Godzillahas a massive selection of kaiju heroes and villains. Many examples switch sides numerous times, but others aren’t so lucky. A character like Rodan can pop up over and over across every era of theGodzillafranchise. Others, like the monster moth Battra, have to make do with a single big-screen appearance. Battra might not be among the best-known kaiju of all time, but his consistent appearances in other media provide an interesting chance for him to return.
Evil doppelgängers are one of the most popular go-to villain options in theGodzillafranchise. Godzilla has SpaceGodzilla and severalversions of Mechagodzilla. These matching monsters turn the King of the Monsters' considerable might against him. InGodzilla x Kong: The New Empire, the Monsterverse pits Godzilla and Kong against a matching ape and lizard duo. The two-on-two conflict leaves several visual signifiers of the characters facing similar opponents. This will likely become more common after the recent entry’s success.
Battra, Battora, Black Mothra
Subtitle
Demon Beast of Destruction, Destroyer from Dark, Monster Moth, Dark Destruction Beast
Portrayed By
Ryu Hariken
Battra is an evil moth kaiju who fought Godzilla and Mothra in the 1992 filmGodzilla vs. Mothra.Every monster in Godzilla’s orbithas a few subtitles, which often add a lot to a monster’s intimidation factor. Godzilla is frequently called the King of the Monsters. King Ghidorah has titles like Emperor of the Cosmos, King of Terror, God of the Sky, the One Who is Many, and several other great nicknames. Battra, who exclusively appeared in one film, has several of the most threatening subtitles in the game. His backstory fits the bill. Battra wasn’t born to a mother and father. The very Earth created Battra as a form of living vengeance. Some 12,000 years ago, an ancient human civilization invented a machine that could control the climate. Their use of that technology enraged the Earth, pushing the planet to unleash Battra. The Dark Destruction Beast annihilated that ancient culture and stopped just short of wiping out the human race.Mothra attacked Battra anddefeated him, sealing him away in the Arctic Ocean for millennia.
What happened to Battra?
Godzilla vs. Mothrasees Battra return after a meteor strike frees him from his frozen prison. It’s a strange film that primarilysees Godzilla play the villain. Battra rises from the sea as a larva and attacks Japan. He eventually stumbles upon Godzilla and Mothra in combat. He should have a grudge against Mothra, but he quickly sets that beef aside to focus on Godzilla’s larger threat. Battra and Godzilla fought in the sea until a volcanic vent swallowed them both. They each survived, with Battra evolving into his winged form. Battra emerged again, this time more focused on getting his revenge on Mothra. Battra has the upper hand, but Godzilla intervenes. Mothra and Battra somehow set aside their differences to team up against Godzilla. They briefly overpower him, dragging him out to sea. Godzilla quickly attacks Battra while in flight, tearing into his throat and projecting a lethal blast of atomic breath. With Battra dead, Mothra drops both of them to avoid a similar fate. Mothra takes a moment to honor her fallen enemy-turned-ally. The Cosmos, the small twins who herald Mothra and Battra, explain that Battra was destined to stop an asteroid strike. Without him,Mothra will have to makethe treacherous flight into space. The twins tell humanity to remember her before she takes off. Godzilla’s presence in the story is weird, yet he still wins the day.
Could Battra join the Monsterverse?
Mothra has remained an integral part of the Monsterverse since her debut inGodzilla: King of the Monsters. She’s Godzilla’s only truly confirmed ally at this point. Kong has worked his way into a narrow position of mutually assured destruction, but Mothra seems to be the only friend Godzilla keeps. Despite her apparent death inKing of the Monsters, the moth returns forGodzilla x Kong. She saves the day, helpfully unbalancing the matchup between two apes and two lizards. If Mothra sticks around, it’s only a matter of time before the franchise makes a moth for her to fight. The easiest way to do that would be to bring back Battra. He would fit perfectly into the ecological message ofKing of the Monstersand some of the other films.
Battra is a tragically short-lived enemy of Godzilla’s. He doesn’t get to be the star or the title character of the one film he appears in. The concept behind his creation and aspects of his execution are too cool to bewasted on a single film. Battra could easily return for a new appearance in the Monsterverse. The Destroyer from Dark deserved better.
