Comic review: Godzilla in Hell #3- Godzilla the Anarchist

Writers: Ulises Farinas & Erick Frietas
Art: Buster Moody
Publisher: IDW
Released: 30th September 2015



For me, this ostensibly ‘daft’ series about Godzilla in the land of the big red guy has been the surprise hit of 2015.  I expected a laugh from it, but what I have got is an excellent platform for artists and writers to show off and really explore their own creative inspirations.

Every month there has been a different writer and artist. I’ve reviewed all three months, so if you want to know what happened in the previous two issues then check them out on my blog. I strongly advise that you do, as they really do have a lot of offer.

Last month the art and concept was the star, but this month it’s all about the concept. The art serves this month, taking a backseat to the power of the story, and what it is so concisely (and successfully) trying to say.

The narrative structure is simple. Godzilla has a fight on earth. He blows it up, goes to Heaven, has a fight in Heaven, goes to Hell, has a fight in Hell, wins, leaves, alone, independent, unconquerable, refusing to join, refusing to submit to anybody, even Heaven itself.

It could read as being a bit daft, but it really isn’t. What is happening here is a comic book analogy of the real world battle between individualism and collectivism.

Godzilla refuses to join, and it doesn’t matter to him one jot whether it’s Satan or God himself that is asking him. He refuses because he is an individual. He couldn’t care less about factions, or ideology. He fights for himself. He rejects leadership, rejects followers, rejects kingship, and fights not for dominance, but for the moral right to be left alone and to be separate from the eternally warring collective.

Godzilla is the ultimate realisation of an anarchist freedom fighter. He isn’t heading up a Marxist or even right leaning anarchist army and going to war for dominance. No, he’s doing what all real anarchists should be doing, he’s refusing to join the collective group think ideology of any political constitution, and going 100% libertarian anarchist, and fighting for his right to be left alone from any external collectivist, group-think control system.

When Godzilla wins a battle he turns his back, and leaves. He has won, but the spoils of war do not interest him. He rejects followers, territory, power and (most importantly) authoritarianism collectivism.

Godzilla won't be led, and he certainly won’t be a leader either. It’s that mindset that is really going to change the world, the mindset of the independent individual who will not join, will not submit and will not lead another cult of collectivist followers.

Go your own way, do your own thing, embrace the life of a truly free individual, fight your own battles, for yourself, reject the collectivism of any group-think ideology, force yourself to be free, force yourself to be like Godzilla.



Rating: 8/10 (For it’s strong moral message of individualism versus collectivism this one is a winner)