Close Menu
  • Support Us
  • Newsletter
  • News
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Video Games
      • Previews
      • PC
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X/S
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Xbox One
      • PS4
      • Tabletop
    • Film
    • TV
    • Anime
    • Comics
      • BOOM! Studios
      • Dark Horse Comics
      • DC Comics
      • IDW Publishing
      • Image Comics
      • Indie Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • Oni-Lion Forge
      • Valiant Comics
      • Vault Comics
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Event Coverage
    • BWT Recommends
    • RSS Feeds
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Support Us
But Why Tho?
RSS Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
Trending:
  • Features
    Warframe

    Biggest ‘Warframe’ Announcements From PAX East 2025

    05/13/2025
    The First Descendant Season 3: Breakthrough keyart

    ‘The First Descendant’ Season 3 Looks Like A Gamechanger

    05/11/2025
    Mafia: The Old Country promotional still

    Everything We Know About ‘Mafia: The Old Country’

    05/08/2025
    Sunderfolk Phone Players

    10 ‘Sunderfolk’ Tips To Help You And Your Party Thrive

    05/02/2025
    Bob in Thunderbolts But Why Tho

    ‘Thunderbolts*’ Visualizes Depression As Only A Superhero Movie Can

    05/02/2025
  • Star Wars
  • K-Dramas
  • Netflix
  • Blood of Zeus
  • MCU
But Why Tho?
Home » IDW Publishing » REVIEW: ‘Godzilla Rivals: Vs. Hedorah,’ Issue #1

REVIEW: ‘Godzilla Rivals: Vs. Hedorah,’ Issue #1

Jason FlattBy Jason Flatt06/30/20213 Mins ReadUpdated:06/30/2021
Godzilla Rivals vs Hedorah #1 - But Why Tho
Share
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email

Godzilla Rivals vs Hedora #1 - But Why Tho

Godzilla Rivals Vs Hedorah #1 is the first in a new quarterly series of comics pitting Godzilla against famous rivals from throughout his history. The issue is written by Paul Allor with art by E. J. Su, colors by Adam Guzowski, and design and letters by Nathan Widick. While Godzilla and Hedorah battle in Manhattan, one man is determined to save the one person he believes can truly save their city.

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

I can’t attest to much of a personal history with Godzilla, or kaiju generally. But Godzilla Rivals: Vs. Hedorah #1 is very good. It strikes just the right balance between showing off a mega battle between two giant monsters and the very real humans struggling to survive it. At first, I didn’t think much of the comic. It felt rote, with one character trying desperately to save somebody he believed was the last person left who could save the world. But then there’s a major twist and suddenly everything is put into a stark and personal perspective I wasn’t expecting at all. Coupled with the comic’s narrative style, where one of the characters narrates through a past-tense point of view, the whole issue delivers an emotional punch across a poetic kaiju brawl.

Artistically, I’m impressed by the serious 70s vibe the comic gives without looking like it was drawn in the 70s. It somehow has all of the characteristics, not just in the way the characters dress and the way the buildings look but in the way the illustration itself feels. Yet, the type of coloring feels more full and less pulpy than a comic that would have been made in actual 1971. This characteristic drew me into the setting even further, helping me latch onto the emotional beats of the story by helping me never question the setting for a moment.

The art and sequencing for the kaiju battle itself is excellent as well. The way that the comic begins by giving only a little bit of either combatant per panel before going just, all in on huge scenes of full-panel combat adds urgency to the underlying story while building excitement for the fight. The battle simply gets more and more exciting as it rages on and the way that both monsters are drawn emotionlessly even in their exhaustion helps emphasize the emotional narrative. It genuinely had me interested in watching the 1971 film Gozilla vs. Hedorah that introduced these two enemies in the first place.

The lettering in general is a standard fair, but a number of monstrous SFX impress. I wish there were a few more actually, particularly when Godzilla unleashes his atomic breath. SFX may have really enhanced those panels.

For a total Godzilla newby, I absolutely adored Godzilla Rivals Vs Hedorah #1. It was unexpectedly emotionally poignant as well as rich with great kaiju action. I’ll greatly anticipate the next addition as Godzilla takes on Mothra.

Godzilla Rivals: Vs. Hedorah #1 is available wherever comics are sold.

Godzilla Rivals: Vs. Hedorah #1
5

TL;DR

For a total Godzilla newby, I absolutely adored Godzilla Rivals: Vs. Hedorah #1. It was unexpectedly emotionally poignant as well as rich with great kaiju action. I’ll greatly anticipate the next addition as Godzilla takes on Mothra.

  • Buy now via ComiXology

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Previous ArticleREVIEW: ‘America: The Motion Picture’ is Total F***ing Star-Spangled Chaos
Next Article REVIEW: ‘Parasomnia,’ Issue #1
Jason Flatt
  • X (Twitter)

Jason is the Sr. Editor at But Why Tho? and producer of the But Why Tho? Podcast. He's usually writing about foreign films, Jewish media, and summer camp.

Related Posts

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - The Dog Of War #1

REVIEW: ‘Star Trek: Deep Space Nine – The Dog Of War,’ Issue #1

04/05/2023
MMPRTMNT II #1 - But Why Tho

REVIEW: ‘Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II,’ Issue #1

12/28/2022
Dead Seas #1

REVIEW: ‘Dead Seas,’ Issue #1

12/21/2022
Star Trek #1

REVIEW: ‘Star Trek,’ Issue #1

10/26/2022
Super Trash Clash Volume 1

ADVANCED REVIEW: ‘Super Trash Clash,’ Volume 1

10/20/2022
Star Trek #400 - But Why Tho

REVIEW: ‘Star Trek,’ Issue #400

09/08/2022
TRENDING POSTS
Cho Bo-ah and Lee Jae-wook in Dear Hongrang
8.0
TV

REVIEW: ‘Dear Hongrang’ Weaves A Tangled Web

By Sarah Musnicky05/16/2025Updated:05/16/2025

With its foundation set in mystery and intrigue, it’s no surprise that Dear Hongrang (Tangeum) is a complicated viewing experience.

Murderbot Season 1 keyart from Apple TV Plus
9.0
TV

REVIEW: ‘Murderbot’ Continues Apple TV+’s Sci-Fi Winning Streak

By Kate Sánchez05/12/2025Updated:05/13/2025

Humor, action, and the weirdness of science fiction keep Apple TV+’s Murderbot hitting every single episode.

Bet (2025)
6.5
Film

REVIEW: ‘Bet’ Is a Bold and Risky Live-Action Adaption

By LaNeysha Campbell05/15/2025Updated:05/15/2025

‘Bet’ (2025) brings the high-stakes world of ‘Kakegurui’ to life (again), an American live-action adaptation of Homura Kawamoto’s manga series.

Marie Bach Hansen in Secrets We Keep
6.5
TV

REVIEW: ‘Secrets We Keep’ Will Give You Whiplash

By Sarah Musnicky05/15/2025

Secrets We Keep is a decent binge-watch. However, it needed to take a beat to let the suspense grow and be savored properly.

But Why Tho?
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest RSS YouTube Twitch
  • CONTACT US
  • ABOUT US
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Review Score Guide
Sometimes we include links to online retail stores. If you click on one and make a purchase we may receive a small contribution.
Written Content is Copyright © 2025 But Why Tho? A Geek Community

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

But Why Tho Logo

Support Us!

We're able to keep making content thanks to readers like YOU!
Support independent media today with
Click Here