Random Happenstance

Hmm, I was just going to mention having the Essential Godzilla collection, but after looking up that price I almost think I saw it somewhere recently and should run out and grab it! In the meantime, let's check out a single issue: from 1978, Godzilla #13, "The Mega-Monsters From Beyond! Part II: Triax" Written by Doug Moench, pencils by Herb Trimpe, inks by Fred Kida.

In Japanese giant robot cartoons of the time, it was traditional as all get out for kids to pilot them; yet when that happens with Red Ronin and Rob Takiguchi in the Marvel universe, it feels like neglect somehow. Rob was too young to be a New Mutant or a Robin, though, maybe that's it. This month, as he and Ronin face a monster called Triax, Godzilla suddenly is teleported in, by aliens who want Big G to stop the giant monsters of their enemies, the Megans. Outside of Salt Lake City (which may or may not be drawn with any reference, I've never been there!) the Megans tag in two more monsters, Rhiahn and Krollar, with orders to destroy earth's champions and the city.

The alien Betans and Megans both wanted earth as a strategic point against the other, but have we seen the Megans before? Sort of? In green instead of red, and under the name "Meegan Alien," they would get an action figure in the 1997 Silver Surfer line! Somewhat inexplicably. Anyway, the Megans were going to use a booster, that would kill their monsters, but give them enough power to crush Zilla and Ronin; the Betans were going to be forced to expose their secret moon base to try and stop them.

Back on earth, Dum Dum Dugan takes charge of the defense forces, somewhat hindered since he doesn't want to open fire with Rob in harm's way. Jimmy Woo relays a message from Nick Fury, about the Betans' moon base, advising them to keep that secret; while Dum Dum wonders how he could be expected to keep (waves arms around) all this secret. The Betans launch a ship to stop the Megans, and damage it, but are themselves damaged and crash into their moon base, breaching the atmosphere dome. Before exploding, the Megans fire their booster ray, but it may not have been needed: under the advise of their telepathic master, Krollar uses his "anterior bio-blade" to decapitate Red Ronin. (Rob wasn't just Red Ronin's pilot, he considered the robot a friend, which explains the somewhat melodramatic "Noooooo!") It's down to Godzilla, against three juiced-up mega-monsters...to be continued!

More than a few plates spinning here, plotwise; hopefully Godzilla gets down to it next issue. If you can find the original, this also features the old Clark Bar Superhero Sweepstakes three-page ad, with Spidey, Cap, the Hulk, the Thing...and Red Sonja? Was she basically Marvel's biggest female lead at the time? Maybe. Conan also appears in the subscription ad; I do love when they--and Godzilla, among others--were de facto Marvel characters.