Godzilla Vs Spider-Man Issue 1 is published by Marvel Comics, written by Joe Kelly, art by Nick Bradshaw, colors by Rachelle Rosenberg, and letters by Joe Caramagna.
This is part of a series of one-shots that pit Godzilla against the Marvel heroes. Spider-Man, in his black suit, sees his alien suit’s loyalty tested when Godzilla lands in New York again.
This one-shot has more similarities to the first. It returns to New York, jumping forward a decade into the 1980s. Spider-Man is in his black-suit and dating Black Cat. There is a lot of exposition early in Godzilla vs Spider-Man Issue 1, revealed in single panels of flashbacks to catch readers up and provide a sense of time and place. As we enter the book, it feels like the middle of a regular Spider-Man battle against one of his classic villains. Then the giant reptile interrupts with a relentless force and sense of intent. This begins an intense, fast-paced chase game as Spider-Man tries to escape the King of the Monsters.
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What sets Godzilla vs Spider-Man Issue 1 apart from the previous editions is that Godzilla has barely noticed Spider-Man before. In contrast, now it is actively targeting and hunting the wall-crawler. There is a twist that was obvious from the start, but to see it unfold is incredible and enormous fun. The downside to Godzilla vs Spider-Man Issue 1 is that the twist is where the escalation ended. There isn’t another level for it to get to.
Spider-Man’s solution is full of plot holes that are freely admitted within Godzilla vs Spider-Man Issue 1. The end of the one-shot has perhaps the most drastic change to the potential future of this universe’s Marvel heroes, completely altering the destiny of the black suit, a.k.a the Venom Symbiote.
The script for Godzilla vs Spider-Man Issue 1 has many fascinating elements. There aren’t dozens of Spider-Man’s supporting cast crawling out of the woodwork, but enough to fill the issue with noise and potential dangers. Both Mary Jane and Black Cat are present, and their jealousy for each other activates instantly. It adds a commentary and a tension to the book, with wonderful humor. The funniest part of their bickering is that they are more concerned with each other’s connection to Spider-Man than they are with Godzilla’s rampage.
Spider-Man’s banter is delightful and energetic, either shouting to anyone who will listen or using thought balloons. It’s a feature of classic comics that helps readers understand what the characters are planning without showing every individual detail. Another interesting part of this story is that more has been added to it since the time it takes place.
A notable example of this is the symbiote. At that point, the Venom Symbiote was simply an alien substance that attached itself to characters, transforming them into ravenous, vicious monsters. But now it is connected to a much larger part of the cosmos, all the way to Knull and the King in Black. Kelly then compares the power and significance of Godzilla’s part in the balance of the Earth. It adds so much more to both figures, really opening the door for possibilities. However, while Kelly describes just how important Godzilla and the Symbiotes are when united, Godzilla vs Spider-Man Issue 1 doesn’t realize that potential.
The art is phenomenal and incredible fun in Godzilla vs Spider-Man Issue 1. New York becomes a playground for Godzilla to destroy once again, and the execution of that is sensational. The level of detail on both Godzilla and the city is extraordinary. Each scale and brick is put on the page. Spider-Man is in the middle of it, swinging around and looking way out of his depth. Like when the Fantastic Four tangled with the King of the Monsters, there is very little that the wall-crawler can do.
That is, until the black suit starts writhing and changing, and the most epic part of Godzilla vs Spider-Man Issue 1 appears. It’s a magnificent amalgamation that is the culmination of so many fans wondering what would happen. The following sequence is irrefutably fantastic for both Spider-Man and Godzilla, combining tech with alien and ancient physiology.
The colors are intriguing because they aren’t necessarily the exact colors you would expect to find in a Spider-Man comic. Both Godzilla and Spidey have a lot of dark blue on them, with the big lizard maintaining the same tone that has appeared throughout the one-shots. The classic red and blue suit appears later in the issue, adding to the issue’s vibrancy. The letters are fantastic and easy to read. Thought balloons are scarce in modern comics, yet Caramagna uses them superbly.
Godzilla Vs Spider-Man Issue 1 tries to match expectations. Many parts of this comic should be adored. It’s all centred around the combination of two elements of the separated universe coming together, and in that regard, it excels. The art is spectacular, showing off the merger with exquisite detail. But that could have been foreseen from the start of the issue.
There was another level that Godzilla vs. Spider-Man Issue 1 could have reached, another phase it could have gone through, but it didn’t. The previous chapters in this series have shown a constant escalation right up to the last page, whereas this edition seems to level off. There are even signs of where the story could go, but they are only ideas and cliffhangers that may never actually manifest.
Godzilla vs Spider-Man Issue 1 is available now wherever comics are sold.
Godzilla vs Spider-Man Issue 1
TL;DR
There was another level that Godzilla vs. Spider-Man Issue 1 could have reached, another phase it could have gone through, but it didn’t.
