Tag: Kaiju

The Origin of Ultraman and Celebrating 60 Glorious Years!

The party isn’t over yet! Though Fantasia Film Fest is officially over, we got lots more films to review, and for The Origin of Ultraman, this anniversary year has a few more events to run its course for fans worldwide. In part two, we’ll list where to find them!

The Origin of Ultraman
Played at Fantasia Film Festival on July 17, 2026 at the Cinéma du Musée

When asked which character from Japan is the most iconic, I personally believe that’s tough to answer. It’s either Gojira or Ultraman. While everyone knows who the former is and why he came to be, a sense of mystery still surrounds The Origin of Ultraman. A quick look online reveals a deceptively simple narrative: he is an alien who came to Earth to protect humanity. And, to be fair, Gamera is niche.

Yet, when debating which of the two franchises is truly recognized as an institution, I would argue it is Ultraman, hands down. Yu Nakamura and Kazuki Yoshida’s excellent documentary not only provides terrific insights from filmmakers, artists and historians around the world about how Tohl Narita shaped the iconic face and costume design, but also reveals what went on in his mind behind all the creature designs he sketched out too. This work also firmly shows why this hero is so beloved from the perspective of many individuals.

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Pacific Rim Final Breach Volume One. Is This The End?

Pacific Rim Final Breach Volume OneLegendary Comics

Guillermo del Toro’s tale of robots versus aliens looks to be more than a wrap with Pacific Rim Final Breach set to bring an end to the franchise. When the 2013 film was a heartfelt tribute to kaiju cinema, its sequel, Pacific Rim Uprising, proved far more divisive. This world deserves a proper finale, and readers don’t have to wrestle too hard with continuity either. Tales From Year Zero (Amazon link) expanded on the early days of the invasion, while books like Aftermath, Adrift, and Amara explored smaller corners of the universe. The newest release aims to close the door on the Kaiju war once and for all.

This three-volume finale could very well become the franchise’s true ending, and one of the strongest elements is finally seeing the heroes from both films brought together. Although two more volumes remain before that meeting fully unfolds, the first entry lays important groundwork. Rather than spoil the major reveals, it’s more interesting to focus on the setup and presentation.

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Titan Manga’s Release of Toxic Super Beasts is Wild. The Story So Far….

Toxic Super Beasts blends kaiju action, dark science fiction, and mystery as genetically altered humans battle monstrous threats. With Toy(e)’s striking creature designs and Nykken’s growing conspiracy, this manga offers plenty for fans of disaster stories and Attack on Titan.

Toxic Super Beasts Vol 1
Order Volume Two oin Amazon USA

Toxic Super Beasts asks just how some giant monsters are born, and when Earth’s original titans were dinosaurs, the kind some geneticists hope to harvest genes from, Jurassic World Rebirth comes to mind. When the harvesting grounds aren’t exactly safe, we need genetically engineered metahumans who can go toe to toe with these kaiju. And that’s what writer Nykken and artist Toy(e) are bringing to the page.

This manga tosses more than a few ideas into the melting pot. It is one part disaster story, another part Frankenstein, with perhaps Attack on Titan as the cherry on top. Kazuki Kisaragi leads a unit tasked with collecting monster DNA alongside Miko Mikoshiba, a woman who may not be what she seems. She’s a hybrid with minimal knowledge of her past.

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Explosive: Whether Infinity Roar Matters Depends Entirely on Marvel’s Kaiju Endgame

Marvel’s Godzilla Infinity Roar wants to reset its kaiju corner of the universe, but Issue #1 feels more like brand engineering than myth-making. Compared to IDW’s continuity-first approach, this version of Godzilla risks becoming an asset to leverage, not a force of nature to fear.

Godzilla Infinity Roar #2 Cover

Upcoming Issue #2 Cover (Releasing March 11, 2026)

Marvel Comics has been busy building its own kaiju-sized lore since 2024, and with Godzilla at the forefront, Infinity Roar feels perfectly suited to act as a total universe reset. Whether it’s meant to be punny or serious depends entirely on how readers choose to accept it.

For readers late to the party, this isn’t the publisher’s first dance with the King of the Monsters. Throughout 2025, he systematically dismantled Earth’s mightiest in a series of one-shots, facing off against the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, and Thor. I noticed them, sure, but never felt the pull to read them. While those titles aren’t essential to understanding what’s happening here, that’s largely because a recap is provided in this opening issue.

Ever since DC launched its own spectacle, now nearly finished with its second series, it was only a matter of time before the competition countered with Godzilla Destroys the Marvel Universe (late 2025). That event ended with the logical, if uninspired, choice to eject the monster into deep space. But don’t let the setting fool you, this version of “Space Godzilla” is a far cry from the crystal-shouldered clone of the late Heisei era. Personally, I’d wager Marvel is eyeing the toy potential of Symbiote Godzilla.

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Kaiju, Dissentience’s Tribute to TOHO is Cosmic!

Dissentience’s new concept EP Kaiju turns classic Japanese monster mayhem and Lovecraftian dread into a four-part metal narrative, charting a nameless beast’s attack from first impact to ash-filled aftermath with riffs as heavy as the fallout.

Kaiju album coverFrom Bethlehem, PA, death metal / trash band, Dissentience, aims to please music lovers of this genre with an ambitious album, simply titled Kaiju. In keeping true to the story telling format, what this concept album offers are four tracks to which follows through the narrative beats of intro, rising action, climax and denouement that will no doubt track the birth to destruction. Shame there’s no comic book or short video announced at the same time, but when the theatre of the mind is involved, that’s all we need.

Scheduled for release on February 20, 2026, this concept album fuses dark horror, manic riffs, and existential lyrical dread into work that my gig for a local music magazine has given me an opportunity to listen to.
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Under the Tree: IDW and Top Shelf’s Best of 2025

From gentle Halloween spirits to ghost-hunting kids, kaiju art showcases, and enduring literary classics, this curated guide highlights IDW and Top Shelf’s best comics for 2025—handpicked titles that belong under the tree.

IDW Publishing SantaFor fans who prefer the indie side of comic books, plenty of publishers still carry the torch for original, creator-driven work. Whether it’s through carefully curated imprints like IDW Publishing’s Top Shelf division or singular passion projects, this gift guide spotlighting IDW and Top Shelf’s best leans into stories that blend the supernatural with a healthy dash of pop-culture charm. The focus here in this latest look are the books I’d be delighted to find under the Christmas tree. The reason is that I didn’t pick them up when they first hit shelves.

Spoops: The Little Spirits of Halloween

Spoops- The Little Spirits of HalloweenWho changes the leaves? Who summons the autumn winds, wakes ghosts, and chills the air just enough to make October feel right? Why, Spoops, of course. These tiny spirits hatch from the smallest gourds in pumpkin patches at the start of every fall, then dutifully tend to their towns to make sure Halloween goes off without a hitch.

This whimsical take on the season’s hidden caretakers is beautifully illustrated. The cover alone is cute and begs to be embraced. As for the title characters, there’s no shortage of moments that inspire a heartfelt “aww” when I first saw it.

The story centres on young Holly Hollowell, who loves Halloween more than anything, much to the dismay of her parents, who disapprove of anything involving tooth-rotting sweets. While other kids trick-or-treat, Holly watches sadly from her window… until the Spoops arrive to turn things around. With a little magical help, Holly shows her parents the genuine spirit of All Saints’ Eve, not candy, but creativity, imagination, and the freedom to let your spooky side soar.

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