Earlier this summer when I was the Guest Manager for Kaiju Brooklyn, I was out on the hunt in most book stores for this manga. When finally found it, I instantly devoured this truly remarkable story by the mangaka Kent! If you are a fan of the giant monster genre, Vol 1 of Gaea-Tima: the Gigantis is a daikaiju must have!
The story follows Miyako, a young woman who is also a survivor of the giant monster Gaea-Tima who almost wiped her small seaside town off the map ten years ago. Now, her village has recovered as a tourist destination and her job is now sculpting vinyl figures of the infamous Gaea-Tima. The town’s prosperity is short lived however as another daikaiju mysteriously appears to wage havoc on the town. As panic ensues, Miyako becomes an unlikely protector as Gaea-Tima is quite literally coughed up by her to challenge this new foe. With monsters now once again on the rise, Miyako must deal with her past as her future is shrouded in the shadow of the now ever present Gaea-Tima.
What I really appreciate about this manga is not just the incredibly well illustrated monsters and the action sequences portrayed through Kent’s artistic talent, but I also really dig the human characters we encounter. Miyako is such a tender character and her trauma of surviving the initial giant monster attack in the story provides an excellent conflict of interest as she soon learns that she is somewhat now the adoptive parent to what we are to believe is the child of the original Gaea-Tima. This paired with the introduction of Tasukuni who is introduced an an oceanographer (but is also an agent of the government) who is a giant monster otaku of a character, much to Miyako’s dismay as he fanboys about her figures as well as the monsters that now are connected with her life. I’m truly impressed with how well the human plot plays into the overall narrative of giant monsters duking it out in idyllic seaside Japan.
This manga needs to be read by more fans of the genre, and honestly, it could also be a fantastic way to get into the world of giant monsters. This first volume is packed with solid character introductions but also three (technically four if you include the original Gaea-Tima) incredibly well designed and unique giant monsters. Gaea-Tima, our titular monster has a fantastic “man-in-suit” appearance to the point of a detail in the neck that showcases the old school style of “breathing holes” for the actors inside. Gaea Tima’s suitish look also seems to pair well with the more intricate adversaries in the form of Yoboya, which is a very fish-like monster.
Lastly, we are introduced to Hettorga, which has very insectoid features and is first seen as human sized before the massive cliffhanger of an “adult” coming to shore. What I adore about Hettorga is that its introduction is very akin to Baltan, who is one of my favorite Ultraman villains, and I feel the introduction of this monster will cement many toku fans to this engaging but mysterious narrative that keeps you wanting more.
| Overall Score: 10/10 Gaea-Tima: the Gigantis is a sleeper hit and a truly fantastic entry into the giant monster genre. It’s an absolute must-have for fans that pays homage to the genre as a whole, while also telling a truly refreshing and original story. |
