Issue(s): Godzilla #1
Cover Date: Aug 77
Title: "The coming!"
Credits:
Doug Moench - Writer
Herb Trimpe - Penciler
Jim Mooney - Inker

Review/plot:
Let's look at this logically. I love Marvel comics. I love Godzilla. So how can this not work?

But it doesn't. Not really. I think the biggest hurdle is reflected in, but not necessarily because of, Herb Trimpe's art.

Godzilla was always a little cute and goofy in his (Showa era) movie series, and that aspect of him increased as the series went on. But the decision in this book was to use a variation of Godzilla's first (and most serious to date) appearance. If anything they decided to make him more lizard-like. The result is a creature that isn't really recognizable as Godzilla.

The story is also pretty simple, especially for Doug Moench. Of course this is a licensed book and i guess targeted at a younger audience. But one expects depth from Moench. This introductory issue just shows Godzilla arriving in the US (Alaska) and engaging in some mindless destruction. We also meet Dr. Takiguchi and his assistant and grandson, three characters with nearly no personality.

On the plus side is the inclusion of SHIELD. It's especially nice to see Jimmy Woo, who is underutilized in the modern age.

After SHIELD fails to stop Godzilla, he starts heading south.

Quality Rating: C

Historical Significance Rating: 3 - first Godzilla in the Marvel Universe

Chronological Placement Considerations: N/A

References: N/A

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A