Alex Ross' cover for "Pacific Rim: Tales from Year Zero"

Giant monster movies have been a favorite of fans for generations, going back to the granddaddy of them all, Godzilla. Today, Warner Bros, & Legendary Entertainment release "Pacific Rim," which combines the popular Japanese giant monster theme (also known as Kaiju) along with the giant robot fighters into what CBR reviewer Josh Wigler called "a massive and monstrous movie."

In June, Legendary Comics released "Pacific Rim: Tales from Year Zero," a graphic novel prequel to the film by director Guillermo del Toro and screenwriter Travis Beacham, who were joined by artists Alex Ross (cover), Sean Chen, Yvel Guichet & Pericles Junior with inks by Steve Bird & Mark McKenna. At a recent Legendary press event held in Los Angeles, director Guillermo del Toro discussed the graphic novel adaptation.

"We started by casting everybody in the book. I was sort of a guest editor, which means I got carte blanche to be a pain in the ass," del Toro said of "Tales from Year Zero." "I was a pain in the ass because most of the time, graphic novels based on movies are shit. They are put together for no good reason, they're almost like a gag reflex. I had a terrible experience with the graphic novel of 'Blade 2,' which was almost incomprehensible, unreadable and unviewable."

Del Toro took a very hands-on approach to the graphic novel, working closely with Legendary Comics Editor-In-Chief Bob Schreck on choosing all the collaborators on the book. "What we wanted was to tell the story of year zero, of the first attack and a lot of the origin of the Kaiju that will appear in the movie," explained del Toro. "I didn't want to make a movie about one lonely hero standing against them, it was everybody. We have about 10 characters acted on the screen that each carries as much of the weight of the narrative on them as anybody else, so everybody gets enough time. We have a lot of stuff that was left in the editing of the screenplay that Travis and I co-wrote. So, those characters and those plots made it in a very beautiful way into the comic.

"I think the comic is excellent," he continued. "I completely vouch for it and I think it's a very, very good introduction to the film and its universe," del Toro continued. "I learned my lesson on the [Blade] graphic novel and what I want to do is create -- whether it's a toy or collectible or a comic -- something I personally invest myself in with time and the care. I do this with the toy companies and it's the same with the graphic novel. To give the fans something that you would want for you."

"Pacific Rim: Tales of Year Zero" is in stores now. "Pacific Rim" opens today in theaters.