Godzilla All Around

Fun with Japanese Imports

Today and tomorrow are turning out to be interesting days. Actually I suppose this past week and tomorrow kinda since Godzilla hit the theaters last week, I read through Godzilla: Half Century War from IDW, and tomorrow I’m gonna watch Ohtani take the plate against a fellow Japanese import.

Godzilla Devastates Japan

Godzilla: Half Century War #1 Part 1 of 5 by James Stokoe and Heather Breckel.  Published by IDW Publishing, 2012.
Since I was a kid, I’ve loved Godzilla stories and it’s nice to see that he’s still around stomping Tokyo and causing chaos with the Japanese Defense Forces. In this issue though, we learn of a new experimental weapons project put together specifically to deal with threats to Japan like the one Godzilla poses. The Anti Megalosaurus Force (AMF) is populated by volunteers who’ve experienced the destruction of the King of the Monsters first hand and some have even figured out ways to deal with him (sorta). I’m looking forward to Reading the rest of this limited series to see if these guys can figure out a way to at least contain or control the radioactive lizard.

Another Colossal Japanese Battle

While the Godzilla comic looked at a war that has been ongoing for decades, in baseball there’s another Japanese battle that is just getting started. Chances are pretty strong that Shohei Ohtani will face off against Yusei Kikuchi tomorrow in the first of what will most likely be many showdowns in the AL West.

While Shohei won Rookie of the Year last year for the Angels, Seattle signed Yusei at the start of this season. They both went to the same high school in Japan and while they were supposed to face off earlier this season, things didn’t workout in Seattle. This time around, both players are healthy and ready to go.

It won’t be the first time they’ve met since they played against each other in Japan though. Sure, it was only 2 games but they each have a bit to talk about. In their first meeting, Kikuchi struck out Ohtani twice as the rookie went down 0–2. In the second meeting, Shohei seemed to have learned a bit since he was able to smack 2 hits, including a double off the left hander. Kikuchi still managed to pick up a strike out during the matchup so the stats stand at 2–5 with a double and 3 strike outs.

It may not be epic on the level of Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah yet, but since both players are competing in the AL West there will be plenty of opportunity for dramatics over the next few years.

It’s a Wrap

So while Godzilla won at the box office last week and hopes to continue it’s good showing this weekend, we get to see a bit more of from Japan as we move other media. I’m really looking forward to the baseball game and as for the comic, I think it’s a lot of fun.

Ramble #27 | Godzilla All Around