Godzilla: Who is Baragon?

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As a lifelong Godzilla fan who grew up watching these colossal beasts battle it out on the big screen, I can’t help but have a soft spot for the lesser-known kaiju – and Baragon is no exception. This horned horror has always been my underdog, a creature that, despite his limited screen time, manages to capture my heart with his unique abilities and quirky personality.

In the movie Godzilla, there are numerous kaiju accompanying him. Many of the initial stories were centered around pitting Godzilla against another colossal creature, and then expanding on the storyline from there. Some characters receive more focus than others. While popular figures like King Ghidorah and Mothra tend to steal the limelight, lesser-known characters such as Baragon appear only occasionally. There’s a certain appeal about this horned monster, which could be either Godzilla’s long-lost sibling or a giant rodent dressed up for Halloween.

As a gamer, I can tell you that the current Monsterverse maintains a serious and impactful approach when it comes to its titans. Godzilla remains as majestic and formidable as ever, while Kong exudes a definite leading man charm. The rest of the beasts they’ve faced are either awe-inspiring or downright terrifying. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not suggesting they should turn Godzilla Jr. into a joke character for laughs. But, wouldn’t it be cool to see the classic suit actor feel revisited in this contemporary blockbuster series?

What is Baragon?

Names Baragon, Varagon, Red Godzilla, etc.
Subtitles Subterranean Monster, Fierce King of the Underground, Giant Horn Monster, God of the Earth, etc.
Created By Arika Watanabe and Eiji Tsuburaya
Portrayed By Haruo Nakajima, Rie Ota, and Toshinori Sasaki
First Appearance Frankenstein vs. Baragon
First Appearance Date August 8, 1965

Baragon is a four-legged reptile monster who enjoys digging tunnels. Fans have pointed out that he bears a resemblance to Godzilla, though this wasn’t intentional. Interestingly, Baragon was initially used as a placeholder for Godzilla in a film called “Frankenstein vs. Godzilla,” which was based on an idea for a movie featuring Frankenstein battling King Kong. Yes, Toho Studios refers to Frankenstein’s monster as “Frankenstein,” thus making this common literary mistake part of their storyline. The studio later abandoned the project and moved on to “Godzilla vs. Mothra.” They eventually reintroduced Frankenstein but needed a new opponent for him, so they created Baragon as a challenge for Mary Shelley’s powerful creation. Akira Watanabe designed Baragon for this role.

In a familiar tale, Baragon, originally depicted as a descendant from the ancient reptile known as the Baranosdragon during the Mesozoic era, has undergone multiple transformations within the Godzilla franchise. Initially dwelling in the ocean’s depths like his counterpart Godzilla, Baragon preferred to reside in the Earth’s deepest caverns instead. Subsequent adaptations altered his background slightly; in one version, he was born in Gunma Prefecture, Japan, and later moved to Monsterland, while in another, he evolved into one of Japan’s Guardian Monsters, earning the title “God of the Earth.” In this role, he stood alongside Mothra, the “God of the Sea,” and King Ghidorah, the “God of the Sky,” ready to defend Japan from potential catastrophic threats. Despite his limited screen time, it’s gratifying to see him make a mark in the spotlight.

What is Baragon capable of?

Among Godzilla’s companions, Baragon stands out for his simplicity in abilities. Primarily, he relies on burrowing, a skill that allows him to create immense tunnels at an astonishing pace, moving swiftly through earth like a 10,000-ton version of Bugs Bunny. His horn emits light as he digs, serving as a beacon. In his debut, he could emit a beam of intense heat, though it bears a faint resemblance to Godzilla’s atomic breath and lacks the power to harm enemies. Instead, Baragon uses this heat beam to soften the earth for easier digging. When out of the ground, Baragon typically attacks by charging at his adversaries. He can cover multiple football fields with a single leap, allowing him to strike swiftly and catch opponents off guard. While not the most formidable kaiju, Baragon seems content living underground.

What happened to Baragon?

In the Godzilla series, Baragon isn’t typically the top-performing combatant. In the movie “Frankenstein vs. Baragon,” also known as “Frankenstein Conquers the World” in America, nighttime attacks on human settlements are attributed to Frankenstein, resulting in a confrontation where Frankenstein breaks Baragon’s neck before falling into a massive hole. Baragon reappeared in “Destroy All Monsters,” but he mainly watched from the sidelines. He returned again in “Godzilla, Mothra, and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack” (2001). Despite not being mentioned in the title, this was his first opportunity to face off against Godzilla. Similar to previous instances, human blame for Baragon’s raids on human areas fell upon a more popular character – in this case, Godzilla. In their encounter, Baragon used his signature tunnel and leap method against Godzilla, but the latter defeated him effortlessly. Although Baragon seemed deceased, his spirit united with those of Ghidorah and Mothra to surprise Godzilla, allowing a human to deliver the final blow.

Originating from an unusual movie, Baragon stands out as one of the less complex creatures in the series. Essentially, he’s a colossal dinosaur with horns resembling a mammal and has a strong affection for digging. He had brief encounters with Godzilla and Frankenstein, yet his total screen time barely reached an hour. Baragon warrants more attention. Given the current fascination of the Monsterverse with the Hollow Earth, it seems the perfect moment to reintroduce this underrated character.

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2024-11-10 05:04