Summary
Godzilla has been given many names over his 70-year history, but inGodzilla X Kong: The New Empire, the Hollow Earth Iwi tribe bestowed a new name upon him which provides some insight into his past.The New EmpiresawGodzilla transform and achieve a power levelpreviously unseen in the Monsterverse, and furthered his storyline as the planet’s Alpha Titan and protector. However, the movie also provided a new thread into Godzilla’s origins in one scene in particular.
As the Monarch team led by Jia learns about thehistory of Skar King and the Hollow Earth, they learn that it was actually Godzilla who imprisoned Skar King in the first place. He’s identified as “the monster who ate a star”, which is the Iwi’s interpretation of how he got his destructive atomic breath. While it is almost certain that the title doesn’t imply that Godzilla literally ate a star, it does provide some insight into why Godzilla is able to summon the energy from his own body, and what that means for the rest of his species.
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What “The Monster Who Ate A Star” Means In The Monsterverse
Godzilla may not have been born with his atomic breath
The meaning behind the Hollow Earth Iwi’s description of Godzilla is actually revealed (albeit indirectly) inGodzilla X Kong: The New Empire.While it’s obvious Godzilla didn’t actually consume the power of a star, it’s likely that the translation from the Iwi language is referring to a source of power or light. Their mythology surrounding Godzilla probably refers to an occasion very similar to the scene inThe New Empirewhen Godzilla absorbs the radiation of an entire nuclear plant.
The Iwi city is known as Malenka, and was established at that position in the Hollow Earth due to its proximity to a number of “Vile Vortices”, the portals that transport Titans around the planet.
In the ancient world,Godzilla likely consumed or absorbed the power of the Hollow Earth from a concentrated point, very similar to when hekilled Tiamat to take over her lair. In that instance, he cocooned himself to absorb the solar radiation from her lair, and something similar likely happened at a Hollow Earth energy hot spot like the Great Ape fortress seen inGodzilla vs. Kong. The ancient Iwi may have witnessed the moment when he actually acquired the power that allows him to generate his atomic breath, which they refer to as him “eating a star.”
Is Godzilla The Only Member Of His Species With The Atomic Breath?
Iwi mythology indicates it may not be a universal ability
The fact that Godzilla is singled out by the Iwi as “the” monster who ate a star indicates that the atomic breath might not be universal to his species. The first piece of evidence is the ongoing battle between Godzilla and Kong. Althoughhis axe acts as a valid shield from Godzilla’s atomic breath, as a Great Ape, Kong is simply outmatched by that ability without significant help. That casts some doubt about the “ancient war” between Kong’s species and Godzilla’s; how would the Great Apes battle an army of Godzilla’s kin all armed with atomic breath?
Kong’s axe is made from the dorsal fin of one of Godzilla’s ancestors, and its ability to block and absorb Godzilla’s atomic breath indicates that all members of Godzilla’s species may have been physically capable of absorbing radiation, even if Godzilla was the only one to raise his power levels enough to generate his atomic breath.
Furthermore, the mythology laid out inThe New Empireindicatesit was Godzilla who trapped Skar King and Shimo centuries ago, which would likely be impossible ifGodzilla’s attack abilitieswere reduced to claws and teeth. Meanwhile,another member of Godzilla’s species known as Dagonwas killed by MUTO Prime, and had his body used for the gestation of the MUTOs that Godzilla fights in 2014’sGodzilla. While the MUTOs put up a good fight, even the strongest of their species should be no match for an atomic breath-armed member of Godzilla’s species.
That all points to Godzilla being theonly member of his species that is capable of atomic breath. The moment he gained this ability, most likely by absorbing radiation from some sort of construct that acted as a concentration point for Hollow Earth energy was likely witnessed by the Iwi. At that moment, they bestowed the title upon Godzilla mentioned inGodzilla X Kong: The New Empire:“the monster who ate a star.”
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
Cast
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire unites iconic monsters Godzilla and Kong in a colossal confrontation. As these ancient titans clash, humans delve into their shared origins and explore the enigmatic secrets of Skull Island.
