Toho Studios says he’s 69, but really the King of the Monsters has to be at least a million years old. His comics, however, are just about 45 years old. Though he’s waded through a few publishers over the years, Godzilla first assaulted U.S. comics with a series at Marvel in 1977. Written by Doug Moench with art by the underrated Herb Trimpe and Tom Sutton, the book captured both the occasional lunacy of the Big G’s movies and the deadly terror a giant radioactive lizard could inspire.
Like many of Marvel’s licensed series from that time, the book featured many cameos from Marvel stars. That makes it pretty hard to reprint without a few IP lawyers involved. Marvel was able to collect their Godzilla stories into one black-and-white Essential volume several years ago, but that didn’t do justice to the titan. At last, we’re getting the reprint it deserves: a Marvel Omnibus Edition.
Unfortunately, we’re going to have to wait almost a year for it. It comes out just in time for Godzilla’s 70th birthday. In the meantime, we can celebrate with Godzilla Minus One, now playing in Japan and opening in the U.S. on December 1.
From Marvel:
In 1977, Godzilla became one of Marvel Comics’ biggest stars, headlining a hit solo series set in the heart of the Marvel Universe! Now, thanks to an exciting new collaboration with Toho International, the Japanese studio’s U.S.-based subsidiary that has brought global sensation Godzilla to life, this host of monumental Godzilla escapades costarring your favorite Marvel heroes will be collected next year in GODZILLA: THE ORIGINAL MARVEL YEARS OMNIBUS!
Marvel’s take on Japan’s greatest export represented an incredible creative collaboration between two comic book pioneers: Doug Moench, known for his definitive run of Master of Kung Fu and co-creating Moon Knight, and Herb Trimpe, known for his seminal work on Incredible Hulk and Iron Man. In October 2024, fans can dive into all 24 issues of this fondly remembered chapter of Godzilla’s legacy, each one gloriously remastered and presented in color for the first time, in this long-awaited omnibus collection!
Godzilla rises from the depths in the United States — and the Marvel Universe! See the towering scourge of Tokyo march across America and battle some of the best and brightest the House of Ideas had to offer, including the Fantastic Four, the Avengers, the Champions, Nick Fury and the mechanized monster fighter, Red Ronin! Godzilla goes west, travels through time to battle Devil Dinosaur, and hosts one of Spider-Man’s most gratuitous guest-shots ever — but when Godzilla is shrunk down to miniature size, the terrible titan proves it can still be a tiny terror! Plus: Aliens, mutants, mad scientists and epic kaiju clashes with Godzilla’s fellow towering titans — including Batragon and Yetrigar!
Recently, Toho marked Godzilla’s 69 year history with Godzilla Day, a monster-sized celebration packed with exciting announcements, including news about the new Godzilla Minus One film, which opens in U.S. theaters next month. Now, Marvel Comics proudly honors the King of Monsters by revisiting its own unique connection to this legendary franchise with the reveal of this upcoming omnibus. Check out all three covers, including a new piece by superstar artist Junggeun Yoon and two Direct Market Exclusive Variant Covers that showcase Trimpe’s iconic covers, and be there when GODZILLA: THE ORIGINAL MARVEL YEARS OMNIBUS charges into stores next year!
GODZILLA: THE ORIGINAL MARVEL YEARS OMNIBUS HC
Written by DOUG MOENCH
Art by HERB TRIMPE & TOM SUTTON
Cover by JUNGGEUN YOON
Direct Market Exclusive First Issue Variant Cover by HERB TRIMPE
Direct Market Exclusive War of the Giants Variant Cover by HERB TRIMPEOn Sale October 2024
