Know Your Monster: 8
GIGAN
A cyborg from outer space, Gigan was the first robotic monster to square off against Godzilla. He’s also among the more fearsome looking and lethal of Godzilla’s opponents — the first ever to draw blood from the Big Guy. Gigan is practically a walking stiletto — with hooks in place of hands and feet, and a spinning buzzsaw protruding from his stomach. Sometimes, these accessories get embellished. For instance, the hooks can morph into explosive-tipped blades or even chainsaws. In at least one instance, he’s got a swiveling laser gun mounted on his forehead.
He also can send his foes reeling by battering them at supersonic speeds. It’s said he can travel up to Mach 400 while encased in a diamond-shaped shuttle in space. Even after entering the Earth’s atmosphere, 
Gigan can fly at blazing speeds.
It comes as no surprise, then, that he has attracted a legion of hardcore fans. But the fact remains: Gigan is a loser. No matter how many times he seems just about to overpower Godzilla, in the end, Gigan always get whipped, always retreats back into space nursing his wounds, regrouping to fight again another day.
Another black mark against Gigan: His screen appearances have come in some of the tackiest Godzilla movies of all time. For instance, in Godzilla Vs. Gigan, the 1972 film where this space cyborg first rears his ugly mug, the Godzilla suit is visibly worn and tattered, literally falling apart by the final reel. In my book, Gigan’s overrated, but many fanboys would certainly take issue with that statement.
Here’s the original Godzilla Vs. Gigan trailer. The one big plus for the picture: Besides the two titled monsters, the three-headed King Ghidorah and Anguirus are also on the rampage, so the Battle Royales get fierce.
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Tomorrow’s featured monster: Godzilla
