Ryu: Scavengers was released April 23rd, 2025, with it being the third in line of Mad Cave's special Gatchaman one-shot side-stories.
Overview[]
When modernized scavenger pirates—the ruthless Sea Vultures—launch a surprise attack on his harbor, Ryu, the steadfast pilot of the Science Ninja Team, steps out of the cockpit and into the spotlight! Determined to protect his community and prove he's more than just a pilot, Ryu embarks on a high-stakes oceanic adventure, piloting his amphibious tank to outwit the pirates and uncover the mystery behind their deadly ship. The tides turn in this explosive solo mission of courage, ingenuity, and redemption on the high seas!
Staff[]
- Cover Art: Riccardo Robaldo (Cover A), Nuno Plati (Cover B)
- Writer: Steve Orlando
- Artist: Riccardo Robaldo
- Colorist: Rebecca Nalty
- Letterer: Frank Cvetkovic
- Special Thanks: Mari Yamauchi, Satoru Wada, and Jason Hofius (Tatsunoko Production)
Story[]
The Science Ninja Team:
- G-5: Ryu the Horned Owl
- G-1, G-2, G-3, and G-4 (non-speaking cameos)
Other characters:
- Keiko, an artist
- Harbor Patrol
Enemies:
- The Sea Locusts, led by Captain Drozz
- The Underlord
Synopsis[]
At a yacht harbor in Amegapolis, Ryu is called over by a painter named Keiko, who wants him to look at her latest work. Rather than a painting of the sea, she has painted The Horned Owl of the Science Ninja Team, to his awkwardness. The two are interrupted by the onslaught of an enemy ship carrying a group of men known as the Sea Locusts, who proceed to invade the harbor.
Ryu manages to get Keiko to his garage and lock it down, but escapes and transforms so he can fight the Sea Locusts on their ship. He defeats them, and the group is apprehended by the police, but Ryu finds something familiar about their ship.
He sets out in a new undersea tank constructed by the ISO, to follow the wave patterns, but comes across sunken and destroyed Galactor Iron Beasts. He notes that they have been stripped of their parts, presumably for the Sea Locusts' ship, but then notices a deep sea power cable leading up to the surface, where there is an island. A transmission from other members of the group is picked up, as Ryu bears witness to them communicating with a giant mechanical "Underlord".
The remaining Sea Locusts apologize for the others' failure and aim to recoup the loss, but the Underlord is unconvinced as the group has failed numerous times before. The Underlord is about to destroy the island, but is interrupted by Ryu. The Underlord recognizes him as having been responsible for the demise of the Iron Beasts that made up his components, and doubles down on destroying the island, sending the Sea Locusts scattering into the ocean. Ryu is horrified at the Underlord's ways of easily killing his worshipers, while the Underlord wonders how Ryu would intend to best him.
Ryu gets into his tank to fight, while some Sea Locusts call out to him, arguing over whether or not he should destroy the Underlord. Ryu rams his tank into the Underlord's mouth, with some of the Locusts wondering if he's dead or alive, as the Underlord moves to devour some of his former minions. Ryu unleashes an elecromagnetic strike inside the mecha, destroying it from the inside out.
The Sea Locusts watch him emerge, but insist he help bring them back to land. Ryu uses rope and tires to tie pieces of the island wreckage to his tank, and carries the men back to shore. He thinks of how some of the Sea Locusts will be going to court, while others will be recruited by the ISO to be a salvage team. In the end, Ryu, the other four Science Ninja Team members, and Keiko celebrate the victory in his garage with a barbecue.
Trivia[]
- While the pirates are the "Sea Vultures" in the description for the comic, their name was changed to the "Sea Locusts" by the final draft for whatever reasons; the sea vulture is an actual bird, though the crustacean theme of their designs would fit better with the final "Sea Locust" name.