Interview: Ryan North Talks Marvel's 'Godzilla vs. Fantastic Four' #1

Godzilla vs. Fantastic Four #1 writer Ryan North understands his assignment. Not only has the creator amassed acclaim and awards for his work on everything from Dinosaur Comics to Squirrel Girl to his recent work on Fantastic Four, North has also brushed up on Marvel's original comics starring the King of the Monsters. We got in touch with North to hear about his road to the upcoming kick-off to the Godzilla vs. Marvel series of six one-shots on March 19. Read on for the full interview.

Godzilla.com: You’re already an experienced, award-winning Marvel and Fantastic Four writer. How did you get involved writing Godzilla vs. Fantastic Four #1?

Ryan North: Quite simply, I was asked by my editor (Mark Paniccia) if I had any interest in Godzilla meeting the Fantastic Four, and never have I replied "yes" to an email so quickly. Sometimes the job of a comic writer is hard, and you're stuck trying to come up with a story and some characters that really sing, and sometimes you have all you need right there in the premise, and it lands in your email with a little "ding".

Godzilla.com: Everyone has a different entry point into the world of Godzilla. What was your first experience with Godzilla and which movies or other media have most shaped your take on the King of the Monsters?

Ryan North: So I was born in 1980, which was before the internet (okay, not TECHNICALLY, but before the web) and, living in a rural area, you took what you could find at the rental store. I was certainly aware of Godzilla through general cultural osmosis, but the first movie I saw in theatres was the American one in 1998. And even as a casual fan I could tell there was so much that was - call it "different" in that American film. It was definitely not the ideal introduction to the character, but even so, there was enough there that, when I was in undergrad, I could seek out better movies in the more-complete rental stores we had in the big city of Ottawa. For me, my two favorite Godzilla movies are the first one in 1954 - a stone-cold classic - and Godzilla Minus One, which to me really made Godzilla feel like this animal, this force of nature. For this comic, it's a period piece, so it's based 100% on Godzilla as it was/is at the end of the 1954 movie.

Godzilla.com: Following up on that last question, what’s your personal favorite Godzilla movie or piece of media? Had you already read the original Marvel run by Herb Trimpe and others before starting this book?

Ryan North: I hadn't read the complete original Marvel run before I started, just bits and pieces! But once we started on this book, I gave myself a tour of Godzilla-in-comics media to be familiar with how Godzilla had been adapted before. I mentioned how Godzilla (1954) and Godzilla Minus One (2023) are my favorites, and considering them now, I think they're both for the same reason: the sense of mystery and menace around Godzilla are really prevalent in both. In the 1954 film, Godzilla is almost unknowable - they're thinking on their toes trying to adapt to it, and it comes out of nowhere - and in the 2023 film it's the same. (I loved how in the 2023 film Godzilla swam like a dog, with just its eyes and snout above water - something impossible to do with the 1954 Godzilla suit - because it really underlined "this is a beast, a monster, and you are nothing before it" to me. For some reason, it made Godzilla feel so real to me!)

Godzilla.com: You’re known for, among other works, Dinosaur Comics. Which of the dinosaurs in Godzilla lore (Godzillasaurus, Gorosaurus, Titanosaurus, etc.) do you think would make capable webcomic protagonists?

Ryan North: Haha, oh my god, all of them. I don't believe there's anyone on the planet who would look at a creature like Godzillasaurus and not think "I would absolutely like to hear more about this monster." That's the thing with the Godzilla from the beginning - all the creatures have incredible names and incredible designs to go with them.

Godzilla.com: Godzilla hasn’t spent much time in Canada. As a Canadian, which locations do you think would suit a proper Godzilla story?

Ryan North: Godzilla hasn't spent much time in Canada, you're right! We've gotten off lucky so far. I think we'd need to limit ourselves to coastal cities to have the best Godzilla adventure (sorry Winnipeg) and I'm thinking either Vancouver (high rises, lots to smash) or Victoria (smaller buildings, but prettier smashing). Plus it's a clear shot from the Pacific Ocean to get there. Okay, you've got me thinking about this story - I think Godzilla emerges from the Salish Sea, makes its way through Victoria, and then confronts Vancouver for the finale.