Great Wheels Of Atomic Fire — Reviewing ‘Godzilla: Skate Or Die’ #1

Scientists, soldiers, spies, journalists, capitalists. Just a few of the types of worldly people who have faced the mighty Godzilla. It’s time to add another group of people to that list: Skaters.

That’s right, as the title indicates, Godzilla: Skate Or Die #1 sees a bunch of youths rolling, grinding, and kickflipping their way towards some giant Kaiju action. A wheelie good debut issue from Louie Joyce and Rus Wooton.

What a truly engaging, energetic, and delightfully fun, yet dangerous, story. Joyce really nails everything right away, creating not only a fleshed out breathing cast but easily setting up the environment, threat, and stakes in a timely and logical manner. Godzilla is a concept that works in various types of stories, whether they are big stomping pieces or ones where the atomic breath giant reptile is the centerpiece.

Another route, which this series takes, is to center on the humans and how their lives are affected by the battling Kaiju that tend to come with Godzilla’s presence.

Joyce drops just enough about these characters to give them life while leaving enough out to grow on and develop through the rest of the series. Distinctive looks and personalities are crystal clear through the writing but chiefly the artwork, also handled by Joyce. Truly it’s just such a unique and fun style, one that might not be expected by a story like this. A bold whimsical thread mixed amongst a smooth sort of roughness.

Giving everything a real texture and depth, emotions are beaming through every bit. An ordered chaos can be felt through the paneling choices, letting frames slip and slide all over the page. Capturing each bit of action just as powerfully as any character defining background or dialogue moment that comes up.

Speaking of dialogue, Wooton brings the creativity and energy there as well. Polygonal speech bubbles, rough sketchy fonts, great bits of color, and so much more. Really like those text bubbles pulled out like caption boxes we get at one point. Even the location indicators dropped into some of the pages got some stylish excitement to them. Each element of this issue just screams fun, dangerous stomping fun, but fun, nonetheless.

Also, the little character bio sheets are great. Organically included right in the middle of things, styled just like various sheets found in magazines (these are from an unofficial Zine of the characters). Cute little drawings and great choices for font.

Comic books are gorgeous and fun, and those that embrace the full nature of that are often the best. This comic is pretty darn great. And we haven’t even gotten to the characters and Kaiju’s fully crossing paths yet!

Godzilla: Skate Or Die #1 is now available from IDW Publishing.