“Perhaps, in another life, he loved. And was loved in return.”
Our first expansion into IDW’s bold new “Kai-Sei” Era of licensed Godzilla comics is here! Godzilla: Escape the Deadzone released this week, throwing readers headfirst into a desolate, post-apocalyptic Seattle that has been ravaged by Kaiju. Although deemed “The Deadzone,” it’s actually inhabited by survivors, many of whom possess unique mutations and abilities. Our focal point centers on “The Wanderer,” a half man, half Kaiju hybrid with no name, spending his time wandering the vast wastelands of The Deadzone, and facing off against the beasts that lurk within. Going in, I knew from various interviews that Deadzone would aim to emulate more mature comics, with Vertigo being cited as a heavy influence. The book delivers on this promise tenfold, bringing comic book enthusiasts a unique Berserk or Lone Wolf & Cub-esque vibe to the King of the Monsters, and a true breath of fresh air for fans looking for a more serious, dark, and grimy take on the franchise.
TM & ©Toho Co., Ltd.
I’ll just get this out of the way right now, since it’s a major talking point whenever Godzilla comics are discussed in our community: Godzilla is not in this comic, at least in making a physical appearance and being a major player sort of manner. Normally, many fans of the franchise would scoff at such a move, but here, it’s done to great effect. Godzilla is talked about frequently, as if he’s this malevolent deity that shows up once in a great moon, and is a completely unstoppable force. It’s a fantastic way to give the titan some presence without using up too many of your epic moments early on, since we’re just scratching the surface of this world. Additionally, in the book, it’s outright stated that our lone Wanderer has faced off against the King of the Monsters before, and has won. That’s some great setup that will pay off later down the road right there, and will leave fans excited to see when that throwdown does happen.
Easily the biggest standout of this new issue is the visuals that really show just how out-of-this-world our very own Earth has become. Pablo Tunica’s art makes this Deadzone come alive. There’s dirt browns in the rundown cities, vibrant pink smoke coming out of craters in the ground, and disgusting puke green coloration on the Kaiju that flesh this world out and truly make it feel lived in, bringing some of the most gorgeous visuals that have ever been laid out on a Godzilla comic, and some illustrations that even rival the Godzilla greats like Eggleton.
This even carries beyond just the art, with some killer lettering and design by Nathan Widick that uplifts everything in this book. For instance, in the flashback to the origin of the Deadzone, the dialogue boxes of our narrator are washed out orange, complimenting the fantastic sepia-toned colors that give us our first clues into the tone and overall vibe this series will take. The Wanderer’s dialogue is highlighted in a funky green color, giving us subtle clues that he may not be fully human after all. This great care and attention to detail gives the book some character, and showcases why this isn’t merely just the “B Book.”
Great visuals will elevate a book, but adding quality writing to that mix will cement a comic as one to remember. Ethan S. Parker and Griffin Sheridan’s sharp script that flips between narrator, Wanderer, and other inhabitants of the Deadzone feels cinematic while reading, flawlessly hopping between characters who have their own individual voices and mannerisms. Each character feels like someone that would exist in this world, even if we have no clue what their names are.
The book maintains a great balance between mysterious & gritty, with some fun laughs sprinkled in. There’s a moment in particular that showcases all of this when we are introduced to our Wanderer in the bar. The two gentlemen seated next to our Wanderer begin giving us a rundown on the legends and folklore that spread through this no-man’s land, whilst also being completely intoxicated and bumbling buffoons. The Wanderer, drunk and vulgar, is also a strangely endearing character. Despite all of the tough and gruff, he’s just out to, as Godzilla Minus One puts it, “survive and fight.” It’ll be fun to watch his journey and growth as a character, as there are still great mysteries that lie within this great new world to discover and unravel.
Godzilla: Escape the Deadzone is a masterclass in worldbuilding and mystery, giving a perfect window for veteran Godzilla fans AND newcomers that love comics a way to enter this new Kai-Sei era and still enjoy every bit of it. On the fan side, Deadzone brings Godzilla fans a mature, gritty, and bloody story with heart, something they’ve been demanding from the franchise for years. Established comic readers with an interest in jumping into Godzilla will also be treated with a great mystery with phenomenal visuals, razor-sharp editing and writing, and an issue that will leave readers making plenty of theories about where we’re headed next. If you haven’t picked this book up yet, we recommend you run, and not walk, to your local comic supplier. You will regret not getting on this ride early.
