Kaijumax, Season 1

Godzilla meets Oz in this clever exploration of prison life. Electrogor, an electricity-based monster, is the newest inmate at Kaijumax, a facility designed for the detention of enormous cryptids, robots, mythical beasts, and nuclear “eco-parables.” Amid gang warfare, merciless guards, and a thriving trade in contraband uranium, only the strong survive—as Electrogor, preoccupied with the son and daughter he left behind, discovers to his peril. Cannon (Heck) does a wonderful job of exploring both the serious and comic aspects of his high concept, such as the monsters’ specialized slang and their frustration in a world not built to their size. Visually, his work is poppy and bright, without detracting from the more somber moments. Though the story suffers slightly from its reliance on established genre tropes, and it would benefit from further exploration of life beyond the prison, it still establishes a fresh take on monsters and prison drama. (Feb.)