Rodan

**Rodan** is a winged Titan who appears in the 2019 Legendary Pictures film *Godzilla: King of the Monsters*.

With the ability to level entire cities simply by flying, Rodan was dreaded as a destroyer by ancient humans, who dubbed him the "Fire Demon." Rodan was discovered in pyrostasis within the volcano El Nido del Demonio (literally meaning "The Demon's Nest") on Isla de Mara in Mexico by Monarch in 1991. Monarch built a containment facility around the Titan, but in 2019 he was unleashed by Monarch defector Dr. Emma Russell and eco-terrorist Alan Jonah as part of their plot to restore the planet's natural order. Rodan immediately engaged in battle with Monarch's G-Team before encountering the three-headed King Ghidorah, who soundly defeated him. After Godzilla was weakened by the Oxygen Destroyer and Ghidorah took his place as the alpha of the Titans, Rodan submitted to Ghidorah and began to do his bidding. Rodan fought against the military in Washington, D.C. before Ghidorah summoned him to Boston to aid him against Godzilla and Mothra. Rodan attacked Mothra and battled her across the city, nearly killing her before she drove her stinger through his chest. By the time Rodan recovered, Godzilla had defeated Ghidorah. Rodan approached Godzilla to challenge him, only to back down and submit to him, followed by all of the other Titans who had once served Ghidorah.

## Personality

According to *Godzilla: King of the Monsters* director Michael Dougherty, "Rodan is a bit of a rogue...you never quite know where his loyalties lie." After losing his fight to King Ghidorah, Rodan submits to him and assists him in Boston by attacking Mothra. Following Ghidorah's death, he challenges Godzilla briefly, before ultimately submitting to him. Monarch classifies Rodan’s behavior as that of a "destroyer," along with fellow Titans King Ghidorah, Scylla, MUTO Prime, Camazotz, Mechagodzilla, and the Skull Devil, unleashing "airborne devastation" upon the natural world. Much like Ghidorah, Rodan displays aggression towards humans, chasing after the *Argo* and picking its escort apart in the process.

## Origins

According to Mike Dougherty, Rodan was born at the Isla de Mara volcano after his parents nested there. Rodan's origins are unclear, but he is extremely old, and depicted in ancient cave paintings. Similar paintings exist of Godzilla, Mothra, and King Ghidorah, suggesting Rodan either appeared alongside them in the past or is prophesied to appear alongside them in the future. According to Monarch, Rodan is spoken of in legends, with his name referenced within many ancient temples in volcanically active regions. In 1991, Rodan was discovered by Monarch in pyrostasis in the magma inside the Isla de Mara volcano in Mexico. Monarch notes that Rodan's body structure resembles that of *Pteranodon*, although he is far larger.

## History

### MonsterVerse

#### *Kong: Skull Island*

After their adventure on Skull Island, Monarch members Houston Brooks and Lin San showed James Conrad and Mason Weaver a cave painting of Rodan, along with paintings depicting Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah, as proof that the inhabitants of Skull Island were not the only monsters in the world.

#### *Godzilla: King of the Monsters*

After awakening King Ghidorah from Antarctica, Emma Russell awakened Rodan from Outpost 56 in Isla de Mara. An explosion burst from the volcano's crater, and Rodan emerged from the erupting volcano. In order to prevent Rodan from attacking the civilians still evacuating the village, Monarch's G-Team opened fire on Rodan with fighter jets, drawing his attention. At the same time, Monarch discovered that Ghidorah was drawn to Rodan's calls, and decided to lure Rodan directly to the three-headed Titan. Rodan took flight and pursued the USS *Argo* and its complement of fighter jets. As he flew over the Isla de Mara village, Rodan tore the buildings from the ground below and launched huge amounts of debris into the air. Rodan brought his wings together and propelled himself higher into the air, generating a sonic boom that took out several jets. He then descended and caught two jets in his talons, tearing them apart. Rodan then attempted to catch a jet with his beak. When the pilot ejected from his jet, he fell straight into Rodan's mouth. Rodan began to spin through the air, destroying the remaining jets with his wings. Upon entering the storm surrounding Ghidorah, the *Argo* dove out of the way and the two Titans collided in the air. Ghidorah quickly gained the upper hand, restraining Rodan's wings with his right and left mouths and firing a gravity beam from his central mouth that blasted Rodan into the water below. After Ghidorah landed atop the Isla de Mara volcano and awakened Titans all around the world with his roar, Rodan landed at the foot of the volcano and submitted to Ghidorah.

Rodan accompanied Ghidorah to Washington D.C., assisting him in battling the military. He later followed Ghidorah to Boston and intercepted Mothra on his behalf so she could not help Godzilla against him. Rodan and Mothra fought across the city, slamming each other into buildings and tearing at each other with their claws. Rodan finally pinned Mothra against a skyscraper, but she used her claws to push him off. However, Rodan circled back and landed on top of Mothra, trying to stab her with his beak. Mothra extended a stinger from her abdomen and impaled Rodan through the chest. Immobilized by the sting, Rodan fell backward and plunged into the burning city below, screeching in rage.
Once Godzilla destroyed Ghidorah, Rodan regained his ability to move and confronted Godzilla along with Behemoth, Methuselah, Scylla, and the Queen MUTO. Rodan looked up at Godzilla and roared in challenge, but Godzilla returned a look that caused Rodan to submit to him. The others followed suit, all "bowing" to the new King of the Monsters. After this, Rodan began nesting in a volcano near Fiji, with spectators gathering around to catch a glimpse of him.

## Abilities

### Supersonic flight

Rodan can fly at supersonic speeds sufficient to outpace F-35 Lightning II and F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets, and is highly agile while flying. Rodan is shown destroying several fighter jets pursuing him by rolling while in flight and smashing them with his wings. When flying at top speed, Rodan's wings generate cyclonic drift streams that can level entire cities instantly by literally ripping structures out of the ground and into the air.

### Shockwaves

Rodan produces destructive shockwaves, described by Monarch as "cyclonic drift streams," while flying at top speeds which can flatten buildings he passes over and launch debris such as vehicles and people into the air. Monarch scientists speculate the monster's wingspan is vast enough to level cities with this technique.

### Durability

Rodan has an extreme tolerance to heat and magma, having hibernated inside a volcano for at least several decades. He is also completely immune to conventional weaponry such as gunfire or missile strikes. A layer of volcanic rock acts as armor plating for Rodan's wings. This volcanic rock also covers many parts of his body, giving him extra protection in combat. When Mothra struck at Rodan's head with one of her claws, her attack failed to pierce his skin, although Rodan did seem visibly hurt by the blow. Rodan survived being completely impaled by Mothra's stinger, the attack only temporarily incapacitating him before he recovered virtually unharmed despite the gaping wound in his chest. However, he was quickly dispatched in battle by King Ghidorah, who used a single Gravity Beam as his finishing blow.

### Magma system

Monarch describes Rodan as "bio-volcanic." Rodan has an internal combustion system of magma that flows throughout his body. The magma throughout his system can reach temperatures up to 1,200°C. The magma leaks through the ends of his wings and was able to burn Mothra's wings.

### Physical capabilities

Rodan mainly uses his talons and beak in combat. When in the midst of several fighter jets, he performed an aileron roll maneuver to smash them with his wings. He was even able to briefly overtake King Ghidorah during their fight.

### Eruptions

As noted in *Godzilla: King of the Monsters - The Official Movie Novelization*, Rodan can seemingly cause volcanoes to erupt just by merely flying over them.