0
0
Godzilla has been having something of a resurgence in recent years. Thanks to the continued expansion and success of the MonsterVerse and the acclaim for Godzilla Minus One, the King of the Monsters is arguably more relevant than ever 70 years into his existence. IDW is further fueling that fire with the start of a brand new universe centered on the beloved kaiju. Taking inspiration from the classic Toho films, namely the Showa Era and the Heisei Era, the publisher is ushering in the Kai-Sei Era later this year. But what is this era, exactly? We’re glad you asked!
This is, in short, IDW’s all-new Godzilla comics shared universe, which we first learned about late last year. It will begin with three connected titles, each of which featuring a distinct storytelling style. The new line will begin with Godzilla #1 in July, representing the first ongoing comic book series centered on the King of the Monsters in a decade. The book hails from writer Tim Seeley (Godzilla vs. America: Chicago) and artist Nikola Čižmešija (Batman and Robin). It comes complete with a new Godzilla design, lots of other kaiju and even superpowered human characters.
Things get stranger from there with Godzilla: Escape the Deadzone and the delightfully bizarre Starship Godzilla. These titles are all very different, taking place in different parts of the universe, but they all share a continuity.
IDW editor Jake Williams recently spoke with AIPT, explaining in more detail what readers can expect from the Kai-Sei Era. While it will lean heavily into what the medium of comic books can provide in terms of creative freedom, Williams hopes these books can reach a wider audience.
“The Kai-Sei Era is about building a new universe for Godzilla that plays to the strengths of the comic book medium. When you translate Godzilla to a comic book page, you lose some of the spectacle and grandeur of going to the movies —but you gain so much when you use the medium correctly.
Everyone goes to see a new Godzilla movie, but typically the comics (as was the case for most licensed comics for years) were viewed as material for only the most diehard of fans. The Kai-Sei Era aims to change that by telling wildly original Godzilla stories that you can’t get anywhere else–that are, at the end of the day, simply really good comics.”
To Williams’ point, pretty much every Godzilla fan on the planet is going to see the Godzilla Minus One sequel when it arrives. Not nearly as many tend to read the comics. With the Kai-Sei Era, there is no complex continuity to dive into. This is a fresh jumping-on point. Speaking further, Williams also explained how this new universe will differ from the movies.
“Our universe differs from most Godzilla stories by taking place about 70-years after a typical Godzilla film. Godzilla movies generally feature a fairly standard version of our world having its first (or first few) interactions with kaiju. The world of the Kai-Sei Era has been entirely shaped by these encounters with kaiju over the decades. They have different technology, a different geopolitical situation, and, well…humans that have been physically altered by these interactions.”
So, what can we expect from each book, more specifically? Here is the synopsis for Godzilla.
“In 1954, experimentation with a mysterious energy source known as Kai-Sei awakened Godzilla and a host of immortal kaiju. In the years that followed, humanity has been pummeled by near-constant monster attacks. While Japan has begun to treat the kaiju like natural disasters, understanding that their attempts to fight Godzilla only make the threat worse, the American G-Force is going to fight, fight, fight.
The Americans have just discovered the ultimate tool in the fight against kaiju: a young boy named Jacen with the power of Godzilla. Able to harness the mysterious Kai-Sei in the same vein as the King of the Monsters, this boy will either save the world…or bring about its doom.”
Written by Ethan Parker and Griffin Sheridan (Kill Your Darlings) with art by Pablo Tunica (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), here is the synopsis for Godzilla: Escape the Deadzone.
“Inside the new IDW Godzilla universe, there exists a mystery larger than any other…what is the Deadzone? Inhabitants of this new world know the Deadzone to be a walled-off portion of the Pacific Northwest, sequestered after the most disastrous Godzilla attack the country has ever faced. The government would have its citizens believe that nothing is still alive inside the Deadzone…but do you believe that?
There are stories of a man. Or rather…a half kaiju, half man…who travels freely throughout the Deadzone. Some say he can even kill a kaiju. Some say…he’s not the only of his kind.”
Finally, written by Chris Gooch (In Utero) with art by Oliver Ono (Godzilla: Monster Island Summer Camp), here is the synopsis for Starship Godzilla.
“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.”
Godzilla #1 hits shelves on July 23 followed by Godzilla: Escape the Deadzone #1 on August 6, with Starship Godzilla #1 rounding things out on October 1. For more, check out FANGORIA #1 from the archives, which features Godzilla on the cover.
