Straight up, this is the best issue to date in IDW's ongoing series, which includes both these ten issues and the earlier Godzilla Kingdom of Monsters run. The story is in full climax mode, as writer Duane Swierczynski crafts a comic that is very satisfying on both the monster and human fronts, while Simon Gane is on a roll with another stellar art performance on this issue.

For the plot, the comic starts out with Monster X gaining the upper hand against Mothra in New York, sending the goddess collapsing outside the battle area after a point blank blast. Meanwhile, in Hong Kong, Rodan appears suddenly, slamming into Gigan as the giant pteranodon assaults the cyborg. Harrison, having split up from the group, is busy himself attempting to steal the giant mech Kiryu to join the fray against the space invaders. Boxer and Hikari in the meantime are trying to free the kaiju held on Monster Island, realizing they hold the only hope toward defeating the extraterrestrials.

Wow... Following the disappointing Godzilla #9, the story feels like it has gone into roller coaster mode. From the first panel, the comic rushes off at full speed and never lets up. It's action piece after action piece in a manner that is popcorn entertainment, but oh so satisfying. The comic is really firing on all cylinders, as Boxer, Harrison and Hikari all excel as well, each being among their most interesting and likeable they have been in the series. Harrison's narrative, in particular, during the comic is great, giving probably one of the best lines in the comic to date: "What had become clear is that there were two kinds of giant monsters: the kind that stomped around cities, destroying everything in sight... and then the seriously evil kind." as the scene transitions from Rodan in the first part to Hedorah in the second.

With an issue this big, I believe it's important to read it first and not be spoiled. So keep that in mind, and please stop reading the review as I'm about to dive into the ending details. That out of the way, Harrison is successful in stealing Kiryu, only to find Hedorah waiting for him (after Godzilla Legends #4, Hedorah is starting to feel like a regular adversary of Mechagodzilla). Kiryu is hopelessly out matched, but luckily Godzilla arrives to face off against the Smog Monster as Kiryu retreats to bring backup. Boxer, in the mean time, frees the monsters and the comic concludes with setting the pieces for the following issue: Gigan vs. Rodan and Anguirus, SpaceGodzilla vs. Titanosaurus and Battra, Godzilla vs. Hedorah with Kiryu carrying Kumonga toward a yet unknown location. There is a lot to look forward to, and this will be a tough act to follow with how great #10 is. In fact, the only real complaint is that the sense of time is a little off, as Anguirus almost teleports from Monster Island to Hong Kong and likewise for Kiryu traveling across the world. As a side note, Harrison shaving his head to look like his dad is a real nice touch, something we didn't see coming but is a great way to mark a turning point in their relationship.

As for the art duties, Simon Gane continues to bring his A game. He treats us to some more stellar SpaceGodzilla art, along with a great splash screen of the Monster Island natives (Anguirus, Battra and Titanosaurus) roaming around. His Hedorah, now getting a lot more panel time, is also excellent, conveying the lucid nature of the beast while making it very menacing as it attempts to consume first Kiryu and then Godzilla. All in all, one of Gane's better efforts on the series, making the creative team really click for this issue.

In regards to the covers, there is another solid one by Bob Eggleton showing a fight between Gigan and Godzilla, which if you want to get picky never happens in the issue. Gigan looks great here and while the Godzilla drawing isn't one of Eggleton's best, it's still a good cover. The alternate is by series regular Matt Frank who gets to construct a nice "Monster Charge" image to counterpoint the alien invasion one done earlier. It's nice to see Battra and Titanosaurus throw down with the others on the cover, as a kind of updated Destroy All Monsters (1968) offensive.

Overall, great issue and the current highlight of the ongoing Godzilla series from IDW. Hopefully the next three issues keep up the momentum this one created. If someone has dropped the ongoing, this is a great issue to pick up and start to follow again through the final arc of the current ongoing.