REVIEW: ‘Godzilla VS X-Men’ Issue 1

Godzilla VS X-Men Issue 1 is published by Marvel Comics. Written by Fabian Nicieza, art by Emilio Laiso, colors by Federico Blee and letters by Clayton Cowles.

Godzilla VS X-Men Issue 1 is part of a series of one-shots featuring the King of the Monsters and the Marvel Heroes. The X-Men must combine their powers to try to protect Japan from Godzilla. The next era of these one-shots takes the giant lizard to the 1990s. There is a great setup to the confrontation, getting the mutants ready by making a plan. Instead of facing Godzilla individually, Xavier and his X-Men choose to fuse all their powers into the Super-Adaptoid, creating one big robot to fight back.

It’s disappointing not to get that first battle where the X-Men assault from all sides as the first contact with Godzilla. But the mutant megazord fits the genre and makes sense within the universe. The level of escalation is awesome, with secrets hidden around them. It’s an exhilarating fight, but the pacing isn’t quite right. The different phases of Godzilla VS X-Men Issue 1 are all exciting, but the second act, which sees the two meet in combat, isn’t long enough. It’s a compliment that you want to see more of the action.

Enlisting Nicieza as the writer of Godzilla VS X-Men Issue 1 is genius because he wrote these characters in the era in which it is set. So writing this dialogue comes naturally to him. The X-Men sound natural and true to who they were at that point. The cast is large, featuring a full team. The individual members don’t get to speak much, with many not getting more than a few words. But the emphasis is on the collective.

The story being set in Japan provides the opportunity for Sunfire to appear. He assists in the battle, but his fire barely scratches the surface of Godzilla. The King of the Monsters is silent as usual, except for its roars. But there is narration to help infer the monster’s intentions. There is also a telepath in Godzilla VS X-Men Issue 1 who can try to translate. It’s corny when it happens, but it again doesn’t feel out of place within the story.

The art is phenomenal. The X-Men are astonishing, with classic designs straight out of the cartoons and comics. These are the costumes that they’re most known for, and Laiso excellently recaptures the brilliance. Just the first page, which sees Sunfire try to hold back Godzilla’s atomic breath, is epic, and that’s just the beginning. It’s incredible seeing the details around Godzilla, with everything looking tiny compared to it.

That is, until the Super-Adaptoid enters the picture. It’s such a bizarre and yet delightful design, blending different superhero features into one expressionless being. In Godzilla VS X-Men Issue 1, the Super-Adaptoid has the powers of the X-Men. Not all available powers are used, but it’s still an awe-inspiring sight to behold. There is something else within the port that Godzilla is attacking. It has a peculiar structure due to mixing the two universes into one being, blending both the X-Men and Kaijuu. But the concept and construction are fascinating.

The colors are sensational in Godzilla VS X-Men Issue 1. Godzilla keeps that consistent dark blue shade to its scales throughout the one shots. In contrast, there is much more vibrancy found in the X-Men and their uniforms. The lighting is also intriguing. When it’s cast, it coats the water, the sky or any other surface it lands on like oil. The glow of fire or lightning radiates, generating power in an attempt to match Godzilla’s might. The lettering is very clear, and the SFX tries to make as much noise as possible.

Godzilla VS X-Men Issue 1 could never match expectations. It really tries, however. It throws the X-Men at Godzilla; that’s what everyone wants to see. The art is exceptional, and the whole comic has a terrific ’90s feel. This chapter, and the other one-shots, have shown how malleable the Marvel heroes are and how they can fit any genre.

However, the X-Men never quite throw everything they have at Godzilla. There was another level to reach and more that could have been shoved in, with countless ways in which this crossover could have gone. But any iteration of that meeting is going to be exhilarating.

Godzilla VS X-Men Issue 1 is available where comics are sold.