From 1987 to 1996, the company known as Dark Horse published a number of comic books based on Godzilla. Numerous "specials" featuring Toho’s classic character were produced, and the franchise became popular enough to warrant a regular series, which lasted 17 issues. Since Godzilla was the monster that Dark Horse licensed from Toho, a number of new monsters were created for Godzilla to battle with. They are listed below in order of appearance.
Gekido-Jin
Height: varies (maximum observed size is about 100 meters)
Weight: probably also varies
Regular abilities: strong anthropomorphic built, samurai armor, large hammer, two katana swords
Special Abilities: if destroyed it will reform larger and stronger then before
Weakness: mental battles
Appearances: "Godzilla Color Special" (Dark Horse Comic, 1992)
History: A small island off the coast of Japan called Kiryokushima was attacked 800 years ago by a powerful oni known as Gekido-Jin. No force available to them could stop this demonic creature, for every time it was destroyed it resurrected with increased size. To stop the Gekido-Jin, a local monk sacrificed himself to the oni by allowing it to swallow him, and the constant internal struggle between the monk’s soul and Gekido-Jin caused the oni to turn into stone. Centuries latter, when Godzilla arrived at the island, a researcher named Kogenta willingly sacrificed himself (by having Godzilla step on him) so that the monk’s soul became free and was replaced with his own. Allowing Gekido-Jin free reign over it’s body, the massive oni battled Godzilla until the two fell into the ocean. Thinking that he won, Godzilla swam away, but Gekido-Jin remained at the bottom of the sea, now in a constant mental struggle with Kogenta’s soul for an unknown length of time.
Fighting Power: ****
Essentially this oni is completely unstoppable, and nothing known to this world can destroy it. It can be fought to standstill, however, but it will always remain. When it comes to battling with kaiju or humans, Gekido-Jin has often been compared to the Majin, mostly due to the large statue form and samurai-era armor and weaponry. He also has a huge hammer, which would cause quite a lot of pain for anything slammed in the face by it. Gekido-Jin is a powerful fighter, but he does have a habit of crumbling away to rubble. The catch is that when he’s destroyed, he will only return larger then before, making the battle increasingly difficult for whomever or whatever is in it’s way.
Cybersaur
Height: 100 meters?
Weight: really heavy
Armament: wrist-mounted and shoulder-mounted laser cannons, laser cannon in mouth, shoulder-mounted missile launchers, strong armor, protected by an electric shield that absorbs energy-based attacks to use it to recharge it’s batteries, capable of limited flight and levitation using rocket propulsion, the G-Buster cannon (a powerful beam weapon in it’s chest)
Weakness: requires human pilots inside to control it
Appearances: "Godzilla: King of the Monsters" issues #1-#4(Dark Horse Comics, 1995)
History: A large mech created by the G-Force and the United Nations for the purpose of combating Godzilla. Sent to battle Godzilla outside of Vancouver, Canada, and after a long battle the G-Buster cannon was used to "kill" Godzilla (who was weakened by a poison injected into him earlier). Hearing Godzilla’s cry of pain, the space monster known as Bagorah went to the location and fought with Cybersaur (thinking it was trying to "eat" his "meal"), and succeeded in disabling the mech. Bombarded with sonic waves, Cybersaur had a critical overload, and just as the pilots escaped, the mech exploded.
Fighting Power: ****
A large mechanical "kaiju" designed to combat large monsters, so logically it would be very good at such a task. Loaded with missiles and laser cannons, Cybersaur is capable of bombarding it’s opponent with constant powerful weaponry to wear it down. Once the kaiju is open for attack, the crew in Cybersaur can use the G-Buster cannon for the finishing blow. Although a testament for human technology, the Cybersaur suffers from some distinct tactical weaknesses, such as being slow-moving and susceptible to mechanical failure. Still, with all it’s armament and defensive shielding, the mech is quite powerful.
Bagorah
Height: 328 feet
Weight: a lot
Regular abilities: strong claws and strong jaws, sensitive hearing, can survive in a vacuum, high-speed flight in air and space
Special Abilities: sonic waves emitted from mouth that cause scattered penetrating damage
Weakness: always seems to be hungry
Appearances: "Godzilla: King of the Monsters" issues #3 and #4 (Dark Horse Comics, 1995)
History: Bagorah is a massive space monster that, when hearing Godzilla’s roar in pain when the kaiju was "killed" by Cybersaur, went to Earth to feed on Godzilla. Seeing Cybersaur, it thought it to be an enemy trying to take it’s meal, so Bagorah attacked and destroyed the mech. Godzilla was awakened from his coma when the poison within him (injected earlier) was neutralized, and afterwards Godzilla and Bagorah fought. The battle made it’s way to Vancouver, Canada, where Godzilla found victory in killing the space creature.
Fighting Power: ****
Essentially a giant space bat, with the power to do the things that bats do (such as flying and using sonar). The difference is that this is a physically creature, capable of battling with creatures it’s size at close range, as well as be able to use it’s sonic waves as an powerful weapon. In it’s quest to find food, Bagorah probably fought many creatures the size of Godzilla. The only problem with attacking Godzilla himself, though, is that it’s Godzilla.
All-Terraintula
Height: ???
Weight: ???
Armament: eight legs, beam weapon from plating below the "eyes", strong armor coated with Anti-Godzilla-Beam-Plating that absorbs beam weapons to use as energy to fire back, a dart shooter on back that can contain a substance called Super Tranq (a cadmium compound capable of disabling Godzilla)
Weakness: none known
Appearances: "Godzilla: King of the Monsters" issues #5, #6, and #8 (Dark Horse Comics, 1995-1996)
History: When Godzilla was outside Portland, Oregon, the All-Teraintula (a giant mech built by the United States Military) was sent to stop him. Using it’s beam weapons and giant tranquilizer dart, the crew of the mech managed to knock the giant monster out. Soon after, however, a group of Dianii aliens came to the area and blasted the All-Teraintula with their Mega-Zooka weapon, disabling it. As the Dianii were battling an awoken Godzilla for sport, the crew of the All-Teraintula repaired the mech. As Black Hole Aliens made their move to capture the Dianii ship, the crew member that was a one of them took over the mech and helped in the fight against Godzilla. As usual, Godzilla prevailed.
Fighting Power: ****
Yet another kaiju-battling mech that never seems to be able to finish the job, but not because it isn’t powerful.
Height: 25 Meters
Weight: N/A
Powers/Weapons: Being big-game hunters, the Dianii Aliens are equipped with a vast arsenal of weapons to hunt down their prey. This selection of weapons includes bows, spears, bolas, rifles, electrically-charged capture nets, pistols, and more. Their most devastating weapon however, is by far the "Mega-Zooka", a powerful bazooka-like gun that fires a massive, destructive energy blast capable of leveling a city block. The Dianii travel using their massive spaceship, which is armed with a powerful laser cannon.
Appearances: "Godzilla: King of The Monsters" issue #5-#8 (Dark Horse Comics, 1995-1996).
History: The Dianii are a group of 7 alien big-game hunters from another planet. The Dianii travel across the universe, tracking down giant, powerful beasts to hunt down. 25 meters in height each, with a powerful selection of weapons at their disposal, the Dianii are flawless in their work, using guerilla-warfare techniques to hunt down and kill their prey.
The Dianii traveled to Earth in search of Bagorah, a bat-like creature in outer space that came to Earth to battle Godzilla. However, upon their arrival, the Dianii realized that Bagorah had been utterly defeated by the monster king, and changed their intended target from Bagorah to Godzilla. The Dianii prepared for the hunt while Godzilla made his way into Portland, Oregon. Once in Portland, Godzilla battled the man-made mecha, the "All-Terraintula", a spider-like anti-Godzilla robot. The All-Terraintula, designed to absorb Godzilla's atomic blast and reflect it back with amplified force, appeared to have the upper-edge over Godzilla, beating the monster king back in retreat. Using a cadmium-tipped missile, the All-Terraintula ultimately subdued the monster king, who fell prey to the cadmium-missile's anti-nuclear properties. Godzilla, the nuclear reaction's in his body slowing due to the effects of the cadmium, fell unconscious to the ground, seemingly defeated.
Meanwhile, the Dianii looked on with displeasure. They wanted to hunt down Godzilla. A wounded monster was not worth sport. Before the All-Terraintula robot could give Godzilla the final blow, the Dianii intervened. Using the "Mega-Zooka", a powerful bazooka-like energy gun, the Dianii blew the All-Terraintula away, crippling the anti-Godzilla robot in a single blast. Now, the Dianii were free to hunt Godzilla without human interference. Still, one problem remained. Godzilla was unconscious, subdued by the effects of the cadmium missile injected into him earlier. Not willing to give up the hunt, the Dianii decided to revive the monster king using a giant "jump-starter", a gigantic electric taser that gives Godzilla multiple jolts of electricity. On the second try, Godzilla suddenly snapped to life, grabbing the jump-starter and stomping the alien into the ground. The rest of the Dianii howled with laughter, realizing that Godzilla would indeed make good sport. The 25-meter tall aliens made their way back to the ship to gather supplies.
The ensuing hunt was a battle that nearly destroyed Portland. The Dianii attacked Godzilla viciously, pumping the monster king full of arrows, stabbing him with spears, tripping him with bolas, and more. Deprived of his most powerful weapon, his atomic ray, due to the All-Terraintula, Godzilla was forced to fight using his natural attacks. Try as they may, the Dianii could not overcome Godzilla's raw power as he eliminated them one by one, crushing them with buildings, stomping them to the ground, and impaling them upon the arrows that stuck out of his body. Finally, the Dianii's fate was sealed as humans took over their ship {which was at the time taken over by Black Hole aliens}, sending it crashing to the ground and incinerating the last remaining Dianii hunter. Wounded and injured, Godzilla had nevertheless won the battle, and retreated out to the sea {the last surviving Dianii, a female aboard the ship, fled the planet in a smaller vessel}.
The Dianii hunters are a force to be reckoned with. A tight-knit group, the hunters are skilled and stealthy, hiding behind buildings, bombarding them with arrows, tripping them up with bolas, impaling them with spears, and more. Each Dianii has a specific role, including the Bow-Master, Spear-Master, Field Commander, Leader, and Apprentice. Being a group, the Dianii are able to attack their enemy from different positions all at once, further confusing and angering their prey
(Dianii stats provided by The CEO of Monster Island)
More Stats Coming Soon!