Godzilla #21
Published and © by Marvel and Godzilla © Toho, April 1979
Title: “The Doom Trip!”
Synopsis: Mr. Fantastic sends Godzilla back to the Cretaceous, where the King of the Monsters clashes with Devil Dinosaur!
Writer: Doug Moench
Penciler: Herb Trimpe
Inker: Dan Green
Review: Mr. Fantastic might have been the undisputed big brain of the Bronze Age Marvel U, but, dang, he made a lot of iffy decisions. With real-world scientists of the era concerned about the Butterfly Effect, it seems questionable at best to send a giant lizard with nuclear-powered fire breath back in time to potentially breed with dinosaurs. But, hey, this is Godzilla, and the science throughout this issue is all sorts of wonkadoodle. Writer Doug Moench’s work on this series seems geared for a younger audience and it works on that account. Herb Trimpe’s journeyman art is similarly competent.
Grade: B-
Cool factor: Come on now. It’s Godzilla vs. Devil Dinosaur. Do you really need to ask?
Notable: Guest-starring the Fantastic Four.
Collector’s note: According to the Grand Comics Database, there is a 40¢ variant of this issue.
Character quotable: “You must stop fighting each other – both of you! We must fight together – to save the Valley of the Flame!” – Moon-Boy, peacemaker
Editor’s note: This review was written May 17, 2026.
