Daily Archives: 3 July 2012

Godzilla 3 (October 1977)

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Tony DeZuniga’s inks help a lot, but even he can’t make what should be an awesome page–Hercules toppling Godzilla–work. Not with that Trimpe perspective.

This issue, Moench and Trimpe do let Godzilla destroy an American landmark–the Golden Gate Bridge. I guess someone at Marvel decided it could go, while the Space Needle in the last issue got to stay. Hercules also knocks the SHIELD helicarrier (or one of them) out of the sky in an apparent fit of rage.

Oh, I forgot–the Champions guest-star in this issue and their presence (except Black Widow’s) breathes some life into Godzilla. Instead of just being a crappy licensed comic, it’s a goofy, crappy licensed comic. The addition of Marvel superheroes makes it a lot more entertaining.

Though Moench does have a big problem (besides Trimpe). Protagonist Dum Dum Dugan’s completely unlikable. Moench writes him as a fascist pig.

CREDITS

A Tale of Two Saviors; writer, Doug Moench; penciller, Herb Trimpe; inker, Tony DeZuniga; colorist, Don Warfield; letterers, Gaspar Saladino, Denise Wohl and Irving Watanabe; editor, Archie Goodwin; publisher, Marvel Comics.

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Godzilla 2 (September 1977)

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Trimpe’s got a shot right between Godzilla’s legs (on the second or third page too!). It feels kind of dirty.

Moench goes on to expand on the Marvel 616 version of Godzilla–turns out the ocean floor held a lot of other monsters (including giant flying birds). The nuclear blast opening the crevice for Godzilla opened the crevice for them too.

Including a giant bird.

In the ocean.

Did anyone read Moench’s script before it went to Trimpe?

Or was Marvel still doing it the other way, vice versa?

Trimpe’s got some amazingly bad work in this issue, including a giant foot (not Godzilla’s) about to stomp a miniature wine glass.

Besides as an example of terrible art, there’s not much to recommend Godzilla. He goes after the Seattle Space Needle but doesn’t destroy it. The rest of Moench’s action set pieces are similarly impotent.

It’s awful; best as humor.

CREDITS

Thunder in the Darkness!; writer, Doug Moench; penciller, Herb Trimpe; inkers, Frank Giacoia and George Tuska; colorist, Janice Cohen; letterer, John Costanza; editor, Archie Goodwin; publisher, Marvel Comics.