The Official Godzilla Compendium by J.D. Lees and Marc Cerasini

If The Official Godzilla Compendium had been published a quarter century ago (a non sequitur, of course, as the entire Heisei series didn't exist yet, but just go with me on this) I am quite sure that I would have memorized every last page, diagram and factoid. Instead, it came out in 1998--well past my brain-as-sponge stage--yet my enthusiasm for the subject matter is undiminished. J.D. Lees and Marc Cerasini reward the enthusiasm of G-Fans with the Compendium, a dream document for Godzilla buffs of any age.

Lees sets the table with a characteristically amiable introduction, in which he drills down to the core of our fascination with Godzilla, suggesting that the monster "has come to represent a successful struggle against overwhelming odds, the triumph of good over evil, and an escape from the world of the mundane..."

Then it's on to the movies. Each G-film is summarized and commented upon in a way that is both affectionate and informative. Diehard fans will appreciate the detailed sidebar information which lists release dates, cast, and credits for Japanese and American versions of each film. The commentaries "accentuate the positive" in each film, an approach that is refreshing and appropriate, especially if the Compendium is to serve as an introduction to the world of Godzilla. The authors are well aware that one fan's classic is another fan's turkey--so they elucidate the varied charms of each entry and leave polarizing opinion to other, more specific forums.

The full color pages at the center of the Compendium are a real treat, beginning with the original movie posters, which are exciting and kinetic, with multiple energy rays criss-crossing each other and just about every character from the movie--man or monster--patched into the composition. A fine Arthur Adams illustration compares the height of selected creatures to one another and the U.S. Capitol building. Dark Horse Comics and Random House books are featured, as are stills from the Heisei films.

The Monster Mania section is a compilation of topical articles that range from studied Godzilla analysis (Wardrobe! The Many Suits of Godzilla) to behind-the-scenes reportage (Inside Godzilla and Godzilla's Spare Parts) to hardcore paleontology (A Dinosaur Paleontologist's View of Godzilla) to light-hearted kaiju psychology (Godzilla as a Parenting Tool).
The final section is the self-explanatory Profiles of the Monsters, which is, to my knowledge, the most extensive English-language illustrated survey of Japanese monsters ever assembled. All relevant statistics are presented, including height, weight, powers, movie appearances, and (my favorite category) fight record! If you have ever wondered "Now, what's the difference between Minya, Baby Godzilla, Little Godzilla and Godzilla Junior?" (and, come on--who hasn't?) this section will give you the clarity you need.

The Official Godzilla Compendium is a pitch-perfect celebration of Godzilla's career, as it stood eleven years ago. One can only hope that an updated version might appear in the future, covering the Millenium series with the same eye for accuracy and congenial spirit found here.