The end of the line. This comic wraps up writer Cullen Bunn's Godzilla: Cataclysm series, which featured a post apocalyptic look at the Godzilla universe. This issue makes for a good read, but feels like it could have done with some more development of Destoroyah, given his pivotal role, and a bit more resolution for Biollante. The art, though, is once more stellar and really sells the gloom while being consistent as well.

For the story, the mammoth Destoroyah has risen from the sea. Sensing Biollante and the nearby survivors, Destoroyah morphs into its juvenile form as a huge wave of the creatures chase the humans through the desiccated woods. Hunting them down, the creatures kill off the humans they encounter on their way toward Biollante. Arata's grandfather makes a desperate plea, that Godzilla save them and give them one more chance... just as a Destoroyah finds them.

Bunn does a good job of bringing the story down to a personal level, having the human size Destoroyah hunting down survivors, before taking it back to a larger scope for the climax. I salute his creativity in the concept, and the methods that he has used to breath a few new story angles into characters like Biollante, being a savior of nature in a world filled of destruction. My only complaint is that the past four issues had built up Godzilla as the foe to beat, as the "destroyer" of the world and the ultimate foe. Destoroyah, quickly established as the true "big bad", seems to come out of left field given he wasn't mentioned at all before. My other beef, and spoilers will fly, is the lack of resolution for Biollante... or more of an explanation why every kaiju seemed to be able to sense her and was intent on killing the plant monster besides Mothra. Godzilla's reasoning is explained, that he didn't want the world to return from the devastation, but kind of glossed over for the rest of the cast like Megaguirus etc. Regardless, the climax here is satisfying as Destoroyah switches between the flying form, giving a unique battle against Godzilla, and Destoroyah's final form as he battles Godzilla and others (will save that spoiler).

For the art, Dave Watcher does a great job with the content here and is very consistent in his level of detail. The old, dead woods provide a nice backdrop for the Destoroyah and human skirmish. Watcher also draws an excellent flying form of Destoroyah, breathing new life into this often neglected form of the monster. Arata, Shiori and their grandfather also get a lot of panel time and Watcher really knocks it out of the park on all three, especially in the detail given to the grandfather.

In terms of the covers, the main one by interior artist Watcher is once more the winner. It's a great shot of a giant Destoroyah looming menacingly over Godzilla as the dust and rubble collide around them. The use of color, giving Destoroyah a red tint, is also excellent. The alternate cover is done by Bob Eggleton who depicts a great shot of Godzilla, while a profile face view of Destoroyah is seen above. Sadly, although great looking, the alternate lacks the engagement of the other which tips the scale toward the Watcher cover.

As a whole, I enjoyed the overall story of Godzilla: Cataclysm. The idea of a post apocalyptic Godzilla story had been kicked around before, but this is the first time its really taken an official medium. While I had some complaints with how it was wrapped up, I enjoyed the run and can tell it will translate fairly well to the trade format where it can be digested all at once.