Guest writer, Eric Elliott, goes behind-the-scenes of the upcoming fan comic: Batman Meets Godzilla
I grew up during one of the best times for comics, back in the mid-80’s. Titles like Alan Moore’s Watchmen and Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns pushed the boundaries of what the art form could be, expanding comics into true literary works. While at the same time, Keith Giffen’s Justice League bounded with as much fun and energy as any in comic’s history. It was an embarrassment of riches!
My friends and I spent hours dissecting and discussing the latest issues and artists. We eventually started creating our own comics. But with distribution being what it was in the 80’s, our comics never made it to the racks. So it’s always been on my bucket list to publish a comic. When I got the chance to work on two of my favorite properties, I leapt at the chance.
My connection to Batman runs deep. I grew up on the 1960’s TV series that was in syndication at the time. Although the TV series ended almost ten years earlier, toys based on the show still lined the shelves of TG&Y’s and Kmart’s across the country.
Mego’s line of superhero toys, as well as an animated series voiced by the TV series cast, also kept the Dynamic Duo relevant.
Sea World even had a DC heroes water show which I was thrilled to see on a family vacation.
My connection to Godzilla was equally strong. In 1978, Hanna-Barbera produced a cartoon featuring the King of the Monsters and his child friendly, side kick, Godzooky. I lapped it up with a bowl of Fruity Pebbles every Saturday morning.
If that wasn’t enough, Mattel produced one of the greatest Godzilla toys of all time, the Godzilla Shogun Warrior. The fist-shooting replica was the highlight of Christmas 1979.
The Lost Project
Cut to 2019. Batman historian and graphic designer, Chip Kidd, appears on Gilbert Gottfried’s Amazing Colossal Podcast (Episode 264). I perk up when the topic of an unproduced, crossover movie featuring Batman and Godzilla is discussed.
A little internet research reveals that in the late 1960’s, Batman Meets Godzilla was a real possibility. Following the success of King Kong vs Godzilla, Toho Co kicked around a number of ideas for the next Godzilla movie, including Frankenstein Meets Godzilla. At the same time, the Batman TV series lit up the airwaves around the world with it’s technicolor, comic book action.
The only evidence of the Batman Meets Godzilla
project is a movie treatment that resides in the William Dozier Collection (Batman
TV series producer) at the University of Wyoming’s American
Heritage Center. Fellow Gottfried listener, Brian Richard, posted to the
Facebook group, requesting help retrieving the treatment. I signed on
immediately. A few days later the University of Wyoming sent me a scan of the
treatment.
The Dozier Treatment
The treatment features a mad scientist named Finster who holds Japan ransom by threatening various weather catastrophes. Commissioner Gordon and his daughter Barbara are swept up in the plot when their passenger ship is pummeled by a tidal wave in Tokyo Bay. From there, it’s only a call to Batman and Robin to set the story in motion.
Godzilla appears in the treatment as Finster’s weapon. Turns out, the mad scientist wasn’t actually controlling the weather but a giant, atomic monster. Godzilla gets to destroy large portions of Japan while the Dynamic Duo play catch-up with Finster.
The scenes between Batman and Godzilla are few but memorable, including a bullet train ripped apart by the monster.
A story this fun and crazy deserved to be made!
Project Batzilla
I started Project Batzilla to resurrect the lost movie. I hoped to:
- 1. Create a fan made comic adaptation that satisfied both fans of Godzilla and the Adam West Batman.
- 2. Use the project as a vehicle to promote the artists and writers who contributed to the comic.
To be honest, I wasn’t sure if there would be enough fans of both franchises to write and draw the comic.
Once I had a draft of the script, I posted to multiple Facebook groups seeking volunteers for the project. Over the next week, more than twenty fans volunteered to help write or draw the first issue.
I was floored by the talent that came onboard the project. We had writers and artists from all over the world including Batman and Godzilla experts. Psycho Drive-in’s own Paul Brian McCoy helped shape the script. With that kind of enthusiasm, I knew the project was going to be special.
One of the unique things about this project is that we used Facebook to manage all aspects of the the project. We used writer’s room posts to polish the script. We used polls to select the best villain designs and fonts to use in the comic. The artists also posted their prelim and final art. Experts chimed in to keep us on track, whether it was adjusting a logo or getting the dialogue right. The whole project has been a team effort. While not perfect, Facebook made a decent collaboration space.
In addition to to Facebook, I created weekly blog posts on www.batmanmeetsgodzilla.com, spotlighting the talent on the project. You can meet all the contributors here.
Can the Caped Crusader defeat the King of Monsters?
We are hard at work finishing up issue one. Seven artists and a letterer are completing the artwork with the aim of releasing issue one by the end of February 2020.
Now we need your help getting the word out. Follow us on Twitter or like us on Facebook and you’ll have a chance to win prizes like Batman Meets Godzilla t-shirts and other prizes.
Eric Elliott is an author and blogger. His instructional book, iPadimation, was an iTunes best seller and classroom favorite. Keep up with his latest projects on Twitter.