Essential Godzilla

    (Marvel, 2006)
™ and © Marvel Characters, Inc.

The plus side is that, unlike the TriStar travesty, at least this lizard looks like the real Gojira. The down side is that the universe doesn’t act much like the real Marvel universe. Godzilla is recast as Moby Dick, with Dum Dum Dugan as Ahab and Gabe Jones as Ishmael. That the same heroes who routinely take down the likes of Thanos and Galactus are thwarted by a giant reptile, albeit a fire-breathing one, is tough to swallow.

The missed opportunities abound. Godzilla versus The Hulk? Or throwing down against Fin Fang Foom? Sadly, these tussles were not to be. Instead, The Big G goes toe to toe with the likes of Devil Dinosaur and The Champions. (There is an all-star free-for-all in the final story arc. Better late than never.)

There are bright points, such as the introduction of Red Ronin. Also of interest is the arc in which Godzilla is shrunk using Pym particles, although that is marred by the implausibility of a man-sized ’Zilla skulking around the docks in a trench coat and hat.

— Jack Abramowitz
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