Another Gene

Another Gene (ANOTHER GENE（アナザー・ジーン）, Anazā Jīn) is a one-shot comic that takes place in the continuity of Ultraman Geed, written by Junichiro Ashiki and illustrated by Gurihiru. It was released on TSUBURAYA IMAGINATION on July 15, 2022,^[3][4] after first being announced during TSUBURAYA CONVENTION 2021 SPECIAL PROGRAM on December 13, 2021.^[5][6]

In the months leading up to the comic's release, a prequel light novel series entitled Zenna's Files (ゼナのファイル, Zena no Fairu) was released. It is likewise written by Junichiro Ashiki with illustrations by Gurihiru, and its three chapters were distributed through TSUBURAYA IMAGINATION on the second Friday of every month from April 2022.^[7]

Synopsis

Nix Kanaya is a Reionics born from Ultraman Belial's genes. With the help of his Kaiju and the AIB, he works as the "Kaiju Detective".

Plot

The story opens with Nix Kanaya using his Eleking to stop an escaping Alien Ghose, saying he has been asked to capture them. Captions explain that Ultraman Belial once tried to take over this world, but was defeated by his son, Ultraman Geed, bringing peace to Earth, but only on the surface.

Nix lives in an old ramen shop called ShOUT, with its signs crossed out to read "Detective Agency". Inside, Kanaya has merchandise for an American comic called Armed Ninja and is watching an animated adaption of it on TV, while failing to hear his doorbell being rung multiple times. AIB agents Alien Shadow Zenna and Alien Salome Philip enter, surprising him. Already acquainted with each other, Nix is given another new mission, to recover a baby Gubila that has been sold into the city illegally. Nix gladly accepts after Philip opens a suitcase to reveal his reward. As Zenna leaves, Nix asks why he doesn't move his mouth when he talks and he replies that he has not learned how, while revealing his alien form.

Outside, Nix places a Kaiju Capsule into his blue Nix Riser to summon a small Zandrias named Dori. He grabs onto its leg and they fly above the city to begin their search. Meanwhile, Zenna asks what Philip thinks about Nix, as this was his first time meeting him. Philip asks why the AIB needs to rely on someone like him, and Zenna explains that its also to monitor him, as he is a descendent of Ultraman Belial. Like how Ultraman Geed had been created with Belial's Ultraman genes, Nix had been created with Belial's Reionics genes by Kei Fukuide, while he was experimenting to create Belial Fusion Beasts. When Philip asks if they can trust him, Zenna is not yet sure.

In a warehouse, a group of four gang members have a baby Gubila in a water tank. Having been drugged to be made weaker, it lies sadly at the bottom of the tank, while the group discuss selling it. Knowing that the AIB is on to them, they switch to their alien forms to guard the creature, revealing them to be Alien Magmas. Nix was watching through a window on the roof, and seeing the weakened Gubila, he is reminded of his past. As a child, covered in bruises, Nix sat helplessly in an alleyway covered in garbage as it rained, with the Nix Riser at his foot. Kei Fukuide had abandoned him there, calling him a failure who was unable to serve Belial and therefore belonged among the trash.

Nix brings out his Eleking named Ele to cause a power outrage, and within the darkness, shocks one of the aliens, while Dori steals the leaders' gun. Moonlight reveals Nix standing on a tall shelf above them. When he introduces himself to the aliens, one realizes he is the Kaiju user he has heard rumors about, mentioning that he recently recaptured an alien who had escaped. The three aliens open fire on Nix, who skilfully dodges their shots and knocks one alien aside, while Ele shocks the same alien he shocked earlier after they jump out once more. Nix explains that he is an artifical being who was discarded, and because of that, he cannot forgive those who don't value life.

Nix dodges the two remaining aliens' fire once more, while Dori breathes fire at them from behind, then Nix fires towards them with one of their guns. Although it seemed that he had missed, he was actually aiming for Gubila's water tank, which shatters, causing the torrent of water to knock the Alien Magmas to the ground. Nix collects the Gubila and grabs onto Dori's leg to float in the air, while Ele electrically shocks the four aliens again through the puddle. Nix taunts the defeated leader, who does not realize Gubila has been placed behind him. Laying on his front, he turns in horror to see the angered Gubila, who takes his revenge using his drill nose.

Back at ShOUT, Gubila has recovered thanks to Zenna's care. Nix names him Gubi and says he is now a member of his detective agency. He glances at a shikishi board hung on his wall, which reads "Live Til' You Die!" and remembers an event from his past. As a child, he once encountered Gai Kurenai, who told him that because all humans die one day regardless, he should continue living, as maybe that way, something in his life may change. Nix feels glad that against all odds, he is still alive today. He then opens his suitcase from the AIB, which is revealed to contain a Comic-con-exclusive 6-inch figure of Armed Ninja in a black outfit. Happy to receive such a rare reward, he celebrates with his three kaiju companions.

Lastly, there is a flashback to Zenna purchasing the figure at a store, pondering if it would really make a good reward.

Zenna's Files

No.	Thumbnail	Release Date
1		April 15, 2022[8][9]
Synopsis: Zenna, an Alien Shadow, is one of the AIB agents stationed on Earth. He offered steadfast support to Ultraman Geed, helping him secure peace. Even after the victory, Zenna remained on Earth, dedicated to upholding order. Here, we will recount some of the alien-related incidents that Zenna encountered firsthand in his ongoing mission...
2		May 13, 2022[10][11]
Synopsis: Several months had passed since Moa Aizaki's departure, and in that time, Zenna had been relentlessly busy. Now handling alone the missions they once managed together, his workload had effectively doubled. While Moa's behavior often required extra attention, Zenna now realized how essential her presence had been. It's a common sentiment to only recognize someone's value after they're gone, but this was precisely Zenna's situation. Although his undeveloped facial muscles betrayed no sign of it, the exhaustion from his intensified workload had begun to take its toll. It was during this demanding period that Zenna was assigned a new subordinate...
3		June 10, 2022[12][13]
Synopsis: In the cold, sterile room, Zenna spoke. His conversation partner was the central computer of the spaceship Neo Brittania. "Understood. Please wait a moment," came the reply from above. The golden sphere suspended from the ceiling pulsed with light, producing a voice synthesized by the reporting and management system known as RE.M. "She" activated the onboard machinery to respond to Zenna's request. There was a time when the Neo Brittania was also known as Nebula House. The reason for this name traces back to the apartment complex called Nebula House, where its owner, a young man named Riku Asakura, once lived. Naming his spaceship after his former residence hinted at Asakura's personal approach to life. Of course, Zenna had a reason for coming to this place...

Characters

Gallery

Art

Trivia

• Two interviews about the comic were released on TSUBURAYA IMAGINATION. The first was with Gurihiru and published on December 17, 2021.^[5][6][19] The second was with Junichiro Ashiki as part of Tatsuomi Hamada's TSUBURAYA IMAGINATION column Tatsuomi Hamada's New Ultra EYE! and released on March 25, 2022.^[7]
• Nix Kanaya is reminiscent of Nics, a character from the stage show Ultra Family Grand Assembly 2018, which was also written by Junichiro Ashiki. Like Nix Kanaya, Nics was created by Kei Fukuide using Belial's Reionics genes before being discarded.
• In the shop at the end of the comic, the original Nics appears as a figure and on a t-shirt in a shop. There are also figures of Armed Ninja and the Incredible Hulk, and three customers, one of whom wears a backpack with a Batman logo.
• Nix's detective agency, ShOUT, shares its name with a stage show insert theme.
• Boxes of ramune can be seen in Nix's home, the drink enjoyed by Gai Kurenai in Ultraman Orb. Ele can also be seen pouring a glass of it when Gubi is brought home.
• When mentioning Zenna's unchanging expression, small text next to Nix's speech bubble says "Smile, smile", Kengo Manaka's catchphrase.
• When announced, Another Gene was decribed as "the first installment of a project that allows fans to enjoy the world of Ultraman through a variety of storylines",^[5][6] possibly implying more spin-offs are in the works.
• Nix and Philip later appeared in NEW GENERATION THE LIVE -STARS Edition- TSUBURAYA CONVENTION 2023 SPECIAL STAGE.

External Links

• Another Gene at TSUBURAYA IMAGINATION
• Zenna's Files at TSUBURAYA IMAGINATION

References

1. ↑ https://x.com/ashiki_u40/status/1471607802968043520
2. ↑ https://x.com/Gurihiru/status/1470347291383189505
3. ↑ https://m-78.jp/news/post-6392
4. ↑ https://x.com/Gurihiru/status/1547805334806614016
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2} https://m-78.jp/news/post-6168
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2} https://tsuburaya-prod.com/news/3854
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} https://m-78.jp/news/post-6250
8. ↑ Dead link TSUBURAYA IMAGINATION April 2022 Updates
9. ↑ https://x.com/m78_imagination/status/1514808250944077832
10. ↑ Dead link TSUBURAYA IMAGINATION May 2022 Updates
11. ↑ https://x.com/gurihiru/status/1525430213655420928
12. ↑ Dead link TSUBURAYA IMAGINATION June 2022 Updates
13. ↑ https://x.com/Gurihiru/status/1534916078639661056
14. ↑ https://imagination.m-78.jp/contents/d2ViL1lvbWlfMDEwMTE%3D
15. ↑ https://x.com/Gurihiru/status/1547805334806614016
16. ↑ https://x.com/Gurihiru/status/1608105081169416195
17. ↑ https://x.com/Gurihiru/status/1550414124701859840
18. ↑ https://twitter.com/Gurihiru/status/1547506860986871808
19. ↑ https://x.com/Gurihiru/status/1471680264535678979