Godzilla #1 (Kai-Sei Era) – The King of Monsters Goes Full Shonen [Advance Comic Review]
The kaiju have returned - and this time, they’re bringing shonen vibes with them.
Godzilla #1 (Kai-Sei Era) from IDW is an explosive, high-octane reboot that injects fresh life into the franchise, drawing clear inspiration from modern manga and anime storytelling. Written by Tim Seeley (Hack/Slash, Revival) and illustrated by Nikola Čižmešija, this isn’t your dad’s Godzilla comic: it’s a kinetic fusion of classic kaiju lore, emotionally charged protagonists, and stylish mech-monster combat that feels more Kaiju No. 8 than Destroy All Monsters. And honestly? That’s a very good thing.
Set in the far-off year of 2025 (?!), the world is still reeling from decades of kaiju warfare. Cities are walled off. G-Force has gone international. And in the U.S., a military unit of exo-suit pilots, psychic operatives, and viral influencers (yes, really) form the last line of defense. At the center of this chaos is Jacen Braid, an orphaned teen who managed to survive an up-close-and-personal encounter with Godzilla himself. Think Kafka Hibino meets Eren Yeager: Jacen’s got a haunted past, a monster-sized chip on his shoulder, and latent powers he doesn’t fully understand.
What makes this Godzilla debut stand out is its tonal agility. Seeley’s writing leans into manga’s emotional intensity and narrative boldness. One moment we’re in a heartfelt memory of Jacen’s mother vanishing during an attack, and the next we’re in a brutal exo-suit training montage with explosive results. There’s humor, too: Jet Jaguar makes an appearance and only speaks in his ‘90s anime theme song. (It rules.)
Nikola Čižmešija’s art is a standout highlight, particularly for manga fans. His linework is clean and expressive, with dynamic paneling that’s reminiscent of battle-focused manga like My Hero Academia or Attack on Titan. Action sequences crackle with energy: the brawls are chaotic affairs, but always readable, with a strong sense of scale.
But Godzilla isn’t just loud and flashy. Beneath the adrenaline is a thoughtful exploration of trauma, identity, and generational loss. Jacen’s power is terrifying…and deeply tied to his grief. And that complexity mirrors the best aspects of Kaiju No. 8, which also explores how humans process monstrous legacies in a world forever changed by destruction.
Godzilla is everything you would want from a fresh launch of a classic IP: it’s bold, it’s weird, and it’s packed with promise. With a new world to explore, psychic mysteries, and a budding ensemble cast that feels tailor-made for anime arcs, this series is poised to be one of the most fun and emotionally resonant Godzilla runs in years.
