GODZILLA IN HELL #3 Review

By Daniel Alvarez on Tuesday, September 29th, 2015

Godzilla’s journey into the nightmare continues! How does the third installment fare? Let’s take a look.

Here’s the official description from IDW:

What brought Godzilla to Hell? A glimpse of Godzilla’s greatest battle gives clues-but what will happen when Godzilla faces a rematch with that same foe in the underworld?

GODZILLA IN HELL #3 is the strangest comic I’ve ever read. (Well, it’s perhaps not as strange as the Li’l Depressed Boy issue I read awhile back.) This issue finally gives us the answer we’ve been waiting for: just why did Godzilla end up in Hell. The answer as you see in the description is pretty much expected. Though, everything which happens after that takes the comic down some pretty bizarre roads.

Easily the most unique feature besides the story is the creative team. Writer Ulises Farinas is new to G comics. And what an intriguing issue to start off. The first act takes place prior to the events of the previous two issues. First, the setting is really unique. We’ve never seen Brazil in the movies, and the backdrop with the famous Christ the Redeemer statue added to the overall atmosphere. The first act is really great, but then after is the scene where Godzilla actually dies is when things get…weird, for better or worst. Like many I’m sure, the main cover’s usage of Mothra angels(?) seemed like a pretty cool concept. Sadly, their portrayal goes against exactly their own motto, which is to serve peace. The entire portrayal of Heaven’s angels was ultimately disappointing in this regard. Plus, the story teaes us a neat concept of G alongside them in the battle against Hell’s forces, which would have been far more interesting than anything else.

Still, the fact that these angels have Mothra wings could mean none of this is real, which means the above negative would be rendered void. (Of course, it being a dream would be a massive cop out also.) As stated earlier the creative team is completely brand new to the big G. Buster Moody offers some unique and impressive visuals throughout the story. The entire opening fight scene was fantastic. His version of the Millennium Godzilla and the antagonist was great; hopefully we’ll see him again in the near future. And of course, the art is enhanced by Ludwig Laguna Olimba’s dark coloring. The main cover by Moody puts G in the center amidst a backdrop of the Mothra angels. It’s a unique piece, and for sure to stand out on the shelf. The subscription variant by Farinas ~~is an extremely unique cover that belongs in the collection of any G fan.~~ So apparently this cover features a traced image. I knew it looked familiar, so I’m afraid I’m going to have to retract my positive statement on it.

Overall, GODZILLA IN HELL continues to be the strangest thing related to the King of Monsters ever. We finally understand why G’s been sent to the underworld, and quite an opening act it was. What happens afterward takes the story to some strange corners as the angels are portrayed as almost as antagonistic as the demons, which is a grave shame. Still, it shall be interesting to see what happens next month.