Monsterverse

I was recommended Monarch. Wanted to start from the beginning. So I watched Godzilla (2014). Guess my hesitation was from my exposure to the # Roland Emmerich movie as a child (I did like the animated sequel series), and the Hanna-Barbera cartoon. I have no familiarity with the IP outside this.

This was unexpectedly very enjoyable. Not a lot actually occurs by way of the plot but the moments we get of Godzilla and the mutos just look so cool. I was cheering when the last muto got fire breath directly down their mouth. Definitely going to watch Kong: Skull Island.

On a more serious note: what was the response from the Japanese audience? This was just three years after the Fukushima meltdown. Knowing the original 1954 movie was commentary on Hiroshima, makes me wonder how such a audience felt in 2014, not just with the timing but also the fact it was a American franchise bringing back the IP.

A comprehensive perspective on the Guinness Book of World Records longest running screen franchise from The Irish Examiner.

Having a the perspective of an Irish fan and media critic is interesting - Monarch: Legacy of Monsters and other Godzilla media do consistently less well in English speaking countries other than the United States.

From the piece:

But why are giant monsters enjoying a resurgence in 2024, when big franchises such as Marvel are going through a slump? How is it that we have gone cold on men and women in spandex costumes, while we embrace kaiju laying waste to our cities?

“Kaiju have become the new superheroes. Much like anime, after years of blossoming in its niche fandom here in the West, kaiju have expanded into mainstream popularity,” says Nathan Marchand, host of  The Monster Island Film Vault podcast.

By @grickle@mstdn.social - https://mstdn.social/@grickle/116245351426406913

This feature article from Japan Times includes more perspective on filming in Japan and the cross-Pacific cast.

For decades, Japan had a reputation as a difficult place for international productions to film. But the experience of “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” suggests that perception is beginning to shift.

“It was nice to see how everyone was coming together (and that) Japan is also growing to be a more easily filmable place,” Sawai says.

Ren Watanbe, who plays Kenark Randa, says:

“That's what makes this show original,” Watabe says. “My character, who's authentically Japanese, is bringing that element to the story on a very Hollywood scale. You’ve got Kurt Russell and Kiersey Clemons (alongside myself) and I think that’s a very unique thing.”

Reading through speculation about what the **Monsterverse’s new kaiju Titan X aka Le Gran Dios de la Mar may be (such as the article linked above), it sounds increasingly as though she may be a new protective mother figure, impacted or possibly even responding to the effects of global heating on the oceans.

If so, this season’s Titan threat may put Monarch: Legacy of Monsters in a unique position among current major science fiction streaming shows in directly taking on a Climate Change/Emergency scenario with no gloss of allegory.

It is nonetheless absolutely in keeping with the long tradition of the broader franchise in critiquing the consequences of human actions on the planet.

The 70+ year Godzilla franchise is unique in embedding the impact of humanity on the Earth’s environment from its outset.

The narrative of the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, as well as later nuclear weapons testing and nuclear power plants, calling up kaiju, literally “strange creature”, is a constant within the franchise.

In addition to atomic/nuclear radiation, films such as Godzilla vs Hedorah (1971), with its smog monster, and the more recent Monsterverse film Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019), which ends with Godzilla leading an ecological recovery, the franchise continues to underscore its deep theme that humanity shares the Earth and will bear the consequences for its actions.

Legendary Comics will be releasing a new 120 page graphic novel in mid July 2026.

It’s an official release that promises to offer significant backstory on all of the M:LOM main characters. (I’m personally curious to know more about Kentaro’s adventures between the two seasons.)

The graphic novel is already available for preorder via booksellers. That said, it’s still possible to request to be a late backer for the Kickstarter campaign . Backers at higher tier levels have access to alternate covers and a WĒTĀ Titan Concept Art Portfolio.

From the vendor copy:

Dive into the mystical and mysterious world of MONARCH: LEGACY OF MONSTERS with five new stories in the Monsterverse not seen on TV!

Featuring the most beloved characters from the world of Monarch, this graphic novel is one prequel that fans of the Apple TV show will not want to miss!

From the kickstarter page:

Legendary Comics presents a new graphic anthology that dives deep into the mystical and mysterious world of MONARCH: LEGACY OF MONSTERS.

Features five (5) all-new stories!

THE USS LAWTON AND THE ION DRAGON

Before he became a Monarch operative, Billy Randa faces a harrowing test of endurance against a formidable creature in THE USS LAWTON AND THE ION DRAGON, offering a gripping tale of resilience.

WRITER: Paul Cornell
ARTIST: Drew Zucker
COLORIST: Brad Simpson

KENTARO, HIROSHI, AND KONG

Kentaro, Hiroshi, and Kong embark on a journey that leads to the creation of the Apex base on Skull Island, setting the stage for what’s to come. 

WRITER: Marguerite Bennett
ARTIST: Alberto Sapien

LEE SHAW

During Monarch’s lockdown, Lee Shaw reflects on a key moment from his past. This character-driven story offers a deeper look into his journey and the choices that shaped him.

WRITER: Tony Lee
ARTIST: Tony Shasteen

KEIKO AND THE BRAMBLEBOAR

In a world teeming with mystery and danger, KEIKO AND THE BRAMBLEBOAR Keiko and the Brambleboar follows Keiko as she struggles to survive in the treacherous realm of Axis Mundi, where every encounter is a battle for survival.

WRITER: James F. Wright
ARTIST: Amanda Perez Puentes
COLORS: Eren Angiolini
 

CATE AND MAY

Set before the first season, these interludes provide a glimpse into the lives of Cate and May before they crossed paths with Monarch and each other, offering insight into the events that led them to their fateful encounters.

Creative Team: To be announced

Emmy Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series Award winner Anna Sawai has somewhat suddenly burst into high profile since she was working on filming season one of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters.

She and her M:LOM character Cate Randa unfortunately have taken a lot of fan blowback over season one and the early episodes of season two.

Legendary seems determined to build the Monsterverse with compelling character drama with imperfect heros. They got the same kind of flack for Kong: Skull Island (2017) despite a strong cast and some of their best writing.

It’s being successful in definitely drawing in new fans. One can only be hopeful that there’s enough of a balance with kaiju action to moderate the negativity from long term ones.

It’s interesting to have a major THR interview with Sawai in any event.

Shaw, Keiko, Hiroshi and Kentaro go rogue in an attempt to find Titan X. Cate struggles with feelings of guilt. A buried secret is exposed.

Happy Tuesday! Mild spoilers for this Friday’s episode ahead…

In addition to the episode description, and production stills that tell us little about what might be revealed in an episode titled Secrets, Apple has again released a short teaser clip from the episode. BroadwayWorld is again the first entertainment media site posting the clip

For those who are monster-curious, alternate history buffs, or outright fans of Godzilla and other kaiju, this may be an anthology to your taste.

While most stories are not about kaiju, one of the best, in this anthology of consistently good to great stories, is very much a tale that belongs in the franchise.

Beyond that, like the Titan hunters in the Monsterverse, there are many monsters from many cultures and traditions that could be integrated into the continuity.

I didn’t know what to expect of this anthology, I’d never heard of the editor, Henry Herz, but several science fiction and even some Treklit authors on my auto-buy list were identified as contributors in the early promotional announcements. So, I preordered on spec.

While many science fiction anthologies from independent publishers are uneven, this one has not only no duds, there isn’t a single story that is less than good, some are excellent and potentially classics.

The stories are presented in chronological order, covering the entire theatre of the Second World War, providing a loosely coherent narrative of unseen happenings in between known historical events.

The editor has successfully attracted a diverse range of authors, including ones who write from the perspective of Indigenous and colonized peoples. The book opens and closes with original poems by Janet Yolen. The well known alternate history and science fiction authors have put in the effort with none of the disappointments found in other recent anthologies where some of them seem to be ‘phoning it in.’ One can only credit the editor for holding all these writers to a high standard.

The book itself is physically appealing with an original small pen and ink drawing topping each of the stories.

I’m definitely looking forward to future anthologies Henry Herz will edit. My partner an alternate history buff, who zipped through the book over a weekend once I’d finished my more leisurely read, is ready to autobuy from this editor.

It seems that the reviewer at Locus magazine had a similar assessment in their spoilery review.

Fortunately for Kaiju fans, Herz has co-edited a new Kaiju-specific anthology coming out in hard cover this June from Titanbooks : Big Bad Book of Kaiju: Seventeen city-smashing stories of monsters.

Lee and Keiko investigate a secretive village with a cult devoted to a mysterious creature. Cate crosses paths with a deadly stowaway.

Written by: Dan Dworkin

Directed by: Lawrence Trilling

There is no spoiler protection in episode discussion threads, and spoiler tags are not necessary!

IDW Games is running a (seemingly quite successful) Kickstarter campaign to raise money for an official/licensed GodzillaTTRPG.

Who knew?

From what I can see, IDW’s games line has only done tabletop board games up to now. For this official Godzilla TTRPG, they have engaged established Warhammer 40k game designers, and unsurprisingly have overshot their minimum requirement for pledges. The pledge campaign will run until Thursday, April 2, 2026.

There are various pledge tiers that will provide backers anything from just a digital copy to ones that have a hardbound book and/or a box set, playing cards, playing mat, and even a new sculpt Godzilla figurine.

More is coming from the makers of Godzilla Minus One (2024)!

In addition to the licensed continuity of the Legendary Pictures Godzilla (2014) movie, its sequels and the expansion of the franchise to television on Apple, Toho is investing further in the success of its Oscar winning 2024 retro film.

Godzilla Minus Zero now has confirmed release dates of November 3rd in Japan and November 6th in Canada and the US. As well, an IMAX release has been confirmed.

Spoiler warning

Apple has released a one minute clip from M:LOG 2 x 02 Resonance to keep the first week momentum rolling.

As this post is about the upcoming episode based on the description, publicity photos and this new clip, spoilers and speculation on currently available information are allowed.

There’s a rich history of Godzilla themed games.

Godzilla x Kong: Titan Chasers is a 2024 Monsterverse-licensed game that has announced an official event featuring the new Titan X from Monarch: Legacy of Monsters.

An ancient Titan has risen from a mysterious Rift with a swarm of Scarabs. Monarch needs you to stand with Godzilla & Kong to restore balance to the Siren Isles.

Join The Chase.

Godzilla x Kong: Titan Chasers is available on Android, IOS and PC for purchase through the Google Store, AppStore and Steam.

Wikizilla page for the game.

Lee and Keiko investigate a secretive village with a cult devoted to a mysterious creature. Cate crosses paths with a deadly stowaway.

Release date Friday, March 6, 2026 — actual drop will vary by time zone.

Flix Patrol’s public ranking statistics for Monarch:Legacy of Monsters seems to tell the story of a show that’s a good fit for its platform and performing well.

• an average global rank of 1.9 on Apple, #1 in the US and a widely diverse range of Asian, European, and Latin American countries, but slightly less popular in CANZUK interestingly.

• not performing particularly well on Amazon channels - 9th in the US and 10 th in Germany.

It’s a show that fits Apple’s growing brand of high quality, high budget science fiction that goes beyond established American sci-fi and comic franchises.

Hopefully, this means that we’ll see a third season of M:LOM greenlit soon in addition to the recently announced ‘Lee Shaw in the 80s Cold War’ show.

Wondering how all the Monsterverse and other kaiju narratives and timelines fit together?

Perhaps, like @ValueSubtracted@StarTrek.website you’re interested getting to know more of the franchise? Or, like me, you’ve seen a lot of some production eras, but not the current one that’s turning out to be the longest running since the original Showa films.

With different production companies, creators and writers each having their own take on the universe, some of them licensed to make films and other creations simultaneously, it can be challenging to sort it out.

I found this article helpful for placing movies and television shows in the timeline of the Legendary Pictures Monsterverse. As an aside, it’s worth noting that while many commentators assume that M:LOM’s other place Axis Mundi is the upside down ‘Hollow Earth’ inside our Earth, others note that it may be another dimension or universe.

Monarch's dual storyline spans two distinct time periods. The "present" day storyline takes place in 2017. It follows Cate Randa (Anna Sawai), her half-brother Kentaro Randa (Ren Watabe), their father Hiroshi (Takehiro Hira), hacker May (Kiersey Clemons), and Bill's time-displaced mother and Monarch co-founder Keiko Miura (Mari Yamamoto). The *Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Season 2 premiere picks up in the immediate aftermath of Season 1, with Kong attacking a Monarch base that has been set up on Skull Island after Cate, May, and Keiko returned from the Hollow Earth. In terms of the MonsterVerse timeline, that places Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Season 2:

• 44 years after the events of Kong: Skull Island;(1973).
• Three years after the events of Godzilla (2014)
• Two years after Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Season 1 (2015)
• Two years before the events of Godzilla: King of the Monsters;(2019)

The second storyline details an early Monarch mission, centered on the days of Keiko, Bill Randa (Anders Holmes), and Lee Shaw (Wyatt Russell in flashbacks and Kurt Russell in the present-day storyline). The flashback sequence of episode 1 is set in 1957. This would be about three years after Lee Shaw was officially assigned to work with Monarch following the atomic bomb testing on Godzilla referenced in the first MonsterVerse Godzilla film, and two years before Keiko was lost and dragged to the Hollow Earth in 1959.

Monarch Season 1's flashbacks covered 1952, 1962, 1982, and 2012, and the same is expected for Season 2. Fans are curious if, since Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is bringing Kong in, will the flashbacks detail the years following Kong: Skull Island? While it seems unlikely that Brie Larson and Tom Hiddleston will reprise their roles as Mason Weaver and James Conrad, Monarch can mine plenty of unexplored story between the isolated events on Skull Island and the eventual world-changing events of Godzilla in 2014. One hope is that Monarch Season 2 will tie into the animated series Skull Island.

What the heck - it's Saturday, I don't have other plans, so how about one more?

I found this one to be better-balanced than the 2014 film - it's still a disaster movie, through and through, but it seems to be a little lighter and self-aware than the first one (though not nearly as much as Skull Island).

I admire their restraint in minimizing the amount of "destruction porn" throughout - even as the world was devastated by monsters, you didn't really get to see much of it aside from a few establishing shots of DC. Sadly, a lot of it was set at night or in the dark once again.

I know the laws of screenwriting say Emma has to pay for her crimes, but I wish they'd kept her around rather than have her sacrifice herself. A reformed villain can be a fun toy to keep on the shelf.

The eco-terrorism angle is interesting - it actually reminds me a lot of what the later "Jurassic World" films were attempting to do.

Unfortunately, Alan Jonah didn't really register for me at all as a character. The post-credits scene suggests he'll be a going concern, which...sure, okay.

All in all, a fun watch. It's always good to see Kyle Chandler in things. And the mass destruction seen in the film makes for interesting table-setting for future instalments.

But I think I'm monstered out for one day - I'll continue my journey in the near future.

Godzilla

Okay, I watched this several days ago, and honestly didn't have much to say about it. I enjoyed it, but I found it pretty perfunctory. The most interesting aspect to me was the backstory of the 1950s nuclear tests secretly being attempts to kill Godzilla - fun worldbuilding!

The characters are pretty generic, buoyed by good performances from Elizabeth Olsen and Bryan Cranston, in particular. Ken Watanabe gets the instant classic "let them fight." Unfortunately, I didn't care much for Ford, or Aaron Taylor-Johnson's portrayal of him.

It was fine! I enjoyed it! But not a lot to chew on long-term.

Kong: Skull Island

This one, on the other hand, was a hoot. The movie has personality to spare, taking full advantage of its Vietnam-era setting, from the character archetypes in play to the musical choices. That setting also gives it a little more thematic weight, as the Americans showing up and bombing the crap out of Skull Island sets the film's events into motion.

Kudos to the filmmakers for daring to set a number of the action pieces in daylight - a confident move.

Both movies have a good thoroughline of the MUTOs being fairly amoral, not necessarily "good" or "evil." Between the two Hero Monsters, Kong comes off as smarter and more empathetic, while Godzilla is more of a force of nature.

My biggest complaint? It took me about 20 minutes to figure out why the movie looked so weird before I concluded that it must have been filmed with 3D in mind. I really hate that.

Kaiju incident = asteroid strike ?

That’s not quite what I expected from this article but it’s an intriguing read.

Always a great to see a piece endeavouring to put the science into science fiction for one of the major franchises.

For those who aren’t familiar with Wyatt Russell, who shares the decades-spanning legacy role of Colonel Lee Shaw with his father Kurt Russell in the Monsterverse, this interview is a good introduction.

His ambitions as a professional hockey player (goalie) took him to the European leagues. His more acting career started in indie films but is taking off quite spectacularly across multiple franchises.