Cover Art for Godzilla Infinity Roar #1 - Written by Gerry Duggan, with art from Javier Garrón and IG Guara with Lettering done by VC’s Travis Lanham
“This Godzilla is Death Incarnate! An Elder God of Rage!”
We all have those core memories—the ones we hold dear no matter how many years go by. For some, it might be the first time you tasted your favorite food or read your favorite book. For others, it’s that first memory of family or best friends. One of mine is the first time I ever saw Godzilla. He was introduced to me by my best friend back in preschool, and I’ll never forget sitting in front of the tiny TV in his room watching Roland Emmerich’s 1998 American version. Now, while that movie isn’t the greatest, it opened the door to a lifelong passion. Since then, I’ve watched every film, from the 1954 original all the way to Godzilla Minus One and the Monsterverse’s latest, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.
Godzilla: Infinity Roar—written by Gerry Duggan with art by Javier Garrón and IG Guara, and letters by VC’s Travis Lanham—is the perfect kind of "crazy" that encapsulates why comics are such an incredible medium. Did we need a story of a symbiote-influenced Godzilla wreaking havoc across the Marvel galaxy? No. But am I happy it exists? You’re goddamn right.
This series, like other Godzilla crossovers before it, is the perfect kind of cheesy and over-the-top. Godzilla is a larger-than-life being who has had a massive impact on pop culture for over 70 years; seeing him join other universes is always a blast. Also, let’s get one thing straight: this is a book for those ready to turn their brains off and have a great time. It’s got Godzilla, alien symbiotes, Marvel icons, and... Galactus? Let’s get into it!Spoiler Warning now in effect for Godzilla: Infinity Roar #1
A Destructive Beginning
From the introduction, this book straps the reader to a rocket and never lets go. Continuing the story that began in Godzilla Destroys the Marvel Universe, we see the Galactic Senate “boo-ing” Earth because of the decision to eject Godzilla off the planet and into space. For some reason, the Marvel heroes keep thinking it's a good idea to just shoot their problems into space and let other races deal with the consequences. If you haven’t read World War Hulk, let’s just say… it didn't end well that time either. The decision to take Godzilla off the board on Earth turned out to be a terrible decision (shocking, I know), as he is now being semi-controlled by the symbiote god Knull and creating even more destruction than ever thought possible. Maybe the Avengers should stop sending their problems into space? Just a thought.
Knull is on the warpath, and he decides to go after the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda and hit them where it hurts the most: their capital city of Birnin. The splash panel of Godzilla crash-landing in the middle of the Wakandans' most important city while enveloped in an ocean of symbiotes is quite the sight to behold and one of the coolest visual parts of this book.
Javier Garrón, IG Guara, and Jesus Aburtov are a really fun art team for this book. On a title that relies so much on its art to bring it to life, having a team that can nail those massive kaiju moments is essential. Within just the first four pages, you can tell those three were the absolute right choice. Godzilla pops every time he's on the page, and the rest of the characters all look fantastic—as do the environments and their ultimate destruction. Godzilla’s atomic breath power and his overall design are really cool in this book. I never thought in all my days that I would see a version of the iconic kaiju with a red symbiote Spider-Man/Venom style logo draped across his chest. Man… I would love a figure or statue of this to be made available someday.
Blackbolt vs. Godzilla!
Godzilla immediately begins destroying the capital city of Birnin and, as we are reminded early on, has a lot of hate in his heart for Black Panther’s society, as the Panther played a huge part in sending him off Earth. Godzilla destroys buildings, fights the Wakandan warriors, and uses his atomic breath to cause as much destruction as possible. The Wakandans realize this is not a fight they can win, and one of their leaders even mentions that they might need to evacuate the planet. All hope seems to be lost for the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda—until one of the most powerful Marvel heroes makes his grand entrance: the Inhuman king, Blackagar Boltagon, better known as Black Bolt!
Out of all the heroes to take their first shot at Godzilla in this story, Black Bolt was a really cool choice. For those unfamiliar with his abilities, his power is in his voice—the "merest whisper" can level entire mountain ranges. Now, imagine what a scream from him can do. The sequence of Black Bolt using his vocal power on Godzilla was my favorite part of the story, and the art absolutely knocks it out of the park.
I also have to give a huge shout-out to the book's letterer, VC’s Travis Lanham. Godzilla’s roar and Black Bolt's massive screams are represented by some of the coolest lettering I’ve seen in a comic. Lanham’s lettering, combined with the phenomenal art team, makes every part of this battle scene pop.
We see the symbiotes attached to Godzilla disintegrate off his body as huge chunks of his skin and scales rip away, revealing the raw muscle underneath before he ultimately falls to the ground. The Wakandans and Black Bolt feel they’ve secured a massive victory, but then—Black Bolt begins to run as Godzilla rises, fully healed and with the Symbol of Knull now adorning his forehead. The city of Birnin and the center of the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda fall; Godzilla’s full wrath, combined with the symbiotes, is simply too much.
The rest of the book follows the Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy as they put their plan into motion. They realize they must not only defeat Godzilla but find a way to separate him from Knull. While the Avengers make their case to the Galactic Council, the Guardians head to Knull’s spaceship. There, they glimpse his ultimate plan: to destroy Asgard using Godzilla while his pet Godwyrm consumes the World Tree, ensuring all life suffers. The Guardians are defeated by Knull, their fates left unknown.
The story concludes with two bonus scenes that serve as a thrilling preview of what's to come. Odin, sitting under the World Tree in Asgard, hears the battle the Guardians just waged and begins readying his people for war. Meanwhile, the Fantastic Four decide to take a massive risk to gain an ally: they visit Galactus to enlist him in the coming fight. These scenes do a fantastic job of setting the stage for what is sure to be a wild saga.
Closing Thoughts and Rating
Gerry Duggan and the art team did their job in this issue: they set the table for an explosive story and began to move their pieces where they’re needed on the galactic gameboard. Godzilla and Knull are presented as "world-beater" level enemies that clearly are not going to be taken down easily; with Knull’s grand plan beginning to take shape, we are in for a wild ride.
I do have some criticisms of this issue, however. The second half isn’t as strong as the first; after the initial battle in Birnin, we don’t see Godzilla again. To be honest, I could have used even more Godzilla than we got in this issue. When I read a book that features the King of the Monsters, I want him featured throughout the entire book, not just half of it. It’s a criticism I have of some of the more recent American Godzilla films as well: I couldn't care less about the humans—I want more of the big guy.
Godzilla: Infinity Roar #1 is an "atomic-powered" blast of an opener for the limited series. Even with its slight shortcomings, it's a fun story with great art to match. I can’t wait to see how the Marvel Universe finally takes down this massive threat to their existence.