Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters Issue 5

Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters #5 is the fifth issue of IDW Publishing's comic series Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters.

Official solicitation
After last issue's momentous tussle of giants, it's now painfully clear that Armageddon has descended on the human race. The government's bungled attempts the thwart the giant monsters have left an infrastructure in ruin and a nomad society desperately struggling to survive. And also...GIANT MONSTER FIGHTS! Destruction abounds in this issue of Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters, featuring new artist Victor Dos Santos!

Synopsis
In Russia, a scientist loudly exclaims that he knows what the monsters are and where they came from, only to be crushed by a building knocked over by Rodan. In Los Angeles, Godzilla has defeated Anguirus. A surviving civilian frees himself from the rubble and calls out for other survivors. He hears a response and frees another survivor from the rubble. The two decide to look for other survivors, but in the opposite direction of where Godzilla is heading. In Washington, D.C., President Ogden speaks with a general and another advisor about a plan to exterminate Anguirus with poisonous gas while he is weakened. Ogden is concerned that the gas will kill any survivors in Los Angeles, but the others advise him that anyone left in the city remained behind at their own risk, and that any human casualties will be minimal compared to the further destruction Anguirus could cause. Ogden reluctantly signs the order to use the gas.

In Pasadena, California, a family prepares to evacuate because Godzilla is heading in their direction. At the Louvre in Paris, Minette and Mallorie break into a display case holding crowns and steal them for themselves, then leave to show them to Battra. Rodan flies over Russia, pursued by a fighter jet, but leaves Russian airspace and enters Belarus. Back in Los Angeles, the two survivors find Girly Yaya's corpse buried in rubble. Two fighter jets fly overhead and drop shells containing the poisonous gas onto the city, killing the survivors. Anguirus simply stands up on his hind legs, placing his head clear of the cloud of toxic gas. Horrified by this development, the advisor and general argue with each other over whose idea it was. At United Nations HQ in New York City, delegates discuss the state of refugee camps outside of major cities, which are experiencing appalling conditions. A delegate and general agree that the monsters need to be destroyed, but the scientist objects, saying they should not pursue any course of action without further research. The general reports that Rodan is heading southwest, seemingly making a beeline for Battra in Paris.

In Frankfurt, Germany, the German Army mocks the Americans' failed attempt to kill Anguirus and instead launches airborne shells filled with toxic gas into the sky at the approaching Rodan. Rodan claps his wings together and generates a sonic boom that blows the gas back to the ground, killing the soldiers. In Paris, Minette and Mallorie find Battra encased in a cocoon on the Eiffel Tower. Just outside of Pasadena, the family from earlier is caught in a traffic jam. The father, Roger, yells at the other drivers in the traffic jam, only for two thieves to climb onto the back of his truck to steal the family's water. Roger yells at the thieves, but they punch him in the face. Countless people begin fighting in the traffic jam, with one pulling out a gun and opening fire. Godzilla appears over the horizon and begins approaching, then fires his atomic breath at the vehicles and stomps on them. The next morning, Steven Woods comes upon the remains of the vehicles and finds the little girl from the family, Allie, hiding among the ruins. She asks Woods if he is a monster, but he says he is not and introduces himself. He asks where her parents are, but she looks sadly at the ground. Woods responds that he lost his parents too and tells Allie to come with him. He promises her that he will keep her safe and that everything is going to be alright, but Allie responds that she doesn't believe him because her father said the same thing.

Key events

 * Godzilla leaves Los Angeles after defeating Anguirus and begins moving across California.
 * The United States military uses poisonous gas against the weakened Anguirus, but he avoids it by standing upright on his hind legs.
 * The German military tries to use poisonous gas on Rodan, but he reflects it back at the attacking soldiers with a sonic boom.
 * Battra encases himself in a cocoon on the Eiffel Tower.
 * Allie's family is killed by Godzilla, but Steven Woods finds her and takes her under his wing.

Appearances
Monsters Characters Locations
 * Godzilla
 * Rodan
 * Anguirus
 * Battra
 * Ogden
 * Allie
 * Roger
 * Allie's mother
 * Allie's brother
 * Minette and Mallorie
 * Steven Woods
 * Russia
 * Belarus
 * United States
 * California
 * Los Angeles
 * Pasadena
 * New York City
 * France
 * Paris
 * Germany
 * Frankfurt

Trivia

 * Despite being featured prominently on Cover B and the Retailer Incentive cover, King Ghidorah does not appear anywhere in this issue.