Master storyteller Cullen Bunn, who is known mostly for horror comics, takes on an unlikely story with Gatchaman along with artist Chris Batista. The triumphant return of the iconic Japanese animated characters in comic book form got off to a great start.

Gatchaman is Japanese animated franchise featuring a five-member, bird-themed superhero team created by Tatsuo Yoshida and produced by Tatsunoko Productions. The series ran from 1972-1974 with various other iterations over the years. Now, Bunn and Batista bring the series to comics.

A mechanical terror has descended upon numerous cities and the world’s greatest scientists are disappearing. Our only hope: Science Ninja Team Gatchaman! As they battle these machinations from the international terrorist organization known as Galactor, their strength, willpower, and even vehicles are pushed to the absolute limit. If they fail…who’s waiting in the wings to take their place? The first exciting issue in an ongoing series that expands upon the original anime series!

The debut issue of Gatchaman does a wonderful job setting the stage for an action-packed series. Cullen Bunn does a fantastic job of capturing the essence of the original animated series while carving his own story and legacy along the way.

Chris Batista brings stellar illustrations to the series which bring the characters and their bird-themed superhero personas to life on each page. Batista fills each panel exciting and dynamic action sequences that keep us glued to each page. The colors by Carlos Lopez are also a wonderful addition to this debut issue complementing both Batista’s lines, but also Bunn story.

While having never seen the original series, from our quick online research Batista and Lopez pay homage to the original animated series while also place a perfect modern touch on the series. The attention to detail is wonderful and does not go unnoticed. Additionally, even though I have not see a single episode I found myself easily immersed in the world of Gatchaman.

Gatchaman #1 is a triumphant return thanks to the engaging storytelling from Cullen Bunn and beautiful illustrations and coloring from Chris Batista and Carlos Lopez. This series is sure to bring back some nostalgic memories to those longtime fans of animated series while also offering something fresh and exciting for us new fans of the team.

Gatchaman #1 hits local comic shops on June 26, 2024 from Mad Cave Studios.