Is It Good? Godzilla: Rulers of Earth #19

After last month’s incredible display of sea monster smack down goodness, Godzilla: Rulers of Earth is back for another issue. Is it good?

Godzilla: Rulers of Earth #19 (IDW Publishing)

The story opens with Minette and Mallory (the evil twins) calling upon Battra to take down the plane holding them in the most badass way imaginable.

From there, we jump to the Shobijin twins washing ashore on Monster Island with some adorable Mothra larva in tow. The tale they have to tell is pretty exposition heavy, but it’s also action packed, illustrated by Matt Frank, and effectively heart breaking.

…and terrifyingly cute.

There’s also some stuff about Space Godzilla (ugh) and the Cryog (UGH), but it’s mercifully brief.

The issue concludes with Godzilla fighting his way out of the pit that Megagurius dropped him into. The result is a bit anticlimactic, but it also makes sense (no way those little critters ever stood a chance against Big G).

Things then quickly shift to another brutally beautiful fight between Megagurius and Godzilla before the Cryog redeems himself as a villain by releasing something truly awesome.

Is It Good?

…and no, that last statement was not in reference to a fart.

But if something does stink, it’s definitely not this issue. For two months in a row now, writer Chris Mowry has given us an accessible and monstrously fun story. It draws on Godzilla’s comic mythology at various levels, rewarding long time readers with an overarching story while giving us newer folks plenty to enjoy, as well.

Yet another reason windowless planes could be simultaneously cool and horrifying.

The stuff with Space Godzilla is still criminally under explained and the Cryog plot gives me a headache. But just like the last time we got a Mothra-centered dose of exposition, the backstory is clear, informative, and (most importantly) entertaining.

Combine that with another stellar turn on the art duties by Matt Frank and Priscilla Tramontano’s brilliant coloring, and I’m enjoying this book more than I have in a very long time. If you’re a fan of Godzilla or just great kaiju fights in general, I’m betting you’ll dig it, too.