This penultimate chapter of Godzilla Destroys the Marvel Universe pits Godzilla versus Hulk and eventually Wakanda. The giant lizard has beaten Marvel’s smartest and toughest heroes, but surely he can’t beat the unstoppable Hulk, right? In a story where Godzilla seems impossible to beat, and yet finds creative ways for the heroes to endure, the creative team pulls off the biggest wow factor yet.
If there’s one thing this series excels at, it’s exploring big ideas. Writer Gerry Duggan stuffs this issue with crazy ideas an eleven-year-old would come up with, and it’s all the better for it. From Hulk infusing himself with Pym particles to the heroes joining forces in a wacky megazord sort of way, you’re going to enjoy yourself.
The enjoyment requires Javier Garrón and Paco Medina pulling off big blockbuster art, and both bring tons of detail and skill. From the fight choreography of Hulk fighting Godzilla, to Namor’s last-ditch effort to stop Godzilla, there’s plenty to wow readers.
The story is simple. Last issue, the heroes lured Godzilla to head to Wakanda, where Hulk waits, and the heroes join forces for a secret weapon. In between the fighting, Namor shows up. Simple, but an effective vehicle for action.
Hulk is formidable, but big Hulk?
Credit: Marvel
Maximizing the big punches and larger-than-life battling is some great onomatopoeia. A “Roar” that breaks Hulk’s eardrums is filled with art, creating a chaotic and energetic shock. In another, a neon see-through sound effect divides Hulk and Godzilla as Hulk hammers Godzilla with a giant hammer. There are multiple instances where the sound effects were clearly thought about deeply to get them right and to mix them in with the art.
If it sounds like I’m only talking about art, that’s because there’s not a lot to this issue outside of the action. Black Panther and heroes like Cyclops communicate briefly, but it’s mostly to inform them off-page for the big cliffhanger surprise. That surprise is great, with a level of thought and detail that’ll make you linger on the page. The plot, however, is really unimportant here.
Character work is mainly done with Hulk. It begins with Bruce Banner wishing the Hulk well, but the character development really takes off when the Hulk starts losing. It’s brief, and we’ve seen Hulk go kid-mode scared before, but at least it’s something.
Godzilla Destroys the Marvel Universe #4 is pure, unfiltered comic book spectacle. Gerry Duggan, Javier Garrón, and Paco Medina deliver a heavy-hitting visual feast where logic takes a backseat to creative chaos. While the story offers little substance beyond action, the scale, imagination, and attention to visual detail make this penultimate issue a total blast.
You must be logged in to post a comment.