Adam Gorham’s Godzilla RIvals: Vs. King Ghidorah #1 is an exciting, interstellar adventure featuring two kaiju legends.
Godzilla Rivals: Vs. King Ghidorah #1
- Writer
- Adam Gorham
- Artist
- Adam Gorham
- Cover Artist
- E.J. Su
- Publisher
- IDW Publishing
- Price
- 7.99
- Release Date
- 2022-04-27
In recent years, IDW has published numerous series featuring Godzilla, the king of monsters. The colossal kaiju is even facing off against the Power Rangers in a new series by Cullen Bunn and Freddie E. Williams II. But the most intriguing series featuring everyone’s favorite irradiated reptile is Godzilla Rivals — a quarterly series of stand-alone stories featuring Godzilla and some of his most iconic enemies. Adam Gorham writes and draws Godzilla Rivals: Vs. King Ghidorah #1, a fun, inventive story sure to excite even the most discerning Godzilla fan.
Godzilla Rivals: Vs. King Ghidorah #1 takes place during an alien invasion. The technologically advanced Xiliens are organizing a brutal assault on planet Earth from their base of operations on Mars. The aliens even manage to kidnap Godzilla and force him to fight other monsters for their entertainment in outer space. Humanity’s last hope for survival is to trust the former supervillain and mad scientist Dr. Hu, who launches a mission to attack the Xilien’s capital city and dismantle the machinery that powers their weapons. But, the heroic fighter pilot has no idea that King Ghidorah is waiting to greet her on Mars.
It’s rare for the human side of a Godzilla story to be as exciting as whatever the titular monster is doing, but Gorham has crafted an enthralling story featuring artificial intelligence, interstellar war and a charismatic hero. Even without King Ghidorah or Godzilla, this issue would have all the makings of a great sci-fi adventure. So when the monsters do appear, they are adding action and drama to an already thrilling story. The relationship between the fighter pilot and her android companion is especially charming. Seeing the robot discover his emotions gives the audience a rare chance to consider the inner lives of the action heroes without taking away from the outlandish action.
Gorham’s art is as striking as his writing. He seems to take inspiration from manga and western comics in equal measure to create a beautiful blend of aesthetics that feels tailor-made for Godzilla Rivals: Vs. King Ghidorah #1. He designs the alien invaders to look almost human, which helps Godzilla and King Ghidora continue to stand out as unique creatures even when they are battling in an alien landscape. Gorham’s page designs help him to capture the chaos of the action without dividing the audience’s focus.
Godzilla Rivals: Vs. King Ghidorah #1 is a nonstop action adventure that delivers all the kaiju action fans want while telling a surprisingly compelling story about humanity’s struggle to survive in a violent universe. Adam Gorham balances high-stakes, interesting concepts and excellent action to create a well-rounded stand-alone story that will rewards multiple readings. Anyone looking for good, well drawn sci-fi action will be delighted by this issue, the best of the Godzilla Rivals series.
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