WARNING: The following containers spoilers for Mega Man: Fully Charged #1, by AJ Marchisello & Marcus Rhinehart, Stefano Simeone, Igor Monty, Ed Dukeshire, and Joe Kelly, available now.
Mega Man is one of Capcom's most popular characters; and he's leveled up from his video game roots to be the star of various cartoons and comic book series. Mega Man: Fully Charged is the latest addition to this sizable collection; continuing on the world of the animated series that ended last summer. The comic takes place in the same world as its namesake, but it also takes Mega Man in a new direction, as it explores his previously concealed role in the human/robot war. The series complicate the beloved anime hero's backstory, as Skull Man's heinous plot makes the hero, and his fans, question everything they know about him.
Skull Man, a villain in several Mega Man video games, returns to the spotlight in the miniseries' first issue. Previously, Skull Man was one of the multiple bosses that Mega Man had to overcome. This time around, the villain gets a promotion, as it seems that he's the primary antagonist of Mega Man: Fully Charged. A Robot Master created by Dr. Cossack, Skull Man is literally a fighting machine. He first appeared in Mega Man 4, where he debuted his impressive range of abilities, including the Skull Barrier, an energy field that makes him practically invincible. The video games painted a basic picture of Skull Man's character, but his personality was fleshed out in the "The Grim Reaper of Resurrection" arc of Mega Man Megamix. Here, the villain feuds with his creator when Cossack actives other robots and leaves Skull Man dormant.
Feeling betrayed by Cossack, Skull Man kidnaps Drill Man, Pharaoh Man and Dust Man, several of his inventor's other robots. Mega Man works with Cossack's daughter, Kalinka, to save the hostages. A climactic battle pits Mega Man, Roll and other Cossack creations against Skull Man, and the inventor's appearance tips the scales in Mega Man's favor. Cossack admits he was wrong to leave Skull Man deactivated, which makes the robot feel validated and respected. The battle mortally wounds Skull Man, and it seemed like fans had seen the last of him. His body returns to Cossack's lab, where it's practically buried.
Although the villain wasn't utilized in Mega Man: Fully Charged, the comic series places him front and center. The first issue begins with a recap of recent developments in Silicon City, a robot uprising, a failed coup by Lord Obsidian and a wave of activism led by the Robot Masters are only a few examples. Mega Man's creator, Dr. Light, travels to the Badlands, hoping to broker peace with the robots. Instead, he gets taken captive by the returning Skull Man. The villain aims to take Dr. Light out in order to show that the Robot Masters refuse to negotiate. Mega Man swoops in and saves his creator, but not before the villain turns his rival's world upside down.
Using a mysterious extension of his robotic arm, Skull Man hacks into Mega Man's mind and shows him dark visions of the hero and his creator waging war on robots. Mega Man can't tell if Skull Man is showing him the past or the future, and the villain further muddies the waters. "Another hard age is coming," Skull Man says. He tells Mega Man that if he doesn't pick a side, he'll repeat the sins of his past. Dr. Light helps Mega Man escape, but the damage is done. Skull Man has shattered Mega Man's worldview, and now the hero doesn't trust himself or his creator, who seems to be hiding something from him.
Skull Man doesn't exactly spell out his motives, but it's easy to see why he'd want to potentially brainwash Mega Man. Having been previously defeated by the hero, Skull Man is well aware of how powerful Mega Man is. As a result, given the villain's status as the leader of the Robot Masters, he's probably in the market for a powerful weapon that could give the robots a decisive advantage in their war against humanity. By confusing Mega Man and trying to turn him against Dr. Light, Skull Man is likely aiming to win the war once and for all.
But these visions may not be as conclusive as they appear. The end of the issue reveals that Mega Man's evil twin may be involved; the Mega Man lookalike shows up and watches his brother from afar with an evil smile on his face. It's unclear how Skull Man's scheme will unfold, but the classic villain is building a masterful plot that's sure to push Mega Man to his limit.