Comic book publisher Mad Cave Studios is set to launch a new Gatchaman mini-series this month.
Gatchaman: Galactor is scheduled to kick off with its first issue July 17. Written by Steve Orlando (Exorcists Never Die), illustrated by Kath Lobo (Good Game Well Played) and lettered by Frank Cvetkovic, the new mini-series gets off to a good start thanks in large part to its story, which will be discussed shortly. The artwork adds to the appeal. It will be addressed a little later. The story’s transitions round out its most important elements and will also be examined later. Each item noted is key in its own way to the whole of the debut issue of Gatchaman: Galactor. All things considered they make this kick off to the classic franchise’s latest offering a welcome offering for anime and comic book fans alike.
Gatchaman: Galactor #1, the lead off to Mad Cave Studios’ new Gatchaman mini-series, is an engaging and entertaining opening to the four issue tale. The appeal for this first-issue comes in no small part through its featured story. The story featured in this 28-page opener follows Berg Katse, the head of the evil organization known as Galactor as he works to find out who within the syndicate is trying to kill him. The revelation that someone is trying to kill him comes as he realizes that someone has poisoned a meal that he is eating. This only after he is berated by his own superior, Leader X, after Science Ninja Team Gatchaman defeats another of his creations. Little team is spent on this part of the opening issue’s story. That part of the story is used simply as the setup for the bigger story at hand and to that end, Orlando can be applauded for maintaining the story’s primary focus. It allows the story to get right to the point without omitting at least part of what audiences have come to love about the Gatchaman franchise.
Katse does find out who poisoned his meal in the lead issue of the new Gatchaman story. That personal identity will be left for readers to discover for themselves. Of course, that discovery is only the tip of the iceberg that is sure to keep readers curious to see just how deep the disloyalty to himself (and possibly even to Galactor) reaches. To that end, the overall story here does so much to make for a solid foundation for this issue of Gatchaman: Galactor.
The story presented in the first issue of Gatchaman: Galactor is just part of what makes the mini-series a good opener. Kath Lobo’s illustrations make for their own appeal. That is because they so expertly maintain the look of the classic Gatchaman television series and the comic book series. Right from the story’s outset, when Science Ninja Team Gatchaman jumps into action, the look is right out of the classic series (which is known by Western audiences as Battle of the Planets). This is sure to generate plenty of nostalgia among longtime fans of Gatchaman. The richness of the colors throughout give the issue even more life, immersing them even more into the story.
On a related note Lobo’s work is not the only artwork that plays into the appeal of this issue of Gatchaman: Galactor. Frank Cvetkovic’s work with the lettering also plays into the appeal of the overall artwork. Case in point is the color and font of the letters used as Katse muses about how he became the head of Galactor. The purple-ish background s and yellow letters and their font help readers understand those moments are thoughts rather than actual dialogue. This is a minor matter on the surface, but is part of the bigger overall artwork. That is because audiences can actually hear that familiar “echo” effect that is often used in movies when characters are deep in personal thought. Keeping that in mind along with the visual appeal of Lobo’s work, the overall artwork displayed throughout the story proves just as important to the whole as the story itself.
The artwork and the story are clearly crucial to the issue’s appeal and are not the only aspects that play into the issue’s appeal. The story’s transitions are of their own importance, too. The transitions are impacted in part by the dialogue. That is because the dialogue is constructed in easily accessible fashion. The statements are short sentences and familiar territory for the superhero genre. What’s more, Frank Cvetkovic’s work providing Katse’s inner thoughts help transition from one scene to the next as he works to try and find out who among his ranks is working against him. That work really serves as the base for the transitions.
On another note, the use of the cells also plays into the transitions. From the general placement of the cells within the pages to even their angling within the pages and the animation used within each cell, it all comes together here to put the finishing touch to the story. In other words, the transitions which are tied directly to the illustrations and lettering, end up progressing seamlessly because of that noted additional work. Each item examined here is important in its own way to the whole of Gatchaman: Galactor Issue #1. All things considered they make the leadoff to Mad Cave’s new Gatchaman mini-series a positive start to this limited series.
Gatchaman: Galactor #1 is a positive start to Mad Cave Studios’ new Gatachaman mini-series. Its appeal comes in large part through its story. The story is classic science-fiction/superhero fare. It finds villain Berg Katse working to find out who within the evil Galactor organization is working to usurp him. This type of story setup has been used numerous times in other science-fiction/superhero properties out there. To that end, it is a familiar sort of story but still manages to keep itself fresh. The story’s overall artwork (including that involved in the lettering) adds to the appeal because of the look that it helps establish throughout the issue. Staying on that matter of the dialogue and artwork, it actually plays into the transitions, too. The transitions are seamless thanks to the lettering and general artwork within the animation cells, and even the use of the cells themselves plays into the transitions’ seamlessness. They collectively ensure readers’ maintained engagement and entertainment from page one to its end. All things considered they make the lead-off to Gatachaman: Galactor #1 a presentation that longtime Gatachaman fans, anime fans and comic book fans alike are sure to enjoy.
Pre-orders for Gatchaman: Galactor #1 are open. More information on this and other titles from Mad Cave Studios is available at:
Website: https://madcavestudios.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MadCaveStudios
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MadCaveStudios
