From September 9th1978 to December 8th1979, a televised cartoon show was aired based on Toho’s Godzilla movies and produced by Hanna-Barbara. Although the concept was altered to make it more "children friendly" and the show at times felt a little "low budget" (according to rumor they didn’t bother to pay for the rights to Godzilla’s classic roar), it is none-the-less an important footnote on the history of the Godzilla license. The show only lasted two seasons but has gone through "re-runs" numerous times, airing on stations such as NBC, TNT, and the Cartoon Network. It has gone by many names including "The Godzilla Power Hour", "The Godzilla Super 90", "The Godzilla/Globetrotters Adventure Hour", "The Godzilla-Dynomutt Hour", "The Godzilla-Hong Kong Phooey Hour", "The Godzilla Show", "Godzilla the Series", or simply "Godzilla". During the many adventures of Godzilla, his (possible) nephew Godzookie, and the crew of the research ship the Calico, a menagerie of various monsters were seen. These monsters are listed here in the order of their original sightings.
Season 1
Height: 164 feet?
Wingspan: 300 feet (mostly a guess)
Weight: unknown
Regular Abilities: flight capability, sharp beak, crest on head, forked tongue, grabbing talons (can lift great weight), can survive high temperatures and can live in molten lava
Special Abilities: can fire a heat beam from mouth, can expel a stream of flames from mouth
Weakness: none known
Episode Appearance: "The Firebird" (Episode 1, 1978)
History: A supposedly dormant volcano on a remote island near Alaska started to erupt, and emerging forth was the Firebird. The crew of the Calico was in the area, so after their investigation resulted in the discovery of this monster they called Godzilla. The two monsters fought but the Firebird flew off. It went to the Artic to lay eggs, but Godzilla followed and fought with it again. Godzilla trapped the Firebird in an underwater cave by blocking the entrance with a rock. The Firebird was never seen again (either it drowned, starved to death, or went into stasis and is still there).
Fighting Power: ****
With it’s ability to use heat and fire to it’s advantage, the Firebird is a powerful creature. It also possesses great strength and tremendous agility, allowing it to fight Godzilla to a standstill. Still, it has been shown to be trapped very easily.
Height: 140 feet?
Weight: unknown
Regular Abilities: strong jaws, club-like thing on end of tail, a good burrower, can consume and live off of inorganic matter such as dirt and rock
Special Abilities: can emit sonic waves from antennae (blasts rock and stuns living creatures)
Weakness: will turn into mud if submerged in water
Episode Appearance: "The Earth Eater" (Episode 2, 1978)
History: The Calico happened to head into San Francisco as sections of the city were mysteriously collapsing into sinkholes. Investigating the new tunnels under the city, the crew of the Calico discovered the Earth Eater, a monster that was eating away at the ground under the city. Godzookie called for Godzilla, who came to fight the monster, but the Earth Eater went back underground. The Calico crew used smoke bombs to draw out the monster, allowing Godzilla to fight it again. The Earth Eater climbed to the top of the Golden Gate Bridge, but by using his eye beams, Godzilla destroyed that part of the structure and knocked the Earth Eater into the water, turning it to mud.
Fighting Power: ***
Sure it can burrow very well and emit sonic waves, but the weakness is really easy to exploit, even accidentally. Plus it’s abilities aren’t all that effective for anything but running away. Still, with it’s clubbed tail and powerful jaws, it can fight fairly well if it wishes.
A.K.A.: The Stone Creatures, Guardians of Ra-Mal
Length: 150 feet?
Weight: unknown
Regular Abilities: made of hard stone, spiked club at end of tail, fast runners
Special Abilities: can breathe out a combination of wind and sand (similar to a sandstorm), can breath out freezing cold wind and snow (will cause frostbite or cover an enemy in ice), can shoot giant hail stones from mouth
Weakness: will crumble away to rubble if enough damage is received, will automatically be buried in sand if the gold emblem on the pyramid of Ra-Mal is covered
Episode Appearance: "Attack of the Stone Creatures" (Episode 3, 1978)
History: When the Calico was in Egypt they met an explorer who found the pyramid of Ra-Mal, only to find that it was protected by stone guardians that have control over the winds. The crew of the Calico went to investigate, but their helicopter was frozen in an ice storm. Luckily Godzilla came to save the helicopter, but also encountered the stone guardians before they vanished beneath the sand when the gold emblem that called them was itself buried in sand. Investigating the pyramid further, the emblem was uncovered and the guardians returned. Godzilla fought them again, and was frozen in the process. They guardians charged at Godzilla, but he thawed and got out of the way at the last second, causing the guardians to collide and be destroyed.
Fighting Power: ***
Even though they are made out of stone and not susceptible to the weakness that living mater can have, the downside is that they can break fairly easily. Still, with a spiked club and the ability to breath out strong winds (either sandy or cold), a pair of them can be quite powerful. A single guardian wouldn’t be able to accomplish as much as two working together, though, because the combined wind effects are more effective (especially when trying to freeze the enemy).
Length: 300 feet? (smaller ones are about halve this size)
Weight: unknown
Regular Abilities: horns on head, adept swimmer
Special Abilities: can absorb electricity, shoot a stream of electricity or a lightning bolt from horns or tail, can form a wall of electrical power with expelled electricity, covered by an electrical field that zaps anything that touches them
Weakness: needs to absorb electricity to use their electrical abilities
Episode Appearance: "The Megavolt Monsters" (Episode 4, 1978)
History: A passing oil tanker ship encountered one of these at a certain place when the monster shot the tanker with an electrical blast and caught it on fire. The calico went to investigate, believing that it was caused by new source of electrical power under the ocean. They found this source after one of the monsters cut the line to a bathysphere some of the crew was in, taking them to an air bubble at the bottom of the ocean trench. The monsters used this source to charge their electrical powers. As Godzilla fought the "big one" topside, Godzookie fought the two smaller ones in the air bubble. Godzilla came down there and fought the two until they ran out of energy, because their source was destroyed by Godzookie, which also "popped" the bubble. Godzilla then fought the "big one" again until it too ran out of energy and swam away.
Fighting Power: ****
Without their energy, they are a fairly standard type of monster. With the energy, though, they possess powerful and varied electrical attacks, and actual use them in a fairly smart manner. No match for the sheer strength of Godzilla, though.
The Seaweed Monster
A.K.A.: Giant Mutant Seaweed, The Seaweed Creature
Height: variable (will grow from a small sample at a fast rate, made even faster if combined with more mutant seaweed)
Weight: ditto
Regular abilities: six tentacle-like arms ending in grabbing hands, can swim through water at high speeds, will re-grow lost body parts or grow a whole new creature from a severed piece or recombine with the missing chunk
Special Abilities: none
Weakness: susceptible to "drying out" (especially when exposed to sunlight or fire)
Appearances: "The Seaweed Monster" (episode 5, 1978)
History: While exploring a sargasso sea, the crew of the Calico was attacked by a monster made of seaweed. After Godzilla battled it until the seaweed monster retreated, the crew studied a sample of the creature and found that it was probably mutated from nuclear material. The samples proceeded to grow to a large size and "jump overboard", where upon all the seaweed monsters in the area combined to one big creature. Godzilla fought the seaweed monster and dragged it inland on a local island. A combination of the sun and Godzilla’s fire breath dried out the seaweed creature and the monster crumbled away.
Fighting Power: ***
About as powerful as a monster made from seaweed as one would expect. It can grab things but that’s about it, and any pieces blasted off (which happens a lot) will just grow into other creatures and recombine with the main creature. Although a force to be reckoned with in the water, on land it will soon loose moisture and essentially die.
The Energy Beast
A.K.A.: The Energy Monster, The Energy Creature, Electric Space Centipede
Height: 15-200 feet? (minimum and maximum size observed)
Weight: indeterminable
Regular abilities: pincer claws on legs, pincer mandibles, coiling around things, can control space-worthy vessels
Special Abilities: absorbs electricity for power, can form an electrical energy ball to throw at things (blasts rock or stuns enemies), chameleon-like ability to transform self into a replica of another living creature and take on their powers (such as a tree or Godzilla)
Weakness: needs to constantly feed on electrical energy
Appearances: "The Energy Beast" (episode 6, 1978)
History: A being that came from outer space in a flying saucer, which crash-landed in a desert nearby an electric power dam. As the centipede-like creature fed off the energy of the dam the next day, the crew of the Calico (who happened to be in the area) called Godzilla to battle it. During the fight Godzilla was hit with an energy ball and was stunned, allowing the energy beast to escape. Latter the creature transformed itself into a replica of Godzilla, and continued to feed off of electrical energy. The flow of electricity was stopped to try to combat this, but the beast headed towards the local nuclear power plant. Godzilla was called again (as Godzookie was trying to get the attention of the "fake Godzilla") and they fought again, this time ending when Godzilla was buried under a landslide. The energy beast was led to solar energy plant, and was distracted by it’s reflection in the mirror (which looked like the real Godzilla to the creature), allowing Godzilla to battle it again and "knock the energy out of it". The creature became a centipede-like being again and shrunk to it’s original size, and tried to escape by going into it’s flying saucer. Godzilla picked the saucer up and threw it back into space.
Fighting Power: ***
The energy beast has a number of crafty moves such as taking on the form of it’s opponent or stunning them with electrical energy. Still, none of these are necessarily deadly attacks. In fact the energy beast appears to try to avoid combat whenever possible, preferring to just feed off of electrical energy (which it need to fight in the first place). Overall a weak monster with some good attacks that is smart enough to know when it’s outmatched, but not smart enough to recognize it’s reflection in a mirror.
The Cyclops/Lobster Monster
A.K.A.: The Cyclops, Lobster Monster, Crab Monster
Height: 170 feet?
Weight: 50,000 tons?
Regular abilities: big lobster-like claws, sharp hoofed feet, eye can rotate around head
Special Abilities: can turn invisible at will, fires a beam from eye that can levitate or move objects (including shoving other monsters)
Weakness: covering the monster with a substance like paint will allow one to "see" it even if invisible
Appearances: "The Horror of Forgotten Island" (episode 8, 1978)
History: During a thunderstorm, the Calico and crew encountered a force-field of sorts in the south pacific, and a bolt of lightning shorted out the field for a few seconds allowing the ship to go through. Taking on water thanks to hitting a reef, Godzookie called Godzilla to place the ship on an island. When Godzilla returned to the sea, the force field went back up and trapped him out. Godzookie and the Calico crew were now trapped on the island with a massive cyclops-like monster with lobster claws. Discovering a cave, they found the record of aliens that were likewise trapped on the island. The aliens were unable to combat the monster, so they made a force-field to trap the monster in. By changing the settings on an alien device they found, the force-field was brought down to allow Godzilla back in to fight the cycloptic monster. A timer was set on the alien device, allowing the crew and Godzilla to escape and trap the monster inside (thanks to having red paint dumped on the monster so they could see it.
Fighting Power: ****
A powerful monster, one with the strength and skill to nearly match Godzilla. With it’s big claws and powers of invisibility and a projectile object-lifting beam, this "Cyclops" is quite the menace, even to advanced alien races. Plus it has tough exoskeleton-like armor and the drive to not stop in killing everything it sees.
The Robot Colossus
A.K.A.: The Colossus, The Colossus of Atlantis, The Guardian Robot
Height: 180 feet?
Weight: unknown
Regular abilities: can utilize advanced technology, rolls and spins around on one wheal, head can rotate completely around, numerous retractable tentacle-like arms with sharp claws, body can extend to a great height, good at grappling and throwing opponents
Special Abilities: destructive beam from between eyes, heat beams from eyes
Weakness: electrical systems short out when exposed to salt water, destructive beam can be reflected by a shiny metal
Appearances: "The Colossus of Atlantis" (episode 7, 1978)
History: An earthquake below the ocean released the city of Atlantis from it’s underwater prison, allowing it to float to the surface. Coincidentally, the Calico was in the area at the time, and was captured and crushed by the malfunctioning Atlantis defense systems (the crew escaped and Godzilla was put into stasis). They found that the Atlantians put themselves into stasis when the city sunk, but were unable to escape because of the malfunctioning systems keeping them in stasis. To release them the giant robot guardian had to be destroyed, and so Godzookie dodged a beam that was sent in the Godzilla’s direction, releasing him from stasis to battle the robot. By throwing the colossus into the ocean, the robot shorted out and the Atlanteans were free. Using some time travel, the Atlanteans restored the crew to the Calico and then the city flew off (Atlantis was actually a space ship).
Fighting Power: ****
This malfunctioning robot has a habit of rolling around and shooting everything in site, or using the Atlantis defense systems to "protect" the city. When combating a larger opponent, it can use it’s numerous arms to grapple with them, it’s beams to blast them, and has a few "tricks" to insure that it will succeed in eliminating the threat. As long as it doesn’t encounter salt water, it can usual do the job.
The Minotaur
Height: 12 feet?
Weight: unknown
Regular abilities: human-like built, great strength, horns on head
Special Abilities: none
Weakness: none known
Appearances: "Island of Lost Ships" (episode 9, 1978)
History: On a particular island in the Mediterranean, one that reappears once every thousand years, there is an underground maze. People that enter this maze are met by the Minotaur, a large human/bull hybrid controlled by the Sirens, who lure boats to crash on the shore so that they can kill the crew or turn them into stone. The crew of the Calico happened upon this island and went through the maze, but escaped due to the help of Godzookie (twice), who lifted or flew them through a window in the ceiling.
Fighting Power: ***
A generic "man with animal head" sort of monster, one that basically just runs around trying to grab people. Not very good about running around and grabbing people either, considering that he has a habit of standing there and roaring whenever he sees somebody. Also tricked very easily. Still, overall it’s a fairly generic sort of beast.
The Chimera
Height: 20 feet? (can grow to 160 feet?, if given more power can grow to 200 feet?)
Weight: unknown
Regular abilities: powerful slender body, horns on head
Special Abilities: fire stream from mouth
Weakness: will vaporize upon contact with water
Appearances: "Island of Lost Ships" (episode 9, 1978)
History: An island in the Mediterranean is home to the sirens, three sisters that like to lure sailors to the island to either die or be turned into stone by them. Also on this island is the chimera, a giant lion/goat/snake beast that is locked away in a special building because the sirens cannot control it. When the crew of the Calico happened to be nearby the island during a storm when it reappeared (once very thousand years to disappear at sunset), they came to the island and once confronted by the sirens, Godzookie released the chimera. They called Godzilla, who shoved the monster back into the building, but the sirens made Godzilla go to sleep. Latter on Godzilla was woken up and fought the chimera again, who this time was powered by merging with the sirens. Luring the hybrid monster off a cliff, the chimera landed in the water and was destroyed.
Fighting Power: ****
Yet another big powerful creature with some useful powers that happens to be weak to water. As long as there is no sea around, the monster can overpower most of it’s enemies with ease. Still, up against a large monster such as Godzilla, it is pretty much it’s equal in terms of strength and ability (but not necessarily intelligence).
The Magnetic Monster
A.K.A.: The Magnetic Creature, The Magnetic Horror, Giant Magnetic Turtle
Height: 164 feet? (can grow much larger, seemingly four times in height)
Weight: unknown
Regular Abilities: strong beak, tough shell, a good swimmer
Special Abilities: can emit a magnetic waves from mouth that can lift/repel objects and energy weapons, can grow larger by feeding off of magnetic waves
Weakness: an overload of magnetic waves into it’s system (such as being at a magnetic pole of the Earth) will cause the creature to explode
Episode Appearance: "The Magnetic Horror" (Episode 10, 1978)
History: While the Calico and crew were visiting the Antarctica regions of the planet, they came across a pilot whose plane was eaten by what turns out to be giant turtle-like creature with powers over magnetic waves. The creature made it’s way to an oil rig in it’s quest to eat metallic objects, and Godzilla was called to combat it. The creature swam away after Godzilla was distracted when saving the Calico from an oil spill fire. Some members of the crew followed the monster in a mini-sub, but were "eaten" by the monster. Godzilla was called again by Godzookie when finding this out, and fought the monster again. The creature absorbed the magnetic energy from the Earth to grow larger, but after Godzilla was told to lure it to the magnetic south pole, the creature grow so big it exploded, releasing the mini-sub and ending it’s horror.
Fighting Power: ****
Well it’s a strong giant turtle with nifty powers (kind of like Gamera), so just by it’s nature it’s a good kaiju fighter. This is of course if what it’s fighting is the same size of it, because this monster has the power to grow much larger then any other living being on Earth. As long as the creature doesn’t overload it’s energy flow, then it can overpower any kaiju with sheer size alone. Even without the size, it still can battle fairly well.
The Breeder Beast
A.K.A.: Giant Living Breeder Reactor Gone Wild
Length: 300 feet?
Weight: unknown
Regular abilities: protoplasmic mass can stick to and pull objects into it’s body, can extend numerous psuedopods to grab things, good at throwing objects, adept swimmer
Special Abilities: just about any material can be dissolve and digested into the creature through the glowing red nucleus which will make it stronger and bigger
Weakness: fire and explosions could set off an explosive reaction until the creature became in control of it’s reactions, enough damage to the nucleus will cause the raw material in the breeder beast to crystallize out of the creature
Appearances: "The Breeder Beast" (episode 11, 1978)
History: An oil spill reacted with a small single-celled organism that created a creature that had a living breeder reactor in it. The breeder beast went around absorbing any material it could find. The crew of the Calico happened upon the creature and called Godzilla, who’s fire breath caused a few small explosions in the creature and it swam away. Latter it attacked and natural gas plant and latter Washington D.C., and the military and Calico crew made numerous efforts to stop the creature without explosives (thought to possible cause a massive nuclear explosion). The creature went to the Mint and absorbed the cold and silver in it. Afterwards Godzilla attacked it with his laser eyes, despite warnings not to, but instead of an explosion it harmed the creature. Realizing that it was now in control of it’s internal reactions, the crew told Godzookie to tell Godzilla to fire his lasers at the nucleus. The material crystallized out of the creature and what was left was the original small organism.
Fighting Power: ****
It’s big, it can absorb anything, and it’s amoeba-like form allows it to squeeze through just about anything and pull stuff into it’s mass. It’s also a good grappler and is somehow smart enough to throw objects. A very powerful creature, but all it takes is a little bit of energy-based damage and the creature is no longer giant.
The Great Watchuka
Height: 164 feet?
Weight: unknown
Regular abilities: bashing, stomping, grappling, skilled at creating avalanches
Special Abilities: none
Weakness: none known
Appearances: "The Sub-Zero Terror" (episode 12, 1978)
History: Deep in the Himalayas, legends tell of a race of "snowmen" called the Watchuka (similar to the yeti). Driven away by human incursions, they etched out a life in a mountain with geothermal energy to assist in steam-powered technology. To take back the surface world, they’ve created an army that, thanks to their freezing technology, was put into suspended animation until the time came. The crew of the Calico happened to stumble upon this, and it led to the Watchuka unleashing their largest warrior, the Great Watchuka (who also was to blame for a number of avalanches). Godzilla fought the creature, and sealed the watchuka civilization away by plugging the volcanic crater with a massive rock.
Fighting Power: ***
Your generic extra-large abominable snowman.
Honorable Mention
: An extra-large and vicious Diplodicus and a Godzilla-sized Tyrannosaurus-like creature from "The Time Dragons" (episode 13, 1978)
Season 2
More Stats Coming Soon!