TokuNet Comics Corner: October

The Tokusatsu Network rounds up October’s toku-related comics.

Welcome to a new feature here at the Tokusatsu Network! Each month, we’ll take a look at the comics we think will be of particular interest to tokusatsu fans. We’ll look at any new issues that month, and one finished series from the past. Enjoy!

October’s New Releases:

Project Nemesis #1: This series, from writer Jeremy Robinson and artist Matt Frank, is based on the former’s bestselling novel about a paranormal investigator’s quest to uncover the connection between an abandoned missile site, a dead Japanese girl, and their connection to a mysterious new kaiju named Nemesis.

The first issue jumps around in time and space a little bit in order to explore all of the key players in this story. It may be a bit disorientating at first, but all of the pieces essentially fall into place by the end. Matt Frank’s art is great, especially on the last page cliffhanger.

Godzilla in Hell #4: What would happen if the King of Monsters died? If his soul had to atone for all of the destruction and loss of life his actions caused? This is the question publisher IDW asks in Godzilla in Hell. Each issue features a different creative team’s take on Godzilla’s journey through the underworld. This month’s issue, wherein Godzilla must combat King Ghidorah and Destoroyah in a seemingly endless loop, comes from writer Brandon Seifert and artist Ibrahim Moustafa.

Seifert opts to forgo both dialogue and narration in this issue, choosing instead to rely on Moustafa’s art to get the story across. Silent issues aren’t unheard of in comics, but this is one of the better ones. Everything flows clearly, which leaves the reader free to sit back and enjoy.

Look Back:

Kaijumax #1-6: Writer/artist Zander Cannon’s Kaijumax got a lot of press attention for its clever premise, which is essentially “what if you put Oz and Destroy All Monsters in a blender?” The end result is a great comic, and it’s obvious Cannon knows his stuff. From the aging mob boss named Ape-Whale to the clever tokusatsu-related obscenities, Cannon throws in everything and the kitchen sink from the last sixty years of kaiju history. Season 2 begins next May, so there’s plenty of time to catch up.

The cartoony, brightly-colored art may lead readers to think they’re in for a comedy, and it certainly reads like that at first, but Kaijumax gets real serious, real quick. The Oz comparison is no mistake, almost all of the violent and/or objectionable content from other prison dramas shows up in this comic, and readers sensitive to such material may want to steer clear.