IDW’s Godzilla vs. Los Angeles to Benefit Wildfire Relief Charity

Godzilla is well-known for wreaking havoc on the city of Tokyo, but what if the king of monsters turned his attention towards the US? That’s the premise behind Godzilla vs. America, a new series of standalone specials from IDW Publishing and Toho.

After kicking off in Godzilla vs. Chicago #1, the series continues its rampage in April’s Godzilla vs. Los Angeles #1, which features four stories about Godzilla attacking Tinseltown. The book’s creative team includes Gabriel Hardman (Green Lantern: Earth One, Batman: The Brave and the Bold), J. Gonzo (Image Comics’ La Mano del Destino, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Dave Baker (Mary Tyler Moorehawk, TMNT: Black, White & Green), and Nicole Goux (Shadow of the Batgirl).

Of course, some might accuse IDW of being a little tone-deaf with the release of Godzilla vs. Los Angeles #1, given that the city and surrounding regions are dealing with the real-life effects of devastating wildfires. Though this issue has been in development for the better part of a year, IDW recognizes the awkward timing and has revealed that all proceeds from Godzilla vs. Los Angeles will be donated to the Book Industry Charitable Foundation, aiding bookstores and comic shops affected by the fires.

IDW released the following letter to retailers and readers:

To our retail partners and fans,

We hope this message finds you safe and well. IDW Publishing is deeply committed to its community of creators, readers, and retailers. As part of this community, we understand that sensitivity and support are paramount, especially during challenging times.

We are reaching out to address the upcoming release of Godzilla vs. Los Angeles, the next installment in our “Godzilla vs. America” series. Planned since last July, this 40-page anthology features the work of some beloved Los Angeles-based writers and artists and is scheduled to go on sale in April 2025.

We recognize the unfortunate coincidence of our comic’s theme with the recent devastating fires in Los Angeles. “Godzilla,” as a series, has often served as a metaphor for the impact of unprecedented tragedies stemming from human actions or natural causes. It is not our intention to capitalize on these recent events but rather to continue to explore themes that resonate with and reflect the human condition.

To support our community in this difficult time, we have decided to donate all proceeds from the sales of Godzilla vs. Los Angeles to the Book Industry Charitable Foundation (Binc). This contribution will directly aid bookstores and comic shops affected by the fires, helping them recover and rebuild.

We appreciate your support as retailers and partners in bringing stories to life, even when art unintentionally mirrors reality. Through this effort, we can offer some assistance to those impacted by the events in Los Angeles.

Thank you for your understanding and continued readership. Please feel free to reach out with any questions or for further discussion.

“Having been born and raised in LA, I couldn’t be happier to work on a comic packed with some of the city’s most talented cartoonists,” associate editor Nicolas Niño tells IGN. “We’ve got Godzilla fighting giant lowrider mechs, stomping through theme parks, and even a pamphlet on the city’s subway system (yes, LA does have a subway system)! The common theme? Angelenos coming together to fight back against a force of nature. This year’s started out hard for the city and I can’t think of a better way to celebrate Los Angeles than by bringing its biggest challenge yet: The King of Monsters! Plus, all proceeds for this issue are going to support the Binc Foundation’s response to the wildfires that affected the city in January.”

Godzilla vs Los Angeles #1 will be released on April 30, 2025, with a final order cutoff of March 24.

For more on what’s coming up in the comic book world, check out what to expect from Marvel in 2025 and what to expect from DC in 2025.

Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on BlueSky.