Godzilla: Who is Megaguirus?

Godzilla: Who is Megaguirus?

As a seasoned gamer and long-time follower of the Godzilla franchise, I can confidently say that Megaguirus is a unique and intriguing addition to the kaiju pantheon. Her origin story, inspired by James Cameron’s Aliens, adds a fresh twist to the Godzilla universe, pitting our favorite titan against a swarm of insectoid threats.


In the world of Godzilla, the creators have a knack for transforming ordinary creatures into terrifying monsters, yet they seem to favor certain types. Mammals or birds seldom find themselves in the role of kaijus. Kong is an exception due to his established presence, while others typically hail from the reptile, amphibian, fish, and invertebrate kingdoms. Giant insects are frequently the go-to choices because many people have a natural fear of bugs, and close-ups can amplify even the somewhat adorable ones into something gruesome. Megaguirus is one example of a colossal bug kaiju, but she brings along an entire species to terrorize.

The Godzilla series pioneered the idea of a shared cinematic universe, a concept we’re more familiar with through Marvel movies, decades before it was commonly used. Before Marvel adapted comic book continuity for the big screen, Toho introduced kaiju characters that could appear in future films. Their approach was less polished than Marvel’s current efforts, but they still managed to create unexpected moments. Characters such as Rodan and Mothra are now synonymous with Godzilla, but they first appeared in their own standalone movies.

What is Megaguirus?

NamesMegaguirus, Megagilas, and Giant Meganulon
SubtitleSuper Flying Dragon
Created ByMasaaki Tezuka
Portrayed ByMinoru Watanabe
First AppearanceGodzilla vs. Megaguirus
First Appearance DateDecember 16, 2000

In this retelling, Megaguirus serves as the queen of an ancient species called Meganulons, first depicted in the 1956 Ishiro Honda movie Rodan. While Rodan is primarily known for its association with pteranodons, the initial menace in the film arises from gigantic dragonfly larvae. A flashback reveals that Rodan emerged from an underground mine and devoured numerous Meganulons, which may have saved countless lives. The idea to revive the Meganulon after 35 years was inspired by director Masaaki Tezuka’s admiration for James Cameron’s Aliens. Tezuka envisioned a confrontation between Godzilla and a horde of insect-like threats that would coordinate to summon a queen, similar to the Xenomorphs in the iconic sci-fi action horror film Aliens.

In the world of monster lore, Megaguirus is the regal leader among the Meganulon species. The production team combined a puppet-like figure and a full-body costume to portray her in the films. The individual inside the suit was Minoru Watanabe, who also starred in numerous Super Sentai and Kamen Rider projects. In terms of lore, Megaguirus stands out as the largest and strongest member of her kind. She arrived on our contemporary Earth through an unbelievable black hole weapon that coincidentally created a gateway to another dimension. A swarm of her subjects attached themselves to Godzilla, sapping some of his energy, which they then used to transform Megaguirus’s cocoon, allowing her to be reborn as a powerful winged queen. One comic book version of her origins from the series “Godzilla: Rage Across Time” suggests that Megaguirus was the origin or primary carrier of the Bubonic plague, but this doesn’t align with the movies’ portrayal.

What is Megaguirus capable of?

Godzilla: Who is Megaguirus?

Megaguirus is constructed with terrifying characteristics reminiscent of giant insects. She possesses an extraordinary ability to fly faster than Mach 4, a speed beyond human vision to follow. Her wings are equipped with sharp edges that can easily cut through buildings like skyscrapers and solid steel structures without decelerating. A close encounter could be deadly, but she’s equally dangerous at a distance. She wields a pair of powerful claws capable of penetrating Godzilla’s armored skin. Her most lethal weapon is the stinger on her tail, which can pierce through targets and also siphon energy from her adversaries, making her even stronger against Godzilla. After absorbing nuclear power, Megaguirus has the capacity to release a powerful fireball with devastating effects. Some games enhance this ability, allowing her to drain an enemy’s beam attack and reuse it against them.

What happened to Megaguirus?

Godzilla: Who is Megaguirus?

Final Wars, and has made occasional appearances in comics like the 2016 series Rage Across Time.

Megaguirus is a very minor Godzilla antagonist, but she could have been much more. The idea of Godzilla facing a swarm of smaller creatures is a fascinating one, especially with Aliens as a source of inspiration. Megaguirus could have been so much more. There’s a point about the weakness of monarchies in her story somewhere. Maybe the Meganulon should have unionized instead.

Read More

2024-10-17 23:04