Whether you called them G-Force, Battle of the Planets, or Science Ninja Team Gatchaman, if your grew up in the 1970s and 1980s, chances are that the high-flying, bird-themed heroes might have been your first exposure to the world of anime.
Decades later, those same Generation X fans as well as younger generations discovered the original unedited Japanese cartoons which rekindled nostalgic memories and created a new set of fans.
And if you’re looking to recapture some of that after-school magic of yesteryear, Mad Cave Studios has you covered in their new ongoing Gatchaman series by Cullen Bunn and Chris Batista, as well as a slew of spin-off series.
We spoke to the creators all about their new series (the Gatchaman Vol.1 trade paperback is now in stores) and discovered their approach to the beloved characters and also the fact that they are as big of fans of the originals as you are in this exclusive interview.
Gatchaman has a long pop culture and comic/manga history. How did you approach the series at the start and what aspects were most essential to a Gatchaman story?
Cullen Bunn: There were a few goals that were top-of-mind for me when writing this series. I wanted it to be fun and energetic. I wanted it to look and feel like the original animated series. I wanted it to be fun for long-time fans of the show, but I also wanted it to be 100% accessible to readers who had never even heard of Gatchaman. I also wanted to introduce new concepts and characters into the mix. Even though this series takes place during the timeline of the original show, I felt it was important to add some new concepts, to really build into the world in which the series takes place. I also wanted to give all of the characters some big moments. I wanted the entire team to be showcased in some interesting ways.
Chris Batista: My approach to drawing Gatchaman is pretty simple. If it ain’t broke….my reverence for the source material keeps my efforts pure. I make sure to keep any new modern elements consistent with the classic elements. Anything we add that is new, should not feel out of place. That is very important to me and I feel blessed that Tatsunoko backs all our efforts. Their support always gives me fuel to keep pushing things and never settle.
What was your initial exposure to the cartoon/characters?
Bunn: When I was a kid, Battle of the Planets was one of my favorite cartoons. It aired in the afternoons, right around the time I got home from school. There were moments during the hour-long bus ride that I would get very nervous. If something went wrong… if the trip took longer than expected… I might miss some or all of the day’s episode!
This was the moment in my life that I realized the world was against me. The world… fate… the programmers of my local TV station… were the minions of Galactor (or Spectra, as it was called in BOTP) and I was a member of the Science Ninja Team (or G-Force, as I knew it back in the day). The bus, I guess, was the God Phoenix. Sometimes, it was a real struggle to get home in time to watch my favorite show.
The show really was a big deal to me. I loved it. My friends loved it. We used to pretend to be G-Force on the playground.
Batista: It was back when I was a wee lad. Battle of The Planets was an utter gamechanger for me. I was a huge fan of animation from an early age. BOTP stood out from most of the shows of that era. The stunning art style, the eye popping designs, the hyper kinetic action and that killer background score. Like Cullen, my friends and I pretended we were G Force, fighting over who got to be Mark and Jason. Many cartoons from that time were forgotten quickly but BOTP stayed with me and lead me to discover Gatchaman.
Which of the group is your favorite character to write?
Bunn: Tough one! I like them all, really! You might think Ken would be a favorite… and, when I was a kid, he was my favorite member of the team. What I’ve found, though, is that I really like writing Jun and Jinpei. I feel like they both need a little more story-time. In a recent issue, I gave Ryu a little more page-time, and that was super fun for me, too! But I like writing them all. An upcoming issue features Ken and Joe in a scene I’ve been wanting to see since I was a kid! And that’s part of what I love about this series. It reminds me of the joy I felt watching the show all those years ago!
Batista: It really is hard to pick a favorite. Initially it’s a dead tie between Ken and Joe but then Jun is impossible to ignore. While they usually don’t get enough of the spotlight, Jinpei and Ryu are sometimes more fun to draw. I look forward to drawing Ryu getting into an actual fight that doesn’t have him in the pilot’s chair. Picturing him throwing goons all over the place.
What does Chris bring to the series in terms of his artwork and how did it mesh with your scripting, and how does Cullen’s writing impact your artwork ?
Bunn: I remember when I first saw the pages Chris did for our Free Comic Book Day issue. It was some of the most kinetic, action-packed visual storytelling I could have ever imagined. Like me, he is a fan of the source material. Chris loves this world. Loves these characters. And it comes across on the page. It was important to me that the series look and feel like a high-octane animated series. Chris delivers that and more!
Batista: Reading a new script from Cullen has been an utter joy. I beam with excitement putting the scenes together in my head. It takes a lot of understanding of classic Gatchaman to put together a storyline. Gatchaman has a vibe that is exciting, quirky, at times odd and then dark as hell out of nowhere. I’m not sure a lot of Western writers would be able to tap into that vein the way Cullen does. He really gets it and easily blends in new elements that meld easily with the classic show.
How did you envision Galactor in the new series?
Bunn: Galactor, to me, is a group of wildly intelligent scientists who use super-science for terrorist activities. I see them as mad scientists who have been pushed into the strangest of activities to achieve their goals. Science has driven them mad in some sort of cosmic twist of fate.
Batista: They are still that genocidal lovable gang from the original series. I think Katse feels more dangerous in this series…craftier…
Gatchaman is intended to set up other spin-off stories and comics. Did you intentionally seed the first arc with hints for upcoming content?
Bunn: Absolutely! There are tons of hints of stories to come. There are many new characters. Many new events. But all these elements simply won’t fit in the main series. They will be featured in spin-offs, though!
Where does Gatchaman go next?
Bunn: Since the very first issue, I’ve been planting seeds for a big revelation to come! That will be coming to fruition in the second arc! It sets up a major challenge—and a major new enemy—for Gatchaman!
Gatchaman Vol. 1 is currently available at your local comic shop and bookstore. Gatchaman #6 will be in stores on January 22.
