Jay Gatsby of Great Gatsby fame leads a team of classic characters, including Sherlock Holmes, a female Watson, cyborg Jules Verne, and an H.G. Wells-type time traveler called the Time Machinist, into Godzilla. Fight against Godzilla at Monster Peace Theater #2. Illustrated by Tom Scioli.
Set at the dawn of the Jazz Age in 1922 (think flappers and speakeasies), the three-issue miniseries rebrands wealthy loner Jay Gatsby. He’s both Bruce Wayne and Flash Gordon. He is wealthy and has unlimited resources at his disposal (even ties to the military), but unlike Bruce Wayne, Jay is more impulsive than analytical. He is far from a great strategist. Also, unlike Bruce Wayne, Jay always lets his emotions get in the way of things. He still adores the free-spirited Daisy Buchanan (adding her and her husband Tom to his adventuring band) and is as obsessed with her as he is with defeating Godzilla, leading to an argument between Jay and Tom. Cracks begin to appear within the team. Daisy. Perhaps having Daisy and her husband join the team wasn’t the best move?
The issue begins with the team meeting in London and being introduced to MASER, Verne’s futuristic transportation vehicle that transforms into a submarine, boat, car, and aircraft. Yes, it’s almost identical to the spaceship Terror that the mad inventor Robber uses to attack the United States in Verne’s novel Masters of the World.
As rendered by Scioli, MASER appears to have drifted out of the Beatles’ Yellow Submarine, and as it transforms, it “ripples” into a new shape rather than changing mechanically. It all feels wonderfully psychedelic and weird, while still having its feet firmly planted in the realities of pop culture. Perhaps this hints at the Beatles fighting Godzilla in Scioli’s next miniseries? Take my money!
IDW Publishing
It was hilarious (in a good way) that Jay and the other characters weren’t surprised by this futuristic vehicle. I mean, if I lived in 1922 and someone rolled in in a submarine/car/boat/plane that looked like a giant yellow joint, I’d be pretty awed and a little scared. Do you really want me to climb into it and sink to the bottom of the ocean?
I love the character interactions here and how they utilize each of their unique talents to the fight. Each character has their own unique personality.
Most interesting is Sherlock Holmes, an old man in 1922, far from the swashbuckling middle-aged detective who fences, shoots guns, and plays the ferocious violin. He is there primarily because of his ability to solve any problem by thinking outside the box. Despite his age, he still works with the others, most notably in the scene where the team fights Godzilla underwater.
Yes, there are not one but two battles with Godzilla in this issue, and both are thrilling and very cinematic. Tom Scioli’s art is very unique and seems to be inspired by Jack Kirby, but with a twist. It does a great job of conveying Godzilla’s size and the perspective of the poor people on the ground looking up at him. This is a beast that devours skyscrapers like M&Ms. Every part of him is built for pure destruction: the bump on his back, his whipping monster tail, his razor-sharp claws and teeth. The splash page where Godzilla is chasing MASER underwater is especially great.
About halfway through the issue, another legendary literary figure shows up with his bride, unbalances the team in tragic ways, and sets the stage for the next issue’s epic creature feature.
This miniseries perfectly captures the feeling I had watching the “Horror Theater” shows I used to watch on Saturday afternoons on my local UHF channel as a kid. There, a poor alcoholic stagehand wearing a cloak and fangs would show two “scary” old horror movies each year. week. If this book were a movie, I imagine Vincent Price would play Jules Verne and a square-jawed Buster Crabbe type actor would play Jay Gatsby. I want to love every moment of it.
It looks like the next issue will be a monster showdown that will put an end to all monster showdowns. If you like seeing classic characters team up in a League of Extraordinary Gentlemen style, or if you like watching Godzilla destroy real estate, this mini Pick up the series. You’ll love it!
“Godzilla’s Monster Peace Theater” #2 Review
Godzilla Monster Peace Theater #2
Godzilla: Monster Piece Theater #2 is a thrilling and incredibly fun film in which Jay Gatsby, Sherlock Holmes, Cyber Jules Verne, and a time traveler team up to end Godzilla once and for all. .
The interactions between the characters are fascinating, and the showdown between Sherlock Holmes and another classic literary character is amazing.
Tom Scioli’s art makes this book feel like a classic Marvel comic from the 1960s.
Tom Buchanan’s character seems like a weight throughout the book. But then again, he felt like a burden in “The Great Gatsby,” too.
