Godzilla has been around for nearly 71 years dating back to the original 1954 cinematic classic that started it all. In that time heโs taken on many forms across various media, from the horrors of Shin Godzilla to the animated Godzilla: The Series and everything in between. Now, IDW is rolling out the red carpet for the King of the Monsters with not just one comic book, but an entire connected universe of new comics. Welcome to the Kai-Sei era. It all begins in the bold, bizarre, jam-packed Godzilla #1.
See also: A SHIN GODZILLA Sequel Is Potentially In The Works At Toho
Written by Tim Seeley (Godzilla vs. America: Chicago) with art by Nikola ฤiลพmeลกija (Batman and Robin), Godzilla #1 takes place in modern times, largely in America, with the so-called G-Force rising up to fight constant monster attacks that have plagued the world for decades, which Japan has largely started to equate to natural disasters. The Americans have just discovered the ultimate tool in the fight against kaiju: a young boy named Jacen with the power of Godzilla. Let them fight!
Indeed, this all hinges on a boy with the power of the most powerful monster on the planet. Without getting into spoilers, the book establishes that Godzilla harnesses Kai-Sei power, or โstrange beast energy,โ which was first discovered in 1954 when the beast was awakened. Itโs a big, weird idea but it also feels comic book-y in that way. A good way. Why not make use of the limitless opportunities afforded by comics? Seeley and ฤiลพmeลกija do precisely that.
Itโs a little silly, to be certain. It feels more in line with some of the Japanese classics of the โ70s, but with an unhinged, anime energy to it all. Donโt expect something overly serious Godzilla Minus One. Think something more akin to Godzilla vs. MechaGodzilla, but like a Saturday morning adult-friendly cartoon.
The book has a lot itโs trying to get across but such is the case with new beginnings. A #1 issue of a comic book is often a lot like watching 30 minutes of a movie and deciding, do I want to watch the rest of this movie? For my money, the answer is yes. But I am a hardcore Godzilla fan. What I do like about the book is that, even though it has a lot of love for hardcore fans with plenty of lore stitched in, itโs clearly designed for newcomers to jump on what is a fast-moving train.
To that end, setting up a universe can be distracting and messy. The nice thing is that the book does plant little seeds for the other books in this universe, such as the even more bizarre sounding Godzilla: Escape the Deadzone, as well as Starship Godzilla, which has been likened to an โ80s VHS anime. That stuff is peppered in without being a distraction, which is the best way to handle such things. All the same, the book is downright overflowing with world-building and lore. It's a lot to cram into just over 30 pages.
Some of the artwork is a little chaotic and busy at times, I must admit, but itโs a function of the big swing its creators are taking. Iโll take that over boring any day. Itโs got a lot on its mind but the world that is being built is unlike anything Iโve encountered in all of my years loving the Godzilla franchise. And the monster has done an awful lot over the years.
More than just a single comic, this issue truly does make it feel like IDW is boldly going for something big here. Thatโs exciting. Even if this firt issue left me with a great many questions and a little “so much just happeened” whiplash, itโs a ride Iโm ready to take.
Godzilla #1 is out now digitally or at a comic book shop near you. For more, get the lowdown on the upcoming Godzilla video games.
