Godzilla Week: Top 10 Toho Monsters (Kaiju)

#7 GIGAN (Gaigan, ガイガン)

First Sighting: March 1972

Size: 65 – 120 Meters

Powers: Scythed appendages, Grappling hooks, Anti-gravity flight, Abdominal saw, Visor laser

Featured Films: Godzilla vs. Gigan, Godzilla vs. Megalon, Godzilla Final Wars

Bio: While the alien invasion concept was not new to the Godzilla lore when Gigan came about, he was one of the few extraterrestrial beasts capable of making the King literally bleed. Gigan’s debut film, including the feature itself, was immensely inspired by comic book culture, showing in the film’s tone, characters, and outrageous plot, but also Gigan’s characteristics in design. When he was reawakened as Godzilla’s ultimate foe in ‘Final Wars’ it was seen only fit that he be repaired and his scythe hands replaced by giant chainsaws. Gigan is punk rock incarnate.