Minnesota Author Writes Godzilla Epic for Middle-Grade Readers

Both in 2020 and 2021, I have been reading more comics. With the combination of wanting to support my local comic-book store and being stuck inside for lockdown, comics have been comforting me during this tough time. They feel like an escape from the current reality. I’m always on the lookout for comic news beyond what I have currently on my pull list. At the end of 2020, IDW released a renewed partnership with Toho International Inc. that will involve multiple releases beginning with a middle-grade miniseries about Godzilla. I may be in my late 20s; however, any comic featuring Godzilla will be something I will automatically read. Additionally, local Minnesota writer Erik Burnham will be writing the series.

RAWR. Erik Burnham

Godzilla will be a five-issue miniseries written by Burnham, with art by Dan Schoening and colorist Luis Antonio Delgado. Burnham is critically known for his 2011 run of the Ghostbusters line of comic books. Burnham, along with Schoening, wrote and drew this series. Besides Ghostbusters, Schoening worked on titles such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Back to the Future. He also was a storyboard artist for Ed, Edd n Eddy, which brings back many memories of being a Cartoon Network kid in the early 2000s. Delgado not only worked on Ghostbusters but also titles such as Star Wars, Star Trek, GI Joe, and Transformers. His art is also featured on the Dirty Work at the Crossroads Kickstarter campaign, which has already reached its funding goal. When speaking about this partnership, Burnham states how Schoening and Delgado are creating the best art for this Godzilla miniseries.

While the Godzilla miniseries will be directed toward middle-grade readers, Burnham states that there is something for adults to enjoy too. Burnham also reiterates how targeting middle-grade readers was planned by IDW as this is a market they want to expand in. With the pandemic still ongoing, reading can be a great outlet for kids to escape the real world.

Launching a Godzilla miniseries is only the beginning for IDW. In IDW’s original announcement, they mention the potential of bringing in other monstrous kaiju, including Rodan, Mothra, and King Ghidorah. There’s potential of seeing these kaiju in other products beyond comics, such as art books, coloring books, journals, and tabletop games. Nothing would de-stress me more than coloring in Mothra after a long day at work. There’s a market for adult coloring books, so why not make a few kaiju-themed ones? I’m also excited for the potential of any tabletop games developed by IDW.

The Godzilla miniseries is expected to release in April of this year. The best way to help support this series is to pre-order it at a local comic book store. This guarantees success of the project, along with a secure copy when it’s officially released. It’s never too early to pre-order a copy. To find more Godzilla-related content on the internet, you can follow Erik Burnham on both Twitter and on Instagram, along with reading IDW’s original announcement here.