Godzilla

Rating:
Summary: Manga Goji: Speed Racer vs. Godzilla
Review: This black-and-white, manga version of 1984's "The Return of Godzilla" (U.S. title: "Godzilla 1985") was originally published in the U.S. bu Dark Horse Comics as a six-issue mini-series in 1988/89. The English translation was by Randy Stradley and Mike Richardson. This single-volume collection features a wonderful cover painting by Bob Eggleton. The story is pretty straightforward: after thirty years, Godzilla returns to menace modern Tokyo. Since this was an adaptation of the Japanese cut of the film, there are no scenes with Raymond Burr, who reprised his Steve Martin role for "Godzilla 1985." It's also much clearer in this version that the Russian nuclear missile launch on Japan was a mistake, not intentional. The manga style of art employed by Iwata is an odd mix with a Godzilla story. G-fans not used to it might think the whole thing comes off as a sort of "Speed Racer vs. Godzilla." The collection also comes with a nice gallery of Godzilla art by such U.S. comic artists as Art Adams, Mike Mignola, Steve Bissette, and British artist Alan Moore. For the price, it's well worth it even for marginal 'Zilla maniacs. For fans of the 1998 TriStar "Godzilla" -- shame on you!

Rating:
Summary: Godzilla Meets Manga
Review: This black-and-white, manga version of 1984's "The Return of Godzilla" (U.S. title: "Godzilla 1985") was originally published in the U.S. bu Dark Horse Comics as a six-issue mini-series in 1988/89. The English translation was by Randy Stradley and Mike Richardson. This single-volume collection features a wonderful cover painting by Bob Eggleton. The story is pretty straightforward: after thirty years, Godzilla returns to menace modern Tokyo. Since this was an adaptation of the Japanese cut of the film, there are no scenes with Raymond Burr, who reprised his Steve Martin role for "Godzilla 1985." It's also much clearer in this version that the Russian nuclear missile launch on Japan was a mistake, not intentional. The manga style of art employed by Iwata is an odd mix with a Godzilla story. G-fans not used to it might think the whole thing comes off as a sort of "Speed Racer vs. Godzilla." The collection also comes with a nice gallery of Godzilla art by such U.S. comic artists as Art Adams, Mike Mignola, Steve Bissette, and British artist Alan Moore. For the price, it's well worth it even for marginal 'Zilla maniacs. For fans of the 1998 TriStar "Godzilla" -- shame on you!

Rating:
Summary: Oh no! There goes Tokyo...
Review: This book is a faithful, surprisingly powerful and moving graphic adaptation of the movie "Godzilla 1985". The black and white pages add a somber tone to the tale of the disasterous return of a monster the world has thought long dead. Godzilla himself is lovingly drawn, as are the battle scenes between the Big G and the JSDF's ultimate weapon - the Super-X. The story is sometimes jarred by the "cartoony" appearance of some of the human characters, but overall this is a book any kaiju fan will want to read again and again.

Rating:
Summary: Oh no! There goes Tokyo...
Review: This book is a faithful, surprisingly powerful and moving graphic adaptation of the movie "Godzilla 1985". The black and white pages add a somber tone to the tale of the disasterous return of a monster the world has thought long dead. Godzilla himself is lovingly drawn, as are the battle scenes between the Big G and the JSDF's ultimate weapon - the Super-X. The story is sometimes jarred by the "cartoony" appearance of some of the human characters, but overall this is a book any kaiju fan will want to read again and again.