Godzilla: King of the Monsters (Marvel Comics)

Godzilla King of the Monsters is a 24 issue comic series produced by Marvel Comics. In the Marvel Comics continuity he clashes with the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, the Fantastic Four and the Avengers multiple times throughout the series.

Plot
Throughout the series we go on an adventure with Godzilla as he passes through several regions such as the United States and Alaska.

The series which were published from 1977 to 1979 (sitting comfortably between the Showa and Heisei era) tell original stories and references the Toho continuity, though not too directly. It is also the first time the King of the Monsters has appeared in another comic continuity and Marvel Comics make use of their unique characters, such as Thor and Iron man.

Interestingly, S.H.I.E.L.D seems to fill the gap of the JSDF from the Showa era. And it also important to note that other than the King himself, all the other Kaiju are original.

Issue #1: The Coming!
Godzilla rises from Alaskan waters and begins to destroy an Alaskan oil pipeline. The destruction brings the attention of S.H.I.E.L.D., who assigns a "Godzilla Squad" consisting of Timothy "Dum Dum" Dugan, Gabriel Jones, and Jimmy Woo. Nick Fury brings in resident Godzilla expert Yuriko Takiguchi, his assistant Tamara Hashioka, and his grandson Robert Takiguchi to help.

A S.H.I.E.L.D. battalion tries to stop Godzilla with various weapons, but it all fails. After Godzilla destroys everything S.H.I.E.L.D. throws at him, he leaves unscathed. Meeting up with Fury, Dugan is introduced to Takiguchi and his allies and they begin to discuss how they may stop Godzilla. Tamara talks of a secret weapon that they have been devising to use against Godzilla.

Issue #2: Thunder in the Darkness!
Godzilla resurfaces in Seattle, Washington and continues rampaging. As he destroys everything in his path, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Godzilla Squad tries their best to contain Godzilla with their weapons. While inside the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier, Dum Dum Dugan speaks with Yuriko Takiguchi and Tamara Hashioka about how to destroy Godzilla, upsetting young Robert Takiguchi, who doesn't want to see the monster killed.

As Godzilla approaches the Space Needle, a plan is devised when they realize that Godzilla appears to be drawn by the lights of the city. Shutting off the power, the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents then lure him with a series of beacon-flares to the coast of the Pacific Ocean, where they blind him with a blast of light from the Helicarrier. While Godzilla is disorientated, they fire projectiles at him, knocking him into the ocean. While everyone else considers the mission a success, Robert believes that Godzilla will return to attack the United States.

Issue #3: A tale of Two Saviours
Godzilla arrives in San Francisco and begins tearing apart the Golden Gate Bridge. Police officers arrive on the scene, but can't stop him. In Los Angeles, the Champions catch a news broadcast of Godzilla's rampage and board the Champscraft. When they arrive, Angel is the first one to soar out across San Francisco Bay, but Godzilla, unaware of his presence, swats him away by stroking his tail. Iceman creates an ice bridge to evacuate pedestrians off the Golden Gate. Godzilla marches onto dry land, where Hercules manages to get under his foot and topples Godzilla over. Iceman encases Godzilla's head in a solid block of ice, but Godzilla bites through it. Dum Dum Dugan and other members of the Godzilla Squad fly over the scene in their flight packs and drop electro-nets onto Godzilla, but these prove ineffective. Godzilla tears away a section of the bridge and heaves it at the Helicarrier, downing it and destroying the Golden Gate. With nothing else to do, Godzilla returns to the sea.

Issue #4: Godzilla Versus Batragon!
Batragon has been attacking oil tankers off the Pacific coast for its master Dr. Demonicus who seeks to use the oil in his operations. However this recent attack is interrupted when Godzilla arrives to attack the monster, bringing SHIELD's Godzilla Squad not far behind.

Dugan checks in on Takiguchi and his clan's progress in the Stark plant, before following Godzilla. Godzilla follows the injured Batragon back to the island of Dr. Demonicus who is using a meteor he calls the "Lifestone" to give life to his monsters Batragon, Ghilaron, Lepirax, and Centipor.

When Godzilla arrives on the island and begins terrorizing Demonicus' men and the Eskimo slaves they have forced into laboring for them, Demonicus sends Batragon to battle Godzilla once more. When Batragon is killed by Godzilla, Demonicus decides to unleash all his creations to attack Godzilla, just as SHIELD arrives to attack the Godzilla.

Issue #5: The Isle of Lost Monsters
As Godzilla fends off another attack made by SHIELD's Godzilla Squad, Doctor Demonicus unleashes his other monsters to attack Godzilla. Realizing there's a complex below, Dum Dum sends Gabriel Jones to investigate. Gabe is captured by Demonicus and his men. Demonicus explains that he was a scientist that was exposed to radiation during an accident, and was deemed unfit to continue practicing. Ignoring his own madness, he learned of the Lifestone which had fallen in the Aleutian Islands. He then constructed this base and created the monsters which are now fighting Godzilla in order to use as weapons for world domination.

When Demonicus is told that his creatures are being killed by Godzilla, Gabe uses the moment to break loose and stop Demonicus. As Godzilla kills the last of Demonicus' monsters, SHIELD destroys his base, captures him and frees the Eskimo tribe under his rule. As Godzilla leaves, Dum Dum begins to wonder just how intelligent Godzilla really is.

Issue #6: A Monster Enslaved!
With a new helicarrier specially designed for capturing Godzilla, SHIELD becomes aware that the monster is sleeping in a cave nearby. While at the Stark plant, Yuriko Takiguchi puts the final touches on his SJ3RX robot, and Jimmy Woo and Tamara Hashioka begin a romance. While young Robert believes that the "Red Ronin" shouldn't be used against Godzilla, and decides to do something about the situation.

SHIELD locates the cave where Godzilla is sleeping and fills it with sufficient knockout gas to put him out cold, and allows them to load up Godzilla in the helicarrier's holding container. Meanwhile, Robert enters the Red Ronin armor and puts on its control helmet. However, the feedback from the device knocks Robert unconscious. While Godzilla is aboard the helicarrier, he awakens and begins breaking out of the ship.

Issue #7: Birth of A Warrior!
As Godzilla rampages through a San Diego military base, Gabriel informs Dum Dum that Godzilla is slowly moving towards the base's nuclear missile stockpile. While in Detroit, Jimmy is upset for jumping the gun trying to start a romance with Tamara when she rushes in to tell him that she hasn't seen Robert all day. At that moment the Red Ronin mecha comes to life and starts walking towards a fuel tank. Jimmy has himself lifted up to the robot's head and finds the unconscious Robert inside, removing him from the control helmet which causes its rampage to stop.

When a call comes in for them to use the Red Ronin, Jimmy finds that he cannot pilot the device as it is unresponsive to his mental commands. Robert awakens and he sneaks aboard the robot while technicians work on the device. Finding it responds to his mental commands just fine, he commands it to fly him to Godzilla, where it arrives just as Godzilla reaches the nuclear missile stockpile and is the only thing standing in his way.

Issue #8: Titan Times Two!
With only the Red Ronin, piloted by Robert Takiguchi, standing between Godzilla and the San Diego military's nuclear stockpile, SHIELD's Godzilla Squad wonders what to do next.

Robert attacks Godzilla to try to keep him away, and tries to accept that to save everyone he must kill his beloved Godzilla. However, when the SHIELD Helicarrier is about to attack Godzilla, Robert comes up with another idea. Using cables dropped from Red Ronin's feet, Robert harnesses Godzilla and flies him away from the missiles.

However, Godzilla breaks free and begins to rampage along the San Diego shoreline, forcing SHIELD to take action. Robert keeps them at bay with the Red Ronin's weapons, and points out to sea, where Godzilla take the boy's meaning and leaves. Afterwards, Robert believes that Godzilla is now his friend.

Issue #9: The Fate of Las Vegas
Godzilla has just arrived outside of Las Vegas and has attacked Boulder Dam, the torrent washing Godzilla towards Las Vegas. While in the city, Winslow Beddit has only one dime left and has to choose whether to use it to call his wife or put it in the slots in hopes of winning riches which may pay for medical treatment for his mother.

As Winslow's luck begins to change and he actually starts winning, Godzilla attacks, and the Godzilla Squad prepares to mobilize out to the area. Soon the rest of Boulder Dam cracks open, causing a torrential flood that destroys the city, causing Winslow to lose his riches. Godzilla leaves the city for a more peaceful place, and Winslow's riches have been washed away except for one last dime. This time he chooses to call his wife, who turns out had left him three years ago after his mother had died.

Issue #10: Godzilla vs Yetrigar
Three months ago, an underground nuclear test was conducted by the US Department of Defense in Arizona, but yields some unforeseen side-effects. The radiation from the test is channeled into an underground rift, a subterranean passage stretching from Arizona to Alberta, Canada. In Alberta, the radiation comes to fill an ice cave, within which a yeti-like creature is encased in a glacial tomb. The Sasquatch is freed from the ice by the radioactivity and revived. The newly revived monster is pained by the continuing effects of the radiation on his body. His mind filled with rage, the monster turns south, towards where he instinctively senses the source of his affliction originates. As he travels south, however, the radiation begins to make the man-monster start to grow.

In the present time, the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier follows the trail of Godzilla from Las Vegas, Nevada to the Grand Canyon in Arizona. Gabe Jones has reservations about using S.H.I.E.L.D. artillery in the canyon, but Dugan scoffs, calling him a monster-lover. They finally locate Godzilla, but when they do, they also see the monster Yetrigar. Hurling a huge boulder at the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier, Yetrigar takes S.H.I.E.L.D. out of the action. On the bridge of the Helicarrier, Robbie Takiguchi sneaks past the scrambling S.H.I.E.L.D. agents and gains access to the Red Ronin battlesuit. He hopes to intervene on Godzilla's behalf in his battle against Yetrigar.

Yetrigar ambushes Godzilla at the rim of the Grand Canyon, causing both monsters to topple into it. The fall doesn't affect them, they continue clawing and biting at one another. Godzilla blasts Yetrigar with his flame breath, but Yetrigar deflects it with a giant boulder. Godzilla maintains the upper hand though as he batters Yetrigar with his tail, then chomps down on his arm. Yetrigar frees his arm then punches Godzilla across the snout. The battle soon escalates when Red Ronin arrives to prevent the monsters from killing each other.

Issue #11: Arena for Three!
As Godzilla and Yetrigar continue their battle in the Grand Canyon, Robert arrives in the Red Ronin to try and stop the two from fighting each other. While Robert has the Ronin protect some rafters from falling rocks, the two monsters battle on. While elsewhere, the Godzilla Squad continues to make repairs to their damaged Helicarrier and Dum Dum and Gabriel travel in a ship to try and keep track of Godzilla.

While back at the Grand Canyon, Robert is unable to make the two monsters stop fighting, and in order to prevent Yetrigar's rampage from escalating, he is forced to use the Red Ronin robot to kill Yetrigar by burying it in an avalanche. During the confusion, Robert allows Godzilla to slip away. However, the fact that he had to kill in order to protect Godzilla weighs heavily on Robert.

Issue #12: The Mega-Monsters from Beyond! Part One: The Beta-Beast!
As both the Godzilla Squad and Robert, in the Red Ronin, speed after Godzilla, Godzilla is suddenly transported to the moon. There, he fights the Beta-Beast, which Godzilla eventually destroys with his fire breath.

Following the Beta-Beast's defeat, Godzilla is confronted by the aliens who transported him to the moon: the Betans. These aliens appeal to Godzilla, telling the monster that their world has been at war against the Megans for centuries using giant monsters as weapons against each other. With the war effort depleting the Megan supplies, they have sent three of their monsters, Triax, Rhiahn and Krollar, to Earth in order to plunder it.

Godzilla accepts the mission, and he is transported back to Earth just as the Red Ronin is confronted by the first of the invaders: Triax.

Issue #13: The Mega-Monsters from Beyond! Part Two: Triax
Robert, in the Red Ronin, and Godzilla team up to fight the Triax, who arrived on Earth. However, when Triax is overpowered, the Megans send down their other two monsters Rhiahn and Krollar to help it.

As the battle rages on, the Megans attack the Betans' base on the moon while the Godzilla Squad tries to coordinate the military counter attack against the monsters. During the course of the battle, the Betans' dome is breached, exposing them to the vacuum of space, and the Megans charge their monsters with an energy beam that makes them stronger than ever.

Due to this power boost, Krollar is able to chop off the head of the Red Ronin, deactivating it and knocking Robert unconscious, leaving Godzilla to battle the super-powered monsters alone.

Issue #14: Mega-Monsters Part 3: The Super-Beasts
With the Red Ronin destroyed, Godzilla is the only force capable of stopping the now super-powered Mega-Monsters. The Godzilla Squad provides Godzilla with support while Jimmy Woo recovers the unconscious Robert from the head of the Red Ronin robot. While aboard their base on the moon, the dying Betans watch the battle rage on. In order to maintain their life support as long as possible, they lower their base into the moon's surface. All the Betans die except one.

As the battle continues, Godzilla is able to destroy Rhiahn with his flame breath, save Dum Dum from Krollar, burn Triax from the inside out with his flame breath, and then use Krollar's own bio-blade to behead it. With the Mega-Monsters destroyed, the lone Betan rejoices over Godzilla's victory while the Megans decide to cease their war against the Betans. On Earth, the Godzilla Squad decides to let Godzilla go, vowing to capture him some other time.

Issue #15: Roam on the Range
Godzilla finds himself in the mid-west where he is believed to be the cause of John Hawk's missing cattle. As the area is terrorized by Godzilla, Hawk sends a posse to try and stop Godzilla. However, they ultimately fail and Godzilla ends up smashing Hawk's home.

Issue #16: The Great Godzilla Roundup!
With Godzilla still on the rampage near Salt Lake City, John Hawk, after having his house trampled on, arranges another group of cowpokes to try and rustle up Godzilla, who he believes has been eating his cattle.

The group end up surrounding Godzilla, and Hawk and his men try to rustle Godzilla, Hawk even managing to rope and "ride" Godzilla for a while. However, when Godzilla smashes open a canyon to flee, they find Godzilla leads them to the cattle, which have in actuality been stolen by Lefty Walsh and Bill Ford. When Ford tries to shoot Hawk, Godzilla knocks him off the canyon peak to his death. After the whole ordeal, Hawk and the others leave Godzilla to find his own way.

Issue #17: Of Lizards, Great and Small
Following Godzilla's rampage through Salt Lake City, the SHIELD Godzilla Squad has finally recovered and have redeployed following the damage done during Godzilla's battle with the Mega-Monsters. Joined by Paleontologist Gladstone Hawkins, the group decides to use a different method of dealing with Godzilla.

Calling in the help of Henry Pym, the group get a large batch of his shrinking Pym Particles and use them against Godzilla. However the monster grabs Dum Dum before they can take effect. The Godzilla Squad then engages on a wild goose chase to try and capture the now shrinking Godzilla. He is finally caught by Hawkins who uses a net on Godzilla once he has become the size of a regular reptile.

Issue #18: Fugitive in Manhattan!
Arriving in New York where Professor Hawkins can study Godzilla, Godzilla's cage is accidentally dropped and Godzilla gets loose, ending up in New York's sewer system. With the amount of time that Pym's shrinking gas will last in question, it's a race against time as everyone tries to find Godzilla before he returns to his normal size and rampages through the city.

While in the sewers, Godzilla comes face to face with a New York City sewer rat and easily kills it. Emerging from the sewers, Godzilla stumbles upon Robert who had snuck out of the Helicarrier to find Godzilla to be sure nobody hurts the monster. As the boy is reunited with Godzilla, he suddenly grows in size to the height of a human adult.

Issue #19: With Dugan on the Docks!
Robert and Godzilla emerge from the sewer systems of New York. Godzilla is now roughly six feet tall. Rob tries to keep him calm and Godzilla seems receptive to Rob's pleas. Rob even finds a trench-coat and hat to obscure Godzilla's features as they try to hide in the back alleyways. Two muggers try to accost him, but Godzilla shreds through his disguise and sends them running after he blasts them with his fire breath.

Later, Rob and Godzilla encounter Dugan's team on the docks. Dugan tries to fire a tranquilizer dart, but Gabe Jones, believing that Dugan was firing an actual gun, spoils his shot. Godzilla fires his breath, but Dugan deflects it with a trash can lid. He then picks up a pole arm and rushes to Godzilla, but Godzilla easily disarms him. Failing that, Dugan tries fisticuffs, but Godzilla backhands him, sending Dugan sprawling. Gabe leaps on Godzilla's back, but Godzilla snaps his head forward, sending Gabe flying off the ledge of the dock. While Godzilla's attention is focused on Jones, Dugan attacks him from behind with a drop-kick. Gabe climbs back up onto the dock, but Godzilla grabs him with both claws and pitches him into the water. Turning, he punches Dugan in the face, knocking him to the ground. Godzilla lumbers off into the night and Rob screams "Come back!", but Godzilla doesn't heed him. Godzilla is alone and loose in the streets of New York. A look of consternation crosses Dugan's face as he realizes that Pym's shrinking formula is quickly wearing off.

Issue #20: A Night at the Museum
With Godzilla roaming through the streets of New York City at risk of growing back to his full size at any moment, the Godzilla Squad continues to track him until they can contain him without hurting innocents. While at the Baxter building, the Fantastic Four hear the media reports of Godzilla's travel through New York and Reed decides that this a case for the Fantastic Four to investigate.

With the Godzilla Squad having lured Godzilla into the New York History Museum, the group are joined by the Fantastic Four who offer to subdue him and help them find a humane way to end Godzilla's menace. Battling the monster, the Thing knocks Godzilla into a giant shark tank.

Issue #21: The Doom Trip!
With Godzilla knocked into a shark tank, the Godzilla Squad and the Fantastic Four fish out the monster, and knock him out. Reed then suggests that they bring Godzilla to the Baxter Building. There Reed uses Dr. Doom's time machine to send Godzilla back in time.

In doing so, Godzilla is transported to the world of Moon-Boy and the Devil Dinosaur, where Godzilla meets and battles Devil Dinosaur. However, when the Lizard Warriors come to invade Moon-Boy's home, Moon-Boy manages to appeal to Godzilla to help him stop the invasion.

Issue #22: The Devil and the Dinosaur!
As Godzilla aids Moon-Boy and Devil Dinosaur in repelling an attack by the Lizard Men, back on present day Earth, everyone is resting after battling Godzilla so long. Robert, however, is upset that they sent Godzilla to another time period where he may get killed. While in Reed's lab, Dr. Doom's time machine starts to become unstable after being exposed to Godzilla's radioactive physiology and is at risk of exploding.

Back on Moon-Boy's world, Godzilla, Moon-Boy and Devil Dinosaur successfully manage to repel the invading Lizard Men and save Moon-Boy's home of Flame Valley. At that time Godzilla suddenly resumes his original size. While on present-day Earth, Reed has the time machine taken to a safe place, but instead of exploding, it transports the full-sized Godzilla back to the present at full size, right in the middle of New York City.

Issue #23: The King Once More
Godzilla was back to present day Earth at full size, and he immediately went on a rampage through New York City. With the Godzilla Squad and the Fantastic Four not enough to stop the monster's rampage, the Human Torch enlists the aid of the Avengers.

With the added might of Earth's mightiest heroes they manage to get Godzilla on the defensive, fighting Godzilla into New York Harbor. However, this is far from defeating him, as he rises from the water more furious than ever before.

Issue #24: And Lo, A Child Shall Lead Them
Godzilla makes one final attack on New York City, targeting the Empire State Building. The only things in his way are the combined forces of the SHIELD Godzilla Squad, the Fantastic Four and the Avengers.

After a battle which shows both sides are equally matched, the tear-filled pleas of young Robert convince Godzilla to stop his rampage and return to the ocean. Godzilla, apparently understanding the boy, leaves the city, but not before Spider-Man takes a few pictures of Godzilla leaving the city.

Links
https://wikizilla.org/wiki/Godzilla,_King_of_the_Monsters_(Marvel)

https://godzilla.fandom.com/wiki/Godzilla,_King_of_the_Monsters_(Marvel)