REVIEW: ‘Godzilla: Complete Rulers Of Earth,’ Vol. 1

Godzilla: Complete Rulers Of Earth Vol. 1 is published by IDW Publishing. The story was created by Chris Mowry and Matt Frank, and written by Chris Mowry. The artists of this volume were Matt Frank and Jeff Zornow, with ink assist by Mostafa Moussa. The colors were done by Priscilla Tramontano and Ronda Pattison, with lettering done by Shawn Lee and Chris Mowry.

In Godzilla: Complete Rulers Of Earth Vol. 1, the world’s ecosystem has changed. Man is no longer at the top of the food chain or the most destructive force on the planet. Daikaiju (giant monsters) have awakened, and they walk the Earth, claiming territory and fighting one another as they see fit. Among those kaiju is the G-Man himself, Godzilla. Humanity is still reeling from the revelation that more monsters, other than Godzilla and his handful of enemies, exist and are trying to act accordingly. The military wants to destroy these creatures and protect the citizens where they can while scientists create a new area of study, megazoology, in which they study the kaiju and why they’re arriving in droves. All while humanity has its hands full on survival, a sinister player plots behind the scenes for humanity’s destruction.

The storyline isn’t anything special. However, I took a liking to it because the main characters are scientists researching the kaiju. I felt connected to the story and characters because, although I am not a researcher, I love animals and learning about them. And who wouldn’t enjoy learning about giant monsters despite being fiction? Despite liking the protagonists, I did not care too much for the antagonists because their motives were the same as a lot of villains we see in literature.

As a huge Godzilla fan, I am guilty that I have never read a comic. So, jumping into this volume has been a delight. Complete Rulers of Earth scratches many itches when it comes to consuming creature features.  I enjoyed seeing familiar and new monsters and being reminded of those I have seen in old films. Art by Frank and Zornow is pretty good for showcasing kaiju, making them pop off the page with each monster drawn with great detail. I enjoyed how the monster fights took up multiple panels and pages with satisfying action.

One drawback of the art is the way the people are drawn. Of course, this is a comic book, but the people look extremely cartoony, and sometimes they seem like they don’t fit. I know that you’re not here for the humans when you’re consuming Godzilla and kaiju content. You’re here for the giant deathmatches. This is delivered so the odd art balances itself out. This collection was quite wordy, but due to the lettering done by Lee and Mowry, readers should have no problem getting through the long-winded conversations.

Godzilla: Complete Rulers Of Earth Vol. 1 is a blast to read. Although the story feels mediocre, Mowry and Frank have something going on here. With the aid of the creative team, they have truly captured the essence of Godzilla, his adversaries, and their battles. They deliver on exhibiting the panic, chaos, and adrenaline produced by humanity living with giant wildlife and their fight for survival. If you’re a fellow kaiju groupie, this may be the book for you.

Godzilla: Complete Rulers of Earth Vol. 1 is available wherever comics are sold in May 2020.