Warning: contains potential spoilers for Mothra: Queen of the Monsters #1!

A post-apocalyptic landscape shows just how important Godzilla’s ally Mothra is to Earth. The fan-favorite kaiju Mothra will soon star in her very first ongoing comic series, titled Mothra: Queen of the Monsters, from IDW Publishing. The book introduces a new villain for Mothra, who, in a preview for issue one, kills the beloved icon–leading to a kaiju-infested hellscape where all hope is lost.

Sophie Campbell is best known for a recently concluded run on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, also published by IDW.

IDW shared a preview of Mothra: Queen of the Monsters #1 with AIPT. The book will be written by Sophie Campbell and drawn by Matt Frank. The solicitation for the book reads as follows:

Mothra has fallen after a fearsome battle with a terrifying new kaiju, ANTRA. Without its protector, the world has entered into a state of desolation. Kaiju roam freely, and what remains of humankind has been forced into hiding.

But all hope is not lost! Mira is a young woman living in the wasteland, who believes she lost her entire family in Mothra’s final stand. That is, until her missing twin shows up at her door with two fairies! If her sister is to be believed, Mira might hold the key to the rebirth of Mothra and the Earth’s return to normalcy. They just have to travel back in time and get its egg from the Jurassic period first.

The preview pages, shared below, depict Mothra locked in her epic battle with the terrifying new kaiju Antra, designed to be Mothra’s arch-foe. After Mothra tragically falls in battle, seemingly consumed by Antra, the action flashes forward 15 years, giving readers a tantalizing glimpse at the terrifying world that has sprung up in her absence.

Mothra Was a Trailblazer Among the Kaiju Genre

Mothra Was Decidedly Different From Godzilla or King Ghidorah

Japan-based Toho Studios caught lightning in a bottle with 1954’s Godzilla, throwing open the kaiju genre of films. Godzilla’s success inspired other similar creatures, including the pterodactyl-based Rodan, as well as Mothra, who debuted in her own movie in 1961. In contrast to Rodan, Godzilla or KIng Ghidorah, Mothra was largely benevolent, often coming to humanity’s aid. Be it putting Godzilla in his place or rallying alongside him to fight Ghidorah, Mothra blazed a far different path than her fellow kaiju. Aided by two sisters with whom she had a psychic connection, Mothra was clearly Earth’s champion.

IDW is seizing on the idea of Mothra as Earth’s first line of defense, but the American-based MonsterVerse, produced by Legendary Pictures, has also run with it. Mothra was introduced to the MonsterVerse in 2019’s Godzilla: King of the Monsters, where she seemingly sacrificed herself to revive the King of Monsters after a crushing defeat at the hands of King Ghidorah. Kaiju has a way of returning after their deaths, and no doubt Mothra will return to film soon. While fans wait for Mothra to soar again, IDW makes history with Queen of the Monsters #1.

Mothra's First Solo Comic Opens With Her Death At the Hands of a Terrifying New Villain

How Will Mothra Return from the Dead?

And Sophie Campbell and Matt Frank make the most of this historic moment–by killing Mothra. Campbell and Frank have created Antra, another insect-based kaiju, who is every bit as evil as Mothra is good, and presumably, even more powerful. The fight between Antra and Mothra is destroying an unnamed city, and it culminates in the Queen of Monsters dying a horrifying death. And in her death, Mothra causes the death of many others. Mothra has spent her many lives protecting the Earth from other kaiju, but now that crusade has come to an end.

Various films, produced by both Toho and American studios, have emphasized Mothra’s role in protecting Earth, but Queen of the Monsters #1 drives this point home.

Mothra’s death has left an apocalyptic hellscape behind, one where kaiju threaten to override the planet. Various films, produced by both Toho and American studios, have emphasized Mothra’s role in protecting Earth, but Queen of the Monsters #1 drives this point home. It is fitting that for Mothra’s first solo comic book outing, Campbell and Frank have shown just how important she is by ironically taking her out of the picture. It is a highly effective debut for Antra too, as it manages to do what King Ghidorah could not.

Mothra Was Far More Important Than You Realize

Mira Must Not Only Work Through Her Anger at Mothra--But She Must Work With the Queen of Monsters As Well.

The best Godzilla films show not only unchecked carnage and chaos, but the toll such destruction takes on humans, and the preview for Mothra: Queen of the Monsters #1 does not skimp here either. Mira, the book’s human protagonist, has grown up with a hatred for Mothra, blaming the Queen of Monsters for her family’s presumed death. While Mira’s anger is misplaced, the trauma she is feeling is still very real, and her struggle to overcome it is tantamount to a post-apocalyptic Earth trying to get by without its protector, Mothra.

Source AIPT

Mothra: Queen of the Monsters #1 is on sale March 5 from IDW Publishing!