Godzilla fans have known for a period of time now that IDW Publishing planned to restart their Godzilla line of comics, with the beginning happening on Free Comic Book Day. What we didn’t know was that it would officially begin with three new titles – Godzilla (Ongoing), Godzilla: Escape the Deadzone, and Starship Godzilla. Per IDW, each title will occupy the same overall narrative, but tell the story in three distinct storytelling styles to appeal to different kinds of Godzilla fans. Initially announced by the official Godzilla website, we’ve got the full breakdown below.
Godzilla #1 will kick things off in July, with writer Tim Seeley (Godzilla vs. America: Chicago) and artist Nikola Čižmešija (Batman and Robin) introducing us to a world filled with terrifying monsters and superhumans battling for Earth’s supremacy. IDW Publishing adds, “In 1954, an experiment with a mysterious energy source called Kai-Sei awakened Godzilla and other terrifying kaiju. For decades, humanity has endured an onslaught of monster attacks. While Japan views these unstoppable rampages like natural disasters, the United States’ G-Force is attempting to fight these seemingly immortal titans. Now, they’ve found a boy who wields the power of Godzilla. Will he save the world… or bring about its doom?”
The following month, writers Ethan Parker and Griffin Sheridan (Kill Your Darlings) bring you Godzilla: Ecape The Deadzone with art by Pablo Tunica (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles). What is the Deadzone? What does that have to do with Godzilla and this brand new world? Well, thankfully, that’s all a mystery that is left to be solved upon reading this series. Based on the art style, this book may be a more mature read for fans looking for something a little more serious. That is all just speculation from our end here at Kaiju United, but we await reading the book and finding out.
The official description states:
“Introducing the first-ever half-human, half-kaiju hybrid in Toho history, GODZILLA: ESCAPE THE DEADZONE will explore the biggest mystery of the new connected universe… What is the truth behind the post-apocalyptic Deadzone? The search for answers will forever change how fans view this new universe as they experience this thrilling and shocking ride.”
Lastly, IDW announced Starship Godzilla, which puts us in outer space with fan-favorite Mechagodzilla iteration, Kiryu! The mechanical doppelganger of the King of the Monster’s original origins were of alien nature, but this is the first time a man-made design is venturing into the cosmos. Interestingly, the official description for this book implies we will be seeing many of our favorite alien invaders from Godzilla history together for the first time, adding:
“For the first time in Toho canon, this trip through the stars will bridge the gap between the various alien races. They’ve come to Earth in past tales, but now it’s time to visit their worlds as a crew of misfits embark on high-risk high-reward kaiju-based missions with a secret that could impact the whole universe.”
“We couldn’t be more excited to present to you the new home of Godzilla – The Kai-Sei Era,” IDW’s Godzilla line editor Jake Williams adds. “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.”
Below is the new official design for Godzilla in this universe by Nikola Čižmešija, spouting green atomic breath & dorsal plating, plus a thagomizer on the tail. What do you think of the new look? Are you excited for these new books? Let Kaiju United know below!
