The process of crafting Godzilla monsters often goes through several phases. Many of the classic kaiju who fought the King of the Monsters started as something unrecognizable before finding the form they'd eventually enjoy. Some emerge during the scripting phase before designers and suit actors breathe life into the concept. During the Heisei era, Toho regularly played with the idea of evil doppelgängers. SpaceGodzilla might be the most unique copy on the roster.
Mechagodzilla is the classic evil Godzilla. The robotic antagonist exists in various forms throughout the franchise. His most recent appearance in Godzilla vs. Kong might lead to future occurrences in later sequels. The idea of humanity or aliens crafting a machine to rival Godzilla works well with the narrative themes, but he's far from the only monster inspired by the franchise's hero.
Godzilla: Who is Gigan?
This unique kaiju has hooks for hands, a buzzsaw in its tummy, and a selection of bizarre superpowers.
Where did SpaceGodzilla first appear?
Names | SpaceGodzilla, Space Godzilla, Space-Godzilla, Spe-Godzi |
|---|---|
Subtitles | Heinous Space Combat Beast, Bio-Quarts Monster |
Designer | Minoru Yoshida |
Portrayer | Ryo Hariya |
First Appearance | Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla |
First Appearance Date | December 10, 1994 |
SpaceGodzilla is a crystaline extraterrestrial clone of the original Godzilla. His name is a mess. It capitalizes the "G" in Godzilla, despite Mechagodzilla's example. It exists in official media in every imaginable spacing and punctuation arrangement. As is often the case, SpaceGodzilla started as something entirely different. The initial pitch involved an enhanced form of King Ghidorah called Emperor Ghidorah, but after that plan fell through, they imagined a beast called AstroGodzilla. They imagined a version of Godzilla with ice powers and massive crystals on every extremity of his body. Designer Minoru Yoshida recently developed an enhanced form of Godzilla called Super Godzilla for the 1993 Super Nintendo game of the same name. That kaiju featured samurai-like shoulder armor, a crest on his head, and more muscle mass. Yoshida repurposed the design for SpaceGodzilla, turning the ice into crystals and creating a towering new foe.
SpaceGodzilla is a sort of genetic clone of Godzilla. The King's unique cells made their way into space, fell through a black hole, assimilated crystaline organisms, and absorbed the energy of several dying stars. This caused the wayward cells to develop into a new living creature with unique abilities. The films offer two explanations for Godzilla's cells winding up in space. Biollante, the mighty plant monster, may have carried them with her when she became a massive rose in orbit. Alternatively, Mothra may have brought them into space on her wings when she left Earth to stop a meteor. Either way, the resulting organism developed into a larger copy of Godzilla and flew to Earth.
What is SpaceGodzilla capable of?
SpaceGodzilla has an eclectic list of powers. While most kaiju wield natural weapons like claws, fangs, and spines, SpaceGodzilla builds an arsenal around his crystals. His enhanced size and short arms leave him less capable in melee combat. He can summon massive crystals from the earth. He creates an environment by building these structures in his domain, but he can also pull them from the ground as a defensive tactic. He also has an innate shield of crystals that wraps around his body. SpaceGodzilla has telekinetic powers, which he maintained from his initial existence as Emperor Ghidorah. He can levitate himself, objects, and other kaiju. SpaceGodzilla can also absorb, redirect, and wield energy from other sources. His answer to Godzilla's atomic breath is a Corona Beam, which bends and arcs like living lightning. His arguable ultimate maneuver is called Homing Ghost, which sends smaller crystals raining down on an opponent. SpaceGodzilla is among the most intelligent and tactical monsters in the franchise.
What happened to SpaceGodzilla?
SpaceGodzilla emerged as an immense threat when he first approached Earth. He quickly defeated MOGUERA, a mech designed to defend Japan from Godzilla. Upon landing on Earth, SpaceGodzilla encased Godzilla's son in a crystal to start a beef with the King of the Monsters. By forging two enemies within moments of his entry into Earth's atmosphere, SpaceGodzilla seals his tragic fate. MOGUERA and Godzilla work together to defeat SpaceGodzilla. The extraterrestrial clone builds a fortress in Fukuoka, draining Fukuoka Tower as an energy source. MOGUERA burrowed beneath SpaceGodzilla's domain to weaken Fukuoka Tower, allowing Godzilla to topple it. MOGUERA then unleashes bombs, destroying SpaceGodzilla's shoulder crystals. This wound proved critical, robbing SpaceGodzilla of his ability to drain energy. Godzilla finished the job with several bursts of his red spiral ray, killing both SpaceGodzilla and MOGUERA. SpaceGodzilla disintegrated into spores and floated off into space again. He returns briefly in Godzilla Island, where he dies, becomes a ghost, attains a new enhanced form, and loses another fight against Godzilla, forcing him back into space.
SpaceGodzilla is a fascinatingly unique Godzilla foe. While he may have begun life as a repurposed antagonist, his bizarre list of abilities turned his debut feature into a fun outing. SpaceGodzilla demonstrates the variety kaiju movies can find by adding weird superpowers to their antagonists. The Monsterverse could learn a thing or two from the Bio-Quartz Monster from the Darkness.
Godzilla: Who Is Megalon?
This massive insect is the star of Godzilla's funniest outing, but he looks a lot more threatening than he is.