THE HORROR OF GODZILLA #2 Covers Reveal the Story Behind the First Attack

IDW Publishing has revealed the covers for THE HORROR OF GODZILLA #2, giving readers an early look at the next chapter of its new four-issue Godzilla miniseries.

THE HORROR OF GODZILLA #2 will feature Cover A by series artist Tristan Jones, a Cover B Movie Homage Variant by Jake Smith, and a Variant RI 1:10 Black & White cover by Jones. The issue goes on sale September 16, 2026.

Written by Ethan S. Parker and Griffin Sheridan, with art by Tristan Jones, THE HORROR OF GODZILLA takes readers back to Godzilla’s first attack while exploring the origins of Godzilla’s Kai-Sei Universe. While longtime Kai-Sei readers will find connections to the larger story, the series is built to stand on its own. No prior reading is necessary, making this a clear entry point for anyone picking up a Godzilla comic for the first time.

The newly revealed covers for issue #2 showcase a story where Godzilla’s arrival is seen not as a distant spectacle, but as a terrifying event unfolding at street level. Cover A by Jones connects directly to the series’ core visual identity, while the Black & White variant highlights his linework and texture. Jake Smith’s Movie Homage Variant adds another layer, tying the issue to the long visual history of Godzilla while keeping the focus on this new chapter.

THE HORROR OF GODZILLA #2 continues the story of Godzilla’s first attack while digging deeper into the lives of the two scientists who pushed their experiments too far. As the destruction continues, the issue raises questions of responsibility, guilt, and what people will do when forced to face the consequences of their own actions.

For co-writer Ethan S. Parker, the series is both a major Godzilla story and a deeply personal creative project. “THE HORROR OF GODZILLA is, through and through, a passion project for this entire team,” Parker says. “As writers, Griffin and I are getting to build on some of the most iconic concepts in storytelling, imagining a new beginning for a universe where monsters reign supreme. Then we have the unbelievable pleasure of seeing Tristan Jones bring it all to life like no one else could, with a cinematic sense of scale that looks like the future of comics. While this book is chock-full of easter eggs and mysteries that set up countless other stories in Godzilla's Kai-Sei Universe, it's also a complete standalone, a pulse-pounding horror tale where the killer is a walking mountain. Give it a read and witness the day everything changed.”

Co-writer Griffin Sheridan says the goal is to make the series work both as part of the Kai-Sei Era and as a Godzilla story that stands on its own. “While we wanted to make sure that this was an excellent comic book first and foremost, and while it is part of the larger Kai-Sei story, we also hope that this goes down as an evergreen Godzilla story, across all mediums, regardless of the continuity it exists within,” Sheridan says. “If you have been following along with the Kai-Sei Era, this will provide some great narrative bedrock for everything that comes later. If you are a Godzilla fan, but haven't read any of the Kai-Sei books, hell, if you haven't seen a Godzilla film since 1954, we wrote this for you, too.”

Artist Tristan Jones brings that idea to the page with a focus on scale, terror, and atmosphere. He describes Godzilla as “the most iconic creation of the 20th century,” a character able to capture awe and imagination across eras, languages, and audiences. For Jones, the story by Parker and Sheridan reaches into what makes Godzilla so frightening while exploring parts of a world shaped by Godzilla that are not often brought to the foreground.

THE HORROR OF GODZILLA #1 goes on sale July 29, with pre-orders due Monday, June 15. Pre-ordering is the only way to guarantee a physical copy. THE HORROR OF GODZILLA #2 follows on September 16, 2026, with Cover A by Tristan Jones, Cover B Movie Homage Variant by Jake Smith, and Variant RI 1:10 Black & White by Jones.

Check out the newly revealed covers and get ready for THE HORROR OF GODZILLA as IDW takes readers back to the first attack, where the future of Godzilla’s Kai-Sei Universe begins!

Cover A by Tristan Jones

Cover B Movie Homage Variant by Jake Smith

Black & White Variant Full Art by Tristan Jones