Godzilla

[Nigel]

Has anyone else been reading IDW's latest licence? I've been rather enjoying it so far.

[Andy Turnbull]

No but I have heard good things about it from a few folks.

Andy

[legios]

I haven't actually managed to obtain any issues as yet. Not sure if the ebay sellers I use are not ordering it, or just not ordering it in very large quantities. A little annoying because I wanted to give it a try.

Karl

[The Doctor]

I had a flick through the first issue and it didn't look like there was much reading in it so I passed.

-Ralph

[Benn]

Jun 8, 2011 20:50:27 GMT The Doctor said:

I had a flick through the first issue and it didn't look like there was much reading in it so I passed.

-Ralph

There isn't much to read sadly, but it can be an enjoyable little thing if you're in the right mindset for it.

I am still unsure about it. It's not made my "must buy" list, but it is fun reading it over Ed's shoulder. Don't know how I'd feel if I'd slapped the money down for it.

[Nigel]

Jun 8, 2011 19:28:50 GMT legios said:

I haven't actually managed to obtain any issues as yet. Not sure if the ebay sellers I use are not ordering it, or just not ordering it in very large quantities. A little annoying because I wanted to give it a try.

Karl

I've found it a little tricky myself. The first two issues sold out and went to second prints, so I'm guessing there's a lot of allocation going on in the UK.

A Place In Space has all three issues so far in stock on eBay. stores.ebay.co.uk/A-PLACE-IN-SPACE/_i.html?_nkw=godzilla+&_cqr=true&_nkwusc=godailla&_sid=5129360&_rdc=1 Only one copy of #2 and #3 at the time of writing.

[Jaymz]

Jun 10, 2011 11:46:30 GMT Nigel said:

I've found it a little tricky myself. The first two issues sold out and went to second prints, so I'm guessing there's a lot of allocation going on in the UK.

No allocation, I got my full order, I'd say it's just not very highly ordered.

Also bear in mind that retailers can't currently use FOC [Final Order Cut-off] for IDW titles. We can for Marvel, DC, Image and Dark Horse. It basically allows us to adjust our orders up to the point before the books go to print and be guaranteed to receive any extras we order.

With IDW [and every other publisher through Diamond] we put in our order 2 months ahead of time. If we want to increase that order, we put it through to Diamond and hope the publisher prints enough to allow for our increased order. If we want to decrease our order, then we can't, unless the book is running late or changes from the solicitation.

So take Godzilla. By the time #1 shipped, I'd already ordered #2 and 3. Number 1 sells out, but my orders for #2 and 3 are lower than what I ordered for #1. I can try to increase the order and hope I get them, but now my order for #4 is due. Do I take a risk of increasing my order on #4 which won't sell if I can't get more #2 and 3? Of course, once I've put in the order for #4 we get reprints of #1 and 2 so I could have possibly ordered more #4, but #3 has since sold out, which may affect sells on #4.

If I'm not sure how a book is going to sell, I order low as I'd more rather sell out than have books left on the shelf. I'm sure it's the same for a lot of comic retailers.

[Nigel]

Okay, I guessed wrongly.

So how are you finding the response to it, Jaymz? I'm enjoying it and I've heard good things elsewhere.

[Jaymz]

Been received fairly well and continues to sell out, with people coming in looking for the earlier issues. Hopefully the other mini they're doing will sell too!

[Kingoji]

I'm a fan. Issue 1 WAS very light on content (and had the most awful repeated one-liner joke EVAR) but I could still see a ton of potential in it. And by sticking with it, while I wouldn't say that potential has been yet met it is certainly on a steady rise toward it. Issue three had a genuinely satisfying double whammy of a plot twist as well.

[Nigel]

Funnily enough, I think I enjoyed #1 the most out of the three so far. I found the art progressed well from frame to frame to tell the story; by contrast, in the Transformers comics I often find myself missing things because the sequential art medium doesn't work as well. (I find IDW's Transformers comics are often sorely lacking in sound effects; they need the odd KRAASH! to clarify the action.)

[Nigel]

Issue 1 of the second Godzilla title, Gangsters and Goliaths, is out today.

[Kingoji]

Indeed! An entirely seperate story with no bearing on 'Kingdom' whatsoever. I've got it on order, so it will probably be here in a week, week and a half.

[legios]

I've read issue 2 and 3 of Kingdom of Monsters (ish 1 has yet to show up). I am in somewhat two minds about it. Whilst the Daikaiju fan in me likes seeing Toho monsters running about breaking stuff and wreaking general habits it seems to be lacking two things. Firstly is a sense of a real forward motion to the plot. There is a sense at the end of ish 3 that the plot might be about to start, but the remainder of the issue and the issue before it feel a little like they are coasting on "look, we have licenses for lots of Toho monsters, and the are attacking!". That kind of pacing doesn't really sit well with me in a monthly comic.

The other thing it is missing is much of a human cast to engage with. Their are humans, that much is true but they are diffuse and very underdefined. It misses the sense that the better Gojira movies do of having some clearly defined human stereotypes to root for/worry about/empathise with. There isn't really anyone in these issues like a Sekisawa or a Tsujimori (yep, I've been watching Gojira vs Megaguirus this evening...) to really anchor things.

Given that I am watching my periodicals spending a bit at the moment I am not sure whether I will be back for issue 4.

Karl

[Kingoji]

Something which does worry me a little is that the first trade was announced the other day and appears to only collect the first four issues. Unless something spectacularly fast-paced happens in the next issue, that trade will feel for a very light and unsatisfying read.

[Nigel]

I just read Gangsters and Goliaths #1.

Major spoiler under the tag.

SPOILER: Click to show

I was disappointed at the end to find that the story is heading to the mainland next issue. From the cover of #1, I thought it was going to be a Jurassic Park sort of adventure, set wholly on Monster Island.