There’s a Godzilla takeover at Marvel Comics this year with the Kaiju fighting the Fantastic Four already, and then the entire Marvel Universe this summer. Before that battle, Hulk gets to take on Godzilla in Godzilla vs. Hulk, out this week. This tale twists Hulk continuity, mixing things up involving Bruce Banner, General Ross, and Doctor Demonicus.
Godzilla vs. Hulk #1 goes for a throwback feel with captions running a bit longer and the general approach setting up the fight. The story starts at Thunderbolt Ranch, where Ross is explaining to a news crew he’s got to head off on his monster-killing business. Instead of devoting his entire life to taking out Hulk in this universe, he’s killing Kiaju.
The story involves the Thunderbolts, made up of mostly scientists, Bruce Banner and Doctor Demonicus, enacting a plan to take out Godzilla once and for all. That involves drawing him into a trap along with a secret only Demonicus is in on. The first third drops readers into this plan with little focus on Bruce, but once Hulk breaks from Bruce’s consciousness, things really heat up.
Doctor Demonicus steals the show at times.
Credit: Marvel
The stakes are effective, making even Hulk seem lacking in power, especially when Doctor Demonicus’ secret weapon shows up. Giuseppe Camuncoli does his usual great character acting, but the monsters take the cake. Godzilla looks good, with great use of scale to show how big he is, along with the other Kaiju. The last third is particularly epic, with a transformed Godzilla that’s worth the price of admission.
Mostly a fight comic, it is odd how limited Bruce is in this story. The more action-focused narrative holds up the classic feel, but for a chunk of this book, Ross seems like the main character. The issue also ends fairly abruptly when some character work of character cocus could have fleshed out the narrative.
Godzilla vs. Hulk #1 is a brawl-heavy spectacle that lives up to its name with stunning Kaiju action and a bold throwback tone, even if it occasionally fumbles its character balance. Despite its abrupt ending and uneven focus, it’s a visually thrilling opening salvo that sets the stage for a summer of Marvel mayhem.
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