IDW continues their Godzilla Vs. America series this time, taking the Kaiju to Portland with an oversized one-shot anthology of short stories featuring Godzilla and the West Coast city. Featuring the talents of Colleen Coover, Caitlin Yarsky, Cat Farris, Mark Russell, and Eryk Donovan, this one-shot gives a diverse array of tones and takes on the big lizard. It captures the spirit of the “503” while maintaining the scale of a classic monster movie.
Godzilla vs. Sasquatch: A Pacific Northwest Kaiju Battle
The first story, “Godzilla vs. Sasquatch” by Colleen Coover, gives us a Kaiju vs. Cryptid battle when a sasquatch colony in Oregon comes to the city’s defense, conjuring a giant forest sasquatch to match Godzilla’s strength. The storybook style of the art really shines here and perfectly accompanies the absurdity of the whole story. The inclusion of sasquatches was a fantastic choice, really playing into the dichotomy of these myths and the inherent weirdness that Portland prides itself on.
Is Godzilla vs. America: Portland Actually Funny?
The second story, “Dog Day Afternoon” by Cat Farris with letters from Sandy Tanaka, is the one that leans into Portland’s inherent weirdness the most, where the Kaiju assault on Portland is merely a backdrop. The bulk of the focus is instead on two people going to grab a hot dog from a food stand, all while theorizing what toppings would constitute a truly “Portland Hotdog.” Maybe the funniest of the stories, the two protagonists are completely unfazed by Godzilla’s siege, going about their walk to the stand as if it’s an everyday occurrence. Though the humor shouldn’t detract any praise from the beautiful art, in particular the watercolor rendering style that feels equally premium and distinctly indie.
High Score: Social Commentary and Arcade Horror
Taking a sharp tonal turn, “High Score” by Caitlin Yarsky, featuring colors from Heather Breckel and letters from Sandy Tanaka, gives a Twilight Zone-esque story with a dash of commentary. It tells a story of a town ravaged by an arcade cabinet that summons Godzilla once you reach a high score. We quickly learn it’s the work of a real estate developer attempting to punish the businesses he can’t simply buy out. The story is a nice, if not simple, commentary on the death of local businesses and the growth of monopolies. It provides a nice contrast with the other, more light-hearted stories, but I do find myself wishing the art went a bit more into the genre or tone it’s going for.
Under Siege in the 503: The Traditional Godzilla Experience
The final story, “Under Siege in the 503,” written by Mark Russell with art by Eryk Donovan and letters from Sandy Tanaka, is maybe the most traditional of Godzilla stories featured here. An attack by Godzilla leaves Portlandians alone with no one coming to help. The city, however, bands together using its unique resources, food trucks, and local legends to survive the assault. This story feels like the perfect conclusion to the anthology, full of equal parts classic Godzilla story and Portland references. Donovan’s art is especially well-executed, with more scratchy line work and a haunting rendering of Godzilla.
Verdict?
IDW’s Godzilla vs. America: Portland does a beautiful job of giving you exactly what it promises: Kaiju spectacle against the iconic weirdness of Portland. Each of these stories gives a slightly different take, but each one leans into the city as much as it should, and it’s wildly apparent just how much fun and enjoyment each creator had with the assignment. It’s not doing anything particularly new, but if you like the premise inherent to the title, you won’t leave disappointed.
Review: ‘Godzilla Vs. America: Portland’ IDW’s Kaiju Anthology Hits the Rose City
IDW with Godzilla vs. America: Portland does a beautiful job of giving you exactly what it promises: Kaiju spectacle against the iconic weirdness of Portland. Each of these stories gives a slightly different take, but each one leans into the city as much as it should, and it’s wildly apparent just how much fun and enjoyment each creator had with the assignment. It’s not doing anything particularly new, but if you like the premise inherent to the title, you won’t leave disappointed.
