I love Godzilla and Kaiju so I was excited to try GAEA-TIMA and I have to say I was not disappointed. I’ve already preordered this series and I love the concept so far. Miyako is such a great protagonist so far and I love the mixture of action, adventure and science fiction. This is a must read for fans of Kaiju and Godzilla it has everything you could wish far and more.

As always thank you to Kodansha Comics for the advanced copy to review, my reviews are always honest and freely given.

I requested and received this book from NetGalley. My opinions are my own.

"Gaea-Tima The Gigantis" has the potential to be an amazing series. This was such an good opening for the series. I'm left with so many questions and I worry for the future of the characters.

This series could pack a truly heart wrenching puch. That is not to say that it doesn't/won't have lighter moments as there were a few in this volume. It just also touches on a few darker subjects communities bouncing back after tragedy, bodily autonomy, and the fear of new threats.

Something that hit me almost immediately was the way people became grateful for the cause of the tragedy. Rather than being grateful for the power of their community they were grateful for Gaea-Tima.

Anither moment that hit me like a truck happens in "Episode 4: Welcome to Fune". It's in regard to bodily autonomy and Miyako. I won't go into details but you will know when you read it.

I'm want to continue this series. I need to know what's going to happen. This volume ends on a cliffhanger (like most manga). And I have so many questions. Like: What is going to happen with that crazy fisherman? Why is everything happening now? Will they make real life Gaea-Tima merch? Regardless. I'm excited for the next volume 2! Even if this series is going to give me nightmares. (Because big monsters in the ocean is my nightmare fuel).

If you're a fan of Kaiju and are looking for a fresh take on the genre, this manga may very well be what you're looking for.

The story is off with an attack on Miyako's hometown by the kaiju Gaea-tima. She survives and, ten years later, has developed a complex relationship with the kaijiu. Their attack destroyed the town, but the aftermath helped the town folk thrive financially.
All of a sudden, the town experiences an increase in Kaiju activity. Gaea-tima makes a reappearance, but surprisingly, they seem to be protecting the town this time around.

Because this is the first volume, the pacing is a little slower. I don't mind that, persoon. my preference for manga worldbuilding is getting to know the characters and the issues at hand. We don't have to wait a long time for things to start getting adventurous, and I was bummed when I hit the end of the volume before I'd realised! This is definitely a series that I'll be continuing to follow.

Thank you Net Galley for providing me with an arc of this book. This was just a good time for any Godzilla or Kaiju fan. I hope there will be more like it.

PpI received an ARC though NetGalley for an honest review.

This was a really interesting opening volume that seems to combine Godzilla, Attack on Titan, and maybe Pokemon? with a monster of the week.

Gaea-tima is the kaiju thr that absolutely isn't Godzilla. It appeared in the past, caused mayhem, death, and destruction, but following it's disappearance the fishing became spectacular and the town thrived. Now kaiju are attacking the port again and Gae-tima saves the day in classic Godzilla fashion. Unlike Godzilla, Gaea-tima is inextricably linked to the the protagonist in a bizarre manner that will likely be explored in further volumes.

This is a fun take on kaiju with some really cool designs and I'm intrigued to see more, but it didn't quite knock my socks off.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this manga in exchange for my honest opinion!

The blurb that drew me in: "A gigantic monster returns to the town it ravaged years earlier in this poignant kaiju manga from the creator of the hit series Colorless. In the spirit of the classic Godzilla and Godzilla Minus One, GAEA-TIMA combines thunderous action and character drama with the social conscience and thematic complexity of the genre's post-war roots."

In the past couple of years, I have developed a HUGE love and appreciation for different kaiju monster media, the biggest (and best) of these being the King of Monsters himself: Godzilla! So when this new manga was likened to recently released Godzilla movies, you know I had to apply to try for an advanced copy to read. AND.....that blurb was so right! It really does have the classic kaiju feel to it, complete with amazing battle sequences, as well as a very likeable FMC and plenty of interesting side characters too. There's a good mix of humor and serious moments in the manga, and I can't wait to see where the story goes from here!

I’m actually quite intrigued by this manga thanks to Netgalley and Publisher.

I thought it was going to be a wanna-be Godzilla and King Kong generic cringe but actually it’s decent enough. The monsters and the characters are really interesting like the art really stands out here, especially with the action scenes.

It’s not often that you see decent action series folks so again, I’m pretty impressed by this manga!

I'll give this 3.5⭐

I think the story has a lot of potential but we didn't get any details yet. I think the art was good and the storyline is interesting but I was a bit confused because of the lack of dialogue and text. I would continue the story and hope it gets better from here.

Published by Kodansha and available April 29, 2025, GAEA-TIMA the Gigantis immediately caught my eye with the description "In the spirit of the classic Godzilla and Godzilla Minus One" (I've mentioned my love of Godzilla before and Godzilla Minus One is one of my top favorite movies). It also reminds me of the movie Pacific Rim, which involves kaiju becoming a part of life and commercialized in their absence. Design-wise, the kaiju remind me of the monsters from the Gamera series. GAEA-TIMA focuses on how the human characters respond to the kaiju-- fascination, fear, a desire to exploit-- and makes the reader think how they would react. While the situation isn't one our world actually faces (though I wouldn't put it past reality at this point) but kaiju have always been allegorical. I think kaiju are experiencing a media renaissance (especially in manga thanks to Kaiju No. 8). I think this is a good start, if a little derivative of KN8.

I was a little skeptical when this was compared to Godzila Minus One, because hype for new move aside, that's my second favorite Godzilla film behind the original because of the kind of story it choses to tell while using Godzilla. So far, the comparisons stand strongly, but in their own way. Gaea-Tima carries the same kind of "kaijuu as trauma/ survivor" metaphor narrative that I personally, really like with this sort of story. In the ten year gap. the great monster has even managed to become a local mascot. And then he comes back, and that's when things start to get even more narratively interesting. If you like big monsters with substance, don't sleep on this one!

Ok, so this is yet another one of the Godzilla retreads that we see from time to time. The creature is out there, connects with the character, and for reasons unknown (there are often things left unexplained that hurt the story), this dude is available to her so that when she gets his little statue wet, ZING! He turns into a big monster and creates chaos and havoc. Why? We still don't know. Sort of reminds me of Gremlins, but he can get wet at any time and grow into a nightmare, not just after midnight. There is no real connection between the characters and me, so a story like this is one more forgettable one that I will soon not remember. I thought the art was good, and a potentially good story line, but it depends on all the other stories that have gone on before it.

first thought? godzilla
this as a lot of similarities with a lot of Mangas of this genre, so if you enjoy this type of genre you will like this one

I was not expecting the “mommy” aspect but I’m actual really pleased with that, can’t wait to know more about their connection and how that did even happen. Hoping the next volumes we will get more action, I really like fighting aspects in this type of manga

After a kaiju named GAEA-TIMA devastated a small, coastal town, we get a look on the people who lived to tell the story. Ten years after the attack, the town has emerged as a tourist destination—and Miyako, who survived, is a local celebrity.

She makes a living selling small artisanal replicas of GAEA-TIMA. But deep down, her connection to the creature goes far beyond a traumatic encounter. More than she bargained for, perhaps.

Overall thoughts:

If you’re a fan of Godzilla, you’ll likely love this one. I gravitate towards similar stories, namely Pacific Rim and Kaiju No. 8, and found this take to be just as entertaining.

Although it’s borrowing from tropes we’ve seen before and cult classics, it does enough for it to give it a unique spin, making the tale its own. What are the odds of a girl surviving an attack, selling figurines of it, and finding out some rather interesting secrets? I shall let you find that out when you give it a read.

Volume 1 shapes up to be rather promising and I’m curious to see how this title will stand out next to similar series currently publishing. The action scenes are interesting to read, and the take of this story being driven by survivors gives the plot a lot of interesting elements to play with.

Overall, it’s pretty solid! I really enjoyed it.

Who is GAEA-TIMA for?

I could recommend this title to fans of Godzilla-like stories who are looking for a series that does things a little differently. It’s similar enough for it to feel like a huge comfort read when you’ve been wanting to see more of your favorite trope!

See you in the next one!

I received this one from the publisher/Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

This was OK. At times a bit boring or a bit much (yes make sense of that, haha). But I do love love love the Kaiju designs (they were seriously so cool) and the battles that we see between Kaiju (so cool) and seeing how our MC can summon a Kaiju (GAEA-TIMA who is apparently connected to her after the events in the beginning, and seriously I laughed so hard when he appeared in the washing machine). I am curious how the summoning works exactly, so far it seems water is the key but maybe there is more to it. I also loved seeing the various kaiju and I am curious to see more of them. There is also a cast of interesting characters, our MC who has been through a lot and the Kaiju peeps. I also liked the mix of seriousness with silliness.

I am definitely hoping to read the next volume as well!

GAEA-TIMA the Gigantis is a kaiju manga and the main character is a girl. GAEA-TIMA is a monster that ravaged a town and now ten years later, the town uses the whole thing as a tourist attraction. Miyako survived the attack and now makes replicas of the monster until the monster comes back...or comes back from Miyako as she spits a marble that ends up being GAEA-TIMA. This was a truly interesting development of the plot surely. I liked the mystery behind everything and I do hope it will be developed piece by piece. I would've liked to know more about the main character and the town though. We are too fast in the middle of the battles and whatnot and it's hard to grasp anything. The past is very interesting as it makes the people who they are, but we don't get to enjoy it.

The art looks good, nothing too fancy, but it works. GAEA-TIMA looks like a cheap monster toy though...The problem is that the setting isn't built well enough for the reader to care yet. Thus the manga is mostly fighting and monsters here and there without any reason. I hope this will get better though.

It's been 10 years since GAEA-TIMA, a giant kaiju, showed up on the coast of Sukuba Town and subsequently wiped the town off the map. This destruction caused a tourism boom and seafood explosion which has led to the rebuilding of Subuka Town. Now a decade later GAEA-TIMA has shown up again and our protagonist Miyako is once again at the place the kaiju emerges.

This manga pleasantly surprised me! While I expected a serious story with some small comedic relief akin to Kaiju no. 8, GAEA-TIMA the Gigantis was way funnier than I had anticipated. It shows some true innovation in the genre. I can see why some people compare this to Go Go Loser Ranger. The combination of combat with humour is also reminiscent of early Jujutsu Kaisen.

This volume starts with an engaging opening sequence, rendered in colour, that immediately gives high stakes to consider and introduces us to our main character. Miyako is a relatable, loveable protagonist and I am already enjoying her interactions with the other characters that get introduced in the second half of the volume.

I appreciate how GAEA-TIMA the Gigantis incorporates typical Japanese aspects like the need for and popularity of mascots, the general idea of kaiju, and the outflux of young people from smaller towns across the country. This first volume sets up a wonderful foundation that subsequent volumes can build upon.

GAEA-TIMA the Gigantis is your next favourite read if you enjoy scifi stories regarding kaiju featuring interesting characters exploring different aspects of Japanese culture. I'd recommend this manga to people that have enjoyed elements of Kaiju no. 8, Jujutsu Kaisen, and Go Go Loser Ranger in the past.

This was another manga that I didn't expect to enjoy as much as I did. Typically I read light fluffy romance or horror, but really glad I read this one! Perfect too since I had already ordered it for my library. The concept of how the kaiju comes back made a bit nostalgic for all those old toys that when put in water, would grow!
Digital copy provided by NetGalley

For the past 10 years Miyako has believed that trouble follows her, even though all she tries is to help. A decade ago her town was attacked by a kaiju, while many see Gaea-tima as a monster many see him as a savior. GAEA-TIMA, makes a sudden appearance after another kaiju descends from the deeps of the ocean. Tatsukuni appears and figures along side his team and miyako that she’s been keeping this kaiju within her and might have imprinted with her eventho all that scares her they’ve noticed that she might be the salvation to all these kaiju’s return. Now she’ll be helping instead of failing she’ll do what she can to help keep everyone safe.

I love kaiju mangas/ comics and this one has got my attention. A girl who thinks that she fails while she’s trying to help and she’ll take this opportunity and do what she can to keep everyone safe even if it’s using a kaiju to defeat other kaijus. I sure do recommend.

I've always been a huge fan of the Kaiju universe and so reading this was super exciting for me This was my first graphic novel about the universe, and I really enjoyed it from start to finish. I liked how there was a time jump from past to present and how Miyako already has a history with a Kaiju. I thought the art style was unique and pleasant to look at/read. Since this is the start to the series there was only a little bit of world building but still nonetheless a solid start.

Thank you, NetGalley for an advanced ARC of this manga

This was an interesting read and I can see people who love films based around Godzilla etc liking this because we are dealing with a story around something similar and a girl's journey through it.

This was enjoyable and I might continue the series