Comics
‘Godzilla’ Ongoing Comic Series Will Launch a New Shared Universe Next Month from IDW
Godzilla is getting its first ongoing comic series in a decade from IDW Publishing, offering a fresh take on the King of the Monsters that launches a new shared universe, dubbed the Kai-Sei era.
Written by Tim Seeley (Hack/Slash, Grayson) and illustrated by Nikola Čižmešija (Batman and Robin), Godzilla #1 will be published on July 23, coinciding with San Diego Comic-Con.
“In 1954, experimentation with a mysterious energy source known as Kai-Sei awakened Godzilla and a host of immortal kaiju. In the years that followed, humanity has been pummeled by near-constant monster attacks. While Japan has begun to treat the kaiju like natural disasters, understanding that their attempts to fight Godzilla only make the threat worse, the American G-Force is going to fight, fight, fight.
“The Americans have just discovered the ultimate tool in the fight against kaiju: a young boy named Jacen with the power of Godzilla. Able to harness the mysterious Kai-Sei in the same vein as the King of the Monsters, this boy will either save the world… or bring about its doom.”
Godzilla: Escape the Deadzone, a new series written by Ethan Parker & Griffin Sheridan (Kill Your Darlings) and illustrated by Pablo Tunica (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), will follow on August 6 with the introduction of Toho’s first human-kaiju hybrid.
“What is the Deadzone? Inhabitants of this new world know the Deadzone to be a walled-off portion of the Pacific Northwest, sequestered after the most disastrous Godzilla attack the country has ever faced. The government would have its citizens believe that nothing is still alive inside the Deadzone…but do you believe that?
“There are stories of a man. Or rather… a half kaiju, half man… who travels freely throughout the Deadzone. Some say he can even kill a kaiju. Some say… he’s not the only of his kind.”
Starship Godzilla, a cosmic adventure written by Chris Gooch (In Utero) and illustrated by Oliver Ono (Godzilla: Monster Island Summer Camp), will launch on October 1. for a trip through the stars that bridges the gap between the alien races.
“A crew of misfits embark on high-risk high-reward kaiju-based missions with a secret that could impact the whole universe. ”
Godzilla line editor Jake Williams commented, “The Kai-Sei Era is the only ongoing Godzilla story of its kind – crafted for comics readers who have never bought a Godzilla book, and Godzilla fans who have never read a comic. We aim to bring you the absolute best stories possible – whether those stories contain super powered G-Force members trying to kill Godzilla, mutants in a wasteland trying to survive in its wake, or mercenaries flying around space in Mechagodzilla.
“Every month readers will be able to take a peek inside a brand new universe composed of unimaginable horrors, kaiju old and new, and heroes to keep it all at bay. We’re telling the best Godzilla stories in the world, inside the best comics on the shelves.”
Find your local comic shop to get your hands on these titles. Pre-orders for Godzilla #1 close this Monday, June 9, so act fast!
IDW has worked with Toho International for over a decade and recently extended their partnership through 2029. They’ll continue to publish Godzilla limited series outside connected universe as well.
GODZILLA #1 Cover A by Nikola Cizmesija
GODZILLA #1 Cover B by Kade Byrand
GODZILLA #1 Cover C by Arthur Adams
GODZILLA #1 Cover D by Martin Simmonds
The supernatural world of Korean folk horror movie Exhuma grows larger with the arrival of prequel spinoff webtoon Maengjong this weekend, Variety reports today.
Naver Webtoon debuts Maengjong on May 30.
The series hails from Haemuri (Olgami) and will trace the high school origins of how shaman duo Hwarim and Bonggil, played by Kim Go-eun and Lee Do-hyun in the 2024 film, came together to face occultish threats.
The story is set to begin when “Hwarim, who has been concealing her identity following a childhood encounter with a snake spirit called Jin, crosses paths with Bonggil at their school.”
Variety notes that Exhuma director Jang Jae-hyun participated in the project’s early concept stage.
“We are presenting ‘Maengjong,’ a new series capturing the appeal of the horror-occult genre, ahead of the full summer season,” said Lee Jeong-geun, Naver Webtoon’s Korea webtoon content leader. “With the high school story of Hwarim and Bonggil, who left a strong impression in the film ‘Exhuma,’ enhanced by Haemuri’s characteristic tense direction, we expect it will be a welcome work for genre fans.”
“It is meaningful that the spin-off story of ‘Exhuma,’ loved by many audiences, expands by meeting the new grammar of webtoon,” said Lee Hyeon-jeong, managing director of the film business division at Showbox, which distributed the film. “We hope it will be a fresh experience for both film fans and webtoon readers.”
Exhuma was a breakout hit in 2024, becoming the first Korean occult film to surpass 10 million ticket buyers and the country’s highest-grossing film of the year. I wrote in my review that “the intricately woven Exhuma delivers one of the year’s biggest surprises in horror so far.”
The bond between Hwarim and Bonggil was one of the film’s highlights, making this prequel webtoon a must for fans.
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