Godzilla has always been a pop culture icon, but this year, Godzilla Vs., the King of the Monsters has taken on a whole new set of foes, tangling with some of Marvel’s most famous heroes in a series of fun, action-packed collected one-shots. These stories are all out-of-continuity, which makes it easy for anyone to dive in and enjoy the spectacle of giant monster mayhem without needing a deep knowledge of decades of comic book lore. The approach for each one-shot is wildly different, giving each era of Marvel’s history its own unique flavor of kaiju chaos.
The series kicks off with an absolute spectacle: Godzilla vs Fantastic Four #1. Set authentically in the 1960s, this issue is a wonderful period piece. It instantly throws Marvel’s First Family against the colossal kaiju bearing down on New York. Writer Ryan North perfectly captures the tone and dialogue of the era, leaning into Reed Richards’ ability to science his way out of any situation.
The art by the legendary John Romita Jr. and Scott Hanna is perfectly suited to the task: epic and blocky, with clear homages to Romita Jr.’s classic style. Colorist Marco Menyz makes the Power Cosmic and Godzilla’s attacks dazzling. Details like the dotted lines for Invisible Woman’s force fields and the “Kirby Krackle” energy effects firmly root the story in its retro setting. The relentless pace constantly raises the stakes, introducing the truly colossal King Ghidorah, now a Herald of Galactus, suggesting a larger, cosmic plan for the series. This issue is a pure, exhilarating clash of titans that completely delivers on its premise.
Following the FF’s encounter, Godzilla vs. Hulk #1 offers a surprising twist on the expected monster matchup. The story establishes a world where kaiju are the top threat, with General Thunderbolt Ross leading an anti-monster task force, complete with Mechagodzillas. After things predictably go wrong, the story pivots when an even deadlier monster, Hedorah, emerges. The climax delivers a fusion as ridiculous as it is awesome: Hulkzilla. Godzilla gets a massive, gamma-powered upgrade thanks to the Hulk’s blood. While the Hulk is more of a plot device, the comic is pure spectacle, delivering goofy, punchy fun with Giuseppe Camuncoli’s art capturing the transformation’s massive scale.
For the web-slinger’s turn, Spider-Man Vs. Godzilla #1 takes us back to the 1984 Jim Shooter era of Marvel, with Peter Parker sporting his new symbiote costume. Writer Joe Kelly does a remarkable job of cramming a lot of mid-80s Spider-Man lore into a single issue, making it read like a really fun, classic What If? Tale. The central challenge is simple: how can one, relatively small guy, deal with a threat large enough to crush a skyscraper? It’s an authentic-feeling mashup that is undeniably enjoyable, particularly for fans of that specific comic era.
Taking the King of the Monsters to the 1990s, Godzilla VS X-Men #1 features Xavier’s full team trying to protect Japan. The story makes a clever, very ’90s choice: instead of having the X-Men attack individually, they fuse their powers into a single, massive robot, the Super-Adaptoid, to fight back. Writer Fabian Nicieza handles the dialogue naturally, and the X-Men sound true to their ’90s selves. Laiso’s art is phenomenal, excellently recapturing the classic costumes. The scale is incredible, with everything looking tiny next to Godzilla until the bizarre Super-Adaptoid enters the picture. The battle, while too short, is a testament to the X-Men’s adaptability.
Godzilla vs. Avengers #1 attempts a full team battle, adding the fan-favorite kaiju-fighting robot Jet Jaguar. The sensible Marvel premise involves the dragon Fin Fang Foom being unhappy about another giant monster causing chaos, leading to a surprise three-way brawl. Visually, the comic is impressive. Georges Jeanty expertly brings the massive monsters to life, capturing their incredible scale.
Unfortunately, the story, written by David F. Walker, struggles to find its footing. The comedic tone falls flat, and the ongoing gag about Jet Jaguar quickly becomes grating. The plot suffers from low stakes, positioning the Avengers more as first responders rather than active combatants. A future-set framing device confirms everyone’s survival, draining any sense of urgency. An attempt to capture the tone of Brian Michael Bendis’s New Avengers run results in frustrating character interactions, leading to a sense of missed opportunity. While the visuals are grand, the narrative lacks the cohesion of the other one-shots.
The final one-shot, Godzilla vs Thor #1, delivers the long-awaited payoff. Set in the most recent decade, it throws two absolute behemoths at each other with no restraints. The villainous Hand resurrects a terrifying, demonic version of Godzilla, leaving behind only a devastating monstrosity. The pacing is outstanding, featuring two massive battles. The second fight escalates to a cosmic level, taking the brawl to Asgard —a staggering and unexpected turn. Thor’s dialogue is minimal; his massive thunderbolts and Godzilla’s roars do all the talking, while an omnipresent narrator adds to the tale’s majesty and grimness.
The art is mesmerizing, showcasing a monstrous, unrelenting Godzilla and a classic, majestic Thor unleashing his godly power to an enormous extent. The detail is extraordinary, and the power on display is truly cataclysmic. By the end, Godzilla is upgraded even further, turning the battlefield into a cosmic spectacle. This is an all-out battle of apocalyptic proportions, delivering an utterly memorable, surprising, and devastating conclusion to the series.
Marvel
The collected Godzilla Vs. One-shots are a fantastic demonstration of how seamlessly the King of the Monsters can be woven into the fabric of the Marvel Universe. From the period-piece charm of the Fantastic Four battle to the goofy fun of Spider-Man’s ’80s run, and finally to the cataclysmic, no-holds-barred finale with Thor, the series offers a variety of tones and high-stakes action. While the Avengers issue is a noticeable dip in quality, the sheer spectacle and inventive matchups of the others more than make up for it. These are high-action, property-smashing tales that succeed in showcasing the best of both worlds.
‘Godzilla Vs.’ Collected Review: The King of the Monsters Meets the Marvel Universe
Godzilla Vs. Collected is a fantastic demonstration of how seamlessly the King of the Monsters can be woven into the fabric of the Marvel Universe. From the period-piece charm of the Fantastic Four battle to the goofy fun of Spider-Man’s ’80s run, and finally to the cataclysmic, no-holds-barred finale with Thor, the series offers a variety of tones and high-stakes action.
