IDW's GODZILLA General Discussion

[Captain Aktion]

Oh, and IDW, one more thing.....PUT THE REAL KING GHIDORAH IN THESE COMICS!!!! You know, Godzilla's #1 arch rival and most powerful foe? He has yet to make an appearance in *any* of this comics (except for his foot in G: Legends #1 )....totally inexcusable. NO MORE GMK Ghidorah!!!!

You do realize that's Toho's call, not IDW's, right? It's been stated time and again that the versions of the monsters we're seeing are the only one's Toho approves for use. I want a 64 or 84 Goji in the books but that ain't going to happen until Toho laxes up on some of their rules. Don't blame IDW for the things Toho does.

EDIT: You swooped in before me Tyler.

[KaijuX]

Or at least Toho is more preferred to use their more modern designs.

[Captain Aktion]

Jeff Zornow has mentioned on here and shows examples on his blog of how he drew the Showa Ghidorah on the cover of an issue and Toho, not IDW had him re-draw it into the GMK design. It isn't my preferred version either, but take it up with Toho; it belongs to them and they say it's the one they want used.

[ebirahsmeg1]

Jeff Zornow has mentioned on here and shows examples on his blog of how he drew the Showa Ghidorah on the cover of an issue and Toho, not IDW had him re-draw it into the GMK design. It isn't my preferred version either, but take it up with Toho; it belongs to them and they say it's the one they want used.

Bobby Curnow has insisted that they have *no* restrictions by TOHO on which incarnations of kaiju they use (he "claims" that TOHO only made Zornow change it because GMK Ghidorah was featured in the main story). To be frank, I'm not sure I'm buying his "we have free reign to use whatever versions of the monsters we want" shtick....especially considering this is TOHO we're talking about. Otherwise, the fact that G's arch enemy and most powerful foe has not appeared *once* in these comics in a major role is beyond absurd (it's like having a Batman series w/o the Joker ever appearing sans for cameo appearances)....

[Gyaos]

Didnt he appear in one issue only to be beaten by Mechagodzilla?

[ebirahsmeg1]

Didnt he appear in one issue only to be beaten by Mechagodzilla?

That was the pathetic GMK "KINO" (King Ghidorah in name only), and he was fittingly pathetic and weak. I am talking about the *true* incarnation of KG...and he has been MIA in these comics. It's one of *many* things that IDW has done wrong with the G license...

[KaijuX]

Of course there's still G:G&G, but he's more of "another monster on the loose" rather than a significant figure of terror.

But ya gotta wonder; WTH are they going to do with Ghidorah in this arc? Still playing the hero or will he be "transformed" into a villain? The latter would be awesome, giving the world a sense of a hopelessness seeing on how a former guardian has lost himself. If not, then I could care less. Now my own opinion on Ghidorah is that I prefer him to be an apocalyptic space monster that destroys civilizations. But if the writers want to use a pale genetic time-travel dragon or a guardian monster, I'm fine. Though the latter would have to look... Quote-unquote "eviler" than his initial design. Even the simplicity of making his eyes all red it fine by me... Surprisingly, teeth that are the same color as his scales actually sorta benefits from him not being a pure hero. I dunno, that's just me. Cuz I'm weird and all that good stuff. But I digress. But watch all the monsters have space-related origins.

That was the pathetic GMK "KINO" (King Ghidorah in name only), and he was fittingly pathetic and weak.

Thus Kaneko hath succeeded in his mission.

[Captain Aktion]

Could be. I dunno, but I do know that once we start talking about massive companies leasing out licenses on trademarked property a thing like "free-reign" doesn't necessarily mean what it means to you and I. "Free-reign" in a situation like this can also mean, "Do what you want to do then show it to us", which is usually the case and if an artist can get all the way to point of completing and turning in a finished cover, then having to go back and revise something so major.
Perhaps there's going to be a build to a different, evil Showa Ghidorah? Perhaps that was the point? Who knows what the long-term plans were, if there were any.

Eh, Godzilla moves in mysterious ways, brother.

[KaijuX]

Didnt he appear in one issue only to be beaten by Mechagodzilla?

Two issues... One to be beaten by Godzilla, then Mechagodzilla. You were close, though.

[Gyaos]

Wow Ghidorah exists in these comics only to be everyone whipping boy. XD

[KaijuX]

That's the reason why he's the GMK design. Because we love to see that design get its rear-end handed, lol.

[TokyoVigilante]

The reason it's the GMK design is the mystical earth-bound origin. Aren't allowed to swap bits of an incarnation around. Hence why we don't have a Showa Mechagodzilla anywhere but in that brief glimpse of the Simian homeworld.

[Gyaos]

The reason it's the GMK design is the mystical earth-bound origin. Aren't allowed to swap bits of an incarnation around. Hence why we don't have a Showa Mechagodzilla anywhere but in that brief glimpse of the Simian homeworld.

Really? Does anyone have a scan of this?

[TokyoVigilante]

[Captain Aktion]

The reason it's the GMK design is the mystical earth-bound origin. Aren't allowed to swap bits of an incarnation around. Hence why we don't have a Showa Mechagodzilla anywhere but in that brief glimpse of the Simian homeworld.

Actually that makes a lot of sense.

[TokyoVigilante]

It explains the absence of Kiryu, despite also being a EDF-Mecha like the Heisei one. His bio-computer/"cyborg"/Godzilla bone origin must be required baggage, making him less preferably over the much more straight forward Heisei Mechagodzilla.

[Bobby_Curnow]

Hey guys,

IDW editor Bobby Curnow here. I just want to say, if anyone has questions about the direction of the upcoming IDW comics, just come and ask me at the IDW forum. I'm happy to talk about all of this stuff, I don't want it to seem we're beyond anyone's reach.

Here's the deal. Did you like Gangsters and Goliaths or Legends? If the answer is yes, expect a similar sensibility. The new books are their own thing, but I am approaching the new books like I have in the past books. Fun stories told in a way that respects Godzilla history.

Don't worry about the fact that it's the same continuity as Kingdom of Monsters. What are we using from that continuity? Monsters have appeared on Earth. That's it. From there we'll be telling new stories.

To answer recent discussion, indeed, we can use any design, we just need to match that design's story roots.

I'm sure we won't make perfect comics, but I think the stories we're telling are fun and reasonably smart. It'll be up to you to decide though.

[Captain Aktion]

Hey guys,

IDW editor Bobby Curnow here. I just want to say, if anyone has questions about the direction of the upcoming IDW comics, just come and ask me at the IDW forum. I'm happy to talk about all of this stuff, I don't want it to seem we're beyond anyone's reach.

Here's the deal. Did you like Gangsters and Goliaths or Legends? If the answer is yes, expect a similar sensibility. The new books are their own thing, but I am approaching the new books like I have in the past books. Fun stories told in a way that respects Godzilla history.

Don't worry about the fact that it's the same continuity as Kingdom of Monsters. What are we using from that continuity? Monsters have appeared on Earth. That's it. From there we'll be telling new stories.

To answer recent discussion, indeed, we can use any design, we just need to match that design's story roots.

I'm sure we won't make perfect comics, but I think the stories we're telling are fun and reasonably smart. It'll be up to you to decide though.

Thank you Mr. Curnow for your input. Also, let me just say, thank you period. There's no 100% effective way to produce exactly the comic people want, but thank you again for trying. Without you and your colleagues hard work NOBODY would have a Godzilla comic to even discuss. I for one can't wait for what Duane and Simone are going to do.

[Terrier]

KoM tried to tell a lot of things in not too many pages... I asume it was one thing to show KG having a misterious yet clear Earth origin, and another to have him come from outer space. Like, the comic is dealing with the idea of giant monsters as something new and unexpected; we already have the mistery of the dead animals, the evil twins and the unspecified role of Mothra, among other things; and we don't really know where the monsters come from. If the comic doesn't have the time to explain these things, what good would it make to have an alien golden dragon casually and conveniently appearing on Earth when there happens to be giant monsters? It would over-complicate everything; at least it should estabilish what's the deal with the Earth monsters before having to explain what's up with alien monsters. Notice that Spacegodzilla appears specifically at the very end of the comic, without previous or subsequent explanation; he hasn't interacted with other characters (At least not directly), and it's expected to be explained later, when convenient.

[Captain Aktion]

^Great points, all around.