ichijo as he tracks down a spider-like monster who kills by liquifying and consuming the insides of its victims. At the same time, a mysterious masked figure appears, seemingly to stop the monster. Det. Ichijo soon finds himself caught in a war between two deadly figures. (Spoiler: Det. Ichijo is not the Kamen Rider).
Compared to Titan’s other recently released Manga offerings, KAMEN RIDER KUUGA (VOL. 1) is imaginative, filled with high tension and dramatic moments, and the mystery surrounding the monsters steadily builds throughout the course of the issue. That said, the introduction of the first Kamen Rider (there are more than one in this volume) lacks a clear setup, and the spider monster’s actions (later to be revealed as part of a ritual) are not explained. In short, it’s sometimes tough to tell what’s happening.
The art in this volume is a mixed bag. The vast majority of scenes involving Detective Ichijo, Yusuke, and Sawatarii as they interact with each other and surrounding characters look great. When the monster attacks begin, the art becomes frantic and hard to follow. You could make the case the chaotic action is intended to look chaotic from Ichijo’s point of view, but it was a struggle to follow in several spots.
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What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We begin with Detective Ichijo and his colleagues on the trail of a serial killer who murders his victims by turning them into living fireworks. Through a series of lucky breaks and excellent detective work, Ichijo tracks down the killer and brings the delusional man in for questioning.
Later, Det. Ichijo is called in to investigate a mysterious mass murder on a train car. All the victims had their insides liquified and removed, leaving their skin intact. Simultaneously, the serial killer breaks his handcuffs during his transport to prison and kills the guards to make a mistake. Ichijo diverts his investigation to re-capture the killer, but he finds a mysterious spider monster has already killed the killer. Before the spider monster can turn on Ichijo, a stranger figure in a beetle costume arrives out of nowhere to drive the spider monster away.
Later, Yusuke, a young man who travels the world and makes everyone happy with his incredibly cheerful disposition, arrives at this family home for a visit. Looking for new friends and new opportunities, he heads to Tokyo after a family visit where his travels soon cross paths with Detective Ichijo. Through a series of coincidences and misunderstandings, Ichijo and Yusuke find themselves teaming up to fight and protect the ones they care about. We conclude the volume with a deadly ritual, the passing of a painful gift, and a ticking clock.
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Final Thoughts
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KAMEN RIDER KUUGA (VOL. 1) is an imaginative, unpredictable, horror-leaning entry into the Kamen Rider mythology. The villains are monstrous, the heroes are suitably heroic, and the art is generally good. That said, the origins of the monsters and the Kamen Rider are not explained well, and the action art is hard to follow.
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