Mega #1 – Review

Mega #1, from Red 5 Comics on December 15th, 2021, begins an epic tale of destruction as a giant monster is freed from an eons-long sleep to rain down fire and destruction on Brazil. Can the prophetic dreams of a little girl stop the beast before humanity becomes extinct?

The Details

• Written By: Salvador Sanz
• Art By: Salvador Sanz
• Translation By: Leandro Paolini Somers
• Letters By: Martin Casanova
• Cover Art By: Salvador Sanz
• Cover Price: $7.99
• Release Date: December 15, 2021

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Was It Good?

Yes. Yes, yes, yes. MEGA #1 is the type of comic that sites like ours are constantly searching for. We had a similar, positive critique recently for DJINN HUNTER #4 in that the conflict feels massive in scale and scope but the small, personal moments are given equal attention with tons of emotional weight. What makes this comic work well is the complementary pairing of the small story within the big story.

The big story is a refreshing blend of Kaiju monster horror in the same vein as Godzilla, birthed out of ancient lore like something out of a Lovecraft story. The monster design is uniquely alien, and the destruction it causes is world-ending. There’s no playing coy here as the monster arrives onshore and creates destruction that rivals a small volcanic eruption in the heart of the city. The spectacle of it all has a grounded realism that looks like a Godzilla film but played with more realism, closer to films like Cloverfield.

The small story within the big story concerns a small girl whose grandfather has direct ties to the monster’s awakening. The specifics are covered in the next section if you want more details. Sanz nails the innocence and fear of a small child who can’t quite grasp the enormity of what’s happening, even while she plays a pivotal part in the outcome. The girl, Tina, is both brave when she needs to be but still has a (with good reason) fear of the dark, and Sanz depicts her perfectly.

Sanz is also the primary artist in this book, and the synergy between the visuals and writing is darn near perfect. The only minor quibble with the art is the lack of any sound effects, which makes the book feel very quiet during what should be big, loud moments. The only sound you “hear” comes from the character dialog, and while you could make the argument that no sound effects create a surreal atmosphere, it also creates a disconnect that separates the reader from the action.

What’s It About?

[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]

We begin with a young man making a cake in the shape of Antarctica. When he cuts the cake with an ancient-looking ritual knife, the real Antarctica splits open in the same spot, and something monstrous in size and shape emerges from the fissure.

Later we meet Tina and her father as they have a serious talk at the dinner table. Tina’s grandfather left for a research expedition to Antarctica some time ago, and his ship is reported missing. Soon, they leave for a stay over with Tina’s grandmother.

Soon, the monster comes ashore off the coast of Brazil and rains down destruction on the city. It appears to be making some kind of fortified circle around itself as either protection or a nest. During Tina’s visit with her grandmother, she’s visited in her dreams by her missing grandfather. We conclude the issue with an explanation about the cake, the story of the monster’s origin, and Tina receiving a very important task to complete.

Final Thoughts

Mega #1 is a surprisingly weighty story about an ancient monster who awakes wreak havoc on civilization and the little girl tasked with stopping it. Both the grand spectacle of destruction and the quiet moments of a little girl wrestling with the simple fears of a disaster she doesn’t understand are played out with equal perfection. The art, particularly the monster designs, is clean, impactful, and creative.

Score: 9/10

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