Godzilla #1 is written by Tim Seeley and is published by IDW Publishing. Artwork is by Nikola Čižmešija, colours by Francesco Segala and letters by Nathan Widick.
Godzilla #1 is available now, in print and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your digital copy from Amazon Comixology UK right here.
Synopsis
In 1954, experimentation with a mysterious energy source known as Kai-Sei awakened Godzilla and a host of immortal kaiju. In the years that followed, humanity has been pummeled by near-constant monster attacks. While Japan has begun to treat the kaiju like natural disasters, understanding that their attempts to fight Godzilla only make the threat worse, the American G-Force is going to fight, fight, fight. The Americans have just discovered the ultimate tool in the fight against kaiju: a young boy named Jacen with the power of Godzilla.
Review
Over the years, Godzilla has taken on many forms and crossovers when it comes to comic book appearances. Now, thanks to writer Tim Seeley and illustrator Nikola Čižmešija, we have a new series revolving around kaijus and mass destruction, but is it any good?
Whereas more recent kaiju-centred comics, such as Behemoth, have opted for more of a dark, grounded approach to its story, Godzilla seems to go the complete opposite direction by embracing the lore that comes with it as it goes as over the top as it can, both visually and narratively. This is evident from an opening double-page spread which sees Godzilla’s heat ray light up and demolish part of a city.
From the introduction of its eccentric group of characters to an unarmed Jacen, our protagonist for the series, withstanding the impact of Godzilla’s foot, this series commits to a very particular tone. It’s a bombastic way to start things off and establishes the stylistic approach perfectly. The pace is quick and expects readers to keep up with it as it goes from one set piece to the next, at least that’s what the opening few pages suggest.
The majority of this first issue is spent following Jacen as he becomes part of the G-Force unit, attempting to gain their trust one by one. The dynamics and interactions aren’t anything new, but they work well at helping us understand what makes these characters tick and how they operate as a team. There’s even a surprising amount of humour to be found in these interactions, but also in their mannerisms. Jet Jaguar and Riviera specifically have a few standout moments that are small in nature but deceptively funny.
Where this comic really comes alive, though, is in its art and colouring work. Čižmešija’s art style is simple but effective. From the energetic fight sequences to the playful character designs, it all looks and feels at home within the Godzilla universe whilst adding in a unique flair at the same time. However, if it wasn’t for Francesco Segala’s luminous colour work, the illustrations wouldn’t be nearly as impactful. Every kaiju encounter or brawl packs an added punch thanks to Segala’s palette choices here.
The one nitpick I do have with this issue, which hopefully should be rectified as the series goes on, is the lack of Godzilla himself. There are plenty of fights and kaijus to keep readers happy, but outside of an exhilarating opening sequence, that’s all that we see of him, which seems odd considering the series is named after the monster.
Overall, this series is off to an enjoyable start. The characters and world this series sets up are fun and entertaining, leaving a lot of room for future issues to explore. I just hope the next few instalments actually deliver on what the title promises.
Verdict
Bursting with tonnes of life and personality, this new iteration of Godzilla is a total joy to read…even if it could do with a bit more of the titular kaiju. Nonetheless, a solid start to what could be a really fun series.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
