COMIC REVIEW: Godzilla: Skate or Die! Is a Righteous Read
Godzilla’s never exactly slowed down in media. But in recent years, more and more creative takes on this monster’s world have been coming out. One of the latest is Godzilla: Skate or Die!, a comic miniseries from IDW Publishing. Released in 2024, the five-issue series will be available in a single volume later this month.
While the pairing of kaiju and Australian skateboarders may seem a little strange at first, trust us: this is a fantastic Godzilla story. From the art to the characters to the fights, it’s a great read for kaiju fans. Read on and find out what makes it so special!
The Story
As with all the best Godzilla stories, Godzilla: Skate or Die! is chiefly about the human beings at its core. Our four protagonists are teen skate punks in Australia. The crew has just finished restoring the Coin Toss, their own dream skate park. But even in a world where kaiju attacks are the norm, they couldn’t have foreseen this incoming disaster. Varan has surfaced off the coast, and Godzilla isn’t far behind. The two behemoths are preparing for a showdown. The point of impact? The Coin Toss!
Across the five issues, these teens step up to save their park. But their explorations lead them to a shocking discovery about what lies beneath the Coin Toss. What started as a mutual mission to save their park has escalated into world-ending stakes. Now, they’ll have to team up to save their hard work and the world as they know it.
The Art
Godzilla: Skate or Die! comes to us from writer/artist Louie Joyce. Past works include A Fistful of Pain and the award-winning Haphaven, but you don’t need any familiarity with his previous work to appreciate this series. In addition to being a fantastic look into Australian skater culture, it’s just gorgeous to look at. The art is rough, colorful, and exciting—the perfect look for our heroes!
One of the best things about seeing Godzilla brought into so many different genres is seeing how this classic design looks in other styles. Both Godzilla and Varan (a classic monster whose major film appearances include 1968’s Destroy All Monsters) look unbelievably cool in Joyce’s style. The kaiju fights are, frankly, enhanced by the art, turning into the sort of awesome scene you’d love to have painted on your own skate deck.
The Magic
In all his best outings, Godzilla is a metaphor. A changing metaphor, but a metaphor nonetheless. He’s the backdrop against which the hopes and fears of humanity play out. And that’s why Godzilla: Skate or Die! works. Once again, the kaiju battling it out are only part of the story. The real stars are the Coin Toss Crew: four teens trying to do what they love in a world that’s caving in around them.
Even if you’re far outside the culture of the characters in this miniseries, it’s easy to get in tune with them. Louie Joyce brings them to life in dialogue as evocative and colorful as his art. The kaiju aren’t the only larger-than-life characters in this comic. You’ll come away loving everyone.
Godzilla: Skate or Die! goes on sale April 29.
