Rodan (ラドン Radon?) of the IDW Publishing continuity is a giant pteranodon kaiju. He appears in Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters, Godzilla: Ongoing, and Godzilla: Rulers of Earth
Name[]
The Japanese name of Rodan, "Radon," is a contraction of "pteranodon" and may also have been chosen to suggest radiation. The spelling of Radon in Japanese also corresponds to the name of Ladon, the dragon-like monster represented in Greek Mythology. In the United States, the monster's name was changed to and trademarked as "Rodan" by Toho, which in katakana, is written as ãƒãƒ€ãƒ³ (Rodan). This was done to avoid resemblance with "radon", a noble gas discovered in 1898, for the American release of Rodan.[1]
Design[]
Appearance[]
In Kingdom of Monsters, Rodan begins as an infant pterosaur with bronze-colored scales and yellow eyes. He later grows to gigantic proportions and begins to walk upright on two legs.
In the third issue of Godzilla: Ongoing, Rodan's design resembles the Showa era Rodan with burgundy skin, an orange spiky chest, two horns on the back of his head, and black eyes with white pupils. In Rulers of Earth, Rodan's scales are red, and his face has a black beak with yellow eyes.
Roar[]
Personality[]
Origins[]
Rodan's origins trace back to a race of now-extinct ptesoraur kaiju. During the Tunguska event of 1908, his egg was discovered in the blast site, and mistaken as a diamond, it was moved to the Vernadsky State Geological Museum.
History[]
Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters[]
In the second issue, Rodan's egg was on display at the museum. When an earthquake suddenly erupts during a school field trip, a boy named Mikhail stole off with the egg, later hatching into Rodan my the time he comes home. Initially, Mikhail decides to keep Rodan as one of his pets. When he returns home later with a cat he intends to feed to Rodan, he finds the pterosaur has grown in size and devoured all of his pets, before devouring Mikhail himself. Rodan busts out of the room and flies off
Godzilla: Ongoing[]
Rodan attacking Keizer Ghidorah.
In Godzilla: Ongoing #4, Rodan battles Titanosaurus in Tokyo. Though Titanosaurus is captured after the battle, Rodan escapes. In issue #10, Rodan and Anguirus battle Gigan in Hong Kong. In issue #13, Rodan appears in New York and plays an integral role in helping Godzilla defeat Keizer Ghidorah.
Godzilla: Rulers of Earth[]
Rodan appeared in the Godzilla: Rulers of Earth comic series, suddenly attacking Varan and fighting him in a military base. Rodan kept to the air, but the spikes on Varan's back shredded Rodan's wing, forcing him to retreat. He was later seen in a flashback explaining the natural order of monsters, sleeping in a hillside cave. He is also seen on the mural in Infant Island's cave among other flying kaiju. Rodan was later transferred to the Monster Islands, his wing healed, and lived in peace there until the Trilopods attacked. Rodan fell, had his DNA copied by a Trilopod, and was taken to the Trilopod hive along with the other residents of the islands. Much later, King Caesar rampaged through the Trilopod hive, freeing the imprisoned Earth monsters, and Rodan flew to Los Angeles to assist Godzilla in battle. Rodan managed to kill the Anguirus-Trilopod, and fought against Magita, though he was easily swatted aside by the massive Trilopod. After the battle, Rodan, along with the other kaiju, followed Godzilla out to sea.
Abilities[]
Flight speed[]
Rodan's most noticeable trait is his flying speed, which has allowed him to effortlessly outmaneuver and outrun supersonic jets. Aside from his impressive speed and agility, Rodan possesses a variety of special abilities. In addition, Rodan can cause powerful winds while on the ground by simply flapping his wings.
Trivia[]
- Rodan's origins in Moscow may be in reference to his targeted city in Destroy All Monsters.
List of appearances[]
References[]
- ↑ Edmundson-Cornell, Harry (March 24, 2015). "Tsuburaya Does Colour: Rodan". Sequart Organization.
