REVIEW: Justice League vs Godzilla vs Kong 2 #3
While the cover may tease a whole cast of Monsterverse Titans, this is anything but the case for Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong 2 #3. With larger dialogue boxes than action sequences, some sections that don’t feel like they need to be there, and much less Godzilla and Kong characters, prepare to have your patience tested. The only selling point is the Superman and Lex Luthor scenes.
Christian Duce, with colors by Luis Guerrero, showcases the Titan cast of the Monsterverse from Task Force X’s base of operations with Lex Luthor and Leyland Shaw. It’s three issues in, and characters like Rodan, Mothra, and King Ghidorah have been teased and have yet to appear-Scylla and Tiamat too. I will say that Lex Luthor’s suit in this series has been very satisfying as the pre-New 52 suit.
Riccardo Federici’s variant cover is photorealistic, gritty greatness with Harley Quinn, King Shark, Godzilla, and King Ghidorah. CW’s The Flash understood that a muscular anthropomorphic great white shark is the best look for Nananu rather than a Hulk-like body with a stylized shark head. Thanks to Margot Robbie, photo-realistic Harleys now have a reference as well. Meanwhile, Federici absolutely nails Godzilla with the texture, details, and everything in between.
Alan Quah’s variant is of Peacemaker, Supergirl, and Green Lantern facing off against the creatures of Hollow Earth. By the looks of it, Mothra is there helping them. Mothra has actually never rocked blue in the movies; she pulls it off really well. The Green Lantern robot construct clearly was inspired and meant to be the centerpiece.
Another variant featuring a dogfight between Batman in the Batwing and King Ghidorah is available from Kevin Maguire.
Last time we left Superman and Lex Luthor, they were deep into Kong territory in Hollow Earth. Without access to a yellow sun here, Superman finds his powers decreasing. Still, he’s had plenty of experience with villains like Titano to contend with giant gorillas. While he’s busy, Lex flies off to find Shaw and what they came for in Hollow Earth. This turns out to be a mineral of some kind with energy properties.
Meanwhile, Supergirl and Wonder Woman take the fight back to the Suicide Squad by faking Diana’s capture and ambushing them aboard their ship off the coast of Skull Island. However, they would find that someone else with more connections to the Titans was also in their hold. Lastly, The Flash is ok and back on his feet after taking a shot to the head– quite literally. He tries to regain communication with Earth-1, but instead finds Kong.
In my summary, I left out the first couple of pages where Harley Quinn appears to be talking to herself as Harleen Quinzel in a mock therapy session. It turns out that she’s the Harleen of the Monsterverse Earth, and Harley is interested in finding the Joker of that Earth. So, she’s got her little side quest here out of nowhere. Even then, there’s no indication this was before or after the events currently happening. What reason would Brian Buccellato have to place this here right when you open the issue? As I said before, the only good part of this issue is Superman and Lex Luthor with the Kongs. Everything else kind of feels needlessly chatty while the best action really sits between Wonder Woman, Supergirl, and the Suicide Squad. Even rallying back from the dead, The Flash doesn’t have much to do in this issue. Letters are by Tyler Smith.
Dulce’s art does provide a slight payoff for the reader with Superman vs. the apes and Wonder Woman and Supergirl vs. the Suicide Squad. With not much Monsterverse involved, this issue can be described as pure DC action with its matchups. It’s also interesting seeing Peacemaker become more and more DC Studios-inspired. Colors are by Luis Guerrero.
(5/10) Justice League vs Godzilla vs Kong 2 #3 can feel like a chore to get through in some places, there are some cool Superman moments, which are what makes this issue worth reading.
