Megalon (メガロ Megaro?) is a giant insectoid beetle kaiju created by Toho that first appeared in the 1973 Godzilla film, Godzilla vs. Megalon.
Name
Megalon's name likely comes from the combining form "megalo," which means 'abnormally large' or 'great.'
Design
Development
Megalon was originally conceptualized as an opponent for Godzilla in the unmade film Godzilla vs. the Space Monsters: Earth Defense Directive, which was an early draft of Godzilla vs. Gigan. In this film, Megalon would have been a pawn of an evil alien brain called Miko, and would have fought alongside Gigan and King Ghidorah against Godzilla, Anguirus and a new monster called Majin Tuol. Following this film's cancellation, Megalon was revived to be the villain in the film Jet Jaguar vs. Megalon, a film centered around Jet Jaguar, the result of a contest held by Toho to create a new tokusatsu hero. However, Toho worried that Jet Jaguar didn't carry enough marquee value to guarantee the film's success, so Godzilla and Gigan were worked into the plot of the film, which eventually became Godzilla vs. Megalon.
Appearance
Megalon superficially resembles a cross between a cockroach and a rhinoceros beetle, though standing upright. Despite being an underground creature, Megalon is noticeably colorful, combining silver and grey tusks and claws with an orange-and-black carapace and wings. Megalon's forelimbs terminate with two sharp, drill-like appendages, which are never seen to be individually prehensile, at least in Godzilla vs. Megalon, always moving in tune with the monster's arms.
Roar
Like Baragon and Gorosaurus, Megalon's roar is an edited pitch of Varan's roar, whose roar was originally from Godzilla at the end of the original Godzilla film. In addition, Megalon also produces screeching sounds which are adapted from Ebirah's chirps and screeches. Megalon can also emit a deep laugh, created by altering his normal roar.
Personality
Megalon is sometimes considered one of the least intelligent kaiju in the franchise. This is demonstrated by the fact that he is easily manipulated by external stimuli. For example, Megalon followed Jet Jaguar simply because he was curious, and he is also very temperamental, as seen when he goes into shock when he loses sight of Jet Jaguar and begins to jump and thrash about. When Megalon first meets Godzilla, he displays confusion and tilts his head curiously. This is in sharp contrast to Gigan, who showed anger and agitation due to having fought Godzilla himself previously. His battle tactics also seem to be lacking in terms of strategy, as he never once utilizes his lightning horn beam against Godzilla nor Jet Jaguar. Additionally, he seems to enjoy charging at both his enemies headfirst, although all said enemies had to do was simply step out of the way to avoid him. Without Gigan by his side, Megalon would probably not have lasted as long as he did during the film's climactic last battle.
Origins
Megalon is a gigantic insectoid being that lives deep underground in the subterranean kingdom of Seatopia. Megalon is seen as the Seatopians' god, and is called upon by them to defend their home from threats.
History
Godzilla vs. Megalon
Megalon battles Jet Jaguar in Godzilla vs. Megalon
Megalon is the god to the Seatopians, and he was their way to take revenge on the humans who were damaging their world with nuclear tests. They called upon Megalon to destroy the humans and sent the captured Jet Jaguar to guide the monster on his rampage through Japan. The people of Japan revolted and attacked the beast, to no avail. Help arrived when Goro Ibuki, the scientist who created Jet Jaguar, managed to free the robot from the control of the Seatopians. He sent Jet Jaguar to Monster Island to find Godzilla. In the time that Jet Jaguar was gone, Megalon was lost and confused. Jet Jaguar returned to Japan and reprogrammed himself to grow to kaiju size then attacked Megalon, prompting the Seatopians to contact the M Space Hunter Nebula Aliens and ask for Gigan's assistance. Gigan arrived and he and Megalon double-teamed Jet Jaguar. Eventually, Godzilla arrived and joined forces with Jet Jaguar against Gigan and Megalon. After a long battle, Gigan retreated back to outer space, leaving Megalon at the mercy of Godzilla and Jet Jaguar. The two monsters pummeled the helpless Megalon before he finally burrowed back to Seatopia, defeated.
Abilities
Megalon possesses a sizable array of abilities.
Lightning Horn
Megalon firing lightning from his horn.
He is capable of firing a lightning beam from the horn on his head.
Horn Laser
In the Video Game Godzilla: Domination!, Megalon could fire energy blasts from his horn.
Napalm Bombs
Megalon can also spit napalm bombs from his mouth.
Drill hands
Megalon's most notable feature is his drill hands. These drills are useful in hand-to-hand combat, and can combine together into a single rotating drill which allows Megalon to burrow underground at the speed of mach 2. Megalon can jump high into the air, and travel for up to ten kilometers at a time using this method. In the video games, each of his drill hands are prehensile, making his punches capable of drilling into an opponent's flesh. He can also discharge electrical energy through his strikes.
Flight
Megalon can use his wings to fly at a speed of mach 3, and can travel underwater at a speed of mach 4. In video games such as Godzilla: Save the Earth and Godzilla: Unleashed, Megalon's abilities vary from his film appearance. He can no longer fly for extended periods of time, only use his wings to briefly hover in the air.
Magnetic field
In these games, Megalon's special ability consists of him generating a magnetic field that draws opponents towards him, before unleashing a powerful pulse that damages enemies and sends them flying.
Video games
Even though Megalon only appeared in one film, he remains a popular character, and has appeared in several computer and video games based upon the Godzilla franchise, including Godzilla: Kaiju Deikessen, Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee, Godzilla: Domination, Godzilla: Save the Earth, and Godzilla: Unleashed.
Godzilla
Megalon appeared within the 1993 Japanese arcade game Godzilla.
Godzilla: Domination!
In Domination!, Megalon has the power to do a leech probe, in which Megalon grabs on to his opponent and bites them four times, each time hurting the opponent and healing Megalon. This move can only be done if Megalon is next to a enemy. He also has the ability to unleash three blasts of energy from his horn, which will quickly fly around him before slamming into the ground. In the same game, Megalon's napalm bombs are altered to resemble real bombs or naval mines.
Godzilla: Save the Earth
Megalon has the ability to execute an energy punch and create a damaging arc of energy. As a Rage Attack, Megalon can create a Magnetic Vortex, in which Megalon shuffles his wings and all the monsters get drawn close to him. When one is close he releases a mini-pulse of energy, dealing immense damage.
Godzilla: Unleashed
He has a special affinity for electricity, allowing him to employ lightning and EMP attacks without danger to himself. Megalon's hands are high-speed drills, which allow him to burrow underground or simply gore his opponents in hand-to-hand combat.
As a part of the Aliens faction, Megalon has aligned himself with the Vortaak in their quest to take over the Earth. He retains the same abilities he possessed in the previous Atari games, Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee and Godzilla: Save the Earth.
Godzilla (2014 video game)
Megalon was born as a rival to the TV special-effects giant monster heroes during its day, and was designed as an amalgam of the beetle, the cicada, and other insects that were popular with children at the time. When moving, it makes great leaps like a grasshopper.
Godzilla: Kaiju Collection
Megalon appeared within the mobile title Godzilla: Kaiju Collection.
Comics
Godzilla vs. Megalon (comic adaptation)
In the American promotional comic produced by Cinema Shares for Godzilla vs. Megalon, Megalon is depicted as not being Seatopian in origin, but rather appearing from beneath the Earth during an undersea eruption, and coming to attack cities to satisfy his "Energy Hunger." He is killed brutally by Godzilla after having the back of his spine bitten into.
Godzilla, King of the Monsters
Megalon returns from underground in this manga, although it is never stated whether he was under the control of the Seatopians or not. He emerges from underground while Godzilla is fighting Biollante Neo and attacks using his drills, ripping into Godzilla's chest. He accidentally kills Biollante Neo with his lightning beam after Godzilla throws her at him, and is defeated when Godzilla swipes the top of his horn off, and burns him to death with his Atomic Breath.
Trivia
- Early concepts for Rebirth of Mothra featured Megalon as the main antagonist before being replaced by Desghidorah. This notably makes Megalon the only monster from the Showa period's post-Invasion of Astro-Monster films (besides Mechagodzilla) to be considered for a Heisei era film.
- Despite being a monster native to Earth, Megalon is normally associated with other alien kaiju because of his association with Gigan, and his role as an antagonist in Godzilla vs. Megalon. For this reason, he has traditionally been depicted as an ally of alien invaders in his video game appearances.
- In the 2008 Go! Godman film, a Megalon figure can be seen in a pail of sand during a flashback of Mika Ayase's childhood.
- A monster that appears in the opening sequence of Godzilla: The Series is named Megalon.
- Megalon and Godzilla were seen in a magazine in Friday the 13th Part 3.
List of appearances
Films
- Godzilla vs. Megalon (First appearance)
Video games
- Godzilla vs. 3 Giant Monsters
- Godzilla (Arcade)
- Godzilla: Battle Legends
- Godzilla: Great Monster Battle
- Godzilla: Heart-Pounding Monster Island!!
- Godzilla Movie Studio Tour
- Godzilla: Trading Battle
- Godzilla Generations
- Godzilla: Domination!
- Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee
- Godzilla: Save the Earth
- Godzilla: Unleashed (Wii and PS2)
- Godzilla Unleashed: Double Smash
- Godzilla (2014 video game) (Kaiju Guide)
- Godzilla: Kaiju Collection
Comics
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Official Godzilla Compendium. Profiles of the Monsters; Page 136.
