Since 1954, the title of King of the Monsters has remained unchallenged as one kaiju has proven time and again their resilience in battle while maintaining massive popularity in pop culture. Godzilla has had many bloody clashes with legendary Toho monsters, some of them even alien and mechanical. In terms of deadliest arsenal, Gigan surely takes the top spot. Godzilla Rivals vs. Gigan #1 from IDW Publishing resurrects that deadly rivalry with a story from Keith Davidsen, art from SidVenBlu, colors from Valentina Pinto, and letters from Nathan Widick. It is the fifth installment in the Godzilla Rivals series that hosts a glorious tussle that will decide the fate of humanity.
Set in the year 2008, Godzilla Rivals vs. Gigan #1 opens in a New Jersey suburb where Nancy, a college student majoring in computer science, lives with her younger brother, Joaquin. Since the passing of their uncle, Nancy has overindulged Joaquin with video games out of a misplaced sense of love. When the Nebulans attack Seattle using Gigan as their enslaved kaiju and threaten to level the city, the siblings watch the horror unfold over the news as Joaquin tries to bury himself into his console for distraction. In no time, Godzilla appears before Gigan, and a gory fight ensues. However, Nancy notices a pattern in Gigan’s moves that can put this contest to an end.
Godzilla Rivals vs. Gigan #1 runs two seemingly unrelated narratives with two completely different species at the helm of each. Gigan’s destruction and the Nebulans’ announcement is the catalyst that sends the story on its way. Yet it is Godzilla’s arrival that makes the issue the spectacle it promised in its synopsis. In the grand scheme of things, Nancy and Joaquin’s plight become inconsequential as they can only watch from the sidelines, much like the readers themselves. Unlike most Godzilla stories where humans are mere bystanders, Keith Davidsen makes his human protagonists a part of the story, grounding the over-the-top action with emotion. Although the dialogue is often too on the nose in terms of exposition, almost bordering on being tacky when it comes to technical jargon, it gives the gruesome monster bashing a humorous side as well.
The intermingling narratives produce a dual effect on the artwork of Godzilla Rivals vs. Gigan #1. On one side, SidVenBlu’s artwork brings a homely feeling to Nancy’s family life, with a comfortable couch and walls lined with nostalgic photos emanating true coziness. On the flip side, the Godzilla bits are tonally the complete opposite. Each panel feels like a scene from a Toho movie, complete with its own background score. The fight is brutal as SidVenBlu’s inks add a dynamic grittiness to proceedings. Since the events happen under the cover of night, Valentino Pinto uses muted tones throughout the book, relying heavily upon purple and blues to darken the atmosphere. The design of Gigan and Godzilla delivers enough hues to distinguish them from the resultant sinisterness.
As the bad blood between the two kaiju flows, Godzilla Rivals vs. Gigan #1 becomes an action-packed event with something to celebrate for series fans. There are tons of references to popular games, and the onus falls on the readers to catch them all. Despite catching up in energy at the end, human interaction remains the weakest link in the chain. The dialogue doesn’t always come across as natural in its attempt to convey the characters’ emotions. Coupled with the stereotypical hacking scenes, the deus ex machina feels a little forced as the issue comes to its climactic conclusion — although the ending is just as amusing, rewarding Godzilla fans for their time.
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