Godzilla and King Kong, two of the most popular monster stars, are regaining their former glory in the upcoming Godzilla vs Kong. A power-charged teaser trailer has already raised the hype, as it hints at the presence of Mechagodzilla in the Monsterverse.
While the giant ape was first introduced in the classic 1931 film King Kong, the so-called ‘King of Monsters’ became a cult icon after the Toho-produced Godzilla films in Japan. Over the years, both creatures have made several multimedia appearances in both Hollywood and Japanese productions, often pitting them against villains that either gained iconic status over the years or turned into laughable stock characters that didn’t age well.
Want To See: Foetodon
Peter Jackson’s King Kong remake introduced several new creatures on Skull Island, with the Foetodon being one of the more intimidating ones. Resembling a primitive reptile, the colossal crocodilian measures over 20 feet long, and is a visceral predator.
Encountering Foetodon might be good practice for Kong before dueling with Godzilla or other kaiju. Apart from it’s ambushing skills as a predator, Foetodon also has an excellent sense of smell to stealthily attack its prey.
Don’t Want To See: Kumonga
A giant spider just might not be as intimidating or original as the other giants in the Monsterverse. Further, its powers are not that out-of-the-world either. Inspired from the design of the Jumping Spider, Kumonga can spit webs, jump, and secrete venom in its bites.
Even though it was introduced as the main antagonist in Son of Godzilla, the titular ‘son’ turned out to be the major attraction rather than the caricature-ish Kumonga.
Want To See: Biollante
Biollante can be seen as a pretty underrated villain in the Godzilla universe, as its backstory and action relies less on spectacle. It’s a plant based monster created from genetic content of Godzilla, a dead girl, and a rose.
Biollante is enormous in its size, often dwarfing the great lizard. Sharp teeth, a corrosive sap, and quick mobility (thanks to it’s tendril-like feet) make it a pretty powerful enemy. Further, incorporating a genetically modified plant would be a fresh break from the usual animal-inspired monsters in the series.
Don’t Want To See: Kamacuras
Yet again debuting in Son of Godzilla, Kamacuras is a set of three gigantic praying mantises. They make for absurdly funny villains who are easily defeated by Godzilla, who kills two of them. The third one is killed by the gigantic spider Kumonga.
Films like Arachnophobia and creatures like Aragog in the Harry Potter series have still shown the fear potential that gigantic spiders like Kumonga can evoke, even if they’re a bit overplayed. But killer mantises might just end up being unintentionally hilarious.
Want To See: Hedorah
Hedorar would be a perfect fit for the new-age Godzilla film if the narrative delves into the destructive human impact on environment. Hedorah is living proof that nature would take its revenge against humanity in ruthless ways.
It was originally a cloud from an alien galaxy that thrived on human pollution on planet Earth, acquiring the form of the monstrous Hedorah. The ‘Smog Monster’ has been one of Godzilla’s toughest enemies to beat, as it can successfully withstand Godzilla’s atomic rays.
Don’t Want To See: Ebirah
Even though Toho initially wished Ebirah could fight King Kong, the lobster ended up combating Godzilla in its own standalone film, Ebirah, Horror of the Deep.
Not only is a monstrous lobster a laughable concept, but the creature is also too weak to engage in battle with either Godzilla or Kong. In the aforementioned film, Ebirah relies on his claws for attacking. Once Godzilla rips out its claws, Ebirah is rendered helpless.
Want To See: SpaceGodzilla
What’s better than Godzilla? SpaceGodzilla! When Godzilla’s DNA evolved from a black hole’s energy, SpaceGodzilla was born. The creation of this iconic villain is overly bizarre but can be excused, for it gave audiences of of the best Godzilla-mutants.
The creature is also known for its unique look, sporting razor-sharp crystals on it’s shoulders. Rather than being just another brainless monster, SpaceGodzilla is a pretty smart foe and relies on strategy than direct action. The Corona Beam from his mouth and energy from his dorsal crystals only make SpaceGodzilla stronger.
Don’t Want To See: Gigan
Gigan is an alien-cyborg hybrid that bears a distinct set of hands, designed as hooked claws. Gigan is a pretty strong foe for Godzilla and was the first creature to make it bleed (in Godzilla vs Gigan).
Despite its strength and hyperviolent tendencies, Gigan wouldn’t be that notable for modern-day audiences as a mechanical kaiju, especially in the presence of Mechagodzilla. Further, Gigan is often overshadowed, as it serves as an ally to Megalon and Ghidorah who are way more popular.
Want To See: Orga
Orga’s concept might sound a tad but over-the-top, but it still turned out to be a hair-raising menace for Godzilla. Technically, Orga was born out of Godzilla’s DNA morphing with an extraterrestrial spaceship.
The mutated creature attempts to become a Godzilla clone, serving as the chief antagonist in Godzilla 2000. While Orga isn’t too brainy in strategizing fight moves, its recklessness and savagery is what makes the creature powerful. Even though Godzilla 2000 arguably dumbed-down Orga towards its third act, it can be a suitable enemy.
Don’t Want To See: Megalon
Like many other villains from the Toho films, Megalon is one character that has a cult status in the fandom but might not just age well for a modern adaptation. After all, Megalon is literally a giant cockroach-like beast.
Megalon’s chief weapons are its hands that serve as drills to burrow underneath the ground. From its appearance to its combat skills, Megalon is too pulpy a character to be featured in a new-age Godzilla film. But given Megalon’s importance, the character should have a role in the future, maybe with an altered physical look.
