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By T.W. Worn — It definitely seems like 2021 is the year of the kaiju. Godzilla Vs. King Kong broke the viewership record for a movie being released during the pandemic. Last month I reviewed the ultra-violent Ultramega #1, a kaiju story with a fantastic reshaping of what that kind of tale is. In a few months, James Gunn's Suicide Squad will be hitting the big (and small) screen with a live action take on Starro, the giant star fish enemy from the Justice League rogue's gallery. Being a fan of giant monsters wreaking havoc, I was more than excited to hear IDW was releasing a new Godzilla series. So kick back, destroy a million dollar condo building, and join me in celebrating this, which I guess I will unofficially dub, Year of the Kaiju!

GODZILLA: MONSTERS & PROTECTORS #1, written by Erik Burnham (Ghostbusters, Red Sonja) is a classic trip back to the Godzilla we know and love. The giant protector of planet earth, destroying any threat to its delicate ecosystem. While a lot of the beats we see in this story are very traditional Godzilla, the perspective we experience it through is of an elementary school student. There is something refreshing and nostalgic about experiencing Godzilla through the eyes of a child. Panel after panel I felt myself slipping back into 7-year-old me, sitting in front of the television with a bowl of cereal, enjoying the 1978 animated series based around the same great beast from the east.

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The illustration in Godzilla: Monsters & Protectors #1 is by Dan Schoening, which pairs perfectly with the tone of the comic. Seeing the bold outlines are cartoonish characters harken back to those Saturday morning cartoons. The colors by Luis Antonio Delgado (Back to the Future, Ghostbusters,) add another layer of cartoon fun. Bold, bright, and beautiful, everything in this series is exactly what I want from a Godzilla series, and nothing more. Each member of this project once again brings their charm and character to the series, which should have been expected due to their years of collaboration.

All in all, Godzilla: Monsters & Protectors #1 is the perfect addition to the Year of the Kaiju, and would easily encourage any Godzilla fan, young or old, new or life long, to at least give this series a chance. And while it may not be the most daring take on the big boy we have ever had, I still welcome it with open arms.

Overall: Godzilla: Monsters & Protectors #1 is a fun romp through the monster's identity. While it may be directed towards younger readers, any fan of Godzilla will enjoy seeing the monster in action. 7/10

REVIEW: Godzilla - Monsters and Protectors #1

Godzilla: Monsters & Protectors #1
Writer: Erik Burnham
Artist: Dan Schoening
Colorist: Luis Antonio Delgado
Letterer: Nathan Widick
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Godzilla roars back into comics!
"Rise Up!" Part 1: When a coldly single-minded businessman uses an untested element to create clean energy for a profit, he inadvertently awakens the beast from the deep--Godzilla! Sensing the harm the new energy poses to the planet, Godzilla attacks the heart of the problem--humankind! It will be up to three intrepid middle-school students--with a little magic help from Infant Island--to show Godzilla that not all humans are bad... and that there is still hope for Planet Earth. Reuniting the blockbuster creative team of writer Erik Burnham, artist Dan Schoening, and colorist Luis Antonio Delgado (Ghostbusters), Godzilla: Monsters & Protectors promises to romp and stomp fans--old and new--of the greatest kaiju ever like never before!
Price: $4.99
Buy It Here: Godzilla - Monsters and Protectors #1