We monster lovers have not known a world without Godzilla since the legendary monster first debuted on the big screen in 1954, just shy of 70 years ago. But how long has the King of the Monsters been wreaking havoc on humanity? For centuries, apparently. We’ll see what that looks like circa the 16th century, thanks to the folks at IDW with the brand new comic Godzilla: Here There Be Dragons.
The five-issue series is written by Frank Tieri with artwork by Inaki Miranda (Old Lady Harley) and will bring us back to a time before technology could help humanity conquer Godzilla. More than that, it was also an era of rampant superstition, which only makes a beast like this all the more fearful. IDW released some preview art, which we’ve included here for you to check out, and it looks metal AF, befitting the title of the book. The synopsis for the series reads as follows:
In the 1500s, before humanity had successfully traveled the entire globe, it was believed that monsters ruled the oceans just beyond the horizon. ‘Here there be dragons…’ was written on maps to denote the areas people dared not go. That is, until Sir Francis Drake circumnavigated the seas, visiting foreign lands and collecting treasure. Or…at least that’s what history tells us. The truth is, tremendous beasts did lurk yonder, dwelling on an island that doesn’t appear on any map, even to this day. And among those monsters was the king of them all…Godzilla!
IDW has done some pretty interesting stuff with the Godzilla license over the years, with Godzilla in Hell coming to mind as a pretty unique take on the franchise. And it’s also the sort of thing that can only really be executed as a comic book. Similarly, would I love to see a Godzilla film set in the 1500s? You bet! Is it likely to happen? No. But comic books to the rescue! Miranda had this to say about the book:
“Godzilla is one of those unique historic creations that is part pop-culture icon, part pure joy and entertainment, and also a metaphor of the ways of society hurting itself, with humans confronting the raw power of our own fears and missteps. I’m genuinely thankful to Toho and IDW for having me onboard to illustrate Godzilla smashing ships and fighting kaiju. Collaborating with my buddy Frank is always a pleasure. I enjoy every scene that he is writing, playing with the myths of the old world. It’s a sure recipe for fun, discovery, and fascination!”
IDW’s executive editorial director Jamie S. Rich had this to add:
“I love the way Here There Be Dragons combines classic mythology from the past with a truly modern legend, causing readers to look at both in new ways. It’s great to see Godzilla away from skyscrapers, taking on a foe that doesn’t have the technological weaponry to fight monsters from a great distance. And I do mean monsters. Godzilla is not alone out there, and I love reading every new issue to see what else Frank and Inaki have cooked up for Godzilla to fight.”
Godzilla: Here There Be Dragons #1 hits shelves in June.
