Thursday, October 29, 2020

Character Analysis: Mechagodzilla(Feat Lousy)

 Mechagodzilla Character Sheet




#Background

45 years after the original Godzilla devastated Japan, a newer, better Godzilla mysteriously appeared off the country's coast, and began ravaging the mainland. The Anti-Megalosaurus Force was sent to retaliate against the new threat with Maser technology. Ultimately, their efforts proved futile, and Lieutenant Akane Yashiro was scapegoated into taking the fall.

Flash forward 4 years, and Godzilla remains an ever present threat. In response, the Japanese military decided to create a new weapon to fight the new Godzilla. Gathering their top scientists from across the country, and using newly developed exoskeletal cybernetic technology, they took the literal skeleton of the old Godzilla and built Kiryu: The new and improved anti-Godzilla weapon designed to match and surpass Godzilla.

And piloting this new hybrid of monster and machine was Akane, and the Kiryu Squadron. After a few test runs, and working out a particularly bad quirk in which the original Godzilla's consciousness would take over Kiryu, the mech had the chance to go toe to toe with Godzilla. In the end, Kiryu did not kill Godzilla, but did manage to fire off the Absolute Zero Cannon, severely injure and permanently scar him, and stalemate him long enough that Godzilla retreated to the ocean.

Not long after that, while Kiryu was undergoing repairs, it was learned that so long as Mechagodzilla used the bones and DNA of the original Godzilla, this new Godzilla would continue to ravage Japan. The new Godzilla did well to keep that promise. It all accumulated into a battle with Mothra and Kiryu against Godzilla. With a final roar, Godzilla once again awoke the spirit of the original Godzilla, dwelling dormant within Kiryu, leading to the newly awakened Godzilla to carry it and its successor to the bottom of the ocean.

And on the side, human-piloted variants of Mechagodzilla have appeared in an assortment of Godzilla comics, almost always as a countermeasure against Godzilla and other monsters. But regardless of what Godzilla story you follow, Kiryu and Mechagodzilla continue to represent the man-made, man-piloted enemy, and (sometimes) ally to the King of the Monsters.


#Experience

*Note: I'm assuming we're using one of Kiryu's pilots in the Millennium films, Akane Yashiro, or Azusa Kisaragi. However, I will mention other elements from humans who piloted Mechagodzilla in the comics if they seem relevant.*

  • Akane is established to be an experienced military Lieutenant prior to the events of Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla, and was part of the Anti-Megalosaurus Force prior to joining the Kiryu Squadron.

  • During the events of Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla, Akane and the Kiryu Squadron did battle with Godzilla, ultimately stalemating the monster, and getting it to return to the sea.

  • In Godzilla Tokyo S.O.S, the device was rebuilt and used against Godzilla yet again. In the end its soul awakened and returned both itself and Godzilla to sea.

  • In the Godzilla: Half Century War, Kiryu is the final last ditch attempt the military has at turning the tide against King Ghidorah and Gigan, who had invaded Earth. Ultimately, Kiryu and its pilot temporarily teams up with Godzilla to take on the two monsters before sacrificing itself, Godzilla, and their two foes to a black-hole created by the Dimensional Tide Cannon.

  • In Godzilla Kingdom of Monsters and Godzilla Ongoing, Mechagodzilla is designed by the Americans, though contains all the abilities and features of its movie counterpart. It battles with Godzilla, before getting damaged, and commandeered. It then fights and defeats Anguirus while in disrepairs. Later on in Godzilla Ongoing, Kiryu and Godzilla team up yet again to defeat Destoroyah with the Absolute Zero Cannon.

  • By the finale of Godzilla: Rulers of Earth, Mechagodzilla takes part in a large-scale, all out brawl between the monsters of Earth (who have conveniently teamed up), and invading Kaiju and aliens.

  • Since it technically contains the soul and consciousness of the original Godzilla the experience from the events of the original film could arguably apply to Kiryu.


#Arsenal


Type 95 470mm Multipurpose Guided Bullets: Despite the name, these are actually guided ballistic rockets built into Kiryu’s Back Unit. 

Maser Cannon: A large laser built into Kiryu’s mouth. It is considerably more powerful than standard military maser weaponry, and capable of harming Godzilla.

Rail Cannons: Cannons equipped to Mechagodzilla’s wrists that can fire projectiles at high velocity similar to real-life railguns.

Rocket Launchers: Also equipped to Kiryu’s back unit are interlocking missiles that can be fired from its shoulder mounted cannons. These rockets also have homing capabilities.

Back Unit: The Back Unit that stores many of Mechagodzilla’s weapons also substitutes as a weapon itself. It can be launched towards opponents as a distraction and a battering ram, and in Tokyo S.O.S can be separated into two halves, and manually detonated.

Spiral Claw: The Anti-Beast Drill Apparatus is a drill Kiryu can form by collapsing its right hand, and rapidly rotate its robotic joints to pierce and drill through monsters. Capable of piercing Godzilla’s skin.

Retractable Blades: Mechagodzilla’s arms are equipped with retractable blades that can be used to stab and slice monsters, as well as emit an electrical surge through the use of maser technology.

Tail: Kiryu’s tail can be freely moved, and used to attack and bludgeon opponents.

Triple Hyper Maser Cannon: The weapon that replaced the Absolute Zero Cannon after Kiryu became damaged from its initial fight with Godzilla in Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla. While not as powerful, the weapon still packs a considerable punch, combining the power of several maser cannons.

Absolute Zero Cannon: By far Kiryu’s most powerful weapon. While it drains 40% of Kiryu’s power, the result of its attack completely freezes enemies to absolute zero and decimates them on an atomic level. The weapon itself was deadly enough to give Godzilla a permanent scar, and freeze other monsters before reducing them to nothing.


#Abilities


Aside from general superhuman strength, speed, durability, and physiology, Kiryu has...


Biomechanical Physiology: Being a machine composed from the DNA and framework of the original Godzilla, Kiryu combines the best of machine and monster. It can survive underwater indefinitely, change weapons on the fly, move with the agility of an organic creature, and continue fighting even with wounds that would normally stagger, incapacitate, or even kill organic creatures. Such as being stabbed in the chest.


Internal Oxygen Systems: Mechagodzilla has should have some kind of internal oxygen systems given it can survive underwater with a pilot inside.


Jet Powered Flight: Kiryu is capable of flying into the sky using the jet boosters on its feet. It’s worth noting that while Kiryu is hauled around to save power in the Millennium films, in the comics the machine is far less restricted and can freely fly to different parts of the world.


Remote Control: While Kiryu can be piloted manually like a more conventional mech, it can also be controlled through an aircraft support carrier.


Electrically Powered: In dire situations Kiryu has been able to recharge by getting linked up to Tokyo’s power grid. This usually takes time though.


#Other


Aircraft Support: Normally, Kiryu is controlled remotely from a support aircraft. This aircraft is also capable of recharging Kiryu by having microwaves beamed through it from a satellite.


#Feats


Strength & Destructive Power


-Can casually swing around Godzilla (Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla, 1:08:02,).

-The Absolute Zero Cannon can completely atomize multiple buildings (Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla, 1:09:15,).

-Can casually power through buildings (Godzilla: Gangsters and Goliaths, Page 118).

-Can hit with kilotons of kinetic energy by flying its 40,000 ton weight at mach 5


Speed & Agility


-Dodged Godzilla’s Atomic Breath (Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla, 1:07:00).

-Can fire large-scale rail gun projectiles

-Transported Anguirus from Alaska to Russia in a short amount of time (Godzilla Rulers of Earth, Volume 4, Page 50,


Durability & Survivability


-Kiryu survived being at the epicenter of the point-blank blast from the Absolute Zero Cannon fired at Godzilla (Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla, 1:18:30, .

-Can survive Godzilla’s Atomic Breath.


Scaling


Who does Kiryu Scale to? 


Kiryu scales to Godzilla and most of the higher tier monsters Godzilla has duked it out with in the comics Kiryu appears in. While Godzilla normally comes out on top, Kiryu comes more than close enough to scale. The machine persistently damages Godzilla, going as far as to leave a permanent scar due to the Absolute Zero Cannon, has teamed up with and saved Godzilla in some comics (Godzilla: The Half Century War, Issue #5, Page 12 & 13).


Other monsters, such as Baragon, Kiryu has outright defeated, and even the smaller, much inferior squadron of Kiryu models from the Godzilla Oblivion comics were capable of harming Godzilla (Godzilla Oblivion, Page 62). He’s also likely comparable, if not far superior to the Showa Era Mechagodzilla and the original Godzilla on account of being built from his skeleton. All of this is important because these monsters and mechs can...


Godzilla


-Casually tank a nuke (Godzilla Oblivion, Page 50,

-Casually create a large crater (Godzilla: Rulers of Earth, Volume 1, Page 79,

-Survive an explosion as big as Monster Island (Godzilla: Rulers of Earth, Volume 2, Page 80,


Gigan


-Fly from Jupiter to Earth in about 13 years (Godzilla: The Half Century War, Issue #4, Page 23,

-Break free of Space Godzilla’s crystals and send said crystals flying so fast they go from the moon to Earth in seconds (Godzilla: Rulers of Earth, vol 5, pages 15, 16, & 17)


King Ghidorah/Mecha King Ghidorah


-Carry Godzilla from Boston to Russia in a short amount of time (Godzilla: Rulers of Earth, Volume 4, Page 67, 68, & 69,


Anguirus


-Survived a volcanic eruption. (Godzilla Ongoing, issue #2, Page 12 & 13,


Showa Mechagodzilla


-Is stated to be capable of flying at Mach 5.


#Weaknesses


While incredibly powerful, Kiryu is not without its shortcomings. The Absolute Zero Cannon is devastating to most opponents, but it also uses up 40% of Kiryu’s power, and cannot be used lightly. This can make Kiryu’s 2 hour power limit even more limited if wielded improperly. Though it’s worth noting this power limit isn’t as much of an issue in the comics, and even in the movies is circumvented by recharging the mech via an aircraft unit. 


Nonetheless, despite being designed as the ultimate anti-Godzilla weapon, Kiryu’s track record against Godzilla is mixed at best. It has come admirably close at times, made some stalemates, and shown itself comparable to the King of the Monsters, but never seems to quite be able to finish the job. A strong enough hit can also knock out some cables that the pilots need to control Kiryu. It’s unclear if this would affect a pilot who's controlling it manually, or if it only affects the remote controls, but it's worth mentioning.


Perhaps most ironic, the monster it was designed to kill can also trigger one of Kiryu’s biggest weaknesses. Because Kiryu contains the DNA and skeleton of the original Godzilla, it also somehow contains its soul and consciousness. Which can wake up, take control of the mech, and most likely go on a rampage. While this problem was fixed by the end of Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla, it arose again by the end of Godzilla Tokyo S.O.S.


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