Monster Zero x SciFi Japan - Archive Only

So, an odd thing has happened to me lately. I can't seem to shake the feeling that the 60's Rodan is my favorite incarnation of that monster. I used to think it was the worst, a bastardization of that kaiju, then one day, I saw a Matt Frank (I think) drawing of a Rodan with little beak spikes and everything clicked like it was always meant to be.


Anyone else prefer the 60's Rodan?

As an adult, I think the original 50s Rodan is the best, but the 60s version was how I fell in love with the monster as a kid.

He was right there with Godzilla & Mothra fighting Ghidorah and was just so darn cool to me. And any goofiness associated with the character was a reflection of the change in tone more than anything else. I thought he was pretty tough too. I mean Godzilla killed Angilas, punked out King Kong in their first fight and lost the second in a weak way, and he killed the adult Mothra....and Rodan held his own against him!

Rodan was terribly misused in the 60s, to be honest. He was reduced to a lesser in Ghidorah, The Three Headed Monster and Invasion of Astro Monster. I understand that some changes had to be made to Rodan. However, the way they did was less than mediocre.

I like the personality of the 1960s Rodan but design wise the 1956 Rodan trumps everything from the showa rodan, Heisei Rodan to the Final Wars Rodan. As far as I believe its the perfect design.

Stone cold killer vs Derp

Yes sir! I greatly prefer the chest on the 56 version as well.

Rodan is my absolute favorite Toho monster, and the '56 design for me is a masterpiece.

My first exposure to Rodan was in Ghidrah, and while that was my favorite Rodan appearance, the face just kind of turned me off.

Still the baddest Rodan of them all!

Even though you can clearly see the wires during the scene when Rodan attacks Fukuoka, (which still retains its charm to this day) I still think it's one of the best kaiju attack scenes (and use of wire work) in kaiju films ever.