IDW is having a bit of a revolution when it comes to Godzilla in 2025, with an announcement at NYCC and a new miniseries called Mothra: Queen of the Monsters #1 starting in March. When it comes to Godzilla’s lineup of monsters, Mothra is clearly the next best candidate, so it’ll be exciting to see them made into a series. On top of that, the creative team is building a compelling sci-fi comic that goes beyond monster battles.
Mothra: Queen of the Monsters #1 begins with Mothra battling Anthra, as seen in the preview image below. Mothra is a good guy and pretty cute, but there’s a lot of collateral damage when two skyscraper-sized monsters fight. The two characters who face the aftermath of that destruction are the main characters, twins Mira and Emi. Writer Sophie Campbell focuses on these two main characters, who are just children at first, growing up in a dystopian world thanks to the issue’s opening battle.
From there, the story leaps forward to see what happens to the city after the battle, where there is no aid to rebuild, and no large number of people helping each other. This all ties back to Mothra’s importance in further expanding the universe’s worldbuilding. These monsters may fight for us and destroy cities, but they also have a deep connection to nature.
Kill me, Mothra!
Credit: IDW
There is a deeper, more relatable connection between this story and our world. When there is an imbalance in nature, as we see with global warming, things fall apart. Themes such as sisterhood and loneliness are also touched on.
The world-building continues with some clever ideas, such as one of the twins building a house using monster parts and the monsters he defeats becoming part of the landscape. Matt Frank does a great job portraying most of the issues and making things feel larger than life. The style is dynamic, with great detail and a keen sense of drama. If I were to compare their work to other artists, I would say they are similar to Eric Burnham, with his thick cel-shaded lines. Near the end of this issue there is an amazing double page spread.
Joining Frank is Campbell, who draws two pages in this issue. I won’t say more to avoid spoilers, but both capture a magical aesthetic.
But when it comes to Mothra, this issue feels lacking. Other than the beginning, none of our favorite fuzzy monsters are in this issue. They’re important to everything we see, but there’s a lot of talk about the twins in this issue, which may frustrate kaiju fans.
Mothra: Queen of the Monsters #1 excels not only as an epic monster story, but also as a thoughtful exploration of the connection between humans and the environment, with stunning artwork and deep themes. It’s more than just a monster battle. Although the pacing and focus may not satisfy all readers, this series is a promising addition to IDW’s expanding Godzilla universe.
“Mothra Queen of Monsters” #1 Advance Review
Mothra Queen of the Monsters #1
Mothra: Queen of the Monsters #1 excels not only as an epic monster story, but also as a thoughtful exploration of the connection between humans and the environment, with stunning artwork and deep themes. It’s more than just a monster battle. Although the pacing and focus may not satisfy all readers, this series is a promising addition to IDW’s expanding Godzilla universe.
A captivating blend of monster battles and compelling sci-fi storytelling.
Beautiful and dynamic art by Matt Frank. It’s full of jaw-dropping moments like a spectacular double-page spread.
The emphasis on world-building can overshadow the kaiju action for readers looking for more immediate thrills.
