Hiroshi reflects on the initial Cataclysm that scarred the Earth and left the human race in rubble. Partly, he had been to blame. Being of great psychic power, Hiroshi works on a secret project to control the minds of the monsters. The mind of a monster is as large and complex as the creatures themselves, and Hiroshi learns that demons await in the caverns of thought of a kaiju. In the present time of the comic, the older Hiroshi leads his grandson away from an advancing Godzilla. While Mothra keeps the King of the Monsters preoccupied, the humans harbor a juvenile Biollante seed. The green kaiju holds the key to repopulating the Earth with greenery, but Godzilla wants to prevent such an outcome.
The more Hiroshi recalls the psychic project, the more he feels responsible for unlocking the berserker side of the kaijus’ minds. Out of space to run, the humans reach the water only to be met by an angry Detoroyah.
What impressed me about this comic was the idea that the kaiju could be worshipped as deities. Taking a slight shift from that notion, issue four examines the thesis that man may be worse than the monsters. Hiroshi’s orders to make the monsters fight one another for the sake of Earth’s protection leads to a clear condemnation of humanity. Such a deep concept combines with the outstanding monster action to provide a balanced book that presents an action-packed story that’s entertaining and enlightening.
Dave Wachter continues to deliver illustrations of ruin and rubble that serve as backdrop to well-detailed action fights. Every blast of Godzilla’s breath feels like a punch to the gut to Mothra and to readers (except me whom despises Mothra and secretly cheers Godzilla’s thrashing of the useless insect).
This penultimate issue of the series concludes on an interesting plot point with serious consequences that will be played out in issue five. With the momentum created by the first four issues and the metaphorical arguments suggested through the book, this series has stomped its place into Godzilla lore.
Score: 4/5
Writer: Cullen Bunn Artist: Dave Wachter Publisher: IDW Publishing Price: $3.99 Release Date: 11/19/14 Format: Miniseries; Print/Digital