Gatchaman is an American comic book series by Mad Cave Studios, adapting from Tatsunoko Production's Science Ninja Team Gatchaman.
Overview[]
Mad Cave Studios announced their acquisition of the license on July 14, 2023, as part of a deal with Tatsunoko to revive Gatchaman in the form of a new comic book series. This would not be a reboot, but would be constructed as a work that has its stories taking place within the original continuity of the first series yet building upon that existing world and characters with new adventures, characters, and mechas to be introduced.
The project would operate on a "writer's room" type of formula, with all the creative teams in communication with each other to create one cohesive continuity. The creative teams were also in contact with Tatsunoko for approvals on what they could and couldn't do in the work, with origin stories for the characters being off-limits, though they were allowed freedom to re-imagine and expand the world enough for the stories they wanted to tell. In some cases, the newly-created characters have been noted to either be early versions of characters that would appear later on in the series, or would be characters that were thought to have died in their original episodes (this specific example was intended for the Jun one-shot, but was vetoed by Tatsunoko). Tommy Lee Edwards would also state that the creation of such numerous new individuals would also make killing any of them off easier, as to explain why they'd appear nowhere else[1].
One twist by Cullen Bunn in the ongoing series involves the introduction and usage of a "Beta Team" by Dr. Nambu, to expand upon the cast and highlight the angle of back-up heroes he employs in the event that the Ninja Team may ever fail a mission or die. Initially, Bunn had pitched the ongoing as a sequel to the first series[2], but this was vetoed by Tatsunoko who wanted a comic to take place only within the 105 episodes of the original.
The project has been plotted out two years in advance to 2026, with the monthly series and more limited specials and mini-series to unfold.
Ongoing Series[]
- Writer: Cullen Bunn, Sam Humphries (#11)
- Art: Chris Batista, Pasquale Qualano (#6, #11)
- Colorist: Carlos Lopez
- Letterer: Buddy Beaudoin
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 initial run of the series is scheduled to be 24 issues, with more to continue if sales are strong. The series overall was plotted out to have five major story-arcs.
- Gatchaman #0: Free Comic Book Day Special (May 4, 2024)- Also includes stories by Tommy Lee Edwards and Steve Orlando.
- Gatchaman #1 (June 26, 2024)- The start of the first story-arc, involving Galactor's Sundew mecha and introduction to Dr. Nambu's Beta Team.
- Gatchaman #2 (July 31, 2024)
- Gatchaman #3 (September 4, 2024)
- Gatchaman #4 (October 23, 2024)
- Gatchaman #5 (November 27, 2024) - Resolution of the first story-arc.
- Gatchaman #6 (January 22, 2025) - An issue serving as a break between the first and second story-arcs, involving the team on a non-costumed adventure. This issue is also illustrated by Pasquale Qualano, rather than Batista.
- Gatchaman #7 (February 26, 2025) - The start of the second story-arc, involving a Killer Moth mecha and Berg Katse's plan to destroy the ISO.
- Gatchaman #8 (April 2, 2025)
- Gatchaman #9 (May 7, 2025)
- Gatchaman #10 (June 4, 2025) - The end of the Killer Moth mecha/ISO infiltration arc.
- Gatchaman #11 (August 6, 2025)- Another break issue, revolving around the team on a beach adventure against Galactor.
- Gatchaman #12
- Gatchaman #13
- Gatchaman #14
- Gatchaman #15
Trade Paperback Collections[]
- Gatchaman Vol.1 (December 31, 2024)- Compiles issues 1 to 5 as the first story-arc, along with "Episode Zero" from Gatchaman #0.
- Gatchaman Vol.2 (July 8, 2025) - Compiles issues 6 to 10
New Characters in the Series[]
- Beta Team: The first back-up trainee squad assigned by Dr. Nambu. It consists of five young people named Mara, Sharo, Keiko, Haruto, and Jace. They are intended to take the place of the standard Ninja Team members should any die in battle or wind up out of commission. They and the other two teams have more presence in the second arc, as Katse attempts to poach trainees and turn them against the ISO.
- Gamma Team: Another squad alluded to that isn't ready yet, but also being trained in case of an emergency. They are formally introduced in issue #7, and consist of an additional five trainees: Sophia, Marcus, Kosuke, Mei, and Jase.
- Delta Team: The third back-up squad being overseen by Nambu. They are also introduced in issue #7, and consist of the members Juro, Natsuko, Cho, Chris, and Dean.
One-Shots[]
- Writer: Tommy Lee Edwards (Ken, Jun, Jinpei), Steve Orlando (Ryu, Joe, Dr. Nambu)
- Art: Mindy Lee (Ken), Nuno Plati (Jun), Riccardo Robaldo (Ryu), Nicola Scott (Joe)
- Colorist: Giada Marchisio (Ken, Jun), Rebecca Nalty (Ryu), Jão Canola (Joe)
- Letterer: John Workman (Ken), Buddy Beadoin (Jun), Frank Cvetkovic (Ryu, Joe)
There will be at least six one-shots, focusing around each team member as well as Dr. Nambu. They will be released biannually through the series' run. While the one-shots focusing on the team members were originally considered to be titled "G-1", "G-2", and so on, Tatsunoko mandated they be released with the characters' names as the branding.
- Ken: Deathmatch (June 26, 2024)
- Jun: Apex Heart (November 13, 2024)
- Ryu: Scavengers (April 23, 2025)
- Joe: Bloodline (August 27, 2025)
- Jinpei: (? 2026)
- Dr. Nambu: (? 2026)
The Jun one-shot was originally intended to have Eric Canete as the artist, as announced in an early podcast, but plans changed by the time of the actual production of the story due to a scheduling conflict[3].
Trade Paperback Collections[]
- Gatchaman: The Solo Adventures Vol. 1 (June 3, 2025)- Collects "Ken: Deathmatch", "Jun: Apex Heart", and "Ryu: Scavengers"
"Galactor" Mini-series[]
- Writer: Steve Orlando
- Art: Kath Lobo (issues 1 and 2), Pasquale Qualano (issues 3 and 4)
Galactor is under siege by a threat from within! After a secret attempt on his life, Berg Katse sets about to uncover a conspiracy within Galactor, born of their earliest days. Galactor’s leader goes undercover to hunt, identify, and ruthlessly dispense with a revolution growing within Galactor’s ranks. The masked villain Berg Katse must root out a conspiracy within Galactor, the sinister organization that plagues Science Ninja Team Gatchaman.
A limited-time, four-issue monthly series focusing on Katse. It experienced some delays due to a change-over in the creative team for later issues, with Kath Lobo being unable to do the interiors and Pasquale Qualano taking over.
- Gatchaman: Galactor #1 (July 10, 2024)
- Gatchaman: Galactor #2 (September 18, 2024)
- Gatchaman: Galactor #3 (October 23, 2024)
- Gatchaman: Galactor #4 (November 27, 2024)
Trade Paperback Collections[]
- Galactor (February 25, 2025)- Compiles all four issues into one book, along with one-shot "The Rival" from Gatchaman #0.
New Characters in the Series[]
- The Lupos: A rival crime organization that Katse thought he wiped out in order to set up Galactor. In fact, several members of their organization have survived and now conspire to wipe him out with many moles having been planted inside Galactor. They are headed up by the Don Lupo, a man named Salvatore that had survived the massacre of his family in the past.
- Skywolf (Mirka): A lady assassin who infiltrated Galactor disguised as a Devil Star. She is a special genetic-engineering experiment made by the Lupos to replicate Katse's mutant status, but in fusing triplets into one being (rather than twins like Katse). This gives her three times the speed and strength of a normal human being, but her weakness, according to Katse, is the noble heart she has vs. him having no humanity left. It is revealed by the end of the mini-series that she is also the sister of Salvatore, although not much more detail is given.
"Only One Earth" Mini-series[]
- Writer: Tommy Lee Edwards
- Art: Nuno Plati
Berg Katse is ravaging the country of Atrena for rare mythical elements that create a psychic link between Galactor pilots and their weaponized mechs. As Joe and Ken’s friendship is pushed to the limit during a mission to save Atrena’s princess, the Science Ninja Team uncovers an ancient temple that may hold the key to defeating Galactor once and for all.
A second four-issue series, this time focusing around the Science Ninja Team.
- Gatchaman: Only One Earth #1 (February 5, 2025)
- Gatchaman: Only One Earth #2 (March 12, 2025)
- Gatchaman: Only One Earth #3 (April 16, 2025)
- Gatchaman: Only One Earth #4 (May 14, 2025)
Trade Paperback Collections[]
- Gatchaman: Only One Earth (July 29, 2025)- Collects all four issues.
New Characters in the Series[]
- Queen Gema: The newly-elected royal of Atrena. Her father was killed in a conspiracy by Galactor, involving her uncle Duke Jimena who was involved with them. She accompanies Ken and Joe in the plot, with them discovering the secret mecha factory Galactor had under Atrena.