The King of Monsters Scores Big in Godzilla: Heist #1 (Review)

For over seven decades, Godzilla has made his mark across various forms of entertainment, featuring in numerous tales on both screen and paper. Lately, these narratives (particularly those in print) have shown Godzilla squaring off against superheroes, literary icons, and other unlikely opponents. However, the new series Godzilla: Heist #1 presents a unique take on our favorite monster as he becomes an unexpected partner in a daring heist. This fresh perspective might just make it the most captivating Godzilla story to date.

In issue #1 of Godzilla: Heist, penned by Van Jensen with art by Kelsey Ramsay, we follow Jaion Kulkarni, a self-assured and inventive thief, who embarks on an audacious plan to rob a heavily fortified casino vault. Instead of relying on a crew and advanced technology, Jaion chooses Godzilla as the ultimate distraction. With Godzilla causing chaos, Jaion uses him to open the vault, securing the cash before sending Godzilla back to the ocean. However, this is just the beginning of the story. Jaion’s heist captures the interest of a group of expert thieves who covet not only the money but also the ability to summon and command Godzilla. The twist here is that Jaion has discovered a way to control Godzilla through weather manipulation, and these thieves aim to harness this power for their own impossible heist.

From the get-go, this concept is utterly captivating. A heist story featuring Godzilla? Absolutely! But this one takes it up a notch by incorporating a scientific angle, allowing our protagonist to control the infamous kaiju. Double yes! What truly elevates this narrative, however, is that it’s not merely a heist. Jaion is engaged in something far more profound and has been orchestrating these events for quite some time. There are hints that Jaion might be manipulating the gang of thieves, who believe they’re outsmarting him, to achieve the ultimate score – a goal stemming from a childhood promise. I’ll stop there because the twist is simply brilliant!

Artistically speaking, there’s no confusion that this is a Godzilla comic and it excels remarkably. Ramsay’s artwork stands out, especially when depicting Godzilla. The scenes showing Godzilla in action, wrecking the casino or using his atomic breath, are outstanding and live up to expectations. Additionally, the way Jaion is drawn complements this larger-than-life creature well, offering a contrast between the extraordinary monster and an ordinary man on a mission to perform something utterly insane. As for the writing, this comic book demonstrates an exceptional example of a story that successfully aligns with its innovative idea. A concept like “Godzilla robbing a casino” could easily become cheesy, but Jensen manages to execute it in a way that feels more like a high-budget action movie than a typical comic book.

At its core, “#1 Godzilla: Heist” presents an exceptional, innovative take on the classic character of Godzilla, the iconic King of Monsters. By combining captivating visuals with a swift-paced narrative filled with intriguing depths, this initial issue stands out as an absolute gem in the series. I’m eagerly anticipating future installments!

Rating: 5 out of 5

Published by IDW

On February 19, 2025

Written by Van Jensen

Art by Kelsey Ramsay

Colors by Heather Breckel

Letters by Sandy Tanaka

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2025-02-19 16:40