Godzilla: The Half-Century War #2 Review

As Issue #1 of Godzilla: The Half-Century War is one the best Godzilla comics in recent memory or possibly THE best Godzilla comic of all-time. So does Issue #2 of this mini-series still captures this hype from the first issue? I think it certainly it certainly does have some of that hype; however, I think the second issue KIND OF falls short, more specifically the story.

STORY: The second issue takes place 13 years after Ota’s first encounter with Godzilla. It’s 1967 in the height of the Vietnam War, and during their time before this, they were studying the usual paths of Godzilla before they can easily predict where he’ll be going next.

But, Godzilla suddenly turns direction from Hanoi in Northern Vietnam and heads towards Saigon in Southern Vietnam, which Lieutenant Ota and Colonel Schooler really have no idea why Godzilla changed his direction and thus trying to change his course.

Captain Carson wanted to bombard Godzilla with bombs from the air to change his direction. Colonel Schooler advised Carson that they’ve already done it, but Carson was still sticking with the plan, and left without being told to not go with the plan.

I loved how the writers introduce Anguirus in this issue and how he’s more swift and mobile when it comes to attacks.

The story was getting to be real good until Godzilla gets bombarded with tons of bombs from the air as Ota and the rest of the Anti Megalosaurus Force were about to finish him off with the masers and got mad at Captain Carson.

This is where the story kind of falls short because Ota or Schooler should have radioed-in Carson when they had Godzilla and to finish him off with the masers, instead of getting mad at Captain Carson – Ota and Schooler should also take some of the blame for not holding back Carson. Too, Ken and Doc Randall, who ran the masers, were within the parameter where Carson wanted to bombard Godzilla with bombs, and they should have known about that and should’ve been further away from the parameter and have a clear shot at Godzilla.

That’s the main part of the story I think falls short compared to the first issue’s story.

ART: The artwork is superb this time around, and tends to get better as the story progresses. Godzilla is much more detailed and better-looking, and Anguirus was just awesome, and James Stokoe does an amazing job making such fine details to the two monsters and taking his time and focusing on refining details in other areas.

I also have to mention that the background scenery is just fantastic, and putting every single detail on every trees in the Vietnam forest and as well as the explosions.

HUMAN DRAMA: The human drama seems to be getting better in this issue, although it turned to another direction when Ota and Schooler didn’t radio-on Carson to hold off when they were about to finish Godzilla with masers. If they would’ve radioed Carson to cancel his attack, we probably would’ve had much better human drama in this issue, and could’ve been better than the first issue.

OVERALL: Another great and fascinating issue from Stokoe and IDW Publishing. Although not quite as good as the first issue because of Ota and Schooler for not holding off Captain Carson’s attack. But nonetheless, the issue is still a great read and recommended (especially you like to collect Godzilla comics).