IDW Publishing is continuing to expand the Kai-Sei Era with their newest entry, Starship Godzilla. Back in July, Tim Seeley and Nikola Čižmešija kicked off the Kai-Sei Era with Godzilla #1. Now it is writer Chris Gooch and artist Oliver Ono’s turn to add to the expanding universe of the Kai-Sei Era. IDW Publishing provided us with an early look at this new entry into the Godzilla franchise for review. Find out how it turned out with our advance review of Starship Godzilla #1 ahead of its October 1st release.
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Chris Gooch
Artist: Oliver Ono
Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
STARSHIP GODZILLA #1 SOLICITATION
“The Kai-Sei era goes to space inside a brand-new Mechagodzilla!
You didn’t think kaiju were only on Earth, did you? In the fight for galactic supremacy, no weapon is more powerful than a kaiju… and no team is better equipped to capture and transport these titanic monsters than the crew of Starship Godzilla!
This ragtag group flies through space in Mechagodzilla and takes high-risk, high-reward missions across the galaxy. A kaiju heading toward your planet? Give them a call. A colossal space pest clogging up your trade route? They’ll get rid of it. A galactic civil war utilizing kaiju on both sides? They’ll… uh… do their best to stay out of it. But where there’s a galactic war, there’s a galactic conspiracy, and this may be one fight our crew doesn’t land on the same side of.
A brand-new kaiju space epic starts here in Chris Gooch (In Utero, Under-Earth) and Oliver Ono’s (Godzilla: Monster Island Summer Camp) Starship Godzilla!” – IDW Publishing
HIGHLIGHTS OF STARSHIP GODZILLA #1
Mechagodzilla is a Spaceship! Why Not?
This series already sold itself with the idea of a crew traveling around the galaxy with Mechagodzilla as their spaceship. That concept did not disappoint as it is just cool seeing how Mechagodzilla was turned into a spaceship. The design is reminiscent of some Power Rangers Zords. It also adds to the history of the Kai-Sei Era being one that has already had years, if not decades, pass by since Kaiju was introduced to its world. There is an entire story to uncover with what happened to Mechagodzilla without beating over your head with its current state.
Describing Characters Through Action, Not Words
By far the best part of Starship Godzilla #1 is how Chris Gooch and Oliver Ono establish the cast of this series. There aren’t any long introductions of who a character is or what their role in the cast is. Instead, we learn about the characters and their relationship by the way they interact with the world. That is immediately established with how Starship Godzilla #1 opens with the leads in Ilsa and Ralphy in the middle of their heist mission. It is giving the readers credit that they can pick up on who these characters are, what the cast dynamic is, and the history of the universe.
Cosmic Setting is Natural Part of Series Language
The stories set in the Kai-Sei Era have established that this universe is used the existence of Kaiju. With a universe that already has a built-in history with Godzilla and other Kaiju it is helpful there isn’t a big need to explain things. It places a greater focus on seeing how the universe is using the knowledge of Kaiju as part of its day-to-day. Having the cosmic setting helps to add a sense of new discovery to what it means for the Kaiju to be around.
Combining Comic Book- & Manga-Style Artwork
Oliver Ono’s artwork does so much to add to the unlimited budget-vibe that Starship Godzilla #1 has. There is a combination of comic book background work with manga-style character designs that really work for this series to have its own look. There are many elements that are reminiscent of both Cowboy Bebop and Guardians of the Galaxy in the way Ono draws everything. It all helps to elevate all the standout things that worked for this comic book.
WHAT DIDN’T WORK IN STARSHIP GODZILLA #1
Nothing!
FINAL THOUGHTS
Starship Godzilla #1 delivers a fun, engaging entry into what the Kai-Sei Era is all about. Chris Gooch and Oliver Ono nail establishing the individual characters, cast dynamic, and language of the cosmic setting. There are so many things that Godzilla and science fiction fans in general will enjoy from this comic book.
Story Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 8.5 Night Girls out of 10
For more opinions on anime, comic book, movies, and sports you can follow Kevin on Bluesky, Instagram, Threads, and Twitter/X.