Kara Dennison
June 22, 2025 
IDW is doing their part to release as many unhinged Godzilla comics as possible. The King of the Monsters has met everyone from founding fathers to Australian skater punks. And in Tom Scioli’s Godzilla’s Monsterpiece Theatre, he’s facing off against the finest characters the public domain has to offer.
What happens when a kaiju legend goes toe to toe with the Great Gatsby, Sherlock Holmes, and Dracula? Read on to find out!
A Classic Tale
Godzilla’s Monsterpiece Theatre starts out with a narrative every English major will recognize: the early events of The Great Gatsby. But F. Scott Fitzgerald’s legendary story of the Jazz Age and the crumbling American Dream takes a sharp left turn when Long Island is attacked by Godzilla.
In the face of the kaiju attack, Jay Gatsby must backseat his party lifestyle and longing for Daisy. He sinks his wealth into establishing the G-Force: a squad dedicated to saving the world from the massive lizard. And, of course, only the best need apply.
A Star-Studded Cast
Godzilla’s Monsterpiece Theatre is stacked with recognizable figures from the literary canon. Sherlock Holmes is here, albeit much older and in his beekeeping era. Jules Verne joins the fray, depicted here as a genius inventor. And H.G. Wells’s nameless “Time Machinist” also makes an appearance, bearing dire news of the future from which he hails. Even Dracula gets in on the action. Initially, he’s lured by the beautiful Daisy Buchanan. But he also realizes that, should he bring Godzilla under his thrall, he could have immense power at his disposal.
Before the story ends, we also see the appearance of a younger Dr. Frankenstein, accompanied by his forebear’s Monster. Will they be enough combined to stop Godzilla’s rampage? It may take a little bit of divine intervention, but this league of extraordinary gentlemen is more than up to the task.
But How Is It?
One could argue that Godzilla’s Monsterpiece Theatre exists largely to deliver one visual gag in its final issue… and honestly that would be fine because it’s a good one. Fans of classic literature and early 20th century comics will enjoy this pastiche, especially coupled with Tom Scioli’s retro-style artwork. It really does feel like reading a century-old comic.
If there is one flaw, it’s that later issues feel very crowded with characters. The more public domain heroes and villains Scioli squeezes in, the more frantic the pace gets. And the more frantic the pace gets, the less time we have to appreciate what Scioli is doing well. That aside, it’s a great deal of fun. It’s like a better Pride and Prejudice and Zombies—more grounded in its many influences, and clearly taking inspiration from its era as well as its characters. It’s definitely a unique title in IDW’s Godzilla range, and one you’ll have to see to believe.
Godzilla’s Monsterpiece Theatre goes on sale July 22.
