Godzilla: Rulers of Earth - Interview With Writer Chris Mowry And Preview

From IDW

IDW: In Godzilla: Rulers of Earth, you're introducing an extremely controversial monster; can you explain who Zilla is, and what your take on the monster will be?

CM: Zilla, a.k.a. "The American Godzilla," first appeared in the 1998 film "Godzilla." You know, THAT one. Well, in what could only be a way to rinse that bad taste out of fans' mouths, in 2004's "Godzilla: Final Wars," the two finally met and that fight lasted maybe ten seconds. Since he's considered one of Toho's creatures, we really wanted to bring him into his first comic book appearance.
So what you'll be seeing from him is something very different than the fight in G:FW. This one will go 20 seconds. All jokes aside, it's good to finally be able to do something with him and maybe after these first two issues, people could maybe accept him.

IDW: Is Zilla going to be a legitimate threat, or an easily defeated throwaway character like the creature was in its appearance in the Godzilla: Final Wars film?

CM: He will be a legitimate threat, as will every monster we put into the series. There is a very real danger facing these creatures this time and you'll see them react to that threat. Sometimes it'll force them to fight, other times to unite. As for Zilla, he's new to this universe (IDW's comics), so who knows what to expect. Regarding being easily defeated, you'll just have to read the book and find out. I wouldn't call him a pushover, that's for sure.

IDW: A lot of Godzilla fans have a very negative opinion on Zilla, will there be any references to their stance on the monster, or will you be striving to change it?

CM: I'm not totally concerned with changing someone's opinion on the monster. I mean, you either like it or you don't, but it would be cool if someone had a change of heart due to this story.  A lot of people like that design and abilities from the animated series in the late '90s, so it's a matter of trying to present the monster in a favorable way. We're going with the same monster that appeared in Final Wars, though. So no breath weapons, but a lot of sharp claws.

IDW: Who are the new human characters in the story? Will you be revisiting any characters from any previous story arcs?

CM: There are a number of new characters in this, and you'll be seeing them throughout the series here and there, doing their own thing. Every so often they'll meet up, but for the most part, the goal was to have different characters enabling different arcs for some shorter single and two-issue storylines. There will be a few characters from the previous Godzilla series (Kingdom of Monsters and Godzilla) making some cameos here and there. The most important one is Steven Woods from KOM.  Between him and our new "megazoologist" Lucy, they'll uncover just what is going on with all of these creatures.

IDW: When writing for Godzilla, how do you balance the monster vs. monster action with the human elements? Are there any specific challenges you face when you try to weave the two together?

CM: It's pretty tough, but tougher when you try to really set up a new "universe" with these creatures, while at the same time wanting to give fans some great monster action. So as you'll see, there's some heavy action the first few issues, but behind it all, there is a storyline being set up. I think a good 50/50 approach works best, but each issue dictates just how much really is needed. Oh, and then Bobby Curnow, my editor... he'll have the final say on that balance!

IDW: Are there any other monsters we can expect to see that haven't appeared in the IDW Godzilla canon yet?

CM: Absolutely. But I won't reveal them out of risk of spoiling things. Since solicits are already out for #3, I can tell you that fan-favorite Manda and even Gezora are making their debut. A number of other monsters are coming up down the road, so I think people are really going to enjoy how they're brought into the mix.

IDW: What's it like working with Matt Frank on bringing these iconic monsters to the page? Is there an effort to keep them close to the films, or do you two prefer to update the characters with your own spin?

CM: Working with Matt is great because he knows these creatures like the back of his hand. I write something and he knows exactly what I'm talking about and then adds a nice touch that you might not expect. A raised eyebrow or a snarl... those sorts of touches really help bring these monsters to life. In regards to styles, Toho has a set of guidelines that we follow, so we really strive towards keeping that look. But I think you can tell that Matt has a style all his own.

IDW: Can you give us a glimpse into what's next for the King of the Monsters?

CM: In this series, he's going to go through a lot. He's going to be pivotal to our world's survival. And in the first four issues, you're going to see him tested in a way he hasn't been in IDW's comics so far. Issue #4 is a doozy, so I'll just leave it at that.  But as he's figuring things out, our human cast is, too. It's those times when parties collide that make for some interesting scenarios and there will be a lot of them down the road!