Godzilla Rivals vs. SpaceGodzilla #1 Review

Godzilla Rivals vs. SpaceGodzilla #1 Review

If you’re new to comics or just new to Godzilla, the one and only king of monsters, the kaiju supreme of lean monster mashin, then… Welcome to the ever-growing #Zillaverse, where anything and everything is possible. Matt Frank has brought to life this amazing one-shot story with some fabulous hypnotic-style colors and effects, assisted by the talented Goncalo Lopes.

Godzilla is one of my favorite science fiction stories, going all the way back to the days before DVD and Blu-ray. Whether it was black and white or just plain old color television without processing power, Godzilla captured the imagination of kids around the world. As much as people try to forget Godzilla 2000, it was the 12-inch full-scale toy that forged my storytelling adventure when I was a kid.

Stomping into the annals of the Godzilla library is IDW‘s one-shot Godzilla Rivals, with several beautiful covers to choose from, but me personally… That Space Godzilla cover by Bob Eggleton—oh my! It’s the movie poster that every inner child needs for their bro-cave. Speaking of Space Godzilla, he is one of the many enemies that Godzilla has clashed with over the years, and in this one shot, we’ll get a look at how dangerous this crystal colossus can be.

“…And he shall shatter the sky itself with his grace and beauty.”

Matt approaches this story with a very specific tone of caption narration. If you’re not a fan of this style of storytelling, then maybe this isn’t the read you need, but I find it very unique because it allows the art to do the heavy lifting. This Godzilla story feels like we’re getting some really great expansion into the universe connected to the King of Monsters, but indirectly.

The world-building is definitely at the opening of the book, as we’re introduced to a tablet of alien origin being decoded to us through the writer’s voice. It gives off a sense of biblical citation as if the captions were ordained by some alien prophet, which compliments the artwork and flow. The narrator is part of a collected society that refers to themselves as The Covenant. It’s been a little overused through the decades, but it’s space. There are probably lots of covenants.

Imagine a conclave of spiraling alien towers run by reptilian and cobra-like beings who think of insectoid beings as weak and vulnerable. Their technology is powerful, and their reach into space is vast. The vibrant colors bring space to life as these stronger civilized beings harvest and pay homage to what is known as quartz. Their belief system is built around the concept called “the shine,” which some readers might find difficult to understand at first, but it becomes clearer as the story continues. Those who are weak dampen this shine.

The juxtaposition at play here between art and writing shows the strength of the editing team and the imagination of the writer. I really enjoy the Romanesque-inspired attire adorned by all the lizard-like hominids. It gives it a very Caesarian space opera vibe that really stands out from other Godzilla books in recent years. This seems appropriate as all things begin to point to a great standoff. All bridges from this point spell betrayal and disaster.

Without spoiling too much of the plot, in essence, the tablet being decoded is telling the story of a civilization that worshipped the Crystal King (Space Godzilla), but not everyone feels that this so-called protector is safe. Betrayal infects the hearts and minds of both weak and strong, shining souls who seek their own agenda. His fight against Singura was very cinematic and well laid out. The flow of the story was really enjoyable.

The weak and rebellious forces were within their right to act on their fear even though the art contested the words written because it really shows how mad Space Godzilla is drawn to the crystals that grow out of the planet’s surface. Even though Singura is a giant kaiju monster whose face you’d never want reflecting back at you while vacationing in the watery low tides of Grand Bay, it was only acting in defense of its nest.

“Offer a prayer for these cowards, for if their shine has dulled in this life…then the king’s love will grant them salvation in the next.”

If you’re looking for great science fiction in the vein of Starship Troopers meets Stargate Atlantis with Kaiju, then jump in your jaegers and turn the pages of this one-shot gem right here. The art, again, is very hypnotic and vibrant; the action and storytelling are great; and the flow is spot-on. I feel this is niched for Godzilla lovers overall because the context in the captions seemed like there might be some prerequisite understanding, but it wasn’t a deal breaker for me.

Thanks for reading this lovely review. If you feel the Crystal King has room on your shelf, then definitely head on over to IDW.com or your local comic shop. Stay geeky, share the network, and don’t forget to catch the latest on Fueled By Weird.