Godzilla rules the 1500s in IDW’s upcoming comic series

IDW has partnered with Toho International to bring Godzilla make a delight. The two companies have teamed up to bring fans an upcoming comic book miniseries from the writer Franco Tieri and artist Inaki Miranda called Godzilla: Here There Be Dragons. This will be a five part series taking Godzilla back to 1500! Everyone surfs and is superstitious with monster stories everywhere. What a perfect setting for Godzilla.

In the 1500s, before humanity had successfully traveled across the globe, monsters were believed to rule the oceans just beyond the horizon. “There are dragons here…” was written on the maps to indicate areas where people dared not go. That is, until Sir Francis Drake circumnavigated the seas, visiting foreign lands and collecting treasure. Or… at least so the story tells us. The truth is, tremendous beasts lurked there, dwelling on an island that doesn’t appear on any map, to this day. And among those monsters was the king of all… Godzilla!

Speaking about the opportunity, Tieri said:

I’ve been very fortunate in my career to have written for some iconic franchises, but I have to admit that there is something truly special about working on Godzilla. Just writing this series I’m a kid again, watching him fight Rodan or the smog monster or any monster of the week. Needless to say, it was a thrill for me… but probably less so for my family, since I roared Godzilla around the house pretty much non-stop.

What could be cooler than a Godzilla story with pirates? Here There Be Dragons is a lost voyage by Sir Francis Drake, told through the eyes of a crew member facing execution. The question is: is he telling the truth? Is there really a conspiracy to cover up what happened to Drake on that island and the existence of Godzilla? Or is it just another pirate’s story? Avast, you Godzilla fans, and close the hatches at your local comic book store!

Miranda added:

Godzilla is one of those unique historical creations that is part pop culture icon, part pure joy and entertainment, and also a metaphor for the ways society hurts itself, with humans confronting the raw power of our own selves. fears and missteps. I am sincerely grateful to Toho and IDW for taking me on board to illustrate Godzilla destroying ships and fighting kaiju. Collaborating with my friend Frank is always a pleasure. I like every scene he’s writing, playing with old world myths. It’s a sure recipe for fun, discovery and fascination!

I am very excited about this! you can read Godzilla: Here There Be Dragons #1 this June from your favorite comic shops. The main cover will be by Miranda with variations available from Tyler Kirkham AND Benjamin Dewey.