Note: Special thanks to IDW for providing this issue for review!
After being saved by Rumi and her swift blade, Jacen relays to Commander Riviera and the team about how his Kai-Sei abilities were useless against the blood-sucking worms he encountered in the depths of the sea. Rumi also surmises that Anguirus was attacked by the worms, causing the kaiju to deviate from its usual course. The team quickly learns first-hand how the worms can reproduce asexually, killing some but leaving the rest alive per Riviera's command, who finds their potential usefulness as kaiju blood-suckers too promising to pass up. However, plans go awry when the team is attacked out at sea by pirates, led by the Great Vulture of the Atlantic Coast, Captain Carronero.
Despite the shorter length, this issue is jam-packed with dialogue and action that keeps the story moving at an engaging and enjoyable pace. Nikola's artwork continues to be expressive and dynamic, expertly conveying character movement and body language to sell emotion and tension, coupled with some pretty clever dialogue and panel placements. The art alone acts as one of the biggest draws for this series to me. However, the characters themselves - other than Jacen and Rumi - still remain as aloof as ever, though there is a sprinkling of cute interactions between Nuki and the rest of the group.
The newest addition to the cast includes Captain Carronero, a powerful pirate clad in a monster-themed garb. His design is great, though his motivations seem rather uneven. He catches the Kai-Sei-laced fist of Jacen with impressive ease, but is then saved by Jacen soon after from the rampaging worm monster Yakumama and immediately no longer appears to have any issues with the boy... when just a few pages earlier, his knife was at Jacen's throat. Likewise, the enigmatic Marco, who was whispering cryptic threats about uncovering Jacen's secrets to an outside source in the prior issue, quickly warms up to his new roommate after being given a nickname by him. I also find it unconvincingly convenient Riviera can be downed by a single punch from one of Carronero's men, who all stand a head shorter than the commander and lack the same hulking physique.
Still, I find myself invested in the growing mother-son-like bond forming between Rumi and Jacen, the mystery surrounding Kai-Sei, and learning more about the looming presence known as Lament. It feels like there is still plenty of story left to be told, and I hope the ride continues its ascent into something special. |
![Comic: Godzilla [Kai-Sei Era] #2](../images/comics/idw_godzilla_kaisei_02_cover_tn.jpg)
