BW Media Spotlight’s Top 10 Kaiju

The low 5 are on the previous page (scroll down to the page link). Check them out if you haven’t, then come back here.

5. Zilla

Wait, wait, let me explain myself. I know putting this guy on the list when Space Godzilla is nowhere to be found is odd. (For the record he would be #11–he’s a Godzilla clone whose big strength is his big weakness; without those crystals he kind of in trouble. Heck, being a Godzilla clone is what gives him #11.) I know people really hate Emmerich’s not-Godzilla movie and with good reason. However, we’re judging the monster itself here and even separating him from the cartoon (which made both him and Nick a lot better) since we’re ignoring animated versions, the monster formerly known as GINO is actually quite cool. Is he Godzilla? Heck no. On the other hand, he can burrow through almost anything, he’s sleek, far stealthier than you would give a monster that size credit for, and his/her offspring could lead to a ton of Zillas. His fire breath is as deadly as you can get even though it lacks the REAL Godzilla’s focus. Ignoring the source material (because they sure did) he’s a great monster and the animated series only made him better.

4. King Kong

To not have one of the inspirations of this genre up here would be an insult and I won’t do that. Kong will rip you apart (or rip off a girl’s dress…the pervert) without thinking. He’s had two appearances in Japan and numerous sequels and remakes here in America…to varying degrees of success or quality. But while Godzilla is the real king, this Kong is just as worthy of a crown.

3. King Ghidorah

Quite possibly the most popular of Godzilla’s foes and last I heard second only to Godzilla in popularity, King Ghidorah (or just Ghidorah) is a threat that can’t be ignored. Whether he’s from space or unleashed by a gang of idiot time travelers (we’re just going to ignore the movie that made him a “good guy” partly due to behind-the-scenes interference and partly because I think it’s stupid–okay, mostly for that reason) Ghidorah is the ultimate threat for Godzilla and he’s even had a number of other forms. One of those happens to be our #2……

2. Mecha Ghidorah

If you saw my video review of Godzilla Vs. King Ghidorah you saw this coming. Also, I’m sorry. It was my first video and the camera wasn’t very good. Mecha Ghidorah (or Mecha King Ghidorah) is the original pumped up with cybernetics and run by a cute Japanese girl from the future (who just teamed with the wrong morons and no I’m not leaving the Futurians alone already) and her robot pal. The middle head, torn off by Godzilla, shoots lasers while the other two still spit lightning. I’m not sure what the mechanical parts of the wings do besides covered the Godzilla-made holes in them but who cares? They look cool. I still love this thing better than Kaiser Ghidorah (which is just Monster X wishing he was as cool as Ghidorah). I don’t think there’s a way to bring him back but I wouldn’t mind them finding away. (You hear me, IDW?)

But if a three-headed cyborg monster is #2, what’s #1?

1. Mechagodzilla

Now this one all of you who have read my Godzilla comic reviews saw coming since I’ve said more than once that Mechagodzilla is my favorite G-foe. And anybody who complains that he’s a robot and not a monster, the Millennium era movies said he was built over the remains of the first Godzilla. (These were the only films that had any continuity beyond “let’s sequel the first movie again” which is why outside of the Mechagodzilla movies and Final Wars the Millennium era movies are my least favorite series.) So go with that. But whether he’s build by humans or aliens (admittedly my preference are the space gorillas–just because) this guy is armed with the kitchen sink, the bathroom sink, and the outdoor faucet for the hose. Even putting Wood or Boxer behind the wheel doesn’t diminish how awesome Mechagodzilla is, thus making him my favorite not-actually-Godzilla kaiju.

As soon as I see them up and can edit, I’ll post link to Michael May and Siskoid‘s lists (and Matt’s even he joins in later) and I also apologize to Jim of Draconic Versus for not thinking of pulling him in.  Maybe he’ll do his own Top 10 at some point. (ADDITION: Another one comes from That F’ing Monkey. And here’s another from Let’s Rap With Cap.) For now I need to get ready for ComiCONN and the Best of Friday Night Fights. Also, feel free to comment on my list with some of your own choices. Maybe it will inspire another list in the future. My RU friends say top 10 lists are all the rage.