- For his replacement model featured in Godzilla: Ongoing and Godzilla: Rulers of Earth, see Mechagodzilla (Ongoing).
Mechagodzilla (メカゴジラ Mekagojira?) of the IDW Publishing continuity is a mecha kaiju that first appears in Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters. A robotic copy of Godzilla built by the United States military, the machine's onboard guidance system was damaged and he ran wild and attacked Atlanta. However, Steven Woods found and took control over Mechagodzilla (IDW continuity), using him to fight and defeat both Godzilla and King Ghidorah in Washington, D.C. The machine was subsequently retired and replaced by a new model built by billionaire Daniel Malmon.
Name[]
"Mechagodzilla" is short for "mechanical Godzilla." He is referred to as MG for short.
Design[]
Appearance[]
Mechagodzilla's design is identical to the Heisei series version of the character in Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II. As such, he is a gigantic bipedal robot with a tail and three rows of spikes on his back. He has red pupil-less eyes, and a crescent-shaped fin on the top of his head. His skin is silver, and he has pectoral and abdominal muscles sculpted onto his chest. He has ports on his shoulders, biceps, and wrists through which he fires missiles or launches his Shock Anchor cables. There is a vent on the front of Mechagodzilla's neck. Inside his mouth is a row of teeth. Mounted on Mechagodzilla's back is a flying warship called the Garuda, which enhances the machine's flight capabilities and also grants him the ability to fire shoulder-mounted High Power Maser Beam Cannons.
Personality[]
Mechagodzilla is intended to be completely under the control of his operators in Washington, D.C., though he does possess an onboard artificial intelligence and guidance system which grants him some autonomy while in combat. Once his stability and logic sensors are damaged, Mechagodzilla's A.I. and guidance system override complete control and cause the machine to turn violent and destructive, just like Godzilla himself. However, he is restored to his obedient state once Steven Woods manually pilots him.
History[]
Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters[]
In Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters, Mechagodzilla nearly defeats Godzilla, but something goes wrong with its programming and it runs wild. Eventually, the massive machine breaks down in the wilderness and is discovered by Steven Woods. Woods takes command of Mechagodzilla and takes it to Washington, D.C., where Godzilla is doing battle with King Ghidorah. Mechagodzilla uses its shock anchor cables to shock both monsters into submission, and Woods is praised as a hero for his actions.
Godzilla: Ongoing[]
This version of Mechagodzilla is mentioned as the predecessor for the new Mechagodzilla, Kiryu.
Godzilla: Rulers of Earth[]
This Mechagodzilla makes a brief cameo as a model on Chavez's desk in issue #1 of Godzilla: Rulers of Earth.
Abilities[]
Being based on Godzilla, Mechagodzilla is designed to possess the same strength and power as the King of the Monsters himself. Mechagodzilla can fire Laser Cannons from his eyes or High Power Maser Beam Cannons from the Garuda mounted on his back. These beams cannons are highly destructive and in the case of the latter, seemingly equal in strength to Godzilla's atomic breath. Mechagodzilla can also fire a hail of missiles from ports on his arms. Mechagodzilla is outfitted with flight capabilities, presumably assisted by the Garuda's engines. He uses his flight ability to cover large distances quickly, and also to charge and tackle Godzilla (IDW continuity). Mechagodzilla can launch Shock Anchor harpoons from his wrists, which become embedded in the flesh of enemy monsters and allow him to discharge a crippling electrical surge into their bodies. The front of Mechagodzilla's body is insulated against Godzilla (IDW continuity)'s atomic breath, but his back is not. This results in Godzilla's atomic breath damaging Mechagodzilla's stability and logic sensors located on the back of his head, making the machine run wild and act as if he were the real Godzilla.
Trivia[]
- While he is based on the Heisei incarnation of the character, this version of Mechagodzilla running wild and acting like the real Godzilla is a behavior displayed by Kiryu in the Millennium series. Ironically, the comic version of Kiryu never rebels against his controllers.
- Mechagodzilla permanently has the Garuda mounted on his back. In Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II, this state was referred to as "Super Mechagodzilla," while the character is only ever referred to as Mechagodzilla in the comic.
- Mechagodzilla initially has a red "MG" emblazoned on his chest, which may be a reference to the original Showa incarnation of the character.
- This version of Mechagodzilla 2 and the one in Godzilla Island are the first versions of Mechagodzilla to ally with Godzilla in any medium.
- Mechagodzilla's malfunction causing it to turn rogue is similar to what happened to Kiryu in Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla.
List of appearances[]
- Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters (First appearance)
- Godzilla: Ongoing
- Godzilla: Rulers of Earth
