A Timeless Monster, a “GODZILLA: RAGE ACROSS TIME” #1 (Review)
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Godzilla: Rage Across Time #1 IDW
Written By: Jeremy Robinson Art By: Matt Frank
What if Godzilla was older than we thought? What if all those great cataclysmic events throughout history weren’t great natural disasters such as a tsunami wiping out an invading force? That is what this series is basing its premise on. A couple of archaeologists, who have very minimal panel appearances, try to find evidence that Godzilla was this great natural disaster that through time, was forgotten and explained away. I am in love with this concept as we will get to see many different famous clashes throughout history where some kind of catastrophic event stopped or aided one side of the battlefield, and that event is actually Godzilla.
The story of this issue takes part during feudal Japan, complete with samurais, ninja and the invasion of Kublai Khan. Using the time period to provide a quest for a few minor characters, Godzilla’s role in this comic becomes clear as he is an uncontrollable monster during a war where both sides hold artifacts to control monsters such as Gigan and Megalon. For me, the greatest attribute of this issue is Matt Frank’s art. During the retelling of the feudal story, the artwork is done to look like Japanese Woodblock Art. This style of (which is a favorite of mine) really helps tell the story as if some Japanese Clan elder was reading us this epic tale. Selling the Race Across Time theme, the artwork for the current time has a more traditional comic book appearance to it.
Over the past few years, the Godzilla comics have really tried to shake things up by putting Big G in different scenarios other than Kaiju battles across Tokyo. We have seen him make a journey akin to Dante’s Inferno in Godzilla in Hell, we have seen him fight through waves of monsters to protect the Earth once again from an alien race in Godzilla Rulers of Earth, and we have even seen Godzilla help defeat the Tokyo crime syndicate in Godzilla Gangsters and Goliaths. Along with several other series over the past few decades of Godzilla comics, we have seen some amazing splash pages, cover art and sketch work. Each artist has put forth their mental image of what Godzilla looks like to them and they are all unique. With this Race Across Time series, we have already seen stunning art and a story based around Feudal Japan, and with the teasing of the next issue including the “Fall of the Gods” we will get to see Ancient Greece as the archaeological dig site and battleground worthy of myth to prove Godzilla is a timeless natural disaster of which no one is safe.
By Cory Anderson
Born in Boston MA, raised in NH. Fully functioning adult who happens to read any and every comic under the (yellow)sun. Of course there are the favorite comics I must read when they're released, but any comic is fair game in my eyes. Of course my love for pop culture doesn't end with comics, but branches out to movies, toys, video games and most importantly Dungeons and Dragons (which I withheld this last hobby from my Fiancée until she said "Yes").
Point of Origin for my nerdy condition may have been in '93 when I got slimed at Nickelodeon(now closed), and a teenage accident or two(collapsed lungs) landing me in the hospital around the same time the Tobey Maguire Spiderman movies started coming out. When my dad stopped at the local comic store and brought me the essential comics for Spiderman and the X-Men, I stood no chance. (Which also created a secret aspiration to start a fundraiser of sorts to bring comic books to kids in hospitals to keep their spirits up(nothing has come of this to date)) Add in a heavy dose of trip to Disney World, upcoming Disney themed wedding and a career aspiration to become a Disney Imagineer, I think it's safe to say I never want to grow up.
Xbox Live Gamertag: AllusiveReaper7
(If you notice my xbox achievement score, you might assume I game a bit)
Twitter: @AllusiveReaper7
Recent comic addictions(Non "Big Two"): Saga, Crossed, Coffin Hill, Rat Queens, Pathfinder and Rover Red Charlie
Collects: Old Comics (Green Lama), Miniatures (D&D, Heroclix, Star Wars), Action Figures preferably 90s and older, and comic book themed hats
Systems Owned: NES (though it was my sister's), Game Boy(The gray brick), Sega Genesis, N64, Dreamcast, PS2, Game Boy Advanced, Nintendo DS, Xbox, Xbox360, Wii, Xbox One, Junk PC
