The Horror of Godzilla #1 Early Review
IDW‘s new Godzilla comic universe, dubbed the Kia-sei era, will expand its roster of titles in July with the anticipated The Horror of Godzilla, which marks the first time in this universe that Godzilla was discovered by the world. Making Landfall in 1954, Japan is the origin point for the universe we have been reading about for the past year, and let me tell you, it’s horrifying.
Whilst fans of this franchise might be skeptical about seeing the events of Ishiro Honda’s original film again, especially with Minus One attempting a similar revision recently, I am happy to say this first issue shakes any doubt I had in whether Ethan S. Parker and Griffin Sheridan (both previously co-wrote the Deadzone mini series in this universe) would be able to add a unique lens to these events. It seems apt to first state that the title is not a lie; this comic is a true horror comic. Its pacing is controlled and unnerving as concepts are slowly revealed, deepening our fear. Parker and Sheridan balance the Kaiju spectacle, now tinged with misery, as the audience is placed in the perspective of helpless citizens fleeing from untold destruction and what seems to be the beginning of a deeper conspiracy surrounding Godzilla’s discovery and the importance of Kai-sei energy.
The influences for this first issue of The Horror of Godzilla seem clear; the mystery plot seems akin to similar approaches to the monster mythos, like Legendary’s Monarch TV show and the start of Godzilla (2014), building up a Godzilla wrapped up in shady decisions by various interested parties. As previously mentioned, the original 1954 Godzilla is both a starting point for the narrative, and the DNA of this Godzilla seems warped by the influence of concepts like those in Shin Godzilla. The mix of these influences and a return to Godzilla’s more horror roots makes the whole comic feel unnerving and disturbed, akin to the most recent boom in the analog horror genre.
The Horror of Godzilla‘s tone couldn’t have been set without the stellar art by Tristan Jones. Whilst the pitch for this title is strong, the vision Jones establishes captures the horror that repulses you yet leaves you unable to look away. Combined with the black-and-white coloring, the whole issue feels like a horrid nightmare. The Godzilla in this is unlike many of his previous interpretations; his destruction seems both deliberately cruel and coded with ambivalence toward the city around him; his piercing pupils, hidden in the dark shadows of his face, make him look sinister and unknowable. Whilst this Godzilla clearly draws influences from other incarnations, he is a beast all on his own, and his effects on the world are laid bare in a disturbing fashion. Tristian also keeps continuity with Nikola Čižmešija’s design for this universe’s Godzilla. This Godzilla is a hulking beast, riven with cracks, and energy pours from him like he can’t help but ooze it. Jones’s styling and perspective angling make this Godzilla feel even more imposing, piercing the sky and cracking the land.
Reading this issue made me believe in the hatred characters throughout the other titles in the universe have for Godzilla, whilst reinforcing the idea that Godzilla truly is a creation born out of real-world horror, something which can feel lost in many western approaches to the King of the Monsters. Overall, this is what I personally see as the strongest first issue in this universe, and I am fascinated to see where this series leads, especially with that last-page reveal and the building mystery of this comic, which will definitely have me back for Issue 2.
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