Gunpei Ikari was a Japanese pilot who fought in World War II, and was introduced in the 2017 MonsterVerse film, Kong: Skull Island.
History[]
Kong: Skull Island[]
In 1944, Gunpei Ikari and Hank Marlow parachuted down on to Skull Island after shooting each other down in a dogfight. Upon encountering each other, both pilots brandished their sidearms and attempted to kill each other. Ikari at one point attacked Marlow with his katana, with the resulting fight nearly resulting in Marlow's death. However, the arrival of Kong had frightened both men off.
The two would encounter each other again on the island and ended up reconciling. Due to their circumstances, they came to see each other as brothers. Ikari would eventually perish in a Skullcrawler attack, saving Hank's life in the process. Marlow erected a grave for Ikari and laid his katana there. Eventually, the time would come for when this katana would be used once more.
Trivia[]
- According to the director Jordan Vogt-Roberts, Gunpei's name is a reference to both Nintendo's video game designer Gunpei Yokoi and Shinji Ikari, the protagonist of Neon Genesis Evangelion.[1]
- During his fight with Marlow, Gunpei at one point wields a German Mauser C96. These were not standard-issue in Japan's armed forces, but it was not uncommon for officers and pilots to obtain their own pistols through private purchase.
List of appearances[]
Films[]
- Kong: Skull Island (First appearance)
Comics[]
- Skull Island: The Birth of Kong (Mentioned)
Novels[]
References[]