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via Getty

via Getty

Godzilla and Charles Barkley faced off in a comic book and a significant Nike advertising campaign. In one of the most bizarre basketball matches ever. In a comic strip that offered a “100-year” Challenge, 252-pound Massive Chuck was likened to Godzilla.

The King of Monsters was a breath of fresh air, with Charles Barkley alongside Godzilla.

Godzilla vs Barkley

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The 1990s saw a lot of eye-catching crossovers in comic books and advertisements.

Nike released a television commercial portraying Charles Barkley, an NBA player at the time, taking with Godzilla in downtown Tokyo while wearing wraparound spectacles. As comic book crossovers gained popularity, Dark Horse Comics was published based on the Nike commercial Godzilla vs. Barkley in 1993, which expanded on the ridiculous idea.  Charles Barkley against Godzilla, written by Mike Baron and illustrated by Jeff Butler and Keith Aiken.

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In the comic, Godzilla was depicted spending a century honing his skills in a secluded part of Utah. Godzilla was instructed to attempt one million layups while wearing size 13,000 EEE Nikes, with Barkley frequently monitoring his progress. The image of Charles Barkley was wonderfully portrayed, and the action panels with Barkley and Godzilla battling head-to-head on the court were rather lively and entertaining to watch. Posters, comic books, and T-shirts were available as tie-in items.

The Twitter account Son of Karas tweeted regarding this advent mentioning, “Given to him personally by Charles Barkley.”

Godzilla’s worst defeat

Godzilla was at an all-time low in America at the moment. Charles Barkley’s emerging prominence aided in the franchise’s revitalization. Dan Rogers who runs Wiki Zilla stated  “The early 1990s was a time when there wasn’t much Godzilla content coming to America.”

Godzilla vs. Barkley is an odd Godzilla incarnation, with hit-or-miss humor and a primary plot memorable mainly for its inanity. Godzilla actually battled the NBA great Charles Barkley twice. Once in the comic, and once in a Nike commercial.

Godzilla’s greatest hidden weakness is revealed in a one-shot Dark Horse comic book: “The King of Monsters” can’t resist being challenged to a game of one-on-one basketball.

As Godzilla rampages over California, one of Barkley’s admirers, a child called Matt, approaches the basketball hero and urges him to stop Godzilla. When the NBA star asks why the child believes he can defeat Godzilla, Matt tells Barkley it’s because Charles Barkley is Earth’s greatest fighter, and Chuck agrees.

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While Godzilla’s buzz began to fade in America, Charles Barkley vs Godzilla maintained a lighthearted tone and helped to engage Godzilla fans and basketball fans.
Who would you want to see in a Godzilla film among the new ballers?

 

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