Godzilla got some crazy upgrades in 2025, thanks to a tour de force return to Marvel Comics. As IDW Publishing has revitalized its Godzilla comic line, the King of the Monsters also returned to Marvel for a series of stories that alternately paired the Kaiju with and pitted him against Marvel’s top heroes.
Part of Marvel’s big move for Godzilla involved endowing the Kaiju with the powers of various Marvel heroes, from a massive Iron Man suit to a mash-up with Wolverine.
If Marvel Godzilla comics are always adapted, for example in an animated feature film, the looks listed here should definitely appear in some form.
“Hulk Z”
Appears in: Godzilla vs. Pontoon #1, written by Gerry Duggan; Art by Daniele Orlandini
Godzilla teams up with Hulk? Name a more iconic duo. Despite the Godzilla vs Hulk The one-shot title teases a showdown between the two heavy hitters, their big moment together actually came when Hulk saved Godzilla’s life and transferred some of his powers to the already powerful Kaiju, the same way he empowered She-Hulk.
“Now it’s Godzilla’s turn from SMASH“, the caption declared as Marvel unveiled “Gamma Godzilla”, or “Hulk-zilla”, if you will, for the first time. It was a stunning blend of Godzilla and Marvel history, which would result in an incredibly satisfying climax for an animated or live-action film bringing the franchises together.
“Cosmic Godzilla”/”Surfer-Zilla”
Appears in: Godzilla vs. Fantastic Four #1, written by Ryan North; Illustration by John Romita Jr.
Godzilla’s next upgrade came courtesy of the Silver Surfer. In Godzilla vs. the Fantastic FourMarvel’s First Family managed to stop a classic Godzilla rampage through New York, before the arrival of a Galactus-empowered King Ghidorah forced them to team up. The timely arrival of the Surfer, who transferred his powers to Godzilla, turned the tide in their favor.
It’s an incredible image: Godzilla surges with Cosmic Powers, roaring as blue energy bursts from his jaws. The non-canonical status of Godzilla vs.. A series of one-shots allowed Marvel to hold nothing back and explore the craziest potential ways to integrate the King of the Monsters into the Marvel Universe.
“Iron Man-Zilla”
Godzilla destroys the Marvel Universe Variant #3 cover by Dave Wachter
Part of the fun of Marvel Godzilla vs. The sets were the multiple variant covers commissioned by Marvel for this special occasion. Many of these covers envision mergers of classic Marvel characters with the iconic Kaiju. One of the most notable designs was Dave Wachter’s vision of Godzilla fully encased in Iron Man’s armor.
It’s an incredible sight, one that could strain credulity if it occurred in a story, but as a singular image it’s incredibly memorable. The sight of Godzilla powering Iron Man’s blasters while stomping through the rubble of a major city with mechanized feet is over-the-top in the best way.
“Thing-Zilla”
Godzilla destroys the Marvel Universe Variant Cover #1 by Dave Wachter
Dave Wachter delivered another instantly iconic Marvel x Godzilla mash-up with his variant cover for Godzilla destroys the Marvel Universe #1: “Thing-Zilla”. That is, a version of Godzilla with the rocky orange skin of Fantastic Four’s the Thing. This fusion notably serves to highlight what makes the two characters’ designs so enduring.
Applied to the imposing King of the Monsters, the visually exciting quality of the Thing’s appearance is brought into sharp relief. At the same time, it doesn’t quite look right for Godzilla, emphasizing how the Kaiju’s lizard-green exterior is a vital part of his character, one to play with, but never permanently replaced.
“Wolverine-Zilla”
Godzilla destroys the Marvel Universe Variant #4 cover by Dave Wachter
Dave Wachter strikes again. This amalgam variant cover adds a touch of Wolverine to Godzilla’s look, and the effect is hilariously understated. Here, Godzilla is gifted with Wolverine’s iconic claws, but any fear this might evoke is seriously undermined by the merging of Wolverine’s face with the Kaiju’s usually fearsome face.
Naturally, Godzilla doesn’t need Wolverine’s claws to wreak havoc, but the sheer whimsy of the characters mixed together is what makes him unforgettable. “Wolverinezilla” is probably the longest upgrade to appear in an MCU adaptation…even if it feels like something of the future. dead Pool the film could be a challenge.
“Ghost Rider Godzilla/Godzilla of Vengeance”
Godzilla destroys the Marvel Universe Variant #2 cover by Dave Wachter
As if there wasn’t enough proof that he’s the undisputed master of “Marvelized” Godzilla creations, take a look at another one of Dave Wachter’s creations. Godzilla destroyed blankets. This time, the King of the Monsters is possessed by Marvel’s “Spirit of Vengeance,” immediately making him the most dangerous Ghost Rider ever.
The design is nightmarishly cool, encasing the Kaiju in black armor, with only his flame-engulfed skull exposed, jaws open in a roar as frightening as the fire that consumes him. It’s a breathtaking look, one that pushes the boundaries of what Marvel could do with Godzilla as much as any concept art created for the monster’s rampage throughout Marvel’s history.
“Venom-Zilla”
In Godzilla vs. Spider-Man #1, Marvel delivered something fans were asking for: “Venom-zilla.” The Venomized version of Godzilla began as a variant cover design, before eventually being fully realized in the one-shot crossover comic. In the issue, Godzilla’s piercing roar separates Peter Parker and the symbiote, drawn to the much more powerful host.
The pairing doesn’t last long, as Godzilla rejects the symbiote’s negative influence…this time. The door is now open to future stories exploring Venom-zilla’s full potential, whether as a villain or an anti-hero. The symbiote/Kaiju pairing is also perhaps the most natural fit for the canon Marvel Universe, meaning it could become official at some point in the future.
“Fuck-Zilla”
Godzilla destroys the Marvel Universe #5, written by Gerry Duggan; Art by Javier Garón
A venomized Godzilla is dangerous enough, but Godzilla fused with the Ur Knull symbiote is as unstoppable a force as any cosmic being in the Marvel Universe. The King of the Monsters and the King in Black make a terrifying couple, who could be a dominant and dangerous presence in Marvel history.
“Knull-zilla” is unstoppable at night, and it’s a truly worthy upgrade for Knull, as much as it is a villainous reinterpretation of Godzilla. Like Venom-zilla, Knull-zilla could be incorporated into the Marvel canon at some point, although arguably Godzilla deserves to stand alone as a character when he joins mainstream Marvel continuity.
- Release date
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November 3, 1954
- Runtime
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96 minutes
- Director
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Ishirō Honda
- Writers
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Ishirō Honda, Shigeru Kayama, Takeo Murata, Tomoyuki Tanaka, Eiji Tsuburaya
- Producers
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Tomoyuki Tanaka
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Akira Takarada
Hideto Ogata
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Momoko Kochi
Emiko Yamane
