Review by Ian Keogh

Starship Godzilla is set in a world where the energy from rampaging kaiju has been harnessed for human use, although what seems to be centuries ahead of End of the Reign and Escape the Deadzone, as indicated by the ‘Starship’ portion of the title.

Events begin with the robbery of kaiju eggs, the subsequent hatching and escape of one creature, and the revelation of one thief remorseless in protecting the identity of the buyer employing them. The small kaiju is recaptured, and named Bug by enthusiastic crew member Ayan, who also keeps a cat. It’s also established that in this era kaiju remain extremely dangerous, but aren’t completely beyond human control.

Writer Chris Gooch is better known for more intimate and small scale material, so it’s a surprise how well he adjusts to widescreen space opera. The initial situation is well established with viable characters, and there’s a rapid identification with the enthusiasm of Ayan.

All the good work Gooch puts in is elevated by Oliver Ono’s art. This is no bright shiny future for the privileged, but the make-do inner city society of the present reconstructed across the galaxy. Everything just about functions, but no more, and Ono shows the desperation and disrepair. His people have a wide-eyed manga influence, but not excessively so, and they operate in fully detailed surroundings. When the crew are in space, Ono has the imagination to populate the void with more than just passing planets. His colouring takes some getting used to, though. Having the brightness maxed isn’t always the best option.

That’s partly needed because Gooch incorporates the idea of the kaiju we’ve previously known somehow arriving from space. Where are they when not rampaging across Earth? Other elements of First Wars are more derivative, such as the cruel space Empire strip-mining planets of resources, but Gooch uses that to teach a lesson about loyalty.

As with the associated titles, the role allocated to Godzilla and other kaiju is small. It’s what happens around them that’s important, but when they do put in an appearance it’s definitive. A cliffhanger ending ensures you’ll be back for the next volume.