Somewhere in tone between Gamma, Godzilla: Half Century War, and Orange is the New Black, “Kaijumax” from Oni Press is the monsters-in-prison dramedy you never thought you needed.
Written and illustrated by Zander Cannon
Welcome to Kaijumax, where the worst of the worst monsters are safely locked away from the human world, whether they be villains, anti-heroes, eco-parables, or nuclear metaphors. Electrogor is ripped away from his family and struggles to determine whom to trust, which gangs to avoid, and when to take on the big man to show you aren’t to be trifled with. Also: the nation of Mecha!
The look of Kaijumax is deceptively bright. From the get-go, it’s a barrage of kid-friendly pastels, throwing into relief a world of clean lines and wide horizons. But wait – Electrogor, a well-meaning father of two, isn’t setting foot on just any island. The guy’s going to prison, and when you share a yard with giant monsters, we’re talking really hard time.
Visually, the guy looks like your favourite Pokémon after a couple of tough breaks. And actually, all the characters fit that description. They’re the same chunky type, like rubber costumes made for a man to fit in, and they’re variously textured, with scales and spikes and chitin of all kinds. Their big frames don’t leave a lot of room for posing, but you’d be surprised at the nuance some of these massive shrugs carry. In any case, Cannon gets across plenty of emotion in the facial expressions. I’m giving you fair warning on this front: following Electrogor’s predicament is going to break your heart.
The monsters’ environment is also portrayed brilliantly. Existing on the same scale as mountains, these guys are always standing under broad open sky; there’s nothing that can dwarf them. The openness of their surroundings makes for a neat contrast to their imprisoned state, while the tininess of the trees and guard stations keeps things in constant perspective. Scanning the background is always a fruitful endeavour; Cannon’s planted plenty of little details to pick up on.
All through, the storytelling is remarkably economical; we mostly take Electrogor’s viewpoint as he encounters friends and foes on the prison grounds. The fact that he’s got such a clear goal (help his family) makes his progress snappy; and the personalities he encounters are memorable. The Creature from Devil’s Creek is in a bad enough spot to bring the tone down to the darkest of the dark; but following on the heels of this encounter, there are some bright spots too. It’s in the character work that the gems of humour come through; the Hellmoth’s tattoos (various light sources) are worth a chuckle on their own, and some of the character designs are so over-the-top that you’ve got to wonder about their origin stories.
The dialogue is pretty on point as well. Mecha-Zonn’s speechifying hits just the right cultish tone (his name will give you a clue as to what his cult’s about); and the warning words of a guard at the very end carry the perfect amount of menace. Listening in on a negotiation involving the worth of various Asian cities is also a delight. Zander Cannon’s clearly given the complexities of the monster-crime underworld a lot of thought, and come up with situations that are, by turns, hilarious and fraught with tension.
The lettering also deserves a nod, partly because the relatively large amount of dialogue feels so effortless, and partly because the lettering style is so visually interesting all through. Electrogor’s speech bubbles crackle with electricity; an eccentric alien’s seem to vibrate. And when the warden transforms into an Ultraman-inspired giant, his words are dashed across the sky like clouds.
“Kaijumax” is one of those really wonderful comics that needs no explanation. It’s unusual; it’s visually appealing; it’s funny; it’s hella dark. Some may find its remixing of other stories and genres derivative, but it’s hard to argue with the fresh, almost breezy, execution. For anyone who’s ever wondered where the monsters go once the rubble settles, “Kaijumax” is skyscraper-tall tale that’s sure to please.
Final Verdict: 9.0 – Buy
