Love, comedy, drama, action: there’s a little bit of something for everyone with IDW’s new Godzilla’s Monsterpiece Theatre Presents: Romeo & Juliet and Godzilla #1. Don’t let the mouthful of a title dissuade you; this one-shot from writer Adam Tierney and artist Sean Peacock is some of the campiest fun you can get from a Godzilla comic. It’s fun for theater kids and kaiju aficionados alike.
- Title: Godzilla’s Monsterpiece Theatre Presents: Romeo & Juliet and Godzilla #1
- Creative Team: Adam Tierney (Writer), Sean Peacock (Artist), Brian Kolek (Letterer & Designs), Jake Williams (Editor)
- Characters: Godzilla, Mothra, Romeo, Juliet, Benvolio, Tybalt, Lord Capulet
- Villain: The Rivalry of the Montague and Capulet Houses (and a Renaissance Mecha Godzilla)
- Format: One-Shot
- Our Rating: 8.5/10 Stars
What Happens When Godzilla Attacks Shakespeare’s Verona?
The formula for this Monsterpiece Theatre presentation is extremely simple. It is a largely faithful telling of Romeo and Juliet… just if Verona were intimately familiar with regular Kaiju attacks. Godzilla emerges from the Mediterranean just in time to stop a duel between the warring families of Montague and Capulet. Yet even with Godzilla’s rampage and the appearance of Mothra, the Capulets have no intention to halt their banquet. As Romeo and his cousin Benvolio plan to crash the party, Mothra and Godzilla seem to have a similar plan as their brawl continues just above the banquet. It’s even the flap of Mothra’s wings that first brings Juliet into Romeo’s arms.
The story continues as we tend to expect, but not without a more cataclysmic backdrop, with even the Capulets getting involved with their own Renaissance-style mecha Godzilla. Though the exact details are… different… The outcome remains the same: a tragedy of young love with the only real winners being the Kaijus walking away unscathed.
Why Adam Tierney’s Kaiju Comedy is IDW’s Best Godzilla Concept
To get the obvious out of the way: this is by far the most entertaining and creative idea that IDW has had in relation to the Godzilla property. Adam Tierney layers in a lot of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies-esque energy that just makes this issue just a blast to read. Sure, it’s a fairly safe retelling of Romeo and Juliet. There’s no major changes in the outcome of the story, but yet even having seen this story a billion times, it’s how Tierney fully embraces Godzilla’s influence. Characters react in verse, the Capulets have a full wooden Godzilla to fend off the beast, and Godzilla even gets to be the one that kills Tybalt (my personal favorite detail).
Tierney even manages to weave in a strong thematic connection between kaiju and play. While Romeo and Juliet fall victim to their families’ unending rivalry, Mothra and Godzilla are shown as working together, putting aside their differences, leading to both making it out of the story largely unscathed. As silly as the story is, this contrast is such a great added detail that makes this kind of story go from fun to genuinely my favorite Godzilla content since Godzilla Minus One.
Sean Peacock’s Art Blends Prince Valiant Style with Modern Kaiju Action
The art from Sean Peacock is such a brilliant fit for this story. It feels very of its era, giving the impression of a Prince Valiant style with more modern touches to keep it from feeling out of date. Special credit needs to be given to Peacock’s phenomenal panel work on some of these pages, weaving in elaborate flourishes to the already great art. Aside from the occasionally odd-looking face (Juliet’s lips feel a bit uncanny on some panels), Peacock’s art is simultaneously modern and historical, making the perfect blend for this one-shot.
Final Verdict: Is This Godzilla One-Shot Worth Reading?
Though most journalists see it “ethical” to make their bias known up front, I have made the choice to wait until now to admit that this book might as well be tailor-made for me. I do love theater; I have a fondness for Shakespeare; I adore this style of art; and most of all, I love seeing big monsters fight in a city. It’s a direction for Godzilla that I had never thought of before, but I am nonetheless very excited for. If you too are a lover of theater, big monsters, or just love a campy spin on a classic story, then I have no doubts this book is for you.
‘Godzilla’s Monsterpiece Theatre Presents: Romeo & Juliet and Godzilla’ #1 Review
It’s a direction for Godzilla that I had never thought of before, but I am nonetheless very excited for. If you too are a lover of theater, big monsters, or just love a campy spin on a classic story, then I have no doubts this book is for you.
