“They need two tin cans, a harpsichord, and a monkey.”
Godzilla #23
Marvel (June, 1979)
“The King Once More” WRITER: Doug Moench ARTIST: Herb Trimpe INKER: Dan Green COLORIST: Ben Sean LETTERER: Irving Watanabe EDITOR: Al Milgrom
Godzilla is back in modern day New York and at full size. The trip through time has also left him confused and he attacks the Behemoth. So the plan is to use the special helicarrier to lead Godzilla into the ocean in the hopes he’ll just leave, but he instead makes a stand until the Avengers and Fantastic Four team up to try and push him back. As far as Wasp and Yellowjacket (Hank Pym’s name at the time) and the cover’s claim that only they can stop Godzilla, the plan involves them flying into his ear and inducing vertigo by tickling his ear canal with their wings. I know, but it works and he falls into the water. But he still isn’t ready to leave. There’s one more issue to go, after all.
What they got right: They couldn’t end a Godzilla in the Marvel Universe series without fighting the Avengers, could they? That’d be ridiculous. And they do hold their own against Godzilla without turning him into a pushover. Also, Godzilla gets to torment J. Jonah Jameson. That’s always fun.
What they got wrong: Wow, did they oversell Wasp and Yellowjacket’s role in the story.
Recommendation: Next week is the last of the Marvel Godzilla comics (don’t worry kaiju fans, the Dark Horse years are still to come before we finish) and only three issues found me wanting. Collect this series as soon as you can.
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