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Now the King of the Monsters is set to take on an entire country!
Tim Seeley:I grew up on Godzilla movies in the ’80s.
Ryan Browne’s cover for Godzilla vs. America: Chicago #1.
They were some of the first easy-to-find VHS videos.
So, I think, Godzilla is a comfort character for me.
Our tiny contribution to the great Cultural Record.
Ryan Browne’s cover for Godzilla vs. America: Chicago #1.
Could you each tease your stories in this special Chicago-themed issue?
Unfortunately that sign is an attack by Godzilla.
Godzilla exists as a terrible consequence of human arrogance and hubris.
Godzilla faces off against Mechagodzilla on this Ryan Browne variant cover.(Image credit: IDW Publishing)
We’re just focusing on a specifically Chicago-centric form of hubris.
Which is not in short supply in that wonderful city.
Especially around their sports teams.
Kids watch on as Godzilla towers over them on Chris Burnham’s 1:50 variant cover.(Image credit: IDW Publishing)
What makes this character such a flexible storytelling tool?
Seeley:Well, Godzilla isn’t a character per se.
It’s a force of nature with a cool face.
Interior art from Tim Seeley’s story for Godzilla vs. America: Chicago #1.(Image credit: IDW Publishing)
I took inspiration from Godzilla ‘54 and Minus One plus a little touch of ’80s rom-com.
Costa & Browne:Godzilla has always been such an elastic character.
He’s been a wrathful judgement on human civilization.
Godzilla takes Chicago on this Tim Seeley variant cover.
He’s been a defender of that very same civilization.
But monsters are elastic.
That’s why we invent them they can be whatever the moment needs them to be.
This issue is all about Chicago.
How does this change of location (from the traditional Japanese setting) impact your stories?
Seeley:Chicago is my home, and it’s a very distinct place.
So, setting the story on this beloved institution made it really easy to make it feel distinctly Chicago.
Chicagoans can decide how we did!
But I think they will be pleased.
If Godzilla reallydidattack Chicago, how do you think the locals would respond?
Seeley:Chicago is a city that’s used to being a target.
So, that makes us defensive of our town.
We love it, because you hate us.
If Godzilla showed up, Chicagoans would pick up beer bottles and snow shovels and fight that lizard!
Costa & Browne:Chicago’s roots are midwestern industrial.
It’s also one of the greatest food cities in the US.
It’s also a town of extremely aggressive sports fans.
Chicago goes down swinging.
Also Godzilla looks really cool and beats up other cool looking monsters.
What a perfect idea.
It’s simply one of the things that makes us human.
Godzilla Vs America: Chicago is published on February 26 by IDW.
Godzilla has featured in some ofthe weirdest comic book crossoversever.
