Godzilla: Gangsters & Goliaths

[Gojira-Fan]

I liked this first issue. I enjoyed it more than any of the main series issues. My only problem I have with it is that I wished the main character stopped and talked to the keepers of the Shobijin and the Shobijin themselves some more. It would have been nice to get more character development. Hell, even talk about Mothra some more.

[Gorosaurus Rex]

This was fun, and was more of what I was looking for in a Godzilla comic. However, I felt something was missing. The humor felt strained and unnecessary. Still promising though. Really looking forward to next issue.

[HayesAJones]

I liked the first issue. Interesting premise, I look forward to seeing more.

[Tyler]

Next issue out this week or next?

[Showa Gyaos]

Next issue out this week or next?

This Wednesday. Time flies, doesn't it?

[ElijahSky]

Well, in case anyone was wondering, this is what the incentive cover looks like.

http://www.midtowncomics.com/images/PRO ... 06_ful.jpg

Personally, I'm dissapointed.

[Gojisan866]

I'm getting up early tomorrow to get issue 2. I'm very impatient. D:

[kitik]

Looks like 3 covers for this issue:

[Tyler]

I'm gettin this one!

[Gojira-Fan]

I'm gettin this one!

Yeah, looks pretty badass.

[Chris55]

Issue #2 is pretty good

[kitik]

Just finished reading issue #2: LOVED IT!


MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD


The spread on pages 2 and 3 is GORGEOUS, and the bottom panel on page 14 is probably the coolest single panel in the IDW Godzilla comics so far. I just love the perspective in that shot. So intense, and it looks like something out of a big screen big budget movie.

Seriously, those two single drawings alone make the entire issue worth it, but they don't need to, because the rest of the issue was pretty entertaining too.

Once again, John Layman does a nice job of telling a story in a non-linear fashion, without being too disjointed or too all over the place. The flashbacks aren't overdone, but when he uses them, they're useful and they continue the narrative of the story.

As for the art, well, if you couldn't tell from my initial praise, I'll say again that I love it. The two shots that I mentioned above are fantastic, but the rest of the art throughout the book is very good too. Tokyo really comes to life here, but not at the expense of Sato or Mothra (or Takahashi). All 4 of them (plus all the other characters) are drawn with equal respect, and with a skill that really gives you a sense of what Tokyo (and its inhabitants) is like in this comic.

The story itself doesn't drag, and sets up the characters' motivations fairly clearly. Well-defined characters usually lead to a well-told story. All of the characters are given time to develop in this issue, and it sets up the remainder of the series quite well.

The path Sato has chosen for himself is clearly a dangerous one, yet also a logical one for someone presented with his options. There are a couple of different possibilties that his path can take over the next 2-3 issues, and I look forward to seeing that story develop. The end of his story isn't readily apparent.

I think my one worry going forward is that Godzilla is going to come along and ruin what is shaping up to be an awesome Mothra story. But after impressing me so much with this issue, I doubt Layman and Ponticelli will let me down.

PS. Anyone else getting a Geof Darrow-Hard Boiled vibe at all from Ponticelli's art? It's not quite Darrow, but the setting and art style make me wonder if Ponticelli is a Darrow fan (though not quite so over the top, of course).

[Pkmatrix]

Picked up Gangsters & Goliaths #2 yesterday. My thoughts:

SPOILERS AHEAD

- I was in a bit of a rush, so I just grabbed the first cover I could find, which I think is the Ponticelli version (the one with Sato in the rain and Mothra in the background). Which is a shame, 'cause the one I wanted was the one with the nightclub scene (that was for issue #2, right?). Ah well.

- The comic opens with Sato on a rainsoaked Tokyo rooftop, a gun pointed at the Shobijin's case, staring down Mothra and ordering her to help him. Whoa! Now THAT is an opening!

- Flashback to 12 hours earlier. Sato returns to Tokyo to find his name tarnished and himself a wanted man. But he tires of trying to hide quick and decides to do the last thing anyone expects: waltz right into Police Headquarters and surrender himself. We meet his boss (I'm a little confused whether he's the Chief of Police, or just the Chief of Detectives), Nakamura, who turns out to be a dirty cop on Takahashi's payroll and the rat who sold out Sato and his partner. After Nakamura refuses Sato's offer to do the right thing, Sato is suddenly bust free from prison by Mothra, who tears a hole in the wall and flies off, dumping Sato on a random city street (to the bewilderment of crowds).

- Sato picks up a gun he stashed and returns to a hotel he'd checked into earlier. Turns out he'd had the Shobijin stashed in his coat pocket the whole time (why the heck is he holding them like that?) and that's why Mothra freed him. Sato is stunned when the Shobijin still refuse to help him, so in desperation he threatens to shoot them and demands an audience with Mothra so he can make his case to her personally. Cut back to the book's opening scene: Sato tells Mothra she needs to make a choice, help him or kill him (and the Shobijin with him).

- We cut to the grand opening of a penthouse nightclub "not far away" that's actually a front for Takahashi and the Yakuza. Takahashi gets to demonstrate again how delightfully evil he is ("Chop off his left ear, and a thumb of his choosing!" XD) before a couple of the goons from last issue arrive to fill him in on what's happened. Takahashi is genre savvy, though, and realizes Sato is alive as soon as they tell him they never saw his body. He's barely finished saying as much when Mothra suddenly tears the roof off the building! The nightclub is destroyed, but it seems nobody was killed by the attack. Takahashi's lieutenant wonders since when Mothra singles out particular buildings to attack, and Takahashi proves he's far smarter than the average comic book villain when he not only points out that this never happens, but seems to immediately realize that Sato has somehow gained control over the monster (but dismisses it). Our comic ends with Sato calling to confirm Takahashi's worst fears: Sato is alive, he has control of Mothra, and he's going to destroy everything the crime boss as worked to build piece by piece before finally going for him too!

Overall: This was a tough decision, but I'm going to give this one a 4.5 out of 5/(A), though I was REALLY close to giving this a full 5 out of 5. A fantastic issue, and I suspect people will probably disagree with my reasons for docking that .5. ^_^()

On the first page, the comic fixed my biggest complaint with Issue #1: Sato. In the first issue, I never felt like I knew him much and he came across like any other generic "I've been framed!" good-guy detective. But this issue quickly fixed that by painting him as bold, driven and ultimately good, but now at wits end, obsessed with his vendetta, and desperate enough to do ANYTHING. Now THAT is interesting! ^_^

I still love Takahashi as our villain, and the plot is still very strong. The remaining cons may seem nitpicky, but they're all that's standing in the way of a perfect score. Firstly and most important, the art style. As mentioned in the previous review, while the monsters look great the people look ATROCIOUS. I could forgive it more in Issue #1 'cause there was quite a bit of Godzilla and Mothra, but this issue is much more character-heavy. The art is least forgiving toward the Shobjin, who look absolutely terrible (best example: the comic's last panel). Far less important, but puzzling: where's the military? Mothra spends the issue flying around Tokyo unopposed. Not only does Tokyo seem unconcerned, I'm not even sure it's common knowledge that Mothra's there! Nobody seems to be panicking that a giant monster has invaded the city. It's not that important, but it certainly bothered me.

Again, fantastic issue (the best Godzilla comic yet from IDW!) and I very much look forward to Issue# 3.

Oh, and my scores for each issue:

KOM #1: 3 out of 5 (C+)
KOM #2: 4 out of 5 (B+)
KOM #3: 3.5 out of 5 (B)
KOM #4: 4 out of 5 (B+)

G&G #1: 4 out of 5 (B+)
G&G #2: 4.5 out of 5 (A)

[Showa Gyaos]

I thought it was okay. Very different in tone than KoM, but the writers are different so that isn't surprising.

[tenup]

I can't say I'm enjoying this series more than KOM so far but its interesting. If they can just somehow do away with the back and forth with the stories flash backs it would be more satisfying imo.

[HayesAJones]

Second issue was cool. It feels like Godzilla was thrown into a crime story. That's kinda funny, 'cause its usually a bit of crime drama thrown into a Godzilla movie. Sato's forcefulness with Mothra is interesting. Sure, people have asked her for help nicely, but no one's ever brought out a gun on the fairies. Really shows how desperate Sato is at this point.

[Tyler]

I'm digging this series a lot. I love yakuza stuff. I just hope the next issue has more Godzilla action. This is more like Mothra: Gangsters & Goliaths.

[zilla103192]

I'm digging this series a lot. I love yakuza stuff. I just hope the next issue has more Godzilla action. This is more like Mothra: Gangsters & Goliaths.

I don't mind that much personally.

[kitik]

Issue #3 is apparently due on Wednesday.

[Dust_pan]

Issue #3 is apparently due on Wednesday.

Wait a minute. THIS Wednesday?

I checked out the listings for my local comic shop, and this Wednesday was supposed to be the Godzilla 100 Cvr Charity Spectacular with no GAG#3.