Monster Discussion #47: Battra

[JAGzilla]

Battra... he's interesting as a concept, at least. His execution in GvsM left a lot to be desired, but I'd like to see him return someday in a better movie. I'd want to see him as a wild-card that acts in Earth's best interest. He'd grudgingly tolerate humanity and Mothra's defense of us, but force us to minimize pollution and destruction of the environment as much as possible, attacking us if we go too far. He'd do the same with other kaiju, ignoring them as long as they didn't threaten the planet.

To facilitate better communication with humanity and try to avoid conflict, he'd have Belvera as a priestess/herald/whatever you'd call her. Same deal as the Shobijin. She's Battra's voice.

[Living Corpse]

I like Battra. He's a cool, anti-Mothra. However, I don't really get the feeling that Battra Larva is as strong as some people claim him to be. Still strong, yes, but I think your average Showa monster could stand a good chance against him. Beams aren't everything you know. Just ask Gigan.

Battra's roar is terrible however. For some, strange reason, it makes me think that a giant pterosaur is attacking rather then a giant demonic butterfly of death.

Who said anything about beams? What makes the Larval dangerous is his armor is pretty damn durable. He managed to fight Godzilla toe to toe without taking any major damage. His flying form on the other hand has shitty armor and he would have died earlier then what he did had he not teamed up with Mothra.

Anyways I liked that he actually used a ferris wheel as a weapon.

[DaveTheAnalyzer]

The talk about Battra's lack of character made me go to Rodan Roost's Kaiju Stats (Which is something I always do when wondering about the persoanlity of the monster). This part:

Battra is very aggressive, and will at once react to any provocation, dealing out far more in retaliation than the original attack. The monster has a long memory, as well, and will never forget who his enemies are.

Made me think that if Battra had the Internet, he would be the one who compose grudgeposts about anyone who slighted him.

"That time you spilled soap on that dandelion and made it die, Mothra? I'M GOING TO BEAM SPAM YOU TO DEATH FOR THAT, YOU USELESS MOTHBALL OF A GUARDIAN!!! *Incoherent insults and expletives follow*"

[Living Corpse]

Yeah that seems about right.

[Llante]

This Battra is another Heisei monster who should return some day just because of how good the ideas powering him were.

I was really interested in the concept of how he was described as basically a dark avenger, someone who is bent on keeping Earth and nature in order and terminates anyone who got in the way of balance. And the fact that he was created by a mistake of a advanced civilization. Someone who has the potential to destroy so much in the name of good, a sort of "so good, it's bad" character: an anti-hero.

But in the end, the bad film making behind the film made his execution more of an execution. Still, some good things made it into the film, like his brutal and redemptive sacrifice, his awesome entrance, and his overall design as a seperate, but similar character to Mothra. And his larval design had an unstoppable and malefic appearance that suited him well.

Not to mention that he is one tough dude. Getting both sides of his neck ripped open and his throat fried then not dying sooner than he did, surviving thousands of years trapped under ice, and emerging unscathed out of a volcanic rift.

Battra is someone who needs and could really benefit from a comeback with better execution and a fleshed out character and role. Heck, he would have better in the Rebirth of Mothra films to help Mothra defeat either Grand King Ghidorah or Daghra instead of just give Mothra Leo another random, nonsensical, and unexplained power up that. Seriously, that would've been cool in ROM 3 to have Battra work in to the plot as another "Mothra like creature" to help Mothra defeat Ghidorah instead of time travel and a ridiculous power up. Still, I am satisfied with ROM 3, it just would've been interesting to see Battra make a comeback in a franchise that would've suited him.

Anyways, that is all for now.

[Beef Bigshot]

While I feel that battra was executed kinda badly in his only appearance, I think he/she should have another chance in a movie. Battra is probably one of the coolest monsters in the Godzilla kiaju line. Battra also has a great background. The one thing I could have gone with for battra would be a larval form that is not looking straight up

[Sav]

Battra is great.

I love what that comic Kingdom of Monsters did with him. Gave him a set of evil twins who went around psychologically torturing people.

[Ghidorahs3rdHead]

Always liked Battra, an overall cool look and interesting background. Would love to see him in an updated film, much like some of the other great Heisei kaiju. Battra larva was always a tough customer, probably moreso than the adult stage but both are incredible kaiju.

[MeltdownKoopa]

Battra had SO much pontential. If only...

[Beef Bigshot]

i know battra is pretty popular and i was wandering if anyone would like him to make a new appearance. what kind of role would you like him to have, good or evil?

[eabaker]

If Battra were brought back, I'd want him to occupy the same morally complex role, but I'd like it to be better explored.

[20th Century Boy]

I'm really sick of these "Should (Insert underused monster here) Return?" threads, but now that I'm posting this, I am forced to contribute.

I think Battra goes in the list of overrated monsters, along with Bagan and Spacegodzilla. He was good for his role in the movie, but I wouldn't really want to see him again.

[Copperydock]

Personally I find Battra to be pretty forgettable, namely because the only movie he was in sucked big time.

[JAGzilla]

I like Battra as a concept, though his execution and movie left something to be desired. I'd like to see him return someday, ideally as a recurring character in a series. The basic idea: He and Mothra serve as godlike guardians of Earth. They disagree on humanity, but are roughly equal in power and unable to kill one another, and so are forced to coexist and attempt to balance their different agendas.

Protecting Earth is Battra's only priority, and he will destroy anything he sees as a threat to the planet. This includes humanity, though Mothra has faith in us and forces him to allow us to live on the condition that we do whatever possible to reduce pollution and generally minimize our negative impact on the environment. He doesn't hesitate to attack us if we deviate from this agreement, which of course is unfortuantely frequent. This puts us in constant conflict with him, with Mothra caught in the middle. In an effort to limit said conflict, he uses his priestess, Belvera, to communicate his demands directly with us.

His attitude toward other kaiju is similar. He ignores them as long as they pose no threat to Earth, in which case they die. With certain exceptions, of course. For example, he can't kill Godzilla, and so settles for controlling him as much as possible. He is also willing to team up with other kaiju to deal with mutual enemies.

[Dillyzilla the Kaiju]

Battra is overrated. Its just Heisei Mothra but... well, its just Heisei Mothra for men! That should work!

[Dust_pan]

Battra appears fairly often in IDW's Godzilla comics, so I can't say he needs more appearances.

He is one of my most favorite monsters of the whole series, though. He just needed to star in a better film.

[edgaguirus]

Battra would need the right plot for a return, but it could be done. I can see him as an antihero.

[Beef Bigshot]

if he was executed good, he would be great. but then again thats with every monster...

[Ookondru99]

I'm honestly surprised he wasn't reused for one of the ROM movies.......

[Beef Bigshot]

Me too ^^^^