Over the years we’ve seen certain comic characters rise to a level where they just seem to be everywhere. Batman, of course, plus Wolverine (especially in the 1980s and 1990s), more recently Deadpool … But this summer we can crown a new king of that phenomenon, and given he’s the king of all monsters, I think he’s due.
Godzilla isn’t just appearing in a bunch of comics this summer — IDW has been publishing Godzilla books since 2010, I believe, so he’s never been absent from comic shelves — but this summer he’s expanded his appearances to multiple publishers.
Let’s have a look:
- Today brought he first issue of Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong #1, the sequel to last year’s crossover featuring Godzilla’s Monsterverse crossing into the DC Universe by Brian Buccellato and Christian Duce.
This sequel features some fallout from the first series, as Amanda Waller attempts to create her own titans to combat any future kaiju attacks, and the Justice League travels to King Kong and Godzilla’s world. King Ghidorah, Rodan and Mothra will all appear, as well as a giant-sized Killer Croc.
- The DCU isn’t the only superhero universe getting a visit from Godzilla; following several one-shots featuring Godzilla taking on various Marvel heroes at different points in their careers, Marvel will release Godzilla Destroys the Marvel Universe in July. It’s by writer Gerry Duggan and artist Javier Garrón, and it will pit the king of all monsters against just about everyone, including Marvel heroes and villains.
- But wait — what about IDW and their Godzilla line? They still have the license, and continue to publish miniseries and specials featuring Godzilla. But this year they’ve really amped up the line, adding a Mothra book and announcing plans for a Godzilla shared universe.
Dubbed the “Kai-Sei era,” the shared universe will launch with three titles — a Godzilla ongoing series by writer Tim Seeley and artist Nikola Čižmešija, which launches in July; Godzilla: Escape the Deadzone by writers Ethan Parker and Griffin Sheridan, and artist Pablo Tunica, which begins in August; and Starship Godzilla writer Chris Gooch and artist Oliver Ono, which starts in October.
“We couldn’t be more excited to present to you the new home of Godzilla – The Kai-Sei Era,” said IDW editor Jake Williams. “The Kai-Sei Era is the only ongoing Godzilla story of its kind – crafted for comics readers who have never bought a Godzilla book, and Godzilla fans who have never read a comic. We aim to bring you the absolute best stories possible – whether those stories contain super powered G-Force members trying to kill Godzilla, mutants in a wasteland trying to survive in its wake, or mercenaries flying around space in Mechagodzilla. Every month readers will be able to take a peek inside a brand new universe composed of unimaginable horrors, kaiju old and new, and heroes to keep it all at bay. We’re telling the best Godzilla stories in the world, inside the best comics on the shelves.”
Above is the variant cover for Godzilla #1 by Art Adams, which IDW revealed this week, followed by covers for the other two books. And here’s a look at Čižmešija’s design for Godzilla:
- And let’s not forget Legendary Comics, the comics arm of Legendary Entertainment, who make the Monsterverse films.
- Last month they released Monsterverse Declassified, an anthology that features the secret origins of kaiju like Tiamat, Titanus Doug and more, by David M. Booher, Greg Keyes, Rosie Knight, Daniel J. Park and others. They also recently kickstarted Monarch: The Lost Adventures, a graphic novel tie-in to the Apple+ TV show about the shadowy organization Monarch. The show, starring Kurt Russell and his son Wyatt, is was co-developed by Matt Fraction, and it’s excellent. I hope we find out soon when season 2 will drop.
So if you’re looking for some reading material to enjoy during the hot kaiju summer, you’ve got plenty to choose from.