Godzilla: Monster Island Summer Camp

by Rosie Knight, Oliver Ono (illustrator)

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Middle Grade, Fiction, Fantasy, Young Adult, Childrens

112 pages, Paperback

Published August 20, 2024

Reviews

[Alexander Peterhans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Minizilla! What's that, I hear you ask? It's the name of a mini Godzilla, and it's just about the goshdarnest cutest thing you'll see today.

Zelda loves to draw, and so her mother sends her to an art summer camp, which turns out to have been sold to an (maybe evil?) corporation, that has changed it into a sports camp, without telling any of the parents, so you have a lot of kids who are there for art but are confronted with a regimented sports regime and how that camp wasn't instantly burned to the ground I will never know.

Anyway, Zelda finds some new friends, and then she finds a portal to Monster Island, where she bumps into Minizilla. Minizilla growls a lot, but Zelda can understand her perfectly, which is nice. Turns out both Monster Island and the summer camp island are rocked by random earthquakes, which isn't nice. What is happening? And how to save both islands? And how to avoid the large kaiju that inhabit Monster Island?

Yes, this is a bit of a coming of age story, as all stories featuring American summer camps must be. And it's a lot of fun and very sweet! And there's an anti-corporate environmental message, which is very unsubtle and really hits the spot.

The art is fantastic, really detailed and with a great sense of humour. If I have one real criticism, it is that there is so MUCH dialogue. There are pages where a quarter of the page will be text, and I generally would think that's a bit much for any graphic novel, but it's really too much for a kids graphic novel. I think it could've done with a sharper editing pen.

I do hope this becomes a running series.

(Thanks to IDW Publishing for providing me with an ARC through Edelweiss)

[Allen Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute middle grade addition to the world of Godzilla. We follow Zelda, an aspiring young artist, who comes to an arts summer camp only to find it’s been turned into a sports camp. Despite this, she quickly makes friends with her cabin mates. While exploring the area, she uncovers a portal that takes her to fantastical world of monsters where she meets Minilla, a baby kaiju.

I absolutely loved the graphics and color palette. I enjoyed seeing other monsters from the Godzilla universe. There were good conversations about environmentalism and friendship. There was casual disability representation. The story is absolutely zany, but I think its target audience will appreciate it. The only very minor criticism I have is that, for a graphic novel, there were a lot of words.

Overall, a very cute and fun addition to the Godzilla universe.

Thank you to NetGalley for provided an advance copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

[Stay Fetters · Rating 3 out of 5]

"That was so cool!
It's not cool to almost get crab-grabbed!"

This was really cute with a great message. I'm also extremely jealous. I want my best friend to be Godzilla. Just think of all the possibilities...

[Jake]

Godzilla is my friend :)

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review! Godzilla: Monster Island Summer Camp

Rating: 4.5

Read if you like:
Monsters and cryptids
cute illustration
stories about friendship

Synopsis:
As an aspiring cartoonist, Zelda has always dreamed of attending an art summer camp, and this year she finally gets to go! But when she arrives to Make It Summer Camp, she’s horrified to see the easels and sketchbooks have been replaced with dodgeball and calisthenics. The camp is under new, suspicious management that’s turned it into an extreme sports nightmare.

Review
What a cute graphic novel with a great message of friendship and protecting the environment! I loved seeing all the girls grow as friends! The art style was amazing, and I loved the full page spreads. The character designs are so different, while also working great together. One issue I had is everyone seemed really chill with Minizilla and all the monsters right away. I've never been in a situation where I've encountered a baby Godzilla, but I feel like I'd be a little bit concerned. Overall, it was a super fun read and people should totally check it out when it comes out in August!

Thank you Netgalley and IDW Publishing for anARC in exchange for an honest review :)

[Liv · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m so glad this exists

[Freya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you IDW Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with this arc in exchange for my honest review.

This graphic novel very quickly became a new favorite of mine. The cozy and creative art was great and I enjoyed reading it so much, I can’t recommend it enough! It had so many important messages while staying really fun and accessible! And the inclusiveness and diversity and the use of meaningful character names (explained at the end) were done so well! And by that I mean in a way that wasn’t distracting so yes like it’s normal hah which it is!! We live in a beautiful world with all kinds of people, who should all be included in fiction. Including characters with for example a mobility aid, in everything, without patronizing and with perfect solutions when it was a bit harder to do so, is the way it should be done in every story. As a person with mobility issues, I appreciated this so much and I practically screamed of delight when a broken mobility aid was replaced by a magical one in the monster world! I felt seen! And I repeat, it felt completely normal that the main characters looked different, had a bionic arm or a mobility aid,.. which is going to make kids feel represented, included and normal! And I absolutely loved the found family trope, the many unique “animals”, the kindness and the respect for nature (and even fighting for it) this included.

Zelda loves making comics and thinks she’s on her way to art camp but she ends up at a sports camp instead. She’s so lucky to end up in a cabin with Weezy and Rumiko, they quickly become the best friends who treat eachother with nothing but kindness and respect. Rumiko loves monsters and sports and Weezy loves painting.

Zelda accidentally ends up in another world with monsters, where she meets a mini godzilla (Minilla!), but something is wrong and of course there are villains to be dealt with which make Zelda and her friends have the most amazing unexpected adventure, including solving a big important mystery, which will change their lives in many different ways and made them have the best Summer Camp ever!

Many different monsters were represented in this graphic novel too, which I’m sure they will love if they get the chance to enjoy this graphic novel like I did!!

[Riley Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I could go to a summer camp that Godzilla was at

[Michelle Graf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and IDW Publishing for the ARC.

I want a mini Godzilla as a friend, Minilla is so cute! This is such a fun story. I love the art style and the messages at the heart of the story: respect the planet, trust your friends, and be yourself. While it's a perfect graphic novel for a middle school audience, I'd also recommend this for anyone who enjoys kaiju movies and wants something a little lighter in tone.

[som ꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱₊˚⊹ · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.75

ستايل الرسم يهبل جداً (وهو شيئي المفضل في القصة الحقيقة، أتمنى فحسب لو كانت الألوان المستعملة مبهجة أكثر ؟ لأنها باهتة قليلاً) القصة نفسها لا بأس بها (هي مكتوبة لفئة عمرية أصغر بكثير) وأنا ما أمانع إنها أول شيء أقرأه/أشوفه/أعرف فيه قودزيلا الحقيقة … عيبني 🤭 أفكر بشكل جدي أعطي أفلامه (القديمة!! اليديدة شكلها ما يشجع) فرصة العيد القادم :]

[Ashley (Red-Haired Ash Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zelda dreams of going to an art summer camp but when she finally gets there she finds out it's under new management and it's now a sports camp. Determined to salvage her summer, Zelda escapes to a secluded corner of the island and stumbles over a portal to a fantastic world of monsters. There she meets the baby kaiju Minilla and discovers that the monsters are being stirred up by some seismic force. With the help of her two new friends and Minilla, they set out to help the monsters.

This was an adorable graphic novel that is perfect for fans of kaiju and other monsters. Zelda and her friends' adventure around Monster Island to find the source of the disturbance was enjoyable and well drawn out. I love the friendships these kids formed along the way and how they just wanted to do art and save the environment and these monsters. It was a sweet story with a great message.

Overall, this was adorable and if you have a kid who likes monsters, I think this would be perfect for them. I kind of hope there will be more stories on Monster Island in the future.

*ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*

[Mandy Kool · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this with my Godzilla loving son and we rather enjoyed it.

Our main character shows up to what she expects to be an art camp, only for it to be an extreme sports camp and she’s not down for it. While avoiding all the awful activities, she stumbles upon a cave where we meet Minzilla and together they have to figure out what’s bothering all the monsters on the island.

Cute, fun, fast. We enjoyed the romp with mini-Godzilla and the other Kaiju.

Highly recommend.

Thanks so much to the publisher and netgalley for the advanced e-copy!

[Brett Marcus Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally: irrefutable proof that Minilla IS cute.

[Armando · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I was a kid, I learned a powerful lesson regarding Power Rangers and Christmas.

You see, I loved watching Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, I had a figure of every ranger and probably every Zord, but I did not have any VHS of their episodes. That is to say for one, The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Christmas Special. This was super special for me, because it meant that I wasn't at the mercy of the TV Scheduling program for when I wanted to watch Power Rangers. Having a VHS meant that I could watch them morph whenever my parents let me.

Unfortunately, the things I loved the most about Power Rangers, the morphing and fighting, were hardly to be found within this Special. Instead of morphtastic flips and kicks, the rangers had to teach a bunch of kids about some stupid lesson of sharing or giving I dunno it didn't really stick with me. There was no morphing to be seen, and even when I questioned mother about this, she simply droned on about the importance of Christmas or something. While I enjoyed it for the brief appearances of the rangers despite lacking their iconic costumes, I was madly disappointed. It didn't follow the same action packed plot of the tv episodes, and so while I had a VHS that I could theoretically watch at anytime, I often found myself passing it up out of disdain.

It was there at the tender age of 4, that I learned about Brand Marketing and how corporations will try to sell you anything for your last buck (in this case it was my parent's buck). In this case they bundled the Rangers into some stupid Christmas story that involved very little fighting and almost no morphin, in order to sell something to kids. I was devastated.

That haunting memory has lived with me and now affects all my future purchases. If I see a special or some tie in with a product or character I love, I'm often, very VERY skeptical. So when I saw this, Godzilla: Monster Island Summer Camp, with the title so similar to one of my favorite Godzilla movies and including Minilla, one of my favorite Godzilla monsters from said movie, I was both intrigued and skeptical. I've been through this hurt before, nearly 28 years ago. Would this hold up? is this just some cheap tie in attempting to pull on my nostalgic inner monster child to cough up some extra dough (in this case though I got it from my library but STILL! Time is valuable!)?

And for once, I think this might've actually helped to heal that Ranger Xmas wound from so long ago. Because this was actually very good.

It did have a rather rough beginning though. The pacing was odd, and the dialogue and some of the characters just felt out of wack. It honestly wasn't until nearly over halfway through, when one of the character's quoted Scooby Doo, did I realize that this was paying homage not just to Godzilla, but to the old 1980's/early 90's cartoon shows of the past. Its writing, pacing, and messaging are all iconic of that saturday morning storytelling. It was then that a lightbulb went off and I instantly fell in love.

Its also very hard not to love the art style, done expertly well by Oliver Ono. The coloring assistance by Nick Marion was also expertly done. Ono manages to capture the shapes and power of these well known Kaiju expertly well. Even managing to capture Godzilla's visage extremely well. I loved Minilla's expressions and poses throughout. And Rosie Knight's writing captures the spirit of old Hannah Barbara cartoons super well.

This graphic novel, despite being aimed at kids, does a surprisingly great job of capturing the themes of the original Godzilla movie. There is a very pro-Earth theme here that is presented well, and it captures the greed and self destructive nature of humans very well here, while also showing the hope and inspiration for change.

Unlike the Power Rangers special as well, this one isn't afraid to give you some monster action. Though it doesn't involve the monsters fighting against each other, there are some pretty epic scenes revolving around the monsters. And it doesn't shy away from showing them either, while giving a pretty great buildup to the reveal of the King of them.

Overall, this was a brilliant comic that captures the old school spirit of 80's Saturday cartoons such as Scooby Doo and Captain Planet, as well as being a great tie in to the Godzilla universe.

It also has made me think of revisiting the Mighty Morphin Christmas Special. After all this graphic novel encourages kids to be kind and open to each other, and to look out for one another, in much the same way that the original Morphin special probably did. Perhaps, looking back, I was too hard on that special...and perhaps, it took this graphic novel for me to see that now...

Nah that Xmas special still stinks and it made me hate Christmas for a while.

[Casey Halvorsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much NetGalley and IDW Publishing for this arc!!

5/5 stars!

THIS WAS SO CUTE!!! I love Godzilla, monsters, cryptids, all that fun stuff, and this was just so cute and wholesome and exciting and heartwarming!! Some of the panels at the end made me tear up IT WAS JUST SO CUTE! I loved the story- I'd be just as pissed if I signed up for art camp and when I get there it's SPORTS CAMP GROSS! The disability representation was so good, and the art was really well done! The colouring especially I loved, it captured the heart of summer and the whimsy of the story perfectly. I'd like to go to this camp next summer plz thank yoouu

[AJ Easterday · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wasn't sure how I'd feel about such a cutesy Godzilla graphic novel as someone who is mostly interested in the darker and more political entries in the franchise, but this graphic novel exceeded expectations! While it is more lighthearted and fun compared to your typical Godzilla, it is still political and has a great message about protecting the environment. The characters are all extremely lovable, and I'm obsessed with Minilla. The artwork is extremely beautiful as well. Really makes me want to check out some other Godzilla comics.

[Karl Vosatka · Rating 2 out of 5]

2
A sweet book! The art style and message are both very endearing. There’s just something about it that doesn’t come together for me. There are frequent moments where it feels like panels are missing, disrupting the flow of the story for me. Also the animus towards the mission that the bad guys are is presented as self evident, and it is self evident if you’re politically aligned with the authors, but it feels flat without more justification. Maybe (probably) this is just for younger readers, but I do wish there were more substance all the same.

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a lot of thoughts on this book, most of them positive. I'll start with negative.

The dialogue is clunky. The nature of the story requires the same suspension of disbelief that a Star Wars movie would (not a bad thing), and fittingly, the dialogue is also as inhuman and unbelievable as in a Star Wars movie (yes a bad thing). I would have liked to see the kids do more adventuring rather than be so chatty.

The elephant in the room is that the woman author decided to write a story in a franchise with a predominantly male audience, where the leads are all disabled minority women. One of them is even a pagan. Intersectionality like this is becoming cliché and smells a bit fishy (weird fanfiction selected for publication by corporate because of token checkboxes?). Also I'm absolutely baffled by the inclusion of Storm from X-men (not joking).

Despite that, I can't help but fall for these characters! I just love seeing children going on an adventure and having fun and overcoming adversity and being supportive friends to each other!! And the monster choices are perfect! (I am a big fan of Son of Godzilla and Godzilla vs the Sea Monster.) Ono's art is really cute! I'll have to read "Godzilla Rivals" to see more of it.

I see lots of comments recommending this for middle schoolers. I agree that the book is written with that demographic in mind. I however don't think this is very enriching for an impressionable middle schooler who might take the wrong lessons from it (ecoterrorism, disability as identity and its appropriation, distrust of authority). But the book is so sweet that it probably makes up for it off that.

[McKenzie Chapman]

So charming and so beautifully illustrated

[Claire · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not usually my kind of thing but this seemed ok. While mini Godzilla is cute, I would have liked to have seen more big Godzilla.

[henri · Rating 4 out of 5]

some weird run on sentences but this was cute. reminded me of the show summer camp island

[Brannigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summer camp and Godzilla is a perfect match.

I had a blast reading this. The art is beautiful and full of summer light and emotion. The cast of characters are endearing and inclusive to everyone. The heart of the story is touching and fills my old grey heart with new life.

I couldn’t recommend this book enough.

This review was originally published on NetGalley.com. I was given an ebook freely by NetGalley and the book’s publisher in return for a voluntary and honest review.

[Jasher Drake · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute little love letter to the jun fukuda era of godzilla. 🫶

[Markus Seaberry · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a fun little middle grade adventure involving the Kaiju and a summer camp.

[mad mags · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Full disclosure: I received a free e-ARC for review through Netgalley.)

Zelda has always wanted to attend summer camp like her friends - more specifically, art camp, where she can learn how create comics and maybe even network with people in the industry. After a year of pulling double shifts, her mom is able to save up enough money to send her ... unfortunately, no one told them that the camp they paid for was since acquired by More, Inc., and turned into a sports camp. (Seriously, though, this plot point made me blind with rage, because this is an especially shitty thing that I could totally see a corporation trying. That and the environmental devastation.)

Zelda decides to make the most of the situation, especially since her cabin mates Weezy and Rumiko seem cool. Weezy is also an artist who hoped to spend the summer with their kind, and Rumiko - well, she came for the sports, but she's also a bit nerdy and totally into cryptozoology. Which comes in extra handy when Zelda finds a magical portal hidden in some caverns that takes her to ... (drumroll please) ... MONSTER ISLAND! There she meets an adorably teeny tiny kaiju named Minilla who needs her help. Something's got the creatures on Monster Island riled up, and it's up to a certain group of meddling kids to set things right.

GODZILLA: MONSTER ISLAND SUMMER CAMP is a lot of fun, with engaging story telling, a diverse cast of characters, and some really gorgeous artwork. The "monsters" are absolutely breathtaking, as is their ethereal island home. I love that the plot centers environmental issues, to the point that Zelda and her friends are labeled "eco-terrorists" (it's giving 2006). I really hope that this is the first in a series, since corporations like More, Inc. are not about to let a resource like cryptids go un-exploited.

[James DeSantis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was actually pretty cute! I will say this is for sure the younger audience. As it's not really for my age group. However, as a Godzilla fan I still had fun reading it. Basically it follows a girl at camp who's just trying to get by, meets Godzilla son, and from there things get crazier and weirder. It's about being independent and strong willed, while counting on friends to help you. At the same time some really cool drawings of Godzilla other monsters really helped make me enjoy it and bring me back to Godzilla of the Showa era. A solid 3 out of 5, 4 if you're a teenager for sure.

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just barely three stars, mostly for the super-fun art. The story being told here is nonsensical, even for Godzilla. A young girl heads off to an arts summer camp, only to find its been taken over by an evil corporation. Instead of like, going home, she hangs around, discovers a portal to a monster world, befriends a dinosaur, and teams up with some cabinmates (and Godzilla) to take down the evil corporation.

Kid stuff, essentially. Your 12 year old might dig it, though there is a lot of text for a Godzilla book.

[Jiro Dreams of Suchy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a cute story starting Minilla and a group of girls who meet up at a summer camp. They expect to have fun working on art but get caught up in an fracking scheme. Really a playful and fun story, which is usually the way to switch up a classic monster. I’d recommend this to any Godzilla fan.

[D.T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fun and quirky. They sneaked an environmental message in so covertly that I had to clap. Godzilla and Kaiju are the heroes here in a unique subversion

[Heidi Beemer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roaring Success: My First Godzilla Comic Adventure with Monster Island Summer Camp!

Stepping into the world of Godzilla for the first time with "Godzilla: Monster Island Summer Camp" by Rosie Knight and illustrated by Oliver Ono was an experience I won't soon forget! As a newcomer to the Godzilla universe, I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but this comic turned out to be an absolute delight.

Rosie Knight's writing is simply outstanding. She expertly crafts a narrative that is both accessible to newcomers like myself and deeply immersive. The dialogue is sharp and authentic, bringing each character to life with their own unique voice. Whether it's the awe-inspiring Godzilla or the spirited campers, every character feels real and relatable. Knight seamlessly blends humor and emotion, making every page a joy to read.

The storyline truly captivated me. Far from being a simple monster tale, it's an intricately woven narrative that feels both fresh and significant. The plot takes readers on a thrilling journey to Monster Island, where a summer camp adventure becomes a transformative experience for its young protagonists. The way Knight weaves themes of friendship, courage, and environmental awareness into the story is nothing short of brilliant. It's a tale that resonates on multiple levels, making it much more than just a comic about giant monsters.

Oliver Ono's artwork is a revelation. His illustrations bring the characters to life in such a vivid way that they practically leap off the page. Each panel is a visual delight, filled with expressive characters and dynamic scenes that capture the excitement and wonder of Monster Island. Ono's art has a cozy, inviting quality that balances the epic scale of Godzilla's world, making it easy for newcomers to feel at home in this thrilling universe.

In summary, "Godzilla: Monster Island Summer Camp" is an exceptional introduction to the Godzilla universe. As my first Godzilla comic, it left me entertained, inspired, and eager to explore more of this fascinating world. Rosie Knight's fantastic storytelling, paired with Oliver Ono's captivating art, makes this a must-read for both newcomers and longtime fans alike. Don't miss out on this incredible adventure!