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Monsters Unleashed (2017A) #1-5
Monsters Unleashed!
It's all hands on deck with the Aveners, Champions, Guardians, X-Men, and Inhumans as they clash with monstrous hazards that threaten to destroy every corner of the Marvel Universe. Who are the LEVIATHONS? Who controls them? How can they be stopped before Earth becomes another tragic barren world in their wake?
Collecting: Monsters Unleashed 1-5
Collecting: Monsters Unleashed 1-5
200 pages, Hardcover
First published May 30, 2017
7 people are currently reading
140 people want to read
About the author
Cullen Bunn
2,101 books1,059 followersCullen grew up in rural North Carolina, but now lives in the St. Louis area with his wife Cindy and his son Jackson. His noir/horror comic (and first collaboration with Brian Hurtt), The Damned, was published in 2007 by Oni Press. The follow-up, The Damned: Prodigal Sons, was released in 2008. In addition to The Sixth Gun, his current projects include Crooked Hills, a middle reader horror prose series from Evileye Books; The Tooth, an original graphic novel from Oni Press; and various work for Marvel and DC. Somewhere along the way, Cullen founded Undaunted Press and edited the critically acclaimed small press horror magazine, Whispers from the Shattered Forum.
All writers must pay their dues, and Cullen has worked various odd jobs, including Alien Autopsy Specialist, Rodeo Clown, Professional Wrestler Manager, and Sasquatch Wrangler.
And, yes, he has fought for his life against mountain lions and he did perform on stage as the World's Youngest Hypnotist. Buy him a drink sometime, and he'll tell you all about it.
Visit his website at www.cullenbunn.com.
All writers must pay their dues, and Cullen has worked various odd jobs, including Alien Autopsy Specialist, Rodeo Clown, Professional Wrestler Manager, and Sasquatch Wrangler.
And, yes, he has fought for his life against mountain lions and he did perform on stage as the World's Youngest Hypnotist. Buy him a drink sometime, and he'll tell you all about it.
Visit his website at www.cullenbunn.com.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
September 20, 2017
Some people have criticised this book for not having much of a plot and they're bang on the money. There really is minimal story here. I can't help but feel they're missing the point, though. You don't watch a Godzilla movie for the story.
Personally, I switched myself into Bad Movie Night gear, got some (imaginary) popcorn and enjoyed the Hell out of it. It might have helped that the protagonist is essentially me at age eight...
Personally, I switched myself into Bad Movie Night gear, got some (imaginary) popcorn and enjoyed the Hell out of it. It might have helped that the protagonist is essentially me at age eight...
October 25, 2017
If you take this for what it is, a bunch of splash pages of superheroes fighting Kaiju by Marvel's top artists, you may love it. If you're expecting more of a story than that, you will probably be disappointed.
July 25, 2017
Yay monsters! Monsters are awesome.
The storyline is not.
The storyline is not.
December 31, 2024
This was a fun read featuring some classic Marvel monsters in action with most of the current MCU’s super teams. Not much plot but a lot of monster mayhem. Enjoy it for what it is.
October 29, 2022
This is far from being the best thing in the world. Actually it’s really not that great. But, I did have a lot of fun. A bunch of kaiju creatures attacking the marvel world. What’s not to like?
May 3, 2020
Im a big Kaiju (giant monster) fan, and this series was loaded with them. I even like the old Godzilla movies with the terrible special effects, and as you can imagine I'm really stoked about the current crop of Kaiju films slated to be released. Godzilla vs. King Kong? Yes please!
Giant monsters start to fall to Earth from space. The monsters want to clear the Earth of humanity in order to prepare the world for the mother of all monsters. The Avengers, X-Men, and other earth heroes find themselves in a losing battle, but thankfully there's an inhuman child who can draw monsters and make them real. We see the monsters of Earth such as Fin Fang Foom and Monstrom battle the invaders as things build to a climax.
This wasn't a deep story by any means, but if you like giant monster stories, especially the old campy Marvel stories, then you'll like this one. The art is exceptional as well, as Marvel pulled out some top names for this one. I can see how this may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I liked it.
Giant monsters start to fall to Earth from space. The monsters want to clear the Earth of humanity in order to prepare the world for the mother of all monsters. The Avengers, X-Men, and other earth heroes find themselves in a losing battle, but thankfully there's an inhuman child who can draw monsters and make them real. We see the monsters of Earth such as Fin Fang Foom and Monstrom battle the invaders as things build to a climax.
This wasn't a deep story by any means, but if you like giant monster stories, especially the old campy Marvel stories, then you'll like this one. The art is exceptional as well, as Marvel pulled out some top names for this one. I can see how this may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I liked it.
May 29, 2023
Don't expect a complex plot, especially in a storyline jam-packed with a slew of giant monsters and almost every superhero and team in the Marvel Universe. This mini-series introduced Kid Kaiju, a fun and interesting character creation, who plays a major, major role in the proceedings.
I was glad to see Elsa Bloodstone get an important role in the proceedings, as well as Devil Dinosaur and Moon Girl.
This is pure fun, escapism at it's best. What made this especially work for me is the blow-up of the great artwork throughout in this monster-sized edition (14"wide by 21" long). Nothing beats a full-page or double-page spread of super-heroes in battle versus monsters. Kudos for the monster on monster fight scenes (oops, trying to avoid spoilers).
The only gripe is how heavy this book is. You need a big lap or a tabletop to read it properly (not recommended for bedtime reading because of the size). This sure won't fit into a comics storage or magazine storage box and it's too damn big to stand up in a bookcase - have to put it in flat on top of or beneath other books. Sigh, such a complainer!
I was glad to see Elsa Bloodstone get an important role in the proceedings, as well as Devil Dinosaur and Moon Girl.
This is pure fun, escapism at it's best. What made this especially work for me is the blow-up of the great artwork throughout in this monster-sized edition (14"wide by 21" long). Nothing beats a full-page or double-page spread of super-heroes in battle versus monsters. Kudos for the monster on monster fight scenes (oops, trying to avoid spoilers).
The only gripe is how heavy this book is. You need a big lap or a tabletop to read it properly (not recommended for bedtime reading because of the size). This sure won't fit into a comics storage or magazine storage box and it's too damn big to stand up in a bookcase - have to put it in flat on top of or beneath other books. Sigh, such a complainer!
April 14, 2017
بازهم یک ایونت نه چندان قوی از مارول. به قول خودم اگر وقت آزاد دارید بخونیدش ولی وقتتونو براش خالی نکنید.
هرچند که از هیچ چیز نگذریم طراحی این مجموعه فوق العادس مخصوصا برای کسایی که خیلی علاقه به طراحی و کارهای گرافیکی دارن میتونه خیلی به ایده پردازی هاتون کمک کنه.
ولی گذشته از اون داستانش مثل بقیه ایونت های اخیر مارول خیلی کلیشه ای بود. امیدوارم که توی امپراطوری مخفی و اون یکی ایونت جدید که اسمش یادم نیست یه کار خوب از مارول ببینیم دوباره.
هرچند که از هیچ چیز نگذریم طراحی این مجموعه فوق العادس مخصوصا برای کسایی که خیلی علاقه به طراحی و کارهای گرافیکی دارن میتونه خیلی به ایده پردازی هاتون کمک کنه.
ولی گذشته از اون داستانش مثل بقیه ایونت های اخیر مارول خیلی کلیشه ای بود. امیدوارم که توی امپراطوری مخفی و اون یکی ایونت جدید که اسمش یادم نیست یه کار خوب از مارول ببینیم دوباره.
January 2, 2023
This is just a fun love letter to all those Japanese monster movies and anime where kaiju and giant robots face off. If you like that sort of thing then you’ll enjoy this. Nothing heavy, just skyscraper-sized monsters smashing those same skyscrapers and stomping superheroes.
March 24, 2018
This is the first collected Monsters Unleashed and it goes into the origin of Kid Kaiju, an 11 year old boy who is a comic book artist and discovers that the monsters he draws come to life before him.
Meteors begin striking the Earth one evening and they don't stop. Each one has a monster, of wild and dangerous nature, that begins killing and destroying cities and people. The Avengers, X-Men, Champions, and every other superhero from all countries and across the world begins battling them. They hold them to a standstill but then the frequency of landings of giant creatures increases until there is no way to fight them everywhere at once.
Kid Kaiju discovers his ability to summon monsters when he draws Fin Fang Foom and others from the Marvel archives of monstrous creatures. These creatures show up and fight for Kid Kaiju but they don't really want to. When the mother of all the Leviathons shows up, a monster beyond vast and destructive, Kid Kaiju is forced to use his own ideas to make original monsters that are his friends and do whatever he asks, willingly. He draws five and then discovers that he can meld them together into a larger, much more powerful creature to battle the Mother of Leviathons. The battle is fierce but the heroes win and the Mother is defeated. Kid Kaiju and his family are safely taken to the island of Mu to live in safety and his monsters follow.
This was a beautifully drawn graphic novel. The writing was great and I just really loved this book.
Danny
Meteors begin striking the Earth one evening and they don't stop. Each one has a monster, of wild and dangerous nature, that begins killing and destroying cities and people. The Avengers, X-Men, Champions, and every other superhero from all countries and across the world begins battling them. They hold them to a standstill but then the frequency of landings of giant creatures increases until there is no way to fight them everywhere at once.
Kid Kaiju discovers his ability to summon monsters when he draws Fin Fang Foom and others from the Marvel archives of monstrous creatures. These creatures show up and fight for Kid Kaiju but they don't really want to. When the mother of all the Leviathons shows up, a monster beyond vast and destructive, Kid Kaiju is forced to use his own ideas to make original monsters that are his friends and do whatever he asks, willingly. He draws five and then discovers that he can meld them together into a larger, much more powerful creature to battle the Mother of Leviathons. The battle is fierce but the heroes win and the Mother is defeated. Kid Kaiju and his family are safely taken to the island of Mu to live in safety and his monsters follow.
This was a beautifully drawn graphic novel. The writing was great and I just really loved this book.
Danny
October 11, 2017
Uh this book is a bit big ._.
I used an NTUC trolley to balance it so I could read it ._.
It's glossy too, so very shiny ._.
The front part's a bit boring: it's mostly just pictures of monsters and then particular groups of superheroes appear and beat them up. The back part's got a bit more storyline to it, so it was more interesting to read :)
There are lots of little boxes that tell you the names of the superheroes (in case you're like me and know next to nothing about superheroes), so that's nice.
The book probably could be smaller though. Like regular comic book size.
I used an NTUC trolley to balance it so I could read it ._.
It's glossy too, so very shiny ._.
The front part's a bit boring: it's mostly just pictures of monsters and then particular groups of superheroes appear and beat them up. The back part's got a bit more storyline to it, so it was more interesting to read :)
There are lots of little boxes that tell you the names of the superheroes (in case you're like me and know next to nothing about superheroes), so that's nice.
The book probably could be smaller though. Like regular comic book size.
May 24, 2020
This is a totally competent mash-up of superhero and creature feature disaster tropes, the kind that fans will recognize implicitly in a... comforting sort of way. It's ultimately rather disposable, but then, that's the appeal, and if you ignore the issue with Greg Land art, it's all presented with a gorgeous, excited fervour - it's supposedly the end of the world,
but it's a fun apocalypse... the kind where you know collateral damage is impermanent, and the stakes will reset by the next series. When it comes to event comics, this is what I like! Lots of characters, lots of foes, and a simple premise gluing it all together. It's why I liked the Spider-Verse stories so much.
The novelty, paradoxically, lies in its familiarity. It's easy to forget that Marvel once held the Godzilla license - and, without also holding licenses to any of Godzilla's friends or foes, they had him mostly fight the Avengers. In a way, this is a nostalgic homecoming, even if Godzilla himself doesn't actually show. Calling back on a lot of Marvel's own roster of giant monsters makes this quite decidedly a celebration of the genre... and with that in mind, it succeeds wholeheartedly. It can't hope to stand out in a sea of high-quality ruminations, or even some of the better nostalgia, but it isn't a waste of time - it, quite suitably, has all the staying power of a drive-in movie.
but it's a fun apocalypse... the kind where you know collateral damage is impermanent, and the stakes will reset by the next series. When it comes to event comics, this is what I like! Lots of characters, lots of foes, and a simple premise gluing it all together. It's why I liked the Spider-Verse stories so much.
The novelty, paradoxically, lies in its familiarity. It's easy to forget that Marvel once held the Godzilla license - and, without also holding licenses to any of Godzilla's friends or foes, they had him mostly fight the Avengers. In a way, this is a nostalgic homecoming, even if Godzilla himself doesn't actually show. Calling back on a lot of Marvel's own roster of giant monsters makes this quite decidedly a celebration of the genre... and with that in mind, it succeeds wholeheartedly. It can't hope to stand out in a sea of high-quality ruminations, or even some of the better nostalgia, but it isn't a waste of time - it, quite suitably, has all the staying power of a drive-in movie.
Read
November 17, 2017Some Marvel crossovers address big issues - the limits and temptation of power, the tension between safety and liberty. Though granted, they do often tend to be resolved with a lot of punching and a deus ex machina. This one just jumps straight to the punching and the deus ex machina. A bunch of big fuck-off monsters fight superheroes, and then some more big fuck-off monsters with retro appeal join up to help the superheroes, and then an even bigger monster turns up...
On the plus side, it does have Moon Girl, Devil Dinosaur and Elsa Bloodstone in prominent roles.
On the plus side, it does have Moon Girl, Devil Dinosaur and Elsa Bloodstone in prominent roles.
Want to read
July 12, 2017Oh my GODS! I cannot believe how huge this book is! I'd had no idea what I'd ordered. So I was completely not expecting anything like this. When my weekly comic book order was delivered by FedEx, I looked at the size of the box and thought, "There must be some mistake. Must have been sent an Artist's Edition in error or something." But, no. Scraping aside the foam popcorn I revealed this monster. I was blown away. It comes in at 14 x 0.8 x 21.6 inches! Jeepers!
February 28, 2020
I didn't like how obviously they were trying to push Kaiju Kid.
They put every prominent superhero in the book to say, "we can't do it. We need help!"
They put the surly, wary Moon Girl in the book to fawn over Kaiju Kid.
Then Kaiju Kid wins in a squash.
It all feels unearned. It feels more like a training montage than a real story.
This books gets a third star because Scragg is good. Like Squirrel Girl as a giant monster, maybe.
They put every prominent superhero in the book to say, "we can't do it. We need help!"
They put the surly, wary Moon Girl in the book to fawn over Kaiju Kid.
Then Kaiju Kid wins in a squash.
It all feels unearned. It feels more like a training montage than a real story.
This books gets a third star because Scragg is good. Like Squirrel Girl as a giant monster, maybe.
March 17, 2021
Quite decent kaiju tribute!!!
June 17, 2024
When I first heard about this 2017 Marvel crossover, I was pretty excited. The big baddies of Marvel's sci-fi 1950s and 60s like Fin Fang Foom, Goomba and the Creature from the Black Bog were finally gonna rise up against the heroes of the Marvel Universe and reclaim their place as the rightful rulers of earth. It even appeared from some of the earliest artworks that good guys such as Devil Dinosaur were going to rise up against these men in tights. Yet, that wasn't to be the storyline at all.
An invasion by kaiju-like creatures does happen in Monsters Unleashed. However, these behemoths are unlike anything to have ever graced the pages of a Marvel Comic. Planet Earth has been chosen as the newest nest of the Leviathon Queen, a massive crimson egg-laying beast. But before she can settle in, the world must be cleansed of vermin. That means 'bye-bye, pesky humans.'
The superhuman population assembles on a global scale like never before. Heroes and villains join forces to stop these Leviathons from decimating the planet. That's where the Marvel monsters of the Silver Age of comics step in. They've been biding their time waiting for the chance to conquer our planet and they're not about to let a bunch of extraterrestrial interlopers just swoop in and take the planet from them!
Monsters Unleashed was unlike any massive crossover event I've ever read from the House of Ideas. For one thing, it was fun. There wasn't any sort of major shock, like the death of Captain America at the end of Civil War. The editors didn't try to add some new character that was going to change the way we looked at people of color or gender or reveal that some beloved established character was now retconned to be furry or something like that. Instead, this storyline was a tribute to the giant monsters of a by-gone era of creativity and thinly veiled fear of the Red Menace of Communism!
The new character that was introduced in this series was a young pre-teen boy named Kei. He has the ability to draw monsters and make them appear and disappear as needed. With this ability, Kei becomes Kid Kaiju (a freakin' awesome 2010s superhero name if I've ever heard one) and perhaps humanity's last hope for salvation against these big nasties.
I really loved how Monsters Unleashed utilized Moon Girl. Having her become a sort of mentor for new hero Kei was a perfect casting choice. Then we have monster-hunter Elsa Bloodstone becoming Kei's bodyguard and mentor in a preview of a Monsters Unleashed regular series that continues from where the 5th issue of the miniseries ends. Even though I've got plans to downsize my collection somewhat, I think I'd be more than happy to collect the follow-up series because just like this crossover event, it was fun.
Okay. Now it's time to pick apart the story a little. With kaijus appearing all over the globe, both villains and protagonist alike, there's a lot of destruction here. Some notable landmarks become piles of rubble, like the Nevada's Hoover Dam, the imperial palace of Wakanda and Johannesburg's FNB Stadium. I've read Marvel stuff from the past 7 years since this story came out. I've not heard about rebuilding efforts from Monsters Unleashed still being a thing in the Marvel Universe. Is superhero calamity reconstruction company Damage Control that good at quick repairs? Or do the magicians of the Marvel Universe like Doctor Strange cast instance rebuild spells? I think what I'm trying to get at is as much as I enjoyed the scenes of massive destruction, the level seen in this book was just too implausible to me.
Cullen Bunn penned a great story that was a thrill ride a minute. Smartly plotted. Hilarious banter. The art was good. Though a lot of the alien kaiju seemed to have googly eyes that made them look more silly that deadly serious. (Was Hobby Lobby having a sale on them?) I did mourn the death of one of Kid Kaiju's creations. The character is only there for like 5 pages and yet I feel in love with them. Hopefully, they'll make a return! Some great variant covers by Arthur Adams appear in the back and they're not to be missed.
Another gem unearthed at my nearest Ollie's, Monsters Unleashed is an extremely fun read despite it's over-the-top level of chaos and destruction.
An invasion by kaiju-like creatures does happen in Monsters Unleashed. However, these behemoths are unlike anything to have ever graced the pages of a Marvel Comic. Planet Earth has been chosen as the newest nest of the Leviathon Queen, a massive crimson egg-laying beast. But before she can settle in, the world must be cleansed of vermin. That means 'bye-bye, pesky humans.'
The superhuman population assembles on a global scale like never before. Heroes and villains join forces to stop these Leviathons from decimating the planet. That's where the Marvel monsters of the Silver Age of comics step in. They've been biding their time waiting for the chance to conquer our planet and they're not about to let a bunch of extraterrestrial interlopers just swoop in and take the planet from them!
Monsters Unleashed was unlike any massive crossover event I've ever read from the House of Ideas. For one thing, it was fun. There wasn't any sort of major shock, like the death of Captain America at the end of Civil War. The editors didn't try to add some new character that was going to change the way we looked at people of color or gender or reveal that some beloved established character was now retconned to be furry or something like that. Instead, this storyline was a tribute to the giant monsters of a by-gone era of creativity and thinly veiled fear of the Red Menace of Communism!
The new character that was introduced in this series was a young pre-teen boy named Kei. He has the ability to draw monsters and make them appear and disappear as needed. With this ability, Kei becomes Kid Kaiju (a freakin' awesome 2010s superhero name if I've ever heard one) and perhaps humanity's last hope for salvation against these big nasties.
I really loved how Monsters Unleashed utilized Moon Girl. Having her become a sort of mentor for new hero Kei was a perfect casting choice. Then we have monster-hunter Elsa Bloodstone becoming Kei's bodyguard and mentor in a preview of a Monsters Unleashed regular series that continues from where the 5th issue of the miniseries ends. Even though I've got plans to downsize my collection somewhat, I think I'd be more than happy to collect the follow-up series because just like this crossover event, it was fun.
Okay. Now it's time to pick apart the story a little. With kaijus appearing all over the globe, both villains and protagonist alike, there's a lot of destruction here. Some notable landmarks become piles of rubble, like the Nevada's Hoover Dam, the imperial palace of Wakanda and Johannesburg's FNB Stadium. I've read Marvel stuff from the past 7 years since this story came out. I've not heard about rebuilding efforts from Monsters Unleashed still being a thing in the Marvel Universe. Is superhero calamity reconstruction company Damage Control that good at quick repairs? Or do the magicians of the Marvel Universe like Doctor Strange cast instance rebuild spells? I think what I'm trying to get at is as much as I enjoyed the scenes of massive destruction, the level seen in this book was just too implausible to me.
Cullen Bunn penned a great story that was a thrill ride a minute. Smartly plotted. Hilarious banter. The art was good. Though a lot of the alien kaiju seemed to have googly eyes that made them look more silly that deadly serious. (Was Hobby Lobby having a sale on them?) I did mourn the death of one of Kid Kaiju's creations. The character is only there for like 5 pages and yet I feel in love with them. Hopefully, they'll make a return! Some great variant covers by Arthur Adams appear in the back and they're not to be missed.
Another gem unearthed at my nearest Ollie's, Monsters Unleashed is an extremely fun read despite it's over-the-top level of chaos and destruction.
June 13, 2019
The art is really nice and the fights are awesome. However, what a stupid new hero to create. Would have been a higher score from me if he didn’t exist.
April 8, 2018
I got the library to get this book, the sequel to a collection of Monsters Unleashed storylines involving the X-Men, The Champions, The Avengers, The Guardians, and more that lead to this huge team up. I was not expecting the volume itself to be so tall but the book did not disappoint. I loved where they took the storyline. The art is fantastic. I have missed reading comics so this was a breath of fresh air for me. The only thing I wished for? More.
April 27, 2018
Another fun event crossover in the Marvel Universe, Although this really boils down to really just an introduction for the new character Kid Kaiju. Fun, but superficial.
May 9, 2018
An homage to the marvel monster comics that were running through all the titles in the 50's before superheroes took over.
Plus we got the best artist's in the game doing each an issue. A fun read.
Plus we got the best artist's in the game doing each an issue. A fun read.
December 26, 2025
Soy de las personas más predispuestas a saber disfrutar de una excusa de crossover grupal de superhéroes Marvelitas con el pretexto de desempolvar los monstruos clásicos de la era "pre Marvel". Ignoré por completo el odio general suscitado por esta miniserie desde su año de publicación y me apena tener que tirar a decantarme por ese lado en el que toparme con una historia mucho más que inane en todas sus vertientes. Cullen Bunn, a quien en la propia edición se alude a su miniserie alternativa de Deadpool Kills The Marvel Universe como decisión del editori Axel Alonso a la hora de encargarle este crossover, podría (y debería) haber sido un gran seguro argumental. Atendiendo más a toda su carrera en el mercando independiente donde el género de terror y suspense es su mayor motor creativo. Esa historieta del Mercenario Bocazas masacrando (sic.) a superhéroes por el poder del guion y haciendo el uso sádico de la 4º pared puede que como dicen, sea una de las obras que más sigan vendiéndose y contribuyendo a las arcas de la editorial. Pero no es algo a tener en cuenta para lo que a priori parecería que quisieran proponer con Monsters Unleashed. La miniserie de Deadpool Kills The Marvel Universe busca la pesada y grotesca mofa fácil sin mucho sentido argumental. Monsters Unleashed parecía querer homenajear y volver a poner en el panorama Marvelita esta colección de personajes ciertamente olvidados por la editorial pero clave para entender los cimientos históricos de la misma. Hay un personaje/elemento troncal que en su esbozo más básico se presenta como un corazón conceptual que finalmente acaba dando paso a la pesada conexión con ciertos eventos del universo de ficción del momento para relacionarlo con una de las super agrupaciones que comparten espacio de esta historia. La cual por encima de todo queda en el continúo espectáculo de destrucción en la que los diversos héroes más poderosos de la Tierra hacen frente a continuas apariciones y ataques de monstruos gigantes. Convirtiendo esto en una amenaza global de primer orden. La cual aún revelará en el meridiano del argumento una escala aún más colosalmente terrible y primordial.
Monsters Unleashed parece querer tratar de forma metanarrativa ese gran poder de la creación y arte que, aunque no retrate cosas expresamente bellas y perfectas. Consigue ejemplificar lo extraordinario y maravilloso. Como en este caso ese catálogo de criaturas gargantuescas entre las que se topan esos viejos olvidados de Atlas como Googam, Hijo de Goom y compañía. Las cuales pasan de ser esas amenazas de un sólo número de aquellas preteritas colecciones comiqueras que acabaron dando pie a esos héroes como el poderoso Thor o Spiderman, para aliarse junto a estos personajes contra una amenaza común que pone en evidencia el mismo concepto de Monstruo.
Apena mucho que este cómic fuese una gran oportunidad también de aprovechar la presencia de Elsa Bloodstone como la poco reconocida gran cazadora de Monstruos Marvelita, y sus participaciones se sientan como un aburrido trámite editorial para también mantener cierta presencia del personaje de su catálogo hasta un momento como el de ahora mismo en el que por ejemplo ha compartido cabecera con el lupino Jack Russell.
Como digo, estos números que componen Monsters Unleashed realmente son solo una excusa para que la reunión de dibujantes como Salvador Larroca, Leinil Francis Yu o Steve McNiven traten de divertirse llenando las viñetas de estas criaturas y sus paisajes de pura destrucción. En este aspecto, es cierto que el crossover consigue conectar con esa herencia monstruosa del Kaiju Eiga de la que originalmente bebieron entre otras fuentes cinematográficas y pulp la editorial Atlas en sus colecciones. Pero por lo demás, la oportunidad de homenajear a talentos pretéritos de la viñeta como Larry Lieber, Dick Ayers, Steve Dikto y Jack Kirby entre otros, queda mejor representado en las portadas variantes donde nos reencontramos con gente como Jack Kirby o inesperados nuevos dibujantes como Q-Yashida. Todos dejándose llevar por la imponente iconicidad de estas criaturas que aún podrían hacer mucho más que hacer temblar las viñetas durante otro brevísimo instante editorial.
Monsters Unleashed parece querer tratar de forma metanarrativa ese gran poder de la creación y arte que, aunque no retrate cosas expresamente bellas y perfectas. Consigue ejemplificar lo extraordinario y maravilloso. Como en este caso ese catálogo de criaturas gargantuescas entre las que se topan esos viejos olvidados de Atlas como Googam, Hijo de Goom y compañía. Las cuales pasan de ser esas amenazas de un sólo número de aquellas preteritas colecciones comiqueras que acabaron dando pie a esos héroes como el poderoso Thor o Spiderman, para aliarse junto a estos personajes contra una amenaza común que pone en evidencia el mismo concepto de Monstruo.
Apena mucho que este cómic fuese una gran oportunidad también de aprovechar la presencia de Elsa Bloodstone como la poco reconocida gran cazadora de Monstruos Marvelita, y sus participaciones se sientan como un aburrido trámite editorial para también mantener cierta presencia del personaje de su catálogo hasta un momento como el de ahora mismo en el que por ejemplo ha compartido cabecera con el lupino Jack Russell.
Como digo, estos números que componen Monsters Unleashed realmente son solo una excusa para que la reunión de dibujantes como Salvador Larroca, Leinil Francis Yu o Steve McNiven traten de divertirse llenando las viñetas de estas criaturas y sus paisajes de pura destrucción. En este aspecto, es cierto que el crossover consigue conectar con esa herencia monstruosa del Kaiju Eiga de la que originalmente bebieron entre otras fuentes cinematográficas y pulp la editorial Atlas en sus colecciones. Pero por lo demás, la oportunidad de homenajear a talentos pretéritos de la viñeta como Larry Lieber, Dick Ayers, Steve Dikto y Jack Kirby entre otros, queda mejor representado en las portadas variantes donde nos reencontramos con gente como Jack Kirby o inesperados nuevos dibujantes como Q-Yashida. Todos dejándose llevar por la imponente iconicidad de estas criaturas que aún podrían hacer mucho más que hacer temblar las viñetas durante otro brevísimo instante editorial.
September 10, 2017
Ολόκληρη η κριτική στο Smassing Culture
Monsters Unleashed: Μarvel, σοβαρά τώρα;
Τα Marvel Comics δεν έχουν καθόλου καλή πορεία το τελευταία διάστημα, όπως έχουμε ξαναγράψει. Δυστυχώς, το τελευταίο event, Monsters Unleashed, σε σενάριο Cullen Bunn και με πέντε (!) διαφορετικούς σχεδιαστές, έναν για κάθε τεύχος, δεν φαίνεται μέχρι στιγμής να πηγαίνει κόντρα στο ρεύμα. Τα πρώτα 2 τεύχη που κυκλοφόρησαν περισσότερο μας προϊδεάζουν για μια νέα αποτυχία με καλές προθέσεις παρά για οτιδήποτε άλλο.
Ας το πιάσουμε από λίγο πιο πίσω το θέμα. Μετά το Civil War IΙ που ασχολήθηκε με θέματα προληπτικής καταστολής και προσπάθησε (αποτυχημένα) να επικεντρωθεί στους διαλόγους και την εξέλιξη της ιστορίας παρά στη δράση, η Marvel προσπαθεί να «χαλαρώσει», να κάνει μια επιστροφή στα βασικά και σε κλασικές στιγμές υπερηρωικής δράσης και διασκέδασης. Τι καλύτερο για αυτό από μία ιστορία που περιλαμβάνει σχεδόν όλους τους ήρωες να πολεμάνε γιγάντια τέρατα που πέφτουν από τον ουρανό σε όλη τη Γη; Το Monsters Unleashed είναι αυτό που υπόσχεται το όνομα του : υποτυπώδεις διάλογοι, πολύ δράση, μεγάλα, συχνά δισέλιδα πάνελ και υπερηρωικό κλωτσομπουνίδι παντού. Υπάρχει ένα υποβόσκον σενάριο σχετικά με το από πού ήρθαν τα τέρατα και ποιος τα ελέγχει αλλά αυτό εξελίσσεται κυρίως στο περιθώριο της δράσης και των καρέ με μοβ γιγάντια τέρατα να ισοπεδώνουν πόλεις.
Σαν ιδέα φαίνεται καλή. Έχει προηγηθεί ένας μεγάλος διχασμός (Civil War II), ενώ παράλληλα με το Monsters Unleashed, εξελίσσεται η σύγκρουση των X-Men με τους Inhumans. Το να μαζευτούν όλοι οι ήρωες για να σώσουν τον κόσμο (αντί να κοπανιούνται μεταξύ τους) και να έχουν απέναντι τους έναν ξεκάθαρο αντίπαλο, επικού μεγέθους, είναι πάντα ευπρόσδεκτο. Πρέπει, όμως, να τηρούνται κάποιες στοιχειώδεις αρχές και το event να αντανακλά κάποια έμπνευση από τους δημιουργούς. Έτσι, μετά το ορίτζιναλ Civil War, το Secret Invasion είχε παρόμοια χαρακτηριστικά (στροφή στη δράση, εξωγήινοι αντίπαλοι που θέλουν να κατακτήσουν τη γη) αλλά με ένα δυνατό σενάριο, γνήσιες ανατροπές και εχθρούς όπως είναι οι Skrull, οι οποίοι είχαν πάντα ένα ρόλο στο σύμπαν της Marvel και μία τελική αναμέτρηση μαζί τους προέκυπτε με φυσικό τρόπο από τις ιστορίες δεκαετιών. Ταυτόχρονα η ιστορία αντηχούσε μια υπαρκτή ροπή ενός μεγάλου κομματιού της αμερικανικής κοινής γνώμης στην ισλαμοφοβία, του ίδιου κομματιού που χρόνια αργότερα έδωσε τα κλειδά του Λευκού Οίκου στον ακροδεξιό Trump. Η πολιτική και κοινωνική ανάγνωση του έργου, σε συνδυασμό με το εξαιρετικό artwork και την ταλαντούχα (τότε) γραφή του Bendis, έκαναν το Secret Invasion κάτι παραπάνω από μια εμπορική επιτυχία. Το καθιστούσαν ένα έργο-σταθμό, στο οποίο οι fans γυρνάνε ακόμα και τώρα, χρόνια αργότερα.spidpoolmu2016001
Από την άλλη, στο Monsters Unleashed, όλα είναι τόσο αδιάφορα που καταντά προσβλητικό για την νοημοσύνη του αναγνώστη. Κοινότυπα τέρατα που έχουμε δει δεκάδες φορές, εμφανίζονται και πεθαίνουν, ενώ η πλοκή και το τελικό twist της ιστορίας φαίνεται ότι βασίζεται σε ένα παιδί που ονομάζεται Kei Kawade, για τον οποίο δεν ξέρουμε τίποτα ούτε μας επιτρέπει να καταλάβουμε πολλά το σενάριο. Δεν έχουμε πρόβλημα με την ανανέωση στα κόμικ που διαβάζουμε. Κάθε άλλο. Ωστόσο, αυτή πρέπει να έχει μία συνοχή και μια πορεία και όχι να πρόκειται για χαρακτήρες χωρίς κανένα υπόβαθρο που υπάρχουν απλά και μόνο για να εξυπηρετούν την εκάστοτε πλοκή και μετά να εξαφανίζονται, όπως ήδη έγινε με τον Ulysses στο Civil War II. Την ίδια στιγμή όμως, το κλισέ έχει ήδη σχεδόν αποκαλυφθεί και η «ανατροπή» δεν φαίνεται να είναι ικανή να ανατρέψει την πορεία του σεναρίου προς την αποτυχία, στερώντας από τους αναγνώστες χρήματα και από τους δημιουργούς χρόνο για να φτιάξουν κάτι καλύτερο. Αν υπάρχουν ακόμα οι συνθήκες.
Η επιμονή της Marvel σε διαρκή event και μεγάλες ανατροπές που, πλέον, απέχουν χρονικά λίγους μήνες έχει πλήξει τα κόμικ της, υπονομεύοντας και το συνολικό σύμπαν και κάθε μεμονωμένο plotline που διαρκώς υπόσχεται το «νέο» και καταλήγει σε μία από τα ίδια, για να αναιρεθεί πολύ σύντομα. Το πρόβλημα, εν τέλει, δεν είναι αν υπάρχει πολύ ή λίγη δράση αλλά αν υπάρχουν αξιόλογα σενάρια και χαρακτήρες με βάθος και εξέλιξη. Το Monsters Unleashed θα κυκλοφορήσει άλλα τρία τεύχη, χωρίς να φαίνεται πως είναι σε θέση να μας αλλάξει γνώμη.
Monsters Unleashed: Μarvel, σοβαρά τώρα;
Τα Marvel Comics δεν έχουν καθόλου καλή πορεία το τελευταία διάστημα, όπως έχουμε ξαναγράψει. Δυστυχώς, το τελευταίο event, Monsters Unleashed, σε σενάριο Cullen Bunn και με πέντε (!) διαφορετικούς σχεδιαστές, έναν για κάθε τεύχος, δεν φαίνεται μέχρι στιγμής να πηγαίνει κόντρα στο ρεύμα. Τα πρώτα 2 τεύχη που κυκλοφόρησαν περισσότερο μας προϊδεάζουν για μια νέα αποτυχία με καλές προθέσεις παρά για οτιδήποτε άλλο.
Ας το πιάσουμε από λίγο πιο πίσω το θέμα. Μετά το Civil War IΙ που ασχολήθηκε με θέματα προληπτικής καταστολής και προσπάθησε (αποτυχημένα) να επικεντρωθεί στους διαλόγους και την εξέλιξη της ιστορίας παρά στη δράση, η Marvel προσπαθεί να «χαλαρώσει», να κάνει μια επιστροφή στα βασικά και σε κλασικές στιγμές υπερηρωικής δράσης και διασκέδασης. Τι καλύτερο για αυτό από μία ιστορία που περιλαμβάνει σχεδόν όλους τους ήρωες να πολεμάνε γιγάντια τέρατα που πέφτουν από τον ουρανό σε όλη τη Γη; Το Monsters Unleashed είναι αυτό που υπόσχεται το όνομα του : υποτυπώδεις διάλογοι, πολύ δράση, μεγάλα, συχνά δισέλιδα πάνελ και υπερηρωικό κλωτσομπουνίδι παντού. Υπάρχει ένα υποβόσκον σενάριο σχετικά με το από πού ήρθαν τα τέρατα και ποιος τα ελέγχει αλλά αυτό εξελίσσεται κυρίως στο περιθώριο της δράσης και των καρέ με μοβ γιγάντια τέρατα να ισοπεδώνουν πόλεις.
Σαν ιδέα φαίνεται καλή. Έχει προηγηθεί ένας μεγάλος διχασμός (Civil War II), ενώ παράλληλα με το Monsters Unleashed, εξελίσσεται η σύγκρουση των X-Men με τους Inhumans. Το να μαζευτούν όλοι οι ήρωες για να σώσουν τον κόσμο (αντί να κοπανιούνται μεταξύ τους) και να έχουν απέναντι τους έναν ξεκάθαρο αντίπαλο, επικού μεγέθους, είναι πάντα ευπρόσδεκτο. Πρέπει, όμως, να τηρούνται κάποιες στοιχειώδεις αρχές και το event να αντανακλά κάποια έμπνευση από τους δημιουργούς. Έτσι, μετά το ορίτζιναλ Civil War, το Secret Invasion είχε παρόμοια χαρακτηριστικά (στροφή στη δράση, εξωγήινοι αντίπαλοι που θέλουν να κατακτήσουν τη γη) αλλά με ένα δυνατό σενάριο, γνήσιες ανατροπές και εχθρούς όπως είναι οι Skrull, οι οποίοι είχαν πάντα ένα ρόλο στο σύμπαν της Marvel και μία τελική αναμέτρηση μαζί τους προέκυπτε με φυσικό τρόπο από τις ιστορίες δεκαετιών. Ταυτόχρονα η ιστορία αντηχούσε μια υπαρκτή ροπή ενός μεγάλου κομματιού της αμερικανικής κοινής γνώμης στην ισλαμοφοβία, του ίδιου κομματιού που χρόνια αργότερα έδωσε τα κλειδά του Λευκού Οίκου στον ακροδεξιό Trump. Η πολιτική και κοινωνική ανάγνωση του έργου, σε συνδυασμό με το εξαιρετικό artwork και την ταλαντούχα (τότε) γραφή του Bendis, έκαναν το Secret Invasion κάτι παραπάνω από μια εμπορική επιτυχία. Το καθιστούσαν ένα έργο-σταθμό, στο οποίο οι fans γυρνάνε ακόμα και τώρα, χρόνια αργότερα.spidpoolmu2016001
Από την άλλη, στο Monsters Unleashed, όλα είναι τόσο αδιάφορα που καταντά προσβλητικό για την νοημοσύνη του αναγνώστη. Κοινότυπα τέρατα που έχουμε δει δεκάδες φορές, εμφανίζονται και πεθαίνουν, ενώ η πλοκή και το τελικό twist της ιστορίας φαίνεται ότι βασίζεται σε ένα παιδί που ονομάζεται Kei Kawade, για τον οποίο δεν ξέρουμε τίποτα ούτε μας επιτρέπει να καταλάβουμε πολλά το σενάριο. Δεν έχουμε πρόβλημα με την ανανέωση στα κόμικ που διαβάζουμε. Κάθε άλλο. Ωστόσο, αυτή πρέπει να έχει μία συνοχή και μια πορεία και όχι να πρόκειται για χαρακτήρες χωρίς κανένα υπόβαθρο που υπάρχουν απλά και μόνο για να εξυπηρετούν την εκάστοτε πλοκή και μετά να εξαφανίζονται, όπως ήδη έγινε με τον Ulysses στο Civil War II. Την ίδια στιγμή όμως, το κλισέ έχει ήδη σχεδόν αποκαλυφθεί και η «ανατροπή» δεν φαίνεται να είναι ικανή να ανατρέψει την πορεία του σεναρίου προς την αποτυχία, στερώντας από τους αναγνώστες χρήματα και από τους δημιουργούς χρόνο για να φτιάξουν κάτι καλύτερο. Αν υπάρχουν ακόμα οι συνθήκες.
Η επιμονή της Marvel σε διαρκή event και μεγάλες ανατροπές που, πλέον, απέχουν χρονικά λίγους μήνες έχει πλήξει τα κόμικ της, υπονομεύοντας και το συνολικό σύμπαν και κάθε μεμονωμένο plotline που διαρκώς υπόσχεται το «νέο» και καταλήγει σε μία από τα ίδια, για να αναιρεθεί πολύ σύντομα. Το πρόβλημα, εν τέλει, δεν είναι αν υπάρχει πολύ ή λίγη δράση αλλά αν υπάρχουν αξιόλογα σενάρια και χαρακτήρες με βάθος και εξέλιξη. Το Monsters Unleashed θα κυκλοφορήσει άλλα τρία τεύχη, χωρίς να φαίνεται πως είναι σε θέση να μας αλλάξει γνώμη.
August 15, 2018
Reprints Monsters Unleashed! (Limited Series) #1-5 and Monsters Unleashed! #1 (March 2017-June 2017). When monsters begin crashing down on Earth, the Avengers, X-Men, Inhumans, and other heroes of Earth question if they’ve finally met their match. Elsa Bloodstone has uncovered a secret behind the monsters’ attacks and that someone named Kei Kawade could hold the answers. With an ancient enemy called the Leviathan Queen targeting the planet, Kei could be Earth’s only hope…unfortunately he’s just an eleven-year-old boy.
Written by Cullen Bunn, Monsters Unleashed! was a five issue limited series running from March 2017-May 2017. The series served as a launchpad for a new continuing Monsters Unleashed! series with Monsters Unleashed! #1 (June 2017) collected in this volume. The comic features art by Steve McNiven, Greg Land, and David Baldeon.
I loved monster comics as a kid. I also really like it when Marvel (and DC) mixed monster comics with superhero comics…unfortunately, these mixes are often pretty poorly done. With a new Monsters vs. Superheroes type of comic being floated in Monsters Unleashed!, I had some hope. Unfortunately, Monsters Unleashed! was more disappointment than fun.
If I were a kid, I might enjoy Monsters Unleashed! That isn’t necessarily a criticism because Monsters Unleashed! could be a comic targeted for kids, but Marvel isn’t really clear on who they are trying to sell to most days. A comic like Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur is aimed at kids, but characters like Wolverine and Deadpool are for adults…and all those characters are featured in the comic.
The comic is also another attempt to mainstream the Inhumans who have proven to be a real drag on Marvel. I liked the original concepts of the Inhumans, but Marvel’s push to make the Inhumans the new X-Men in recent years (mostly due to ownership rights) is wearing thin. Every time they need a new character, it is an Inhuman awakened by the Terrigen Mists…it feels like lazy writing. It doesn’t really make Kei a new or compelling lead character and it also makes him a clone of Ms. Marvel or Devil Dinosaur with less personality.
The last problem is the monsters themselves. Besides Fin Fang Foom, not many of the monsters have personalities. I’ve encountered some of the monsters like Goom in reprints, and despite having history, they don’t have dimensions. It makes it hard to find them compelling…and making up five new monsters that look relatively similar for Kid Kaiju to control doesn’t help.
Monsters Unleashed! is a quick but dull series. The comic shouldn’t have been a continuing series and the idea of another whole run of Kei and his monster friends seems pretty tedious. Monsters Unleashed! is simply another entry in the Marvel “so-so” category that probably can be skipped. Monsters Unleashed! is followed by Monsters Unleashed!: Monster Mash.
Written by Cullen Bunn, Monsters Unleashed! was a five issue limited series running from March 2017-May 2017. The series served as a launchpad for a new continuing Monsters Unleashed! series with Monsters Unleashed! #1 (June 2017) collected in this volume. The comic features art by Steve McNiven, Greg Land, and David Baldeon.
I loved monster comics as a kid. I also really like it when Marvel (and DC) mixed monster comics with superhero comics…unfortunately, these mixes are often pretty poorly done. With a new Monsters vs. Superheroes type of comic being floated in Monsters Unleashed!, I had some hope. Unfortunately, Monsters Unleashed! was more disappointment than fun.
If I were a kid, I might enjoy Monsters Unleashed! That isn’t necessarily a criticism because Monsters Unleashed! could be a comic targeted for kids, but Marvel isn’t really clear on who they are trying to sell to most days. A comic like Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur is aimed at kids, but characters like Wolverine and Deadpool are for adults…and all those characters are featured in the comic.
The comic is also another attempt to mainstream the Inhumans who have proven to be a real drag on Marvel. I liked the original concepts of the Inhumans, but Marvel’s push to make the Inhumans the new X-Men in recent years (mostly due to ownership rights) is wearing thin. Every time they need a new character, it is an Inhuman awakened by the Terrigen Mists…it feels like lazy writing. It doesn’t really make Kei a new or compelling lead character and it also makes him a clone of Ms. Marvel or Devil Dinosaur with less personality.
The last problem is the monsters themselves. Besides Fin Fang Foom, not many of the monsters have personalities. I’ve encountered some of the monsters like Goom in reprints, and despite having history, they don’t have dimensions. It makes it hard to find them compelling…and making up five new monsters that look relatively similar for Kid Kaiju to control doesn’t help.
Monsters Unleashed! is a quick but dull series. The comic shouldn’t have been a continuing series and the idea of another whole run of Kei and his monster friends seems pretty tedious. Monsters Unleashed! is simply another entry in the Marvel “so-so” category that probably can be skipped. Monsters Unleashed! is followed by Monsters Unleashed!: Monster Mash.
October 30, 2022
(More accurately it’s 3.5)
Going back to my thoughts on the Batman book from this morning, one of the big problems for comic writers is getting the tone of their storytelling right. Just because darker and grittier than normal is popular with some of your audience, it doesn’t mean that we should revel in that world forever - this is where nineties Marvel went wrong, with ever more absurd mutants with ever more absurd names and ever more absurd Liefeldesque broad shoulders and weak ankles knocking shit out of each other until the audience got bored
This has a bunch of monsters with frankly RIDICULOUS names, slugging it out with some of Marvel’s most famous creatures like Fing Fang Foom (which sadly does slightly highlight the book’s weakness as he was at his greatest in a book that these days we all hope wrote itself, NEXTWAVE, with Elsa Bloodstone who again is not at her best here either), but they were all created by some Inhuman kid so it actually makes sense. This is, essentially, a book for kids because it’s about one who can create them at will, guided by another one with her giant red dinosaur pal (sadly not much Ms Marvel, but there was probably no room for her). And as such it works a treat. It’s not narratively complex or gritty or whatever, just big daft monsters scrapping with other big daft monsters
And that’s absolutely fine. Because so often we get entitled superhero fans bloviating about what does or doesn’t make a successful mainstream comic, but forgetting that if it doesn’t in some way appeal to kids then it’s ultimately a bit doomed. I’ve just read the latest 2000AD Regened issue which is doing the same thing - slim pickings for me as an adult reader, but without new fans starting up then what is even the point?
Going back to my thoughts on the Batman book from this morning, one of the big problems for comic writers is getting the tone of their storytelling right. Just because darker and grittier than normal is popular with some of your audience, it doesn’t mean that we should revel in that world forever - this is where nineties Marvel went wrong, with ever more absurd mutants with ever more absurd names and ever more absurd Liefeldesque broad shoulders and weak ankles knocking shit out of each other until the audience got bored
This has a bunch of monsters with frankly RIDICULOUS names, slugging it out with some of Marvel’s most famous creatures like Fing Fang Foom (which sadly does slightly highlight the book’s weakness as he was at his greatest in a book that these days we all hope wrote itself, NEXTWAVE, with Elsa Bloodstone who again is not at her best here either), but they were all created by some Inhuman kid so it actually makes sense. This is, essentially, a book for kids because it’s about one who can create them at will, guided by another one with her giant red dinosaur pal (sadly not much Ms Marvel, but there was probably no room for her). And as such it works a treat. It’s not narratively complex or gritty or whatever, just big daft monsters scrapping with other big daft monsters
And that’s absolutely fine. Because so often we get entitled superhero fans bloviating about what does or doesn’t make a successful mainstream comic, but forgetting that if it doesn’t in some way appeal to kids then it’s ultimately a bit doomed. I’ve just read the latest 2000AD Regened issue which is doing the same thing - slim pickings for me as an adult reader, but without new fans starting up then what is even the point?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 27, 2020
Monsters Unleashed! Review:
Monsters Unleashed! is a 5 issue limited series event from Marvel back in 2017. The Marvel book is written by Cullen Bunn. It is about the Marvel heroes fighting different monsters that are suddenly coming non-stop to earth. Meanwhile, a child is somehow connected to this events that is happening in the Marvel Universe.
I remember seeing this back then and always want to read it. But then, I've forgot about it, the same goes for this event. It is just really forgettable imo. The event though has a very interesting concept and it does have some cool moments to it. The artwork is good and the action scenes in it are quite good as well.
The story though is where the book falls flat for me imo. There are also really isn't any attempt to fleshed out its characters aside from the kid. I didn't really buy his reveal though and his connections to the monsters. I've found it to be very forced imo, especially considering the time of this event's release.
So overall, Monsters Unleashed! from Marvel is a very mediocre event from Marvel imo. While it has its moments and the concept is interesting. The ending just feels like a set up imo and it also ended up being a forgettable event for me. It was quite nice to see Marvel's monster characters though, despite a small role.
4.5/10
Monsters Unleashed! is a 5 issue limited series event from Marvel back in 2017. The Marvel book is written by Cullen Bunn. It is about the Marvel heroes fighting different monsters that are suddenly coming non-stop to earth. Meanwhile, a child is somehow connected to this events that is happening in the Marvel Universe.
I remember seeing this back then and always want to read it. But then, I've forgot about it, the same goes for this event. It is just really forgettable imo. The event though has a very interesting concept and it does have some cool moments to it. The artwork is good and the action scenes in it are quite good as well.
The story though is where the book falls flat for me imo. There are also really isn't any attempt to fleshed out its characters aside from the kid. I didn't really buy his reveal though and his connections to the monsters. I've found it to be very forced imo, especially considering the time of this event's release.
So overall, Monsters Unleashed! from Marvel is a very mediocre event from Marvel imo. While it has its moments and the concept is interesting. The ending just feels like a set up imo and it also ended up being a forgettable event for me. It was quite nice to see Marvel's monster characters though, despite a small role.
4.5/10
December 29, 2025
Volendo proprio fare i precisini, sappiamo che nell'universo Marvel ci sono abbastanza artefatti magici e cosmici da usare come ultima risorsa per tenere a bada persino un'invasione di kaiju globale, ma va bene pure così!
Perché in poche ore, i mostri sono qui, sono ovunque! Un'orda inarrestabile di titani, il cui solo scopo è fare scempio della vita sulla Terra per trasformarla nel Nido dove creare una nuova generazione. E' una guerra di pura sopravvivenza, e i supereroi riescono a malapena a contenere una frazione della catastrofe (altra pecca: e perché i criminali non sono stati coinvolti? Non è che devono per forza essere tutti dei traditori, neh!).
E quando niente sembra potere venire in soccorso dell'umanità, ci pensa...un ragazzo. Armato di carta, penna e una fantasia non meno inarrestabile!
Una mini assolutamente da gustarsi col fiato sospeso, una festa per gli occhi, e una gioia per i nostalgici, roba che Ronnie Emmerich e Go Nagai levateve proprio! Peccato che non si siano visti Godzilla e gli Shogun Warriors, sai che figurone facevano!
Perché in poche ore, i mostri sono qui, sono ovunque! Un'orda inarrestabile di titani, il cui solo scopo è fare scempio della vita sulla Terra per trasformarla nel Nido dove creare una nuova generazione. E' una guerra di pura sopravvivenza, e i supereroi riescono a malapena a contenere una frazione della catastrofe (altra pecca: e perché i criminali non sono stati coinvolti? Non è che devono per forza essere tutti dei traditori, neh!).
E quando niente sembra potere venire in soccorso dell'umanità, ci pensa...un ragazzo. Armato di carta, penna e una fantasia non meno inarrestabile!
Una mini assolutamente da gustarsi col fiato sospeso, una festa per gli occhi, e una gioia per i nostalgici, roba che Ronnie Emmerich e Go Nagai levateve proprio! Peccato che non si siano visti Godzilla e gli Shogun Warriors, sai che figurone facevano!
December 12, 2023
If you ever wanted to see Marvel superheroes vs Kaiju monsters, this is the book for you.
This book is just meant for purely fun. There's not an intricate plot even any kind of depth really. It's just a big excuse to have our favorite heroes fighting giant monsters. And on that level, it works. It was very cool to see everyone from Wolverine to Doctor Strange mixing it up with giant, otherworldly creatures and it was even more cool to see them losing!
It's all due to a new Inhuman who can conjure monsters by drawing them. He does this one too many times and awakens an ancient "monster goddess" who wants to raze the earth so her monster children can live. So it's up to the heroes - but more so this kid - to conjure other monsters to fight against all the giants.
A bombastic series, this one is chock full of Marvel goodness and fun. Recommended for Marvel fans who don't mind stories without much... well, story!
This book is just meant for purely fun. There's not an intricate plot even any kind of depth really. It's just a big excuse to have our favorite heroes fighting giant monsters. And on that level, it works. It was very cool to see everyone from Wolverine to Doctor Strange mixing it up with giant, otherworldly creatures and it was even more cool to see them losing!
It's all due to a new Inhuman who can conjure monsters by drawing them. He does this one too many times and awakens an ancient "monster goddess" who wants to raze the earth so her monster children can live. So it's up to the heroes - but more so this kid - to conjure other monsters to fight against all the giants.
A bombastic series, this one is chock full of Marvel goodness and fun. Recommended for Marvel fans who don't mind stories without much... well, story!
July 21, 2017
Great fun!
Mostly just an excuse to draw immense monsters fighting, this story is fun for those of us who enjoyed the old Jack Kirby monsters - mostly for the art - and the inner fifth grader in all of us. It is larger than life and appeals to the imagination.
This art was good, with Greg Land leading the way.
The superheroes acted mostly as background, leaving the plot with the monsters and the New Kid Kaiju. Kaiju can create or bring back monsters by drawing them. As his name suggests, Kaiju makes monsters the size of Godzilla. Most of the first monsters he draws are old Kirby monsters.
May not appeal to those who like character driven stories.
May appeal to those who love Japanese monster movies.
Take time to linger over each monster. Think about what they can do. Then, consider buying Monsters Unleashed Prelude to find out what they really did in the old stories.
Mostly just an excuse to draw immense monsters fighting, this story is fun for those of us who enjoyed the old Jack Kirby monsters - mostly for the art - and the inner fifth grader in all of us. It is larger than life and appeals to the imagination.
This art was good, with Greg Land leading the way.
The superheroes acted mostly as background, leaving the plot with the monsters and the New Kid Kaiju. Kaiju can create or bring back monsters by drawing them. As his name suggests, Kaiju makes monsters the size of Godzilla. Most of the first monsters he draws are old Kirby monsters.
May not appeal to those who like character driven stories.
May appeal to those who love Japanese monster movies.
Take time to linger over each monster. Think about what they can do. Then, consider buying Monsters Unleashed Prelude to find out what they really did in the old stories.
August 9, 2017
I liked this.
It's not brilliant, and it's kind of like Civil War II for smaller kids and people who don't like big crossovers, inasmuch at it seems pretty self-contained. A kid develops Inhuman powers and can control / summon giant monsters. They end up calling him Kid Kaiju.
It's got giant fucking Monsters, though - a bunch of old Kirbyesque guys that they probably busted out of Marvel's vault to ensure copyright AND some newer, awesome creatures - tear-assing their way through cities and stuff, destroying everything. And Elsa Bloodstone, brass, British, and bad-ass, toting shotguns and killing stuff. Avengers and Champions and Guardians and everybody turns up to fight all the monsters, and for a quick, beautifully-illustrated story, it's all awesome.
Perhaps not an adult comic. But there's too many of those anyway.
It's not brilliant, and it's kind of like Civil War II for smaller kids and people who don't like big crossovers, inasmuch at it seems pretty self-contained. A kid develops Inhuman powers and can control / summon giant monsters. They end up calling him Kid Kaiju.
It's got giant fucking Monsters, though - a bunch of old Kirbyesque guys that they probably busted out of Marvel's vault to ensure copyright AND some newer, awesome creatures - tear-assing their way through cities and stuff, destroying everything. And Elsa Bloodstone, brass, British, and bad-ass, toting shotguns and killing stuff. Avengers and Champions and Guardians and everybody turns up to fight all the monsters, and for a quick, beautifully-illustrated story, it's all awesome.
Perhaps not an adult comic. But there's too many of those anyway.
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