When Shin Hayata activates the Beta Capsule, he transforms into the giant alien hero Ultraman. Powered by Specium and solar energy, the alien stands tall to defend Japan against the rise of Kaiju. Having accidentally fatally wounded Hayata, Ultraman merged his life force with the Science Patrol officer, so that both could go on fighting for justice. That was the basic premise of the 1966 Japanese series Ultraman, and it inspired other similar shows. If you were lucky enough to catch it in syndication as a kid, you could use a ballpoint pen as a Beta Capsule and pretend that you, too, could fight Kaiju. Or oak trees, if that’s what you had in the backyard.
Like many American fans of that show, I caught frustratingly few glimpses of what happened afterward. Ultraman was revealed to be part of a larger family, with several sequel series and theatrical films. Cleverly, Tsuburaya Productions was slightly ahead of the game with multiverses, allowing for the story to occasionally update without causing the continuity-minded to cry foul.
From the U.S. perspective, we’re in an Ultra Renaissance, but really, the Ultra Heroes never went away. A few years ago Mill Creek Entertainment began releasing the series of series with the cleanest masters and the best subtitles they could use. Netflix has an animated requel in its third season. Even Marvel Comics has gotten into the act, releasing comics resetting the Ultras in modern times. And one Kaiju in particular keeps rearing his ugly skull head: Red King.
If you don’t know where to start or just want to see monster battles, Mill Creek has you covered. On June 27th, the company will release Battle Kaiju Series #1: Ultraman vs. Red King, featuring 16 episodes culled from almost all of the Ultra Heroes franchise. That’s from Ultraman in 1966 all the way up to Ultraman R/B in 2019. (It’s only a matter of time before he pokes his head into the Netflix series.) You can see him animated, you can see him exaggerated, and you can even see him mind-controlled (or what passes as his mind).
The 2-disc set also includes the video recording of “The Birth of Ultraman,” a live stage show (!) that introduced Ultraman, the Science Patrol, Red King, and more to a new generation of Japanese children. It comes in a slipcase featuring artwork from Marvel and a 12-page booklet/episode guide. Yes, I have some of these appearances, but having highlights packaged like this seems irresistible. Ultra irresistible.
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