COMIC REVIEW: Godzilla Legends - Mothra: Queen of the Monsters

GODZILLA LEGENDS - MOTHRA: QUEEN OF THE MONSTERS
by Sophie Campbell and Matt Frank
Available now

You may have noticed the sheer number of new Godzilla comics hitting the shelves, in part because I've been reviewing (and will continue to review) quite a few of them. But as much as I love the King of the Monsters, my heart will always belong to the Queen. And fortunately for myself and fellow fans, Mothra has her own new comic that's as exciting to read as it is beautiful to look at.

First things first, this comic has a dream team in charge. Sophie Campbell, whose comic credits include writing and art for Jem and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, is in the writer's chair for this one. Penning the art is Matt Frank, whose name should be extremely well known to kaiju fans. (I discovered him through his recent Gojiham collab artwork and have loved everything else I've seen him do.) The result is a story that treads new ground while still being evocative of classic Mothra stories.

The story takes place after the fall of Mothra in a battle against Antra, a fearsome new foe. As humanity struggles to survive, Mira discovers that there may be hope when her twin sister Emi, whom she believed to be dead, returns with news. Together, the two may have the power to bring Mothra back. But they'll have to work together, which isn't easy considering the literal and personal distance that has grown between the two.

Mothra: Queen of the Monsters is a beautiful story of the bonds of family, but also a good old-fashioned epic kaiju fight. If the names attached to this title have gotten your hopes up, good: they both deliver. This is an absolutely gorgeous comic, and a worthy story for the Queen of the Monsters.

TEA PAIRING: Radiate Positivity
Training to resurrect Mothra and save the human race takes a lot of energy. This wellness blend, featuring yerba mate and ginseng, might just help you get on track to conquer your own monsters. Use my code KARA15 for 15% off this and other blends from Chapters Tea & Co.!

MANGA REVIEW: Scavengers Another Sky

 

SCAVENGERS ANOTHER SKY
by Ryo Furube
Available January 27

Toto may look tiny and adorable, but she has a serious job. She's a Scavenger: a girl trained since early childhood to go on dangerous interdimensional missions to gather salvage and fight off strange monsters. The result is a mix of quantum mechanics, military action, and unexpected moments of cuteness.

Volume 1 of Scavengers Another Sky throws readers right into the action as Toto and her partner Hana dive into a BP, or Black Parade: an alternate dimension that, at least on these early occasions, bear a striking resemblance to Earth locations of the past. However, BPs can look surreal and even defy the laws of physics. It all depends on the entity at its center, who's dead set on ensuring that its treasures aren't scavenged. But with Toto angling to rack up a cool million, the fight is on.

An afterword points out that the team behind Scavengers Another Sky is made up of military otaku, and it shows. But you don't have to love military action to find this series fascinating. The worldbuilding, shown through action and divulged in between-chapter notes, is on a level with the alternate-universe science of Gunbuster. Scavengers use quantum superposition to travel to their alternate dimensions: entering a closed-off space like Schrödinger's hypothetical cat, then being brought back by the home team opening the "box" and observing their presence. Fail to get back to your starting point by Observation, and you could be stranded for minutes in our dimension, but days in the BP.

Scavengers Another Sky dips into so many specialized fields to build its world, but never leaves readers feeling overwhelmed. Everything comes together surprisingly smoothly, and this first volume hints at a deeper, darker world yet to be explored. I really hope this series gets much more attention in the West.

TEA PAIRING: Wonderland Tea Party

Somewhere between the topsy-turvy nature of the BP and Hana's comment that Toto smells like marmalade, this Alice in Wonderland-themed blend felt like a perfect fit. Use my code KARA15 for 15% off this and other tea blends from Chapters Tea & Co.!

MANHWA REVIEW: Revenge of the Baskerville Bloodhound, Vol. 1

REVENGE OF THE BASKERVILLE BLOODHOUND, Vol. 1
by TO WALK(REDICE STUDIO) and S.arang
Available January 20

Don't get ahead of yourselves: this is not another Sherlock Holmes retelling. The title, while eye-catching, is incidental. Revenge of the Baskerville Bloodhound is a manhwa adaptation of the novel series by the amazingly pen-named Step on a LEGO, and it's the latest time-rewinding revenge story. That in and of itself will give you a good idea of if this is for you or not.

Vikir Von Baskerville is the illegitimate son of Hugo Le Baskerville, patriarch of a family known for its sword skills and frankly unhinged traditions. After 40 years marked by grueling training from babyhood to defeat demons, the loyal Vikir is beheaded by his own father. But that's not the end — he reawakens as a baby, retaining all the memories of his past life.

With a chance to start over, Vikir puts all his past memories to work, fighting his way through martial and magic training to stand out among his siblings and half-siblings. As the first volume comes to a close, he's already considered a prodigy at his young age. But will it be enough to change his future?

Revenge of the Baskerville Bloodhounds is one of an increasing number of "do-over" stories rising in popularity, especially in the world of light novels and web novels. And it does hit all the marks of a fantasy-flavored one of these: executed, reawakens as a baby instead of dying, etc. Vikir's story is not a twist on the trope, nor is it (so far) head and shoulders above other stories like it. But it's still a fun read.

S.arang's art is gorgeous, and the aesthetic alone will reel in many readers. It's a gorgeous color edition, and visually, it's very engaging.

If you're not familiar with or not into stories of this type, something a little more upbeat like Tearmoon Empire might be the place to start. But if this is a subgenre you already love, dive right in.

TEA PAIRING: Headless Horseman
This manhwa's visuals give me big autumn and Halloween vibes. This Sleepy Hollow-inspired tea, with notes of pumpkin and autumn spice, is a perfect fit. Use my code KARA15 for 15% off this and other teas from Chapters Tea & Co.!

COMIC REVIEW: Godzilla: Heist

GODZILLA: HEIST
by Van Jensen and Kelsey Ramsay
Available January 13

One of my favorite things about Godzilla (and kaiju in general) in modern comics has been reinvention. The best new stories understand that giant monsters are less about their own lore and more about serving as a backdrop for human stories. Godzilla in particular is emblematic of everything from war to environmental issues, depending on who's steering the story. Seeing new stories comprehend this and run with it is super rewarding.

Doubly rewarding if, for instance, the story Godzilla is appearing in is a cool London-based heist.

Godzilla: Heist is exactly what it says on the tin, at least at first. The story follows Jai, who has a very special ability: he knows how to summon Godzilla. This is especially handy if you need some kind of major cover for, say, a heist. Everyone will have eyes on the monster, rather than what you're doing. And who's going to suspect someone of orchestrating a kaiju attack?

Well, someone has noticed, putting Jai in a sticky situation. But he has one last heist to pull off: the biggest yet. And once it becomes apparent what Jai is after, long-time fans of the Godzilla films will be equal parts surprised and delighted.

Artistically speaking, Kelsey Ramsay does a great job melding a rough-and-tumble art style with a really well drawn 'zilla. Neither feels out of place with the other. And as much as I'd like to compliment a very specific artistic rendering in the comic, that's a huge spoiler. So suffice to say there's something else fans will love later on.

Godzilla: Heist strikes a balance between being a good Godzilla story and being a compelling human story. Without the latter, you've just got a disaster movie. Which is fine, but it's so much better to see new generations of writers and artists place the King of the Monsters at the center of evolving stories.

TEA PAIRING: Poet's Study
A big heist needs a strong drink beforehand, and Poet's Study is that. This is my absolute favorite Earl Grey, with plenty of bergamot for those of you who like it super-strong. Use my code KARA15 for 15% off this and more teas from Chapters Tea & Co.!

MANGA REVIEW: 3 Minute Bodyguard Yoko-chan, Vol. 1

3 MINUTE BODYGUARD YOKO-CHAN Vol. 1
by Susano Hara and Sakamoto Shino
Available January 13

José is a rich kid with problems: specifically, he's targeted by thugs and bullies after the fortune he's set to inherit. The good news is, he's hired top-tier bodyguard Yoko-chan to protect him. The bad news? Thanks to her high price, even this rich boy can only afford her for three minutes a day!

The result is an action-packed gag manga in short but sweet chapters, usually (but not always) centered around those three minutes when Yoko-chan is protecting José before she goes back off the clock. She's no-nonsense and not to be trifled with... but, like all good freelancers, when she's off work she's off work. Usually she can finish her work in that timeframe, but sometimes she ends up leaving José in a tricky situation.

All of that is fun enough for, say, a one-shot. But where manga like these sink or swim is when it comes time to evolve the concept for future chapters. Even the funniest joke only holds for so long. Fortunately, 3 Minute Bodyguard Yoko-chan knows where that line is, and steps up the story as needed. After several rounds of rescue, José decides he'd like to spend some time with his fearless bodyguard minus the fighting. Now, he has to figure out how to call her in for those precious three minutes per day (or perhaps more!) when his life isn't on the line. And the result is adorable.

3 Minute Bodyguard Yoko-chan joins the ranks of surprisingly wholesome action series alongside SPY x FAMILY, Kill Blue, and Sakamoto Days. It's a much lighter read than any of these, with speedy chapters that fly by apace with Yoko-chan's workday. If you want something funny, uplifting, and easy to get into, you won't be disappointed.

TEA PAIRING: Radiate Positivity
A bright, uplifting green tea with lemongrass and peppermint, this steep has the same vibe as José and Yoko-chan's fast-paced adventures. Use my code KARA15 for 15% off this and other book-inspired teas from Chapters Tea & Co.!

BOOK REVIEW: Winnie-the-Pooh 100th Anniversary Edition

WINNIE-THE-POOH: 100th ANNIVERSARY EDITION
by A.A. Milne, illustrated by Ernest H. Shepard
Available now

There is no such thing as a truly universal shared literary experience, but Winnie-the-Pooh may be as close as we get. Milne's children's stories, inspired by his son Christopher Robin, have jumped from the printed page to nearly every conceivable medium. I myself grew up on a blend of the original stories, the Disney animated features, and the Disney Channel series Welcome to Pooh Corner. While the aesthetic may change from era to era, the story itself is timeless.

2026 marks the 100th anniversary of the original Winnie-the-Pooh book; to that end, we now have a small, but lovely, centennial printing of both this first collection and 1928's The House at Pooh Corner. This paperback bind-up is the perfect size for small hands to hold while reading, while still being a nice readable size for older fans. Rather than a hardcover edition, this is a bind-up paperback with a flocked yellow cover, featuring artwork of Pooh and one of his beloved hunny jars on the front.

Of course, the book has all of Ernst H. Shepard's original drawings, sprinkled across the pages in black and white. Re-reading these stories reminded me how beautifully the words and images played together, rising up alongside trees or rolling around between hunny pots. This might also be an opportunity for younger readers who are only familiar with the Disney designs to see how Pooh, Piglet, and the rest looked.

Obviously, you don't need me to tell you these are fantastic books. We all know it. But re-reading them is an experience. To some degree I remembered the major stories: Pooh choosing between a green and blue balloon to float up to a beehive, Eeyore appreciating his popped balloon and empty pot, even Tigger's affinity for extract of malt. But reading Milne's words again as an adult gives a degree of context we never got as a child. There's a beautiful comprehension of the child's mind blended with deadpan humor, a conversational storytelling style (I'd forgotten he ends one story by saying he's tired and he thinks he'll finish now), and little bits of business that absolutely went over my head as a kid concerning difficult school lessons. The very last story in The House at Pooh Corner is bittersweet in retrospect. As Christopher Robin mourns that he will not be around to play as much, barely stopping himself from voicing his fear of changing as a person, you can feel Milne's own mix of pride and sorrow at his son growing up.

I'm not saying anything new to an intelligent reader, of course. There's a reason these stories have stayed with us for a century. But it's an occasion for those of us who vaguely remember Pooh's adventures as cheerful summer outings or excuses to buy Disney memorabilia to really dig into everything these stories are trying to tell us. It's such a small book with such a soft cover, but it's so full of feelings.

TEA PAIRING: Strawberry Farms
As much as I love a bold, strong black tea, this blend inspired by children's books feels like a far better fit. The berries and yerba mate would go well with one of Pooh's lunches of honey and condensed milk. Use my code KARA15 for 15% off this and other teas from Chapters Tea & Co!