The original novelizations of Godzilla and Godzilla Raids Again will be published in English for the first time on October 3. They'll be available in paperback and e-book via University of Minnesota Press.
First published in 1955, the books were written by Shigeru Kayama, who conceived the original story for Godzilla. They’ve been newly translated into English by Jeffrey Angles, professor of Japanese at Western Michigan University.
The two young adult novellas are being published together in one 256-page book. The official synopsis is below.
Godzilla emerged from the sea to devastate Tokyo in the now-classic 1954 film, produced by Tōhō Studios and directed by Ishirō Honda, creating a global sensation and launching one of the world’s most successful movie and media franchises. Awakened and transformed by nuclear weapons testing, Godzilla serves as a terrifying metaphor for humanity’s shortsighted destructiveness: this was the intent of Shigeru Kayama, the science fiction writer who drafted the 1954 original film and its first sequel and, in 1955, published these novellas.
Although the Godzilla films have been analyzed in detail by cultural historians, film scholars, and generations of fans, Kayama’s two Godzilla novellas—both classics of Japanese young-adult science fiction—have never been available in English. This book finally provides English-speaking fans and critics the original texts with these first-ever English-language translations of Godzilla and Godzilla Raids Again. The novellas reveal valuable insights into Kayama’s vision for the Godzilla story, feature plots that differ from those of the films, and clearly display the author’s strong antinuclear, proenvironmental convictions.
Kayama’s fiction depicts Godzilla as engaging in guerrilla-style warfare against humanity, which has allowed the destruction of the natural world through its irresponsible, immoral perversion of science. As human activity continues to cause mass extinctions and rapid climatic change, Godzilla provides a fable for the Anthropocene, powerfully reminding us that nature will fight back against humanity’s onslaught in unpredictable and devastating ways.
Pre-order Godzilla and Godzilla Raids Again by Shigeru Kayama.
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Kaiju Weeks in Review (September 10-30, 2023)
I adore Godzilla Final Wars, but it's a movie with an identity crisis, unsure whether it wants to be headlining a Toho Champion Festival or mesmerizing American teenagers at a mid-aughts multiplex. @spacehunter-m's Final Wars 2004: The Year We Make Corn-Tack gives it a strong tug in the first direction, whittling the runtime down to 77 minutes and replacing most of the music and sound effects. She was inspired by Space Warriors 2000, of all things; as she put it, both films are "largely comprised of nonstop, monotonous action." As in that bizarro Ultraman compilation film, the kaiju trash-talk each other. It makes you wonder why Ryuhei Kitamura didn't at least bring back the speech bubbles from Godzilla vs. Gigan. Kaiju fan edits are rare, and this is in a class all by itself. Download it here.
Shigeru Kayama's novelizations of Godzilla (1954) and Godzilla Raids Again are out—hopefully the first of many to come. My copy only arrived on Saturday, so I haven't had the chance to read the whole thing yet, but I've made it through Godzilla. It's interesting to see Kayama, who wrote the initial treatment, take another swing at the story after the film was finished. He puts back moments like Godzilla eating a cow and attacking a lighthouse, and is also more overt with the wartime allusions. There's an incredible moment where Dr. Yamane muses that studying Godzilla and learning his secrets could be Japan's way of redeeming itself after "caus[ing] a great deal of trouble to people throughout the world." Note that these are novella-length, so much less in-depth than the novelizations of American Godzilla films you might be used to (Godzilla Raids Again is less than 80 pages). The book ends with an afterword by translator Jeffrey Angles contextualizing the tales.
Godzilla: War for Humanity continues to be a standout IDW miniseries. There's a new and very weird monster in the second issue, plus a no-nonsense Mothra (she tries to recruit Godzilla to fight Zoospora by shooting him in the back of the head and dragging him into the ocean in front of Minilla).
I've also got to mention the solicitation for another Godzilla Rivals installment, due December 20. Nola Pfau is writing, Megan Huang is illustrating.
Jen Onça is not excited to start her new, fast-paced fast-food career at Minilla Burger, but she'd much prefer a mundane day to the sudden return of Megalon! The monster brings destruction, trapping Jen in a forgotten lab deep beneath the restaurant with only the half-built form of Jet Jaguar to help her get out! She must repair the robotic defender to save herself and the city, but first she needs to escape the rubble trapping her in this tense adventure!
Yuzo the Biggest Battle in Tokyo, Yoshikazu Ishii's follow-up to Attack of the Giant Teacher, has also been picked up by SRS Cinema. No release details yet. I can't really speak to the film either, since it screened at the same time as Yumiko Shaku's panel at G-Fest, but as you can see from the poster, it's set during the pandemic.
The GAMERA -Rebirth- Gyaos has joined Godzilla Battle Line as an unusual sort of swarm unit. Your first summon of the match calls forth two sub-adults, and by the fifth summon you're sending out two sub-adults and three adults, still for four energy. They're probably the best swarm in the game, though still highly vulnerable to AOE units like Godzilla '01. I'm having fun with them in the Challenge Battles.
Notzilla, one of the sharpest kaiju comedies out there, is unexpectedly getting the graphic novel treatment. Mitch Teemley is adapting his own screenplay, with art by Zumart Putra. The comic is already finished, although I'm not clear on how folks who didn't back the Kickstarter (which wrapped on September 11) will get it. Useless trivia: the terrific cover above (one of four) is by Ben Dunn, who wrote the How to Draw Manga book I poured over in middle school.
After Troll shattered Netflix streaming records (according to Netflix), it's not super surprising that the company wants a sequel. Priority one: coming up with a title that's not Troll 2. Screenwriter Espen Aukan and director Roar Uthaug will both return.
Toy highlights of the past few weeks:
After confusing everyone by teasing its silhouette the day before April Fools', Tamashii has fully unveiled an S.H.Monsterarts Godzilla '72, a rare Showa figure from the line. It comes with two heads, one of them bloodied (see above). Due at the end of February.
After finally running out of ways to repaint their mold of Hedorah's Perfect Stage, Bandai is making a Movie Monster Series figure of the kaiju's Landing Stage. A Godzilla Store exclusive, it'll be released October 25.
After over two years, Funko is releasing a trio of Godzilla Singular Point Pops. Hopefully they go all-out with this show—it's not like there's any other plausible way for a Satomi Kanahara figure to exist.
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𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓;
here's a list of characters i'll write for! comment/dm if you see any characters you'd like me to write for missing in my list!
bold: my favs :))
*: i'll try lmao
Haikyu!!:
◦ Karasuno: Daichi Sawumara, Sugawara Koshi, Asahi Azumane, Nishinoya Yuu, Tanaka Ryunosuke, Ennoshita Chikara*, Kinoshita Hisashi*, Narita Kazuhito*, Yamaguchi Tadashi, Tsukishima Kei, Kageyama Tobio, Hinata Shoyo, Shimizu Kiyoko*, Yachi Hitoka*
◦ Nekoma: Kuroo Tetsuro, Yaku Morisuke, Kai Nobuyuki*, Kenma Kozume, Yamamoto Taketora, Fukunaga Shohei, Inuoka So, Teshiro Tamahiko*, Lev Haiba, Shibayama Yuki
◦ Aoba Johsai: Oikawa Toru, Iwaizumi Hajime, Hanamaki Takahiro, Matsukawa Issei, Yahaba Shigeru, Watari Shinji*, Kyoutani Kentaro, Kindaichi Yutaro, Kunimi Akira
◦ Date Tech: Aone Takanobu, Kaname Moniwa*, Futakuchi Kenji, Koganegawa Kanji
◦ Fukurodani: Bokuto Kotaro, Washio Tatsuki, Akaashi Keiji, Konoha Akinori*, Komi Haruki*
◦ Shiratorizawa: Ushijima Wakatoshi, Tendou Satori, Semi Eita, Shirabu Kenjiro, Goshiki Tsutomu
◦ Inarizaki: Kita Shinsuke, Omimi Ren*, Ojiro Aran, Miya Atsumu, Miya Osamu, Suna Rintarou
◦ Misc.: Terushima Yuji, Daisho Suguru, Sakusa Kiyoomi, Komori Motoya*, Hoshiumi Korai*, Hirugami Sachiro*
Kimetsu No Yaiba (Demon Slayer):
◦ Kamaboko Squad: Kamado Tanjiro, Kamado Nezuko, Agatsuma Zenitsu, Hashibara Inosuke, Shinazugawa Genya, Tsuyuri Kanao
◦ Hashira: Himejima Gyomei, Tomioka Giyu, Kanroji Mitsuri, Iguro Obanai, Shinazugawa Sanemi, Tokito Muichiro, Uzui Tengen, Kocho Shinobu, Kocho Kanae, Rengoku Kyojuro
◦ Demons: Kokushibo, Doma, Akaza, Hantengu Clones*, Gyokko*, Gyutaro, Daki, Muzan, Enmu*
◦ Misc.: Sabito, Makomo, Lady Tamayo, Yushiro
BNHA:
◦ Students: Midoriya Izuku, Bakugo Katsuki, Todoroki Shoto, Kirishima Ejiro, Kaminari Denki, Sero Hanta, Iida Tenya, Uraraka Ochaco, Ashido Mina, Yaoyurou Momo, Kyoka Jirou, Shinso Hitoshi, Tetsu Tetsu, Togata Mirio, Hado Nejire, Amajiki Tamaki
◦ Pro-Heroes: Todoroki Enji (Endeavor (ew idk)), Takami Keihgo (Hawks), Usagiyama Rumi (Mirko), Aizawa Shota, Yamada Hizashi (Present Mic), Kayama Nemuri (Midnight)
◦ Villains: Dabi, Toga, Twice, Mr. Compress*, Lady Nagant, Overhaul
JUJUTSU KAISEN:
◦ Tokyo Jujutsu High: Itadori Yuuji, Fushiguro Megumi, Kugisaki Nobara, Zen'in Maki, Inumaki Toge, Okkotsu Yuta, Gojo Satoru (LMAO ALL OF THEM ARE MY FAVS <33)
◦ Kyoto Jujutsu High: Zen'in Mai, Miwa Kasumi, Kamo Noritoshi, Todo Aoi, Nishimiya Momo
◦ Curse Users: Geto Suguru, Yoshino Junpei, Fushiguro Toji (idk, he's a non-curse user but like- imma still put him here)
◦ Misc.: Nanami Kento, Sukuna, Amanai Riko
SOME OF MY FAV SHIPS:
◦ Haikyu!!: KageHina, TsukiYama, Daisuga, Asanoya, TanaKiyo, KuroKen, YakuLev, IwaOi, BokuAka, UshiTen, SakuAtsu, OsaSun(Mori), DaiMika/SuguMika
◦ Kimetsu No Yaiba: TanKana, ZenNezu, AoIno, GenMui, GiyuShino, SaneGiyu, SaneKana, ObaMitsu, SabiMako, UzuKyo
◦ BNHA: (i'm going to come back to this one day but it's 3am and i'm tired :,))
have a nice day cutie <33
dividers by: @cafekitsune
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