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Official sequel to the original 1970 version.
They took his family, they took his face, and they took his soul. Trapped between the deadly yet beautiful assassin Maria and the mutant Spider Man, the Skull Man delves into the conspiracy that birthed his powers and those of his partner, Garo. Haunted by his past, he won't let anything stand in the way of his vengeance.
(Source: TokyoPop)
Skull Man was published in English by Tokyopop from April 23, 2002, to August 1, 2003.
Given its nature as a tribute and a continuation or revival of work that preceded and inspired Kamen Rider, the appreciation for this piece will be significantly influenced by one's familiarity with the life and work of Ishinomori Shotaro—or the lack thereof.
Those unfamiliar with Ishinomori's legacy might find themselves put off by a somewhat clumsily executed, ordinary storyline. It bears similarities to early Batman comics but carries a stronger anti-heroic tone. Unfortunately, more profound themes are only touched upon sporadically, preventing the story from reaching its full potential. In contrast, the art style is spectacularly cinematic. Transitions between panels are flawlessly executed, whether for action sequences or more reflective moments. Kazuhiko’s artwork evokes memories of Shotaro's style while maintaining its unique identity.
In summary, this work's quality is questionable both in its own time and even more so today. It undoubtedly has heart, but its rhythm resonates with only a select few.
This is one of the best in the early 2000s, the art, story, and characters are simply amazing, and as a short series, it closes its plots really nicely.
The powers displayed too are really cool too.
Give it a try, I guarantee, this one is worth your time.