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Godzilla (comics)
Encyclopedia
Godzilla
has appeared in a range of comic books that have been published in Japan and the United States.
. The vast majority of these comics were adaptations of the films. Every film from Godzilla up to Godzilla 2000
received a comic adaptation with the exception of King Kong vs. Godzilla
. As well, all the films from Godzilla vs. Megaguirus
through Godzilla: Final Wars
did not receive a comic book adaptation.
For the most part there were anywhere from two to four different adaptations of each film (The first comic adaptation of Godzilla vs. Biollante
was called Godzilla 1990, while the second adaptation of Godzilla vs. Mothra
was called Godzilla vs. Mothra: Great Study). Most of these comics (in particular the comics from the 1950s through the 1970s) were published in children's magazines such as Bokura, Bouken Oh, and Shonen, while others were published in yellow pages
-sized monthly or weekly publications, while still others were published as one-shots and sold in movie theaters. Many of the latter comics (1980s–1990s) were published by Shogakukan Comics, Tentomushi comics, and Kodansya Comics. In the early 1990s, many of the original adaptations from the original series of Godzilla films were compiled into two pocketbook-sized volumes and reprinted by Bamboo Books.
Most of the time these adaptations would deviate from the original films and flesh out characters or add scenarios to the stories that were not present in the original film. Outside of these adaptations many of the original Godzilla films also received Asahi Sonorama book and record sets. These illustrated comic-style book and record sets featured painted artwork within.
Outside of these adaptations, Godzilla was also featured in original stories as well. A sequel story to the original film was published in 1955 called The Last Godzilla, while a sequel story to Godzilla Raids Again
was published in 1958 called Godzilla 2: Anguirus Strikes Back. In 1991 an anthology style comic featuring different stories by different writers and artists was published called The Godzilla Comic. This was followed in 1992 by The Godzilla Comic Strikes Back: Gigantes(sic) The Fire Comic. These 2 comics featured varying styles of stories. The stories would range from typical Godzilla tales, to comedic stories, to violent stories, to even "adult" themed stories that featured nudity.
.
), a small 4 page comic book adaptation was published by Cinema Shares International Distribution Corp. and given away for free at movie theaters. The comic featured no credits (so the artist and writer are unknown) and featured no cover. It was magazine-sized and published on newsprint. The comic is infamous for getting names of some of the major characters wrong as Jet Jaguar
is referred to as "Robotman," and Gigan
is referred to as "Borodan".
From 1977 through 1979, Godzilla starred in a 24-issue run of comics written by Doug Moench
, drawn by Herb Trimpe
, and published by Marvel Comics
entitled Godzilla, King of the Monsters. The series thrusts Godzilla completely into the Marvel Universe. In a nod to King Kong vs. Godzilla
, Godzilla first appears by exploding out of an iceberg near Alaska; although, how the prehistoric creature came to be trapped again in ice is never revealed. Over the course of the series, he crosses the continental United States and eventually ends up in New York City.
Godzilla's appearances in the Toho
films are alluded to in a few issues. In at least one issue, Godzilla seems like the lesser of two evils. He clashes with a monster far more evil, who generally acts more like an actual animal, albeit one with unusual levels of intelligence. Despite such allusions to the films, Godzilla is depicted as more animal-like than as the highly intelligent, perhaps sentient, creature depicted in the majority of the films by the time of the comics' printing (1977), in what is considered the Showa period of Godzilla films (1954–75). This version of Godzilla, while intelligent, is not the protector of mankind; however, he does, at times, exhibit compassion for human characters such as "Dum Dum" Dugan
, the S.H.I.E.L.D.
agent who is tasked with his capture, destruction, or repulsion from America, and Robert Takiguchi, the grandson of Japanese scientific expert Dr. Yuriko Takiguchi, who regards Godzilla as a hero and who is depicted as being Godzilla's only friend. Unlike other characters whose actions, thoughts, and feelings are told through thought balloons, Godzilla's are narrated externally via captions.
Godzilla encounters not only agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. during the course of the series but many other heroes in the Marvel Comics universe. Among them are the now-defunct group the Champions
(sans Ghost Rider
, though he was a member at the time), the Fantastic Four, Devil Dinosaur
, Moon-Boy, and the Avengers
, along with a brief cameo by Spider-Man
in the last issue of the series.
Godzilla also fights other gigantic monsters, including Yetrigar
, a King Kong
-esque giant primate, and the alien Mega Monsters. Red Ronin
, a giant robotic entity created specifically for the series, reappears in Avengers, Solo Avengers
, and an issue of Wolverine
, in which Godzilla is given an oblique nod, being referred to as a "Time Lost Dinosaur," presumably to avoid legal action by Toho. Marvel had, by then, lost the rights to depict Godzilla. Red Ronin also appears in the series Earth X
.
Between February 1979 and July 1979, Marvel had the comic book rights to both Godzilla and the Shogun Warriors. While the characters never crossed paths in their respective comics, artist Herb Trimpe
(who did the artwork for both of the series) drew a variation of Godzilla and Rodan
alongside Daimos, Great Mazinger
, Raydeen
, and Gaiking
on the top page of a comic book ad soliciting the Shogun Warrior toys. Mattel
Toys (who had the license to the Shogun Warriors) also had the licence to produce toys based on Godzilla and Rodan at this time. Also around this time, Marvel had prepared another story featuring Godzilla where he would have battled Dragon Lord. But since the copyright had expired, they modified Godzilla into a dragon like creature named The Wani. for a story published the following year in 1980 in Marvel Spotlight #5.
Despite the loss of copyright, Marvel would continue to use Godzilla for several years afterward. In Iron Man
No. 193, one of Godzilla's primary antagonists from the original series, mad scientist Doctor Demonicus
, captures and mutates Godzilla so that he no longer resembles his Toho namesake. This altered version of the monster would appear in Iron Man #193 and would return in No. 194, and #196. His last appearance was in The Thing
No. 31, where he is actually referred to as Godzilla.
Outside of this, Godzilla has been referenced or spoofed in other Marvel comics. In The Web of Spider-Man Annual No. 2 from 1986, the character Warlock
from The New Mutants turned into Godzilla and then King Kong
during a rampage through New York City. In The New Mutants Annual No. 3 in 1987, the Impossible Man
turns into Godzilla during a battle with Warlock
who turns into Red Ronin
. In The Amazing Spider-Man No. 413 from 1996, Spider-Man
battles a huge robot toy Godzilla (among other giant robotic toys) brought about by the villain Mysterio
. In the opening issue of The Mighty Avengers from 2007, a creature bearing a resemblance to the Heisei (1980s and '90s) Godzilla, appears alongside other giant monsters sent to attack the surface world by the Mole Man
. When this issue was solicted in Marvel Previews via a sneak peek page, the creature had Godzilla's distinctive dorsal spines. But when the actual comic was published, the dorsal spines had been removed. Godzilla is also mentioned in the 2005 one shot comic Marvel Monsters: From the Files of Ulysses Bloodstone and the Monster Hunters. In Astonishing X-Men No. 36 (which was published in 2011), the monster Fin Fang Foom
is rampaging through downtown Tokyo. In one panel, he passes by a building that has a Godzilla billboard on its roof.
The Marvel Comics atlas (under the article on Japan) states that the Age of Monsters began in 1954, which is evidently a reference to the original Godzilla film
. Additionally, the entry mentions that Godzilla returns years later and is the reason for the construction of Red Ronin and the formation of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Godzilla Squadron. S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Godzilla-hunting ship, Behemoth, has recently resurfaced under the command of Amadeus Cho
in The Incredible Hercules
#115. Yuriko Takiguchi, too, has reappeared in recent years, having been recruited by Beast
to join his X-Club in Uncanny X-Men
#506. Another monster resembling Godzilla served as the "self-destruct event" for Takiguchi's lab on Kunashir Island.
In 2006, Marvel reprinted the entire 24 issue run of Godzilla, King of the Monsters as a tradepaperback collection called Essential Godzilla, King of the Monsters. Like all of Marvel's Essential line, the series was published in black and white rather than color like in its original printing.
acquired the rights to Godzilla and for the next 12 years published various comic books and trade paperbacks based on the character. These ran the gamut from back up stories in anthology titles, to one shots, to mini-series, to an ongoing series, as well as various reprints in the trade paperback format. In 1987, they published a black and white one shot comic called Godzilla King of the Monsters Special. Between 1988 and 1989, DH published a 6 issue mini series simply called Godzilla. It was a translated version of the Japanese manga
of the film The Return of Godzilla
, which was based on the Japanese version of the film rather than the Americanized version, Godzilla 1985
. This series was reprinted in the trade paperback Godzilla, which was issued in 1990 and then reissued in 1995. It was also reprinted in color in the mini series Dark Horse Classics: Terror of Godzilla #1-#6 from 1998–1999.
In 1992, an illustration of Godzilla (provided by Arthur Adams) was published in San Diego Comic Con Comics #1. Also that year the one shot Godzilla Color Special was published. It would be reprinted as simply Dark Horse Classics Godzilla in 1998.
In 1993, Godzilla was featured in the anthology series Dark Horse Comics in issues #10 and #11. That year Godzilla was also featured in a pair of one shot comics. Urban Legends, which dispells the dual ending myth from the film King Kong vs Godzilla, as well as Godzilla vs Barkley, which was based on the commercial Godzilla vs. Charles Barkley
. This comic was also published in Japan.
In 1995, Godzilla appeared in the one shot comic Godzilla vs. Hero Zero. That year Godzilla starred in an ongoing series called Godzilla King of the Monsters that ran from issue #0-#16. This series was published from 1995 through 1996. The series features several new monsters for Godzilla to battle and a story arc in which Godzilla was flung through time by a would-be archvillain, who uses him to cause the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906
, sink the Titanic, and even pit him against the Spanish Armada
. Godzilla would be flung into the far flung future as well and would rampage across it before returning to the modern day. The last issue of the Dark Horse series sees Godzilla flung back into time to just a few hours before the asteroid
, which supposedly destroys the dinosaur
s impacted on Earth, and fights an alien creature. This issue first seems to have an 'it was all a dream' ending, as Godzilla wakes from his slumber in the modern day. But then a twist is thrown into the ending. Godzilla is shown staring at a piece of his opponent's tail that is still in his hand from where he had ripped it off in the final moments of their battle before the impact.
In 1996, Godzilla appeared in the anthology series Dark Horse Presents in issue #106, as well the miniseries A Decade of Dark Horse in issue #4. Also that year some of the earlier published material was reprinted in the one shot comic Art Adams' Creature Features.
Finally in 1998, Godzilla appeared in trade paperbacks and miniseries that were simply reprinting earlier material. This included the mini series Dark Horse Classics: Godzilla King of the Monsters #1-#6 and the trade paperbacks Godzilla Age of Monsters and Godzilla Past, Present, Future.
toys published a mini comic called Godzilla King of the Monsters that came packaged with some of the figures from their Godzilla toy line.
obtained the rights for the license to Godzilla, and began publishing a new ongoing series called Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters. Originally titled Godzilla: Monster World, the new series launched with a painted cover by Alex Ross
as well as a record 100 plus variant covers that were mostly retailer incentives. This promotion allowed comic book shop owners to have personalized variants featuring their store being demolished by Godzilla's foot, if they ordered over 500 copies. Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters No. 1 was therefore able to sell out of its first printing. In August 2011, IDW released a comic called Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters 100-Cover Charity Spectacular. The comic featured all the unique covers of the comic book smashing variants of issue No. 1 via a cover gallery. Proceeds of the sale will go to benefit the International Medical Corps
for Tsunami relief in Japan
.
Unlike the previous companies who licensed Godzilla, IDW was able to acquire the rights to other Toho movie monsters. These included Mothra
, King Ghidorah
, Rodan
, and other monsters from the Toho shared universe
as well as fresh new monsters to make appearances in later issues.
Eric Powell
and Tracy Marsh co-wrote Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters with Phil Hester
supplying the art. Artist Matt Frank will also supply variant covers for future issues.
The first issue was released in March 2011 and focused on introducing Godzilla
, who destroys Japan, and the Japanese Prime Minister even orders for nuclear weapons to be dropped
on him, causing his trademark atomic ray
.
Outside of the ongoing series, IDW also published various miniseries. They published a 5 issue miniseries called Godzilla: Gangsters & Goliaths from June–October 2011, that was then collected as a tradepaperback in November.
They published another 5 issue miniseries called Godzilla: Legends from November 2011-March 2012.
published Essential Godzilla in 2006 as part of its Essential Marvel line of reprint books. The 440-page Essential Godzilla collects all 24 issues of the Godzilla, King of the Monsters comic published by Marvel in black and white format, spanning the two-year period from 1977 to 1979.
Dark Horse
published Godzilla: Past, Present, Future and Godzilla: Age of Monsters in 1998. The former collects issues No. 5 to No. 15 of the Godzilla miniseries and a short story from Decade of Dark Horse No. 4, while the latter collects the Godzilla Special, the Godzilla Color Special, Godzilla No. 0 to No. 4, Godzilla No. 16, Godzilla vs. Hero Zero," Godzilla vs. Barkley, and a short story from Dark Horse Presents
#106.
Godzilla
is a daikaijū, a Japanese movie monster, first appearing in Ishirō Honda's 1954 film Godzilla. Since then, Godzilla has gone on to become a worldwide pop culture icon starring in 28 films produced by Toho Co., Ltd. The monster has appeared in numerous other media incarnations including video games,...
has appeared in a range of comic books that have been published in Japan and the United States.
Japanese Godzilla comics
In his native Japan, Godzilla has been featured in various comic books since his inception in 1954. These comics for the most part were black and white publications known as mangaManga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
. The vast majority of these comics were adaptations of the films. Every film from Godzilla up to Godzilla 2000
Godzilla 2000
is a 1999 Japanese science fiction kaiju film directed by Takao Okawara and written by Hiroshi Kashiwabara and Wataru Mimura. It was the twenty-third film released in the Godzilla series. It is the only film to feature Orga. The film was released on December 11, 1999...
received a comic adaptation with the exception of King Kong vs. Godzilla
King Kong vs. Godzilla
is a 1962 Japanese science fiction kaiju film produced by Toho Studios. Directed by Ishirō Honda with visual effects by Eiji Tsuburaya, the film starred Tadao Takashima, Kenji Sahara, and Mie Hama. It was the third installment in the Japanese series of films featuring the monster Godzilla...
. As well, all the films from Godzilla vs. Megaguirus
Godzilla vs. Megaguirus
Godzilla vs. Megaguirus, released in Japan as is a 2000 science fiction kaiju film directed by Masaaki Tezuka and written by Hiroshi Kashiwabara and Wataru Mimura...
through Godzilla: Final Wars
Godzilla: Final Wars
is a 2004 Japanese science fiction-kaiju film directed by Ryuhei Kitamura, written by Wataru Mimura and Isao Kiriyama and produced by Shogo Tomiyama. It is the twenty-eighth film in the Godzilla film series, and the sixth in terms of the series' Millennium era...
did not receive a comic book adaptation.
For the most part there were anywhere from two to four different adaptations of each film (The first comic adaptation of Godzilla vs. Biollante
Godzilla vs. Biollante
is a 1989 science fiction kaiju film written and directed by Kazuki Ōmori. It was the seventeenth film to be released in the Godzilla franchise and the second in terms of the franchise's Heisei period...
was called Godzilla 1990, while the second adaptation of Godzilla vs. Mothra
Godzilla vs. Mothra
, translated in English as Godzilla vs. Mothra, is the 19th installment in the Godzilla series of films. It is the sixth film to feature Mothra and the only film to feature Battra. The movie was released theatrically in Japan on December 12, 1992...
was called Godzilla vs. Mothra: Great Study). Most of these comics (in particular the comics from the 1950s through the 1970s) were published in children's magazines such as Bokura, Bouken Oh, and Shonen, while others were published in yellow pages
Yellow Pages
Yellow Pages refers to a telephone directory of businesses, organized by category, rather than alphabetically by business name and in which advertising is sold. As the name suggests, such directories were originally printed on yellow paper, as opposed to white pages for non-commercial listings...
-sized monthly or weekly publications, while still others were published as one-shots and sold in movie theaters. Many of the latter comics (1980s–1990s) were published by Shogakukan Comics, Tentomushi comics, and Kodansya Comics. In the early 1990s, many of the original adaptations from the original series of Godzilla films were compiled into two pocketbook-sized volumes and reprinted by Bamboo Books.
Most of the time these adaptations would deviate from the original films and flesh out characters or add scenarios to the stories that were not present in the original film. Outside of these adaptations many of the original Godzilla films also received Asahi Sonorama book and record sets. These illustrated comic-style book and record sets featured painted artwork within.
Outside of these adaptations, Godzilla was also featured in original stories as well. A sequel story to the original film was published in 1955 called The Last Godzilla, while a sequel story to Godzilla Raids Again
Godzilla Raids Again
, also known in the United States as Gigantis, the Fire Monster, is a 1955 Japanese black-and-white kaiju film directed by Motoyoshi Oda, written by Shigeru Koyama, Shigeaki Hidaka and Takeo Murata, and produced by Toho....
was published in 1958 called Godzilla 2: Anguirus Strikes Back. In 1991 an anthology style comic featuring different stories by different writers and artists was published called The Godzilla Comic. This was followed in 1992 by The Godzilla Comic Strikes Back: Gigantes(sic) The Fire Comic. These 2 comics featured varying styles of stories. The stories would range from typical Godzilla tales, to comedic stories, to violent stories, to even "adult" themed stories that featured nudity.
U.S. Godzilla comics
Through the years since 1976, there have been various Godzilla comics published by different comic book publishing companies. These range from promotional comics to comics published by large mainstream comic companies such as Marvel ComicsMarvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
.
Godzilla vs. Megalon comic
The first Godzilla comic published in the United States was actually a small promotional comic. In the summer of 1976 (as part of the publicity promoting the upcoming U.S. release of the film Godzilla vs. MegalonGodzilla vs. Megalon
is a 1973 Japanese science fiction kaiju film directed and co-written by Jun Fukuda with special effects by Teruyoshi Nakano. It was the thirteenth film in the Godzilla franchise...
), a small 4 page comic book adaptation was published by Cinema Shares International Distribution Corp. and given away for free at movie theaters. The comic featured no credits (so the artist and writer are unknown) and featured no cover. It was magazine-sized and published on newsprint. The comic is infamous for getting names of some of the major characters wrong as Jet Jaguar
Jet Jaguar
is a fictional character who appears in the Godzilla film Godzilla vs. Megalon .-History:In Godzilla vs. Megalon, Jet Jaguar is a robot created by the protagonist, Goro Ibuki. He is initially depicted as a mindless automaton, and is controlled by the evil Seatopians for most of the film...
is referred to as "Robotman," and Gigan
Gigan
is a kaiju from the Godzilla series, introduced in the 1972 film Godzilla vs. Gigan. Gigan is a cybernetic monster sporting a buzzsaw weapon in its frontal abdominal region and large metallic hooks for hands. Gigan is considered Godzilla's most brutal and violent opponent, alongside Destroyah,...
is referred to as "Borodan".
Marvel Comics
Doug Moench
Douglas Moench , better known as Doug Moench, is an American comic book writer notable for his Batman work and as the creator of Black Mask, Moon Knight and Deathlok.-Biography:...
, drawn by Herb Trimpe
Herb Trimpe
Herbert W. "Herb" Trimpe Herbert W. "Herb" Trimpe Herbert W. "Herb" Trimpe (b. May 26, 1939, is an American comic book artist and occasional writer, best known for his work on The Incredible Hulk and as the first artist to draw for publication the character Wolverine, who later became a breakout...
, and published by Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
entitled Godzilla, King of the Monsters. The series thrusts Godzilla completely into the Marvel Universe. In a nod to King Kong vs. Godzilla
King Kong vs. Godzilla
is a 1962 Japanese science fiction kaiju film produced by Toho Studios. Directed by Ishirō Honda with visual effects by Eiji Tsuburaya, the film starred Tadao Takashima, Kenji Sahara, and Mie Hama. It was the third installment in the Japanese series of films featuring the monster Godzilla...
, Godzilla first appears by exploding out of an iceberg near Alaska; although, how the prehistoric creature came to be trapped again in ice is never revealed. Over the course of the series, he crosses the continental United States and eventually ends up in New York City.
Godzilla's appearances in the Toho
Toho
is a Japanese film, theater production, and distribution company. It is headquartered in Yūrakuchō, Chiyoda, Tokyo, and is one of the core companies of the Hankyu Hanshin Toho Group...
films are alluded to in a few issues. In at least one issue, Godzilla seems like the lesser of two evils. He clashes with a monster far more evil, who generally acts more like an actual animal, albeit one with unusual levels of intelligence. Despite such allusions to the films, Godzilla is depicted as more animal-like than as the highly intelligent, perhaps sentient, creature depicted in the majority of the films by the time of the comics' printing (1977), in what is considered the Showa period of Godzilla films (1954–75). This version of Godzilla, while intelligent, is not the protector of mankind; however, he does, at times, exhibit compassion for human characters such as "Dum Dum" Dugan
Dum Dum Dugan
Timothy Aloysius Cadwallader "Dum Dum" Dugan is a fictional character in the . He is an officer of S.H.I.E.L.D. and is one of the most experienced members of Nick Fury's team, known for his marksmanship with rifles and for his impressive physique...
, the S.H.I.E.L.D.
S.H.I.E.L.D.
S.H.I.E.L.D. is a fictional espionage and a secret military law-enforcement agency in the Marvel Comics Universe. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in Strange Tales #135 , it often deals with superhuman threats....
agent who is tasked with his capture, destruction, or repulsion from America, and Robert Takiguchi, the grandson of Japanese scientific expert Dr. Yuriko Takiguchi, who regards Godzilla as a hero and who is depicted as being Godzilla's only friend. Unlike other characters whose actions, thoughts, and feelings are told through thought balloons, Godzilla's are narrated externally via captions.
Godzilla encounters not only agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. during the course of the series but many other heroes in the Marvel Comics universe. Among them are the now-defunct group the Champions
Champions (comics)
The Champions are a team of superheroes that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The team first appears in The Champions #1 The Champions are a team of superheroes that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The team first appears in The Champions #1 The Champions are a...
(sans Ghost Rider
Ghost Rider (comics)
Ghost Rider is the name of several fictional supernatural antiheroes appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Marvel had previously used the name for a Western character whose name was later changed to Night Rider and subsequently to Phantom Rider.The first supernatural Ghost Rider is...
, though he was a member at the time), the Fantastic Four, Devil Dinosaur
Devil Dinosaur
Devil Dinosaur is a Marvel Comics character who resembles a red Tyrannosaurus rex. He first appeared in Devil Dinosaur #1...
, Moon-Boy, and the Avengers
Avengers (comics)
The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers...
, along with a brief cameo by Spider-Man
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
in the last issue of the series.
Godzilla also fights other gigantic monsters, including Yetrigar
Yetrigar
Yetrigar is a fictional creature created by writer Doug Moench and artist Herb Trimpe as an adversary for Godzilla for Marvel Comics. He first appeared in Godzilla #10.-Fictional character biography:...
, a King Kong
King Kong
King Kong is a fictional character, a giant movie monster resembling a gorilla, that has appeared in several movies since 1933. These include the groundbreaking 1933 movie, the film remakes of 1976 and 2005, as well as various sequels of the first two films...
-esque giant primate, and the alien Mega Monsters. Red Ronin
Red Ronin
Red Ronin is a gigantic humanoid robotic construct in the Marvel Comics universe. Originally created by writer Doug Moench and artist Herb Trimpe as a foil for Godzilla, the robot went on to be a menace to other Marvel characters such as the Avengers and Wolverine.-Publication history:Red Ronin's...
, a giant robotic entity created specifically for the series, reappears in Avengers, Solo Avengers
Solo Avengers
Solo Avengers was an American comic book series, published by Marvel Comics, and was a spin-off from the company's superhero team title Avengers. It ran for 20 issues until it was renamed Avengers Spotlight with issue 21...
, and an issue of Wolverine
Wolverine (comics)
Wolverine is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Born as James Howlett and commonly known as Logan, Wolverine is a mutant, possessing animal-keen senses, enhanced physical capabilities, three retracting bone claws on each hand and a healing...
, in which Godzilla is given an oblique nod, being referred to as a "Time Lost Dinosaur," presumably to avoid legal action by Toho. Marvel had, by then, lost the rights to depict Godzilla. Red Ronin also appears in the series Earth X
Earth X
Earth X is a 1999 comic book limited series written by Jim Krueger with art by John Paul Leon and published by Marvel Comics. Based on Alex Ross' notes, the series features a dystopian future version of the Marvel Universe....
.
Between February 1979 and July 1979, Marvel had the comic book rights to both Godzilla and the Shogun Warriors. While the characters never crossed paths in their respective comics, artist Herb Trimpe
Herb Trimpe
Herbert W. "Herb" Trimpe Herbert W. "Herb" Trimpe Herbert W. "Herb" Trimpe (b. May 26, 1939, is an American comic book artist and occasional writer, best known for his work on The Incredible Hulk and as the first artist to draw for publication the character Wolverine, who later became a breakout...
(who did the artwork for both of the series) drew a variation of Godzilla and Rodan
Rodan
is a fictional Japanese mutated pterosaur introduced in Rodan, a 1956 release from Toho Studios, the company responsible for the Godzilla series. Like Godzilla and Anguirus, he is designed after a type of prehistoric reptile...
alongside Daimos, Great Mazinger
Great Mazinger
is a manga comic book and anime television series by manga artist Go Nagai, made as a direct continuation of the successful Mazinger Z series...
, Raydeen
Brave Raideen
is a super robot anime series. Produced by Tohokushinsha, Asahi News Agency and Sunrise, it aired on NET from 4 April 1975 to 26 March 1976, with a total of 50 episodes...
, and Gaiking
Gaiking
was a Japanese Super Robot mecha anime series produced by Toei Animation.It ran from April 1976 through January 1977 and consisted of 44 26-minute episodes. Gaiking was notable for being one of the few super robot series to take place in real places outside of Japan, and for being the first Super...
on the top page of a comic book ad soliciting the Shogun Warrior toys. Mattel
Mattel
Mattel, Inc. is the world's largest toy company based on revenue. The products it produces include Fisher Price, Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels and Matchbox toys, Masters of the Universe, American Girl dolls, board games, and, in the early 1980s, video game consoles. The company's name is derived from...
Toys (who had the license to the Shogun Warriors) also had the licence to produce toys based on Godzilla and Rodan at this time. Also around this time, Marvel had prepared another story featuring Godzilla where he would have battled Dragon Lord. But since the copyright had expired, they modified Godzilla into a dragon like creature named The Wani. for a story published the following year in 1980 in Marvel Spotlight #5.
Despite the loss of copyright, Marvel would continue to use Godzilla for several years afterward. In Iron Man
Iron Man
Iron Man is a fictional character, a superhero in the . The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, first appearing in Tales of Suspense #39 .A billionaire playboy, industrialist and ingenious engineer,...
No. 193, one of Godzilla's primary antagonists from the original series, mad scientist Doctor Demonicus
Doctor Demonicus
Doctor Demonicus is a fictional character, a supervillain in the Marvel Universe. He possess advanced knowledge of genetic engineering, though is not as versatile as Arnim Zola or the High Evolutionary...
, captures and mutates Godzilla so that he no longer resembles his Toho namesake. This altered version of the monster would appear in Iron Man #193 and would return in No. 194, and #196. His last appearance was in The Thing
Thing (comics)
The Thing is a fictional character, a founding member of the superhero team known as the Fantastic Four in the Marvel Comics universe. He was created by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee in The Fantastic Four #1...
No. 31, where he is actually referred to as Godzilla.
Outside of this, Godzilla has been referenced or spoofed in other Marvel comics. In The Web of Spider-Man Annual No. 2 from 1986, the character Warlock
Warlock (New Mutants)
Warlock is a fictional character, a cybernetic alien superhero published by Marvel Comics. He first appeared in New Mutants vol. 1 #18 , and was created by Chris Claremont and Bill Sienkiewicz.-Publication history:...
from The New Mutants turned into Godzilla and then King Kong
King Kong
King Kong is a fictional character, a giant movie monster resembling a gorilla, that has appeared in several movies since 1933. These include the groundbreaking 1933 movie, the film remakes of 1976 and 2005, as well as various sequels of the first two films...
during a rampage through New York City. In The New Mutants Annual No. 3 in 1987, the Impossible Man
Impossible Man
The Impossible Man is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Fantastic Four #11 The Impossible Man is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Fantastic Four...
turns into Godzilla during a battle with Warlock
Warlock (New Mutants)
Warlock is a fictional character, a cybernetic alien superhero published by Marvel Comics. He first appeared in New Mutants vol. 1 #18 , and was created by Chris Claremont and Bill Sienkiewicz.-Publication history:...
who turns into Red Ronin
Red Ronin
Red Ronin is a gigantic humanoid robotic construct in the Marvel Comics universe. Originally created by writer Doug Moench and artist Herb Trimpe as a foil for Godzilla, the robot went on to be a menace to other Marvel characters such as the Avengers and Wolverine.-Publication history:Red Ronin's...
. In The Amazing Spider-Man No. 413 from 1996, Spider-Man
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
battles a huge robot toy Godzilla (among other giant robotic toys) brought about by the villain Mysterio
Mysterio
Mysterio is the name of three fictional characters, all of which are supervillains and enemies of Spider-Man in the . The original Mysterio was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko and first appears in Amazing Spider-Man #13, although it was later retconned that the aliens seen in Amazing...
. In the opening issue of The Mighty Avengers from 2007, a creature bearing a resemblance to the Heisei (1980s and '90s) Godzilla, appears alongside other giant monsters sent to attack the surface world by the Mole Man
Mole Man
The Mole Man is a comic book supervillain that exists in Marvel Comics' main shared universe. He first appeared in Fantastic Four #1, and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.-Fictional character biography:...
. When this issue was solicted in Marvel Previews via a sneak peek page, the creature had Godzilla's distinctive dorsal spines. But when the actual comic was published, the dorsal spines had been removed. Godzilla is also mentioned in the 2005 one shot comic Marvel Monsters: From the Files of Ulysses Bloodstone and the Monster Hunters. In Astonishing X-Men No. 36 (which was published in 2011), the monster Fin Fang Foom
Fin Fang Foom
Fin Fang Foom is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Strange Tales #89 Fin Fang Foom is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Strange Tales #89 Fin Fang...
is rampaging through downtown Tokyo. In one panel, he passes by a building that has a Godzilla billboard on its roof.
The Marvel Comics atlas (under the article on Japan) states that the Age of Monsters began in 1954, which is evidently a reference to the original Godzilla film
Godzilla (1954 film)
is a 1954 Japanese science fiction film directed by Ishirō Honda and produced by Tomoyuki Tanaka. The film stars Akira Takarada, Momoko Kōchi, Akihiko Hirata and Takashi Shimura. The film tells the story of Godzilla, a giant monster mutated by nuclear radiation, who ravages Japan, bringing back the...
. Additionally, the entry mentions that Godzilla returns years later and is the reason for the construction of Red Ronin and the formation of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Godzilla Squadron. S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Godzilla-hunting ship, Behemoth, has recently resurfaced under the command of Amadeus Cho
Amadeus Cho
Amadeus Cho, also known as Mastermind Excello, is a fictional comic book character appearing in books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Greg Pak and artist Takeshi Miyazawa, the character first appeared in Amazing Fantasy vol. 2 #15...
in The Incredible Hercules
Hercules (Marvel Comics)
Hercules is a fictional character that appears in publications by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in Journey into Mystery Annual #1 and was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist/co-plotter Jack Kirby....
#115. Yuriko Takiguchi, too, has reappeared in recent years, having been recruited by Beast
Beast (comics)
Beast , Dr. Henry Philip "Hank" McCoy, is a comic book character, a Marvel Comics superhero and a member of the mutant team of superheroes known as the X-Men...
to join his X-Club in Uncanny X-Men
Uncanny X-Men
Uncanny X-Men, first published as The X-Men, is the flagship Marvel Comics comic book series for the X-Men franchise. It is the mainstream continuity featuring the adventures of the eponymous group of mutant superheroes...
#506. Another monster resembling Godzilla served as the "self-destruct event" for Takiguchi's lab on Kunashir Island.
In 2006, Marvel reprinted the entire 24 issue run of Godzilla, King of the Monsters as a tradepaperback collection called Essential Godzilla, King of the Monsters. Like all of Marvel's Essential line, the series was published in black and white rather than color like in its original printing.
Dark Horse Comics
In 1987, Dark Horse ComicsDark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent American comic book and manga publisher.Dark Horse Comics was founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson in Milwaukie, Oregon, with the concept of establishing an ideal atmosphere for creative professionals. Richardson started out by opening his first comic book...
acquired the rights to Godzilla and for the next 12 years published various comic books and trade paperbacks based on the character. These ran the gamut from back up stories in anthology titles, to one shots, to mini-series, to an ongoing series, as well as various reprints in the trade paperback format. In 1987, they published a black and white one shot comic called Godzilla King of the Monsters Special. Between 1988 and 1989, DH published a 6 issue mini series simply called Godzilla. It was a translated version of the Japanese manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
of the film The Return of Godzilla
The Return of Godzilla
The Return of Godzilla The Return of Godzilla The Return of Godzilla (released as in Japan and as Godzilla 1985 in North America, is a 1984 Science Fiction Kaiju film. The sixteenth film in Toho's Godzilla series, it was produced by Tomoyuki Tanaka and directed by Koji Hashimoto with special...
, which was based on the Japanese version of the film rather than the Americanized version, Godzilla 1985
The Return of Godzilla
The Return of Godzilla The Return of Godzilla The Return of Godzilla (released as in Japan and as Godzilla 1985 in North America, is a 1984 Science Fiction Kaiju film. The sixteenth film in Toho's Godzilla series, it was produced by Tomoyuki Tanaka and directed by Koji Hashimoto with special...
. This series was reprinted in the trade paperback Godzilla, which was issued in 1990 and then reissued in 1995. It was also reprinted in color in the mini series Dark Horse Classics: Terror of Godzilla #1-#6 from 1998–1999.
In 1992, an illustration of Godzilla (provided by Arthur Adams) was published in San Diego Comic Con Comics #1. Also that year the one shot Godzilla Color Special was published. It would be reprinted as simply Dark Horse Classics Godzilla in 1998.
In 1993, Godzilla was featured in the anthology series Dark Horse Comics in issues #10 and #11. That year Godzilla was also featured in a pair of one shot comics. Urban Legends, which dispells the dual ending myth from the film King Kong vs Godzilla, as well as Godzilla vs Barkley, which was based on the commercial Godzilla vs. Charles Barkley
Godzilla vs. Charles Barkley
Godzilla vs. Charles Barkley is a 1992 Nike television commercial in which a giant-sized version of NBA star Charles Barkley challenges Godzilla to a game of basketball in the streets of downtown Tokyo...
. This comic was also published in Japan.
In 1995, Godzilla appeared in the one shot comic Godzilla vs. Hero Zero. That year Godzilla starred in an ongoing series called Godzilla King of the Monsters that ran from issue #0-#16. This series was published from 1995 through 1996. The series features several new monsters for Godzilla to battle and a story arc in which Godzilla was flung through time by a would-be archvillain, who uses him to cause the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906
1906 San Francisco earthquake
The San Francisco earthquake of 1906 was a major earthquake that struck San Francisco, California, and the coast of Northern California at 5:12 a.m. on Wednesday, April 18, 1906. The most widely accepted estimate for the magnitude of the earthquake is a moment magnitude of 7.9; however, other...
, sink the Titanic, and even pit him against the Spanish Armada
Spanish Armada
This article refers to the Battle of Gravelines, for the modern navy of Spain, see Spanish NavyThe Spanish Armada was the Spanish fleet that sailed against England under the command of the Duke of Medina Sidonia in 1588, with the intention of overthrowing Elizabeth I of England to stop English...
. Godzilla would be flung into the far flung future as well and would rampage across it before returning to the modern day. The last issue of the Dark Horse series sees Godzilla flung back into time to just a few hours before the asteroid
Asteroid
Asteroids are a class of small Solar System bodies in orbit around the Sun. They have also been called planetoids, especially the larger ones...
, which supposedly destroys the dinosaur
Dinosaur
Dinosaurs are a diverse group of animals of the clade and superorder Dinosauria. They were the dominant terrestrial vertebrates for over 160 million years, from the late Triassic period until the end of the Cretaceous , when the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event led to the extinction of...
s impacted on Earth, and fights an alien creature. This issue first seems to have an 'it was all a dream' ending, as Godzilla wakes from his slumber in the modern day. But then a twist is thrown into the ending. Godzilla is shown staring at a piece of his opponent's tail that is still in his hand from where he had ripped it off in the final moments of their battle before the impact.
In 1996, Godzilla appeared in the anthology series Dark Horse Presents in issue #106, as well the miniseries A Decade of Dark Horse in issue #4. Also that year some of the earlier published material was reprinted in the one shot comic Art Adams' Creature Features.
Finally in 1998, Godzilla appeared in trade paperbacks and miniseries that were simply reprinting earlier material. This included the mini series Dark Horse Classics: Godzilla King of the Monsters #1-#6 and the trade paperbacks Godzilla Age of Monsters and Godzilla Past, Present, Future.
Trendmasters Godzilla Comic
In 1994, TrendmastersTrendmasters
Trendmasters was an American toy company most notable for its figures based on the Godzilla series, as well as the 1998 film of the same name...
toys published a mini comic called Godzilla King of the Monsters that came packaged with some of the figures from their Godzilla toy line.
IDW Publishing
In 2010, IDW PublishingIDW Publishing
IDW Publishing, also known as Idea + Design Works, LLC and IDW, is an American publisher of comic books and comic strip collections. The company was founded in 1999 and has been awarded the title "Publisher of the Year Under 5% Market Share" for the years 2004, 2005 and 2006 by Diamond Comic...
obtained the rights for the license to Godzilla, and began publishing a new ongoing series called Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters. Originally titled Godzilla: Monster World, the new series launched with a painted cover by Alex Ross
Alex Ross
Nelson Alexander "Alex" Ross is an American comic book painter, illustrator, and plotter. He is praised for his realistic, human depictions of classic comic book characters. Since the 1990s he has done work for Marvel Comics and DC Comics Nelson Alexander "Alex" Ross (born January 22, 1970) is an...
as well as a record 100 plus variant covers that were mostly retailer incentives. This promotion allowed comic book shop owners to have personalized variants featuring their store being demolished by Godzilla's foot, if they ordered over 500 copies. Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters No. 1 was therefore able to sell out of its first printing. In August 2011, IDW released a comic called Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters 100-Cover Charity Spectacular. The comic featured all the unique covers of the comic book smashing variants of issue No. 1 via a cover gallery. Proceeds of the sale will go to benefit the International Medical Corps
International Medical Corps
International Medical Corps is a global humanitarian nonprofit organization dedicated to saving lives and relieving suffering through health care training and relief and development programs...
for Tsunami relief in Japan
2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
The 2011 earthquake off the Pacific coast of Tohoku, also known as the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, or the Great East Japan Earthquake, was a magnitude 9.0 undersea megathrust earthquake off the coast of Japan that occurred at 14:46 JST on Friday, 11 March 2011, with the epicenter approximately east...
.
Unlike the previous companies who licensed Godzilla, IDW was able to acquire the rights to other Toho movie monsters. These included Mothra
Mothra
is a kaiju, a type of fictional monster who first appeared in the serialized novel The Luminous Fairies and Mothra by Takehiko Fukunaga, Shinichiro Nakamura, and Yoshie Hotta...
, King Ghidorah
King Ghidorah
is a kaiju, a fictional Japanese monster featured in several of Toho Studios' Godzilla films...
, Rodan
Rodan
is a fictional Japanese mutated pterosaur introduced in Rodan, a 1956 release from Toho Studios, the company responsible for the Godzilla series. Like Godzilla and Anguirus, he is designed after a type of prehistoric reptile...
, and other monsters from the Toho shared universe
Shared universe
A shared universe is a fictional universe to which more than one writer contributes. Work set in a shared universe share characters and other elements with varying degrees of consistency. Shared universes are contrasted with collaborative writing, in which multiple authors work on a single story....
as well as fresh new monsters to make appearances in later issues.
Eric Powell
Eric Powell (comics)
Eric Powell is a comic book writer and self-taught artist living in Lebanon, Tennessee who is best known as the creator of The Goon.-Biography:...
and Tracy Marsh co-wrote Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters with Phil Hester
Phil Hester (comics)
Phil Hester is an American comic book artist, penciller and writer.-Biography:This Eisner Award-nominated artist was born in eastern Iowa, where he went on to study at the University of Iowa...
supplying the art. Artist Matt Frank will also supply variant covers for future issues.
The first issue was released in March 2011 and focused on introducing Godzilla
Godzilla
is a daikaijū, a Japanese movie monster, first appearing in Ishirō Honda's 1954 film Godzilla. Since then, Godzilla has gone on to become a worldwide pop culture icon starring in 28 films produced by Toho Co., Ltd. The monster has appeared in numerous other media incarnations including video games,...
, who destroys Japan, and the Japanese Prime Minister even orders for nuclear weapons to be dropped
Nuclear weapon
A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission or a combination of fission and fusion. Both reactions release vast quantities of energy from relatively small amounts of matter. The first fission bomb test released the same amount...
on him, causing his trademark atomic ray
Powers and abilities of Godzilla
Over the years the fictional mutant dinosaur Godzilla has possessed many powers and abilities to be used against his foes. Godzilla is generally considered to be the most powerful kaiju.-Atomic breath/Nuclear beam/Radioactive ray/Atomic ray:...
.
Outside of the ongoing series, IDW also published various miniseries. They published a 5 issue miniseries called Godzilla: Gangsters & Goliaths from June–October 2011, that was then collected as a tradepaperback in November.
They published another 5 issue miniseries called Godzilla: Legends from November 2011-March 2012.
Reprint collections
Marvel ComicsMarvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
published Essential Godzilla in 2006 as part of its Essential Marvel line of reprint books. The 440-page Essential Godzilla collects all 24 issues of the Godzilla, King of the Monsters comic published by Marvel in black and white format, spanning the two-year period from 1977 to 1979.
Dark Horse
Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent American comic book and manga publisher.Dark Horse Comics was founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson in Milwaukie, Oregon, with the concept of establishing an ideal atmosphere for creative professionals. Richardson started out by opening his first comic book...
published Godzilla: Past, Present, Future and Godzilla: Age of Monsters in 1998. The former collects issues No. 5 to No. 15 of the Godzilla miniseries and a short story from Decade of Dark Horse No. 4, while the latter collects the Godzilla Special, the Godzilla Color Special, Godzilla No. 0 to No. 4, Godzilla No. 16, Godzilla vs. Hero Zero," Godzilla vs. Barkley, and a short story from Dark Horse Presents
Dark Horse Presents
Dark Horse Presents was the first comic book published by Dark Horse Comics in 1986 and was their flagship title until its September 2000 cancellation. The second incarnation was published on MySpace, running from July 2007 until August 2010...
#106.
Official
Information
- Kaiju Comics
- Kaiju Books
- Godzilla Comics
- Godzilla's Path through the Marvel Universe Tracks the geographic location of Godzilla through the Marvel Comics series.