The kaiju genre has become a major fixture in media lately, as creators find new ways to spice up the idea of giant monsters roaming the Earth. Pacific Rim wrapped a story about the necessity of unity in giant robots fighting alien beasts. Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is as much an exploration of family dynamics as it is an expansion of Legendary’s MonsterVerse. With Hidden Springs #1, Rob Williams and Nil Vendrell have delivered a hilarious yet touching addition to kaiju canon.
Hidden Springs #1 follows a group of aging Hollywood veterans in the titular Hidden Springs nursing home, as they’re taken on a day trip to get some fresh air and exercise. What they find is a massive, slug-like monster that forms a psychic connection with them, prompting them to try to return it to the ocean before the military finds it. If the monster’s found, it’ll apparently lead to the end of the world. So, you know, no pressure.
Williams previously wrote a unique ensemble of characters during his Suicide Squad run, and he repeats the trick in Hidden Springs #1. From firebrand and eyepatch-wearing former director Loretta Tide to retired star Brock D’Angelo to washed-up rock star Bazza Wild, each member of this strange group of stars has their own unique identities and issues to deal with. Despite being on top of Tinseltown back in his day, Brock is struggling with Alzheimer’s. Loretta carries some well-deserved anger about having her career cut short, which manifests in chain-smoking and a take-charge attitude. And then there’s Bob. Bob doesn’t say much, which lends itself to a hilarious sight gag. They’re the last people you would expect to survive an encounter with a giant monster, let alone bond with it, and that’s the secret sauce that makes Williams’ script thrive.
Dark Horse
Vendrell brings plenty of personality and individuality to his art, especially in his depictions of the retirees and the monster they encounter. Loretta’s an immediate standout thanks to her eyepatch, black turtleneck, and the constant clouds of smoke she exhales after taking a drag from her cigarette. So does former comedian Tyrone Gleeson, who looks impeccably dapper in a three-piece gray and purple suit — great for performing at a comedy club, and not so great for hiking. The monster itself is a departure from what you’d usually expect from a Kaiju; it’s a large, fleshy beast that resembles a cross between a roly-poly bug and a ladybug, with a massive red shell covering its fleshy body.
The real standout is Berta Sastre on colors, who delivers some vibrant and truly trippy hues throughout Hidden Springs #1. Her magnum opus comes when Brock forms a mental link with the kaiju, who projects a vision of the future into the retirees’ heads. What happens is best described as the biggest drug trip ever, with Vendrell’s art turning into wavy splashes of red and orange.
Hidden Springs #1 brings plenty of wit and grit to the kaiju genre, featuring an unexpected cast of characters and a twist that should keep readers coming back for future issues. It’s also proof that you’re never too old to go on an adventure.
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