Godzilla #9 (April 1978)

May 9, 2013ByTars Tarkas

Don’t come in, Dad, I’ll be out in a minute!

Godzilla #9 – The Fate of Las Vegas (April 1978)
Writer – Doug Moench
Penciler – Herb Trimpe
Editor – Archie Goodwin

It’s time for some filler! Godzilla gets arty for a bit as we buy some time before the next bigger battle issue. If you need some catching up on what the heck is going on (it has been a bit since I posted one of these) drop on by the Godzilla Marvel Splash Page, and be sure to check out all the goings on for March of Godzilla 2013!

“I felt like destroying something beautiful.” — Narrator, Fight Club

Godzilla smashes Boulder Dam (aka Hoover Dam) because he feels like smashing something. The torrent of water washes him away. Godzilla lands next to Vegas, and debates whether to go do a Hangover prequel or just hang in the desert. Of course Godzilla goes and starts destroying casinos, because gambling is a sin and Godzilla is all about the Jesus. And the comic would be boring if Godzilla just sat in the desert and meditated.

D’oh!

Luckily the Vegas cops are on the scene, all Las Vegas cops wear military style blue uniforms with red visoered helmets and red gloves and carry assault weapons. It was in a comic book!

At Hoover Dam, the rest of the dam gives way and another flood heads towards Vegas. It causes more dmages than Godzilla, and even pushes Big G around. Godzilla decices to go wander in the desert.

Dum Dum pursues Godzilla in the Behemoth, while Robert has finally been coaxed out of the Red Ronin and grounded. For life! Not really. Only most of his life.

There is also a simultaneous story of a gambling addict during the whole story that sort of paralleled, but not entirely.

I sort of like these stories that are basically filler. Godzilla shows up and attacks Vegas because he has to make a stop by at some point to trash landmarks. But like Vegas, once the fun has been done, the city is then really boring and it’s time to go wander in the desert, as that is more exciting than Vegas.

Godzilla vs. Philosophy!

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Godzilla #8 (March 1978)

April 23, 2013ByTars Tarkas

The weirdest jump rope game ever!

Godzilla #8 – Titan Times Two! (March 1978)
Writer – Doug Moench
Penciler – Herb Trimpe
Editor – Archie Goodwin

When last we saw Godzilla and Red Ronin, they were just about to fight. Now they do fight! Amazing how that works. Yes, no filler episode this month, it’s a full-fledged battle issue! For those new to the Marvel Godzilla comics, make sure you are informed via the Godzilla Marvel Splash Page, and keep up with all the March of Godzilla 2013 marvelness!

Godzilla and Red Ronin fight! Finally, Godzilla is battling a giant robot like we all demanded! Red Ronin pilot, the 12-year-old child Rob Takiguchi doesn’t want to hurt Godzilla, so he’s reluctant to break out the big guns like the laser sword (aka a light saber) or heavier laser guns. Godzilla is not reluctant to do anything and blasts Red Ronin with his atomic breath. Robert’s unfamiliarity with the controls prevents him from putting up the shields in time, and his roboride is damaged more than it should be.

The SHIELD helicarrier Behemoth moves in to fight Godzilla, but Robert uses Red Ronin to attack the helicarrier as a distraction, then grabs Godzilla via magnetic grappling hooks and uses rocket boots to fly away, Big G in tow!

Godzilla is literally a cat!

Godzilla is not too crazy about being suspended in the air by some dumb robot and squirms loose. By now the action has moved to San Diego Bay (answering the question of where we are.)

Red Ronin blasts the Behemoth again, then stands in front of Godzilla and points away from San Diego towards the open countryside.

And Godzilla walks that way…

Towards land where more people will be, not the ocean where he can find a nice island. D’oh!

Go home, Godzilla, you’re drunk!

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Godzilla #7 (February 1978)

April 21, 2013ByTars Tarkas

I hope it was a C-section!

Godzilla #7 – Birth of a Warrior! (February 1978)
Writer – Doug Moench
Penciler – Herb Trimpe
Editor – Archie Goodwin

Yes, more Godzilla and more Marvel! Be make sure you know what the frak is going on with the Godzilla Marvel Splash Page, and keep up with all the March of Godzilla 2013 madness!

Godzilla is rampaging on the military base he was brought to and easily escaped the specialized prison from in the last issue. The military base that just happens to have a whole lot of nuclear missiles on it!

Why did they build a giant monster cage here??? Or even bring a giant monster???? These gooberheads!

Red Ronin, however, is randomly wandering free. He was activated by the unconscious brain of Robert, but has had no real commands. Jimmy Woo climbs inside and stops Red Ronin just in time to be told they need to go take Red Ronin to stop Godzilla. Jimmy decides to pilot the robot there, but Red Ronin won’t respond!

Robot Stomp!

It turns out that Rob’s random mashing of buttons caused an overload that made it so Red Ronin will now only respond to Rob’s brain commands! Rob wakes up and steals the Red Ronin again to go save Godzilla. Robert is one of those kids who should be locked in a cage in the middle of the ocean, because he’s just going to wander out and do bad things. Robert also names Red Ronin at this moment. Be cause he has a bit of red on him and sort of is like a ronin, maybe.

Red Ronin arrives…just in time for the battle to begin next issue! D’oh!

One thing the Godzilla comic excels in in having issues that just build up to a fight in the next issue. Fillers, if you will. Well, next issue there WILL be fighting. Or else!

World War G!

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Godzilla #6 (January 1978)

April 19, 2013ByTars Tarkas

I can buy a mad scientist creating monsters that charge up via glowing meteorite, but a cave this big? I don’t think so!

Godzilla #6 – A Monster Enslaved! (January 1978)
Writer – Doug Moench
Penciler – Herb Trimpe
Editor – Archie Goodwin

Godzilla tries to get some rest and bad things happen! Part 1 of a three-part story that introduces a giant robot and another monster. But first Godzilla gets caged. But can you cage the King of the Monsters? (No!)

Be sure to get acquainted with the cast via the Godzilla Marvel Splash Page, and check out the rest of March of Godzilla 2013!

Godzilla goes into a gigantic cave to take a nap. If you are wondering if there are Godzilla-sized caves in the Pacific Northwest, I’m going to have to go with “No, no there isn’t.”

Meanwhile, Dum Dum Dugan mentions that they’re building a new helicarrier, not just fixing the crashed one. That would make too much since. In fact, this is a specialized helicarrier called Behemoth designed to capture giant monsters like Godzilla. And it is to be piloted by a guy named Hugh Howards, and you can guess what he looks like. Yep. Howard the Duck. Just kidding!

Dr. Takiguchi’s plans are revealed, he’s building a giant robot codenamed SJ3 RX (aka Mr. Project) that will eventually become the infamous Red Ronin. Jimmy Woo and Tamara are soon making out, but she pulls away, because she’s confused and jazz.

Gabe Jones convinced Dum Dum to use knockout gas Godzilla first instead of burying a mountain on him. Gabe and Dum Dum get in their Zil-Pods and drop the gas. Godzilla is upset at first, but eventually the gas kicks in and Godzilla gets KOed!

Sometimes you just got to purify the world with fire!

They load him into the Behemoth and take him to a specially constructed cage at a military base. This is sort of like King Kong, except different. Because the ship can fly. And there will be no stage show…yet!

The second Godzilla wakes up, he freaks out and busts out of the cage! Wow, billions down the drain because it went to the lowest bidder. Time to arrest some military contractors and execute them!

Robert has snuck into the Red Ronin controls and attempts to pilot it, except he gets knocked unconscious from pressing the wrong controls and is shocked. Rob, Rob, Rob….

And we wait until next time to find out just how berserk the malfunctioning Red Ronin will be!

Grandpa bet against Robert hanging out on the catwalk all day!

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Godzilla #5 (December 1977)

April 16, 2013ByTars Tarkas

Mraww!

Godzilla #5 – The Isle of Lost Monsters (December 1977)
Writer – Doug Moench
Penciler – Tom Sutton
Editor – Archie Goodwin

When last we left our green friend, he was interrupting the plans of crazed psycho Dr. Demonicus and his band of skeleton suited men. The fierce Batragon lies dead, but three new monsters await to battle Godzilla. But Dr. Demonicus holds them back so Godzilla and SHIELD will fight each other first. We all know Dr. Demonicus is one of those dudes who wants to take over the world with an army of his mutant monsters, but before you can soar you must learn to walk. And Dr. Demonicus will be needing a wheelchair!

Be sure to get acquainted with the cast via the Godzilla Marvel Splash Page, and check out the rest of March of Godzilla 2013!

Godzilla and SHIELD battle each other until Dum Dum finally notices the other monsters in the volcano. So Demonicus let’s them free!

The trio are: Ghilaron – a mutant komodo dragon with eight legs and a head crest. Lepirax – a gigantic moth that is in now way an evil Mothra. Centipor – a mutant centipede with tentacles on its face.

The monsters attack! Fight fight fight! Gabe Jones’s fighter crashes, and he’s captured by Dr. Demonicus’s men (who are called The Demon Soldiers, in case you were wondering.) Dr. Demonicus says “Freeze, Black Man!” Wow, maybe his costume used to be his Klan costume! Dr. Demonicus then wastes time giving his life story to Gabe Jones, as Jones is stalling for time.

I like how SHIELD just takes crazy dudes in costumes and giant monsters in stride!

During his fantasy takeover of the world via an army of giant monsters, he has two fantasy monsters that are cool but sadly don’t exist.

Godzilla eventually kills all the monsters thanks to his deft skill and maneuvering. And his punching and burning them to death. Which he did with deft skill and maneuvering! Dr. Demonicus and his goons are captured, the Eskimos are freed (and many helped to stop Demonicus’s men) and Godzilla sniffs Dum Dum before returning to the sea.

Dum Dum cares not, he still thinks Godzilla is evil. But maybe a tiny bit not evil. Just a tad.

Mothra’s teenage son picks the wrong Godzilla to mess with!

Interesting note, the letters page includes a letter from an Asian-American guy (Bill Wu) who mentions how he and his white friend noticed the Asians are drawn and colored like normal people, not crazy racist depictions! It’s cool to see things like this noticed and appreciated. I know one guy who won’t appreciate it, Dr. Demonicus!

Time to go all A Raisin In The Sun on this mofo!

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Godzilla #4 (November 1977)

April 14, 2013ByTars Tarkas

Godzilla performs his trademark “Kaiju Clutch” and it’s all over now!

Godzilla #4 – Godzilla versus Batragon! (November 1977)
Writer – Doug Moench
Penciler – Tom Sutton
Editor – Archie Goodwin

March of Godzilla 2013 continues plowing through issues of Marvel Comics’ Godzilla, because that’s what you expect from a movie review site! This time, Godzilla actually fights a monster, and not in one-panel flashback form! And it’s not one of those “man is the real monster” cop outs, though new villain Dr. Demonicus is certainly a real monster. If you need to get a quick catch-up on who is who in the Marvel Godzilla U, drop on by our splash page. Now let’s get this party started!

A monster named Batragon attacks a random oil tanker off the Pacific Northwest. The action attracts Godzilla, who immediately attacks the new monster because that’s what Godzilla does. Batragon is what his name suggests, a combination of bat and dragon.

Meanwhile, a new oil tanker driven by masked goons shows up to siphon off the oil out of the first damaged oil tanker. The masked goons mention their boss Demonicus, and how he created Batragon and other monsters to help them rob oil so their criminal empire doesn’t suffer from the gas shortage that America is going through. These costumed goons look straight out of Japanese tokusatsu shows!

Let my Eskimo go!

Batragon flies into its volcano home on an Aleutian island, where a few other monsters are, and more of the masked goons and their leader, Demonicus.

The monsters live on a lifestone that is a radioactive meteor at the bottom of a volcano, and Batragon is using it to heal now. The other three monsters aren’t named until the next issue, but they are: Ghilaron, Lepirax, and Centipor. More on them next issue.

Dr. Demonicus’s men are using Eskimo slaves to build a flying craft out of the meteor rock so they can fly the creatures around the world without them needing to return to the volcano to recharge. The Eskimos are not too happy with being slaves, so the bad guys gun a few down!

Dr. Demonicus looks like he got his uniform from a drawing a drunk person did of Killink. The teeth of the skull section droop down and make him look like he was left out in the rain and his skull paint went runny. During these issues, Demonicus’s men are dressed in costumes that look similar to his, but when he appears again in Iron Man, they will be less similar and more like a generic Hydra costume. Perhaps he had to scale back his costume budget after Godzilla trashes everything…

The cruelty of man against his fellow man, Godzilla sees all. And attacks Dr. Demonicus’s men! Go Godzilla! Godzilla blows up the meteor metal smelting machine. Then he attacks the monster lair where the four monsters are charging. Dr. Demonicus has a shield defending the monsters (that also acts as a cage keeping them in), but Batragon crashes through the shield it and attacks Godzilla!

Godzilla: King of the Monster Freedom Fighters!

But Godzilla kicks his butt! Batragon is now gone, because he’s dead.

Then SHIELD attacks, having noticed the action, but they attack Godzilla as they are unaware there is a volcano full of monsters.

Dr. Demonicus decides to not unleash the rest of the monsters until the two sides destroy each other….

TO BE CONTINUED!!!

Die, unofficial Toho kaiju!

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