KAIJUOLOGY: BARAGON

Subject: Baragon

Documentation: Frankenstein Conquers The World (1965), Destroy All Monsters (1968), GMK: Giant Monsters All Out Attack (2001).

History: The monster known as Baragon is a prehistoric subterranean megalosaur. Presumed to be the last of it's species, Baragon was first seen during an earthquake near an oil rig in the Akita Prefecture, Japan. The great beast is believed to have been responsible for the quake as it was next witnessed roaming the countryside burrowing underground, emerging to gorge itself on live stock. Its attacks went misreported for quite some time, a giant humanoid creature blamed instead.

The death toll rose. Soon Baragon encountered the giant the locals papers referred to as Frankenstein. The two creatures battled in the forests near the coast. Baragon revealed a natural defense mechanism, a heat beam expelled from the mouth. The beast used this ability as a means of burrowing through the earth as well as a weapon against the Frankenstein monster. In the end Baragon was seemingly killed by the giant humanoid. This assessment proved inaccurate.

Baragon was transported to the Ogasawara Islands where the creature revived. The beast was provided food and a dwelling along with several other megalosaurs where they were researched and studied for several years. The beast would probably still be in captivity if not for the Kilaak Invasion of 1999. Baragon along with all the other great beast were released and loosed upon the globe. Baragon burrowed underground and emerged in Paris, France leveling the city.

(Note: Documentation of the Paris attack has since been altered. For reasons unknown all footage of this attack has been lost. The one image that remains has been altered to feature another kaiju, Gorosaurus. Reasons for this alteration remain unknown.)

Takashi Minamimura Art

Baragon's attack on France as well as the other monsters global siege was a result of Kilaak manipulation. The Japanese Self Defense Forces broke the Kilaak control over the monsters and the megalosaurs converged on Mount Fuji, Baragon included, in a final battle against the Kilaaks. The aliens summoned their final weapon, the astro-kaiju King Ghidorah. Baragon and the other beasts battled and defeated Ghidorah. The megalosaurs dispersed after and have not been retrieved. Many have reappeared and caused untold amounts of destruction.

Baragon however has not been seen since.

Baragon Vs Mothra

Review: Baragon is one of those monsters that you either like or have no opinion on. He's a fun monster. He's one of the least seen kaiju in the franchise too. But I like him. I like his design and his goofy looking face. His appearance in GMK was one of the best parts of that movie. He was a big reason why I was so excited to see GMK for the first time. I hope to see him appear again and hope Toho picks up filming their other kaiju while Godzilla enjoys big budget Hollywood success.

I have a soft spot for a few under appreciated kaiju and Baragon is one of them.

Baragon, Moguera, and Godzilla

Threat Level: 5 out of 10

Yasushi Torisawa Art