Review: Godzilla Legends #4

“Smog of War”

Although the Godzilla Legends comics were supposed to take the attention away from big G and focuson the supporting kaiju, this episode does feature Godzilla.  He battles it out with Hedorah, thesmog monster, and MechaGodzilla.

Keep in mind that this book has an altogether differentcontinuity from Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters.  So Steven Woods doesn’tpilot the MechaG; instead there’s a team of five lead by their captain, Nashi.

This book gets it right.  Excellent work to those who were a part of understanding theformula for making an entertaining comic book story.

Writer Mowry drops readers in the middle of MechaG’sinvestigation of a kaiju attack, presumably the work of Godzilla.  Hedorah ambushes the team, and a battleensues.  Soon, Godzilla himselfenjoys the fray.

The pacing is superb because the fighting is relentless, andthat’s what readers expect. Explication is minimal but Mowry makes it simple to catch up toMechaGodzilla’s mission.

I found the addition of MechaGodzilla provided anassociative power because the human pilots supplied that window for the readerto feel a part of the story. Otherwise, it would be only monster vs. monster (which is fine, in myopinion, but we do need that connection to the action to keep us interested inthe plot).  Admittedly, the teampiloting the MechaG felt superfluous to the story.  But we need that human element to root for.   I suppose that’s why the mechafigure so heavily in IDW’s version of Godzilla.

E.J. Su’s art captures Godzilla with a little more detailthan the Mignola-esque work of Victor Santos on Kingdom.  Theaction scenes were easy to follow, and the coloring by Priscilla Tramontanopops.  Just check out page 15 whensome energy weapons slam into Godzilla. The explosions look to have their own illumination.

With three Godzilla books in its stable, IDW will have atough time of keeping the basic monster fights refreshing.  But for now, the formula works.  Kingdom disappointed with its flaccid endingin issue 12, and Legends lastissue with Titanosaurus bombed saved for the last splash pages.  This issue of Legends is a great jumping on point for any new readers, anda delight for familiar fans. 

I hope that the creative team does not forget theforeshadowing of the war to come on the last pages of Legends issue three.  I sure haven’t…

Score: 4/5

Writer: Chris Mowry

Art: E.J. Su

Colors: Priscilla Tramontano

Publisher: IDW Publishing

Price: $3.99

Release Date: 2/22/12