People Hurt by Their Own Plans in Godzilla vs. X-Men #1

by

Marvel has been creatively structuring their “Godzilla vs.” one-shots by placing each issue in a different Marvel timeline decade, even though none of the comics are explicitly set in specific decades. The Fantastic Four comic came first, followed by the Hulk (corresponding to his TV show era), and most recently, the Spider-Man one-shot was set in the 1980s when Spidey got his alien costume. With us now entering the 1990s, it seems fitting that a team currently airing a new TV show would be featured next!

Title #1 of “Godzilla vs. X-Men” is penned by ’90s X-Men stalwart, Fabian Nicieza, illustrated by Emilio Laiso, colorized by Federico Blee, lettered by Clayton Cowles (with Tony Daniel providing the cover art, joining forces once more with his ’90s collaborator, Nicieza). This comic wisely embraces the aesthetics of the ’90s and the Blue/Gold X-Men arrangement. The narrative, however, transcends time by addressing a topic as timeless as prejudice, making it relevant in any decade while maintaining its powerful impact.

What brings the X-Men to Japan?

Although Fabian Nicieza has penned numerous X-Men tales, I don’t feel he’s had an opportunity to craft a genuine Sunfire narrative (his appearance in X-Men #25 was more of a brief cameo). I enjoyed witnessing Sunfire in his Whilce Portacio-created outfit, and I believe Nicieza effectively portrayed the character. He’s brash enough to consider himself a match for Godzilla, yet sensible enough to realize his error after a quick run-in with the colossal creature.

Godzilla seems to be deliberately attacking Tsugunai robotics facilities, which is surprising due to its targeted nature. This has prompted the leader of Tsugunai to demand maximum force to eliminate Godzilla. The government summons Professor X for a meeting with him and the head of Tsugunai, hoping he will deploy the X-Men against Godzilla. Initially resistant, Professor X consents as Godzilla’s rampage is causing significant problems. As a result, the X-Men Blue and Gold teams unite, and Gambit, who Nicieza had fondness for, pilfers the Super-Adaptoid, providing the X-Men with an exceptional advantage in their battle against Godzilla.

What does this issue tell us about people hurting themselves while trying to hurt others?

As a gamer, I devise an ingenious strategy using the Super-Adaptoid. The X-Men unite their minds, melding with the Super-Adaptoid to grant him all our powers. To amplify this force, I incorporate some Pym Particles, allowing the Super-Adaptoid to expand into a colossal form. With our combined might, we’re ready to confront Godzilla. In an artistic nod to the past, Laiso illustrates our collective consciousness as heads resembling the corner boxes from yesteryears…though this was more prevalent in the late 1980s, it was still a recognizable element even in the early 1990s.

In this extravagant arrangement, Lailo showcases exceptional skill, as the amalgamated appearance of the Super-Adaptoid is truly captivating. The blend of Wolverine’s cowl and Cyclops’ visor adds a unique twist. It might prompt you to wonder why the X-Men didn’t utilize Pym particles to shrink Godzilla, an idea that was explored in a past encounter between Godzilla and the Marvel Universe. However, it’s plausible that such a plot device wouldn’t fit this storyline. Let’s assume there’s some reason it wouldn’t work, and focus on appreciating Nicieza’s clever setup and the skillful execution by Laiso and Blee in making the Super-Adaptoid stand tall alongside Godzilla.

As a gamer diving into this comic book adventure, I discovered the first major twist – Godzilla isn’t just attacking Tsugunai plants because he’s hostile; he’s allied with Trask to construct a Tri-Sentinel/Mecha that will target both Godzilla and mutants! Nicieza really gets creative here, as the Tri-Sentinel Mecha’s attack ends up damaging facilities manufacturing these very mechas. The twist is that they were so convinced their creation would only harm Godzilla or mutants, they didn’t consider it could endanger THEM too. It’s almost as if they were okay with a plan causing others pain but weren’t prepared when it started hurting them. Strangely, it feels like a modern allegory I can’t quite put my finger on…

As a gamer, I find myself thrust into a thrilling scenario where my X-Men squad must take on the formidable Tri-Sentinel Mecha. The fate of a world that has long feared and rejected us hangs in the balance. But fortunately, we’ve got Godzilla on our side for now – though communicating with him isn’t as simple as having a chat, emotions are the key to bridging the gap. With the X-Men and Godzilla united, we stand a fighting chance at saving the day.

In our quest, we uncover the hidden past of Tsugunai’s leader – it turns out his bitter feelings towards Godzilla stem from a childhood encounter with the monster, when Tsugunai was just a kid and Godzilla was battling a rogue kaiju. The CEO’s father, part of the Japanese Defense Force, unfortunately lost his life during that battle. However, as we dig deeper, we discover that Godzilla wasn’t the enemy – he was defending the area from yet another destructive kaiju. This revelation shakes Tsugunai to the core, making him question the root of his anger. In the end, he’s left in a state of confusion, unsure how to channel his emotions.

It was enjoyable to read an issue packed with intense battles, yet it also tackled the problem of prejudice, showing how people may back harmful policies as long as they believe they won’t be impacted personally. Nicieza, Laiso, Blee, and Cowles certainly delivered on this thought-provoking one-shot.

Read More

2025-05-16 20:40