IDW Godzilla KOM #4 Reaction thread

[Stark Rhavyn]

[Pkmatrix]

Just read KOM #4 (not sure why some people are saying it won't be out till next week, my comic shop had it out today). As usual, my thoughts:

(Obviously, SPOILERS AHEAD.)

I picked up two of the three covers: Powell's (the AWESOME one with the Hollywood sign burning in the background) and Frank's. I liked the third one enough to buy...but was a bit short of cash. Maybe next time! ^_^()

Issue #4 opens "Three Weeks Ago", introducing us to Sgt. Steven Woods - a decorated war hero, returned home from oversees, who's disillusioned with the society he's come back to. After a bit of social commentary (which I enjoyed, but will surely irritate those who've tired of it already) pointing out that modern Americans seem unfit to meet a serious challenge the way the Greatest Generation did, the news breaks that Godzilla is attacking Tokyo.

Back in the Present, and Battra has begun his rampage in Normandy. A French tank tries to attack, but Minette and Mallory direct Battra to destroy it (though, it does make me wonder: one tank? WTH?) before declaring they're going to march to Paris and become Queens of France.

Cut to Los Angeles (though it isn't cleary established as such until 6 pages later), where Sgt. Woods has been invited to a morning talk show to talk about his Medal of Honor...but is scheduled to follow the cast of "Jerseyfied" (maybe). He has a short conversation with one of the producers establishing himself as an Independent loyal to the United States not to either party, which confuses (and seemingly irritates) the self-proclaimed "Hollywood Liberal". Rather than watch the interview with the celebrities, he switches to the news, which explains that Godzilla has left Asia and is heading for North America, while Angurius is still in Texas (apparently having destroyed San Antonio off-panel).

Back in France, Battra has reached Paris. Minette and Mallory raid a toy store and dress up like Queens, but decide that fake crowns aren't good enough and decide to take real crowns from the museum. Next page, we're at Laughlin Air Force Base in Texas, where couple soldiers realize that Godzilla and Anguirus are heading right for each other. After that diversion, we're back in Paris, Minette and Mallory take out a bunch of French soldiers protecting the Louvre from looters.

Just as quickly, that's over and we're back in Los Angeles. Sgt. Woods calls his parents telling them he's been called back to action due to the monsters heading for the city, and asks them to hide in a neighbor's basement. President Ogden orders LA to be evacuated, and we get a few shots quickly summarizing that: frightened people boarding a bus, looters robbing a store, and a sign announcing the Jerseyfied movie's premiere is cancelled. At last Godzilla and Anguirus arrive and begin the first monster fight of the series. There's a quick inset of some "analysts" trying to explain what's going on, but clearly they don't know what they're talking about.

In the midst of the battle, Sgt. Woods tries to help some people still trapped in the city but gets a building dropped on him. The fight continues: he knocks Anguirus away, blasts the Hollywood sign, then gets jumped from behind... surprisingly (considering how often characters have been getting axed in this series), Sgt. Woods survived! He happens across the cast of Jerseyfied, their SUV limo dangling off some rubble. They ask him to save them, but instead he turns his back and leaves.

Our comic ends with them get fried by Godzilla's atomic fire.

Overall: I'll give KOM #4 a 4 out of 5. An improvement over KOM #3, focusing the story on just two plots (Sgt. Woods and Minette/Mallory/Battra), giving us some cool monster action, and providing us with another interesting character in Steven Woods. The first seven pages paint a really interesting picture with this character, who so far seems to be the most level-headed person presented thus far besides Ogden: a no-nonsense, moral, and honorable soldier, a fundamentally good but cynical person with a dark streak. I really like this character and hope he sticks around - if Mechagodzilla is presented like the '93 or Kiryu interpretations, I could easily see Woods be cast as the pilot. The beginning also goes a long way toward explaining why the series has focused so much on the social/political commentary: it seems the writers are establishing that the monsters are besieging a culturally decayed world completely incapable of dealing with this crisis due to its own ineptitude. As such, I suspect a lot of this series will be showing the world's transformation from this vapid and hollow society to a more competent one.

The B story, continuing the Minette/Mallory/Battra storyline from last issue, was also good. After the bizarre and disturbing behavior the characters displayed last issue, it was refreshing to see them actually act like children - it seems they don't fully comprehend what they're doing and are treating it almost like a game, which actually makes their actions even more disturbing.

The one real negative aspect here is that, after all the build-up, the fight between Godzilla and Anguirus was rather...underwhelming. Perhaps its the art style finally getting to me, but the fight was bland...yeah, emphasis was placed a bit more on Steven and what he was doing, but they could've come up with something a bit more exciting. I was also disappointed that Issue #4 didn't pick up from Issue #3's cliffhanger - I wanted to see more of the Shobijin!

Ah well. A strong issue, IMO, and hopefully Issue #5 will give us some better action, as well as continue with Woods, Minette/Mallory, and the Shobijin.

EDIT: For those, interested, here's how I've rated the comics thus far:

KOM #1: 3 out of 5 (C+)
KOM #2: 4 out of 5 (B+)
KOM #3: 3.5 out of 5 (B)
KOM #4: 4 out of 5 (B+)

G&G #1: 4 out of 5 (B+)

[kiryugoji04]

[Pkmatrix]

[MekaGojira3k]

My comic shop said this wasn't coming till next week. Not sure why. :/

[jellydonut25]

[ebirahsmeg1]

[ebirahsmeg1]

[jellydonut25]

[kiryugoji04]

[Pkmatrix]

[Legion]

[RaymondBurr]

[Godzilla 2000]

[Cookie]

[jellydonut25]

[gila-monster]

[kiryugoji04]

[Pkmatrix]

[MouthForWar]

[king_ghidorah]

[MouthForWar]

[Hybrid Gojira]

[Kaiju Nexus]

[ebirahsmeg1]

IGN gave this stinker a 5.5/10 rating....imo they're being too kind:

http://comics.ign.com/articles/117/1179820p1.html