Every kaiju fan’s favourite fire-breathing turtle is back in an exciting way! With its first-ever anime debuting all six episodes on Netflix earlier this month, Gamera is also debuting in two, first-ever manga and vertical-scroll comic series!
For the uninitiated, Gamera is a kaiju film franchise that dates back to 1965. With 12 movies in its library, it has garnered a cult status among fans of giant monster movies worldwide. Gamera -Rebirth- is the first (of hopefully many) anime series in the franchise. It follows a group of elementary students during the summer of 1989 as Tokyo becomes a battleground for Gamera and various other giant creatures. Here’s the trailer from Netflix:
The TATESC version of “Gamera -Rebirth-” by artist Renga Kizima adapts the anime’s story as a full-colour vertical-scroll comic. TATESC in the title refers to Kadokawa’s line of vertical-scroll comics: TATE meaning ‘vertical’ and SC meaning ‘scroll’. This exciting adaptation will debut on Kadokawa’s ebook store, Book☆Walker Global on September 29, 2023.
The manga – Gamera -Rebirth- code thyrsos – takes a rather fascinating approach to this series, as it throws us back to the origin of kaiju themselves. This black-and-white manga has some fantastic art by Cambria Bakuhatsu Taro and a gripping story by Hiroyuki Seshita – who was also the anime’s director. You can check out the first chapter of GAMERA -Rebirth- code thyrsos for free on Book☆Walker Global, with new chapters of this simulpub series forthcoming.
The idea of a kaiju story set in an ancient world before they ever existed really piqued my interest, so I decided to check out the first chapter to see just how this story unfolds.
Set over 100,000 years in the past, the land of Elisitania was once a prosperous society that was a paradise to everyone who called it home. Though perfect on the surface, hundreds of years of war inevitably lead to overpopulation and widespread famine.
After losing their parents, siblings Lucius and Seika spend their days in a meat processing factory, hacking up cuts of unknown meat under the watchful eye of their uncle Aldol. While looking for a spare knife, Lucius finds himself deep in the factory’s twisting hallways – deeper than he’s ever been, and deeper he’s supposed to go.
Before he can return, he hears a terrifying roar, and discovers why this part of the factory is forbidden. Deep below the city is where conscripted soldiers test new weapons. Their test subjects? Giant Kaiju chained up and served to them on a platter. He begins to question everything: is this the war that has been going on for so long? Were his parents’ lives so easily cast aside simply to test new weapons? And if so, how could he enact his revenge on the nobles in charge?
While the lion’s share of Kaiju movies follow their titular creature and their oversized enemies thrashing each other (and the city) around, Gamera -Rebirth- code thyrsos instead guides us through a world untouched by kaiju. Aside from a fantastic full-colour shot of Gamera and Gyaos – Gamera’s enormously-winged arch-nemesis – fighting at the beginning of the manga, there’s not a lot in the way of that destructive kaiju action the genre is known for.
Given that, there’s still a ton of dynamic chaos and violence that gives fans of action-packed fight scenes hope for future chapters of this series. Bloody limbs being flung at the flick of a wrist. Huge explosions. Faces being glassed and burned. If this is what we’re getting before we even see the monsters, just imagine the carnage that’s yet to come.
While the lack of Kaiju fighting in the first chapter available on Book☆Walker Global (so far) might be disappointing to some, the way this manga sets up a revenge story in parallel with the birth of our favourite Kaiju is enough to keep readers wondering what comes next. What exactly is Lucius’ plan to avenge his parents? What is the secret lab his uncle runs? Will this perfect utopia fall victim to towering creatures or human greed? And more importantly: how was Gamera born?
Have you checked out the GAMERA -Rebirth- anime yet, or checked out the first chapter of GAMERA -Rebirth- code thyrsos? Whether you’re a fan of Gamera from way back, or only just discovered our huge turtle friend, we’d love to hear your thoughts down below!
GAMERA -Rebirth- is currently streaming on Netflix.
GAMERA -Rebirth- code thyrsos is available now on BOOK☆WALKER GLOBAL
GAMERA – Rebirth TATESC will debut on September 29, 2023 on BOOK☆WALKER GLOBAL
