Godzilla Island – Story Arc 12

1997

Directed by Shun Mizutani

You wanted a giant story arc, and here it is! 22 episodes long! At three minutes each, that’s over an hour of story! And it has a huge cast, major transitions to the character line-up in the series, and even TWO Jet Jaguars! Jet Jaguar is cool. Zaguresu’s latest evil plan is her most complex, and the stakes for her succeeding are higher than ever, because Giant Emperor has lost patience with her failures. So Godzilla Island must look out, as March of Godzilla Island continues!!!!

If you are new here or got lost looking for photos of Hong Kong celebrities or lesbians, we’re going through the entire series of Godzilla Island. Head on over to Story Arc 1 and get caught up. There, caught up? Good, get to reading episodes 104-125 right now! Because time’s a wasting!

	G-Guard Commander (Jiro Dan) – G-Guard Commander runs the Godzilla Guard unit on Godzilla Island. He’s all alone except for sassy robot Lucas, so of course he’s bored out of his skull normally. He seems to have been stationed there because it’s a low-priority assignment they could dump someone who can’t work under pressure, because that’s exactly what he is. Luckily Torema shows up to save his pants. I do not know if he has a name but it may be Oji.
	Torema (Maimi Okuwa) – A mysterious young girl who shows up one day on Godzilla Island right when the dastardly Xiliens begin to attack. She repels the attack, joins the G-Guard, and begins her fight against Zaguresu the Xilien because Xiliens destroyed her home planet (I think that’s what happened – she may have been from future Earth.) Has psychic powers and her own spaceship called the Panatolute.
	Zaguresu (Naoko Aizawa) – Evil Xilien woman who invades Earth using giant monsters and her giant Independence Day/V rip-off spaceship. Enjoys laughing evilly while contemplating the latest diabolical schemes. Follows the Xilien leader Giant Emperor’s orders, because that’s what they do on Planet X. Sheep! Her spaceship is named the Vabaruda.
	Lucas (Kenichiro Shimamura) – Annoying robot, Godzilla Island-style! Makes sarcastic remarks, and seems to be even mean at times. An annoying Kenny kid in floating metal sphere form. He must be destroyed! Translates from monster language to Japanese.
	Narrator – (Yutaka Aoyama) – He’s not a character but the guy who recaps the previous episode in the beginning of the episode. That means thirty seconds of each three minute episode is Narrator recounting events, padding running time beyond levels I want to think about. He’s a typical Japanese male announcer, amazingly excited and epic about even the most mundane things.
	Giant Dark Emperor (???) – Giant flaming head who commands the Xiliens and Planet X. Do not look behind the curtain. The great and powerful Giant Emperor commands you, and can hear your sarcastic backtalk! Still, being a flaming head in space has got to be pretty boring.

Different monster feature in each episode, so we’ll keep track of them in each story arc. The complete Godzilla Island Daikaiju List is located here. We’ll also list any new monster match-ups that weren’t in any film but now exist thanks to this series, such as Kamacuras fighting Megalon or something. The R2 Japanese DVD release is unsubtitled, so most of what is going on will be educated guesses thanks to our limited Japanese speaking ability. But here at TarsTarkas.NET we don’t need no stinking subtitles!

Featuring the monsters –

	Anguirus – Godzilla’s first foe and now a close friend. His only power is a spiky back but he’s brave on the battlefield. One of the usual residents on Godzilla Island who shows up to watch the action as stories progress.
	Baragon – Big ears, big horn on the nose, likes to dig underground. One of the usual residents on Godzilla Island who shows up to watch the action.
	Battra – Evil sister of Mothra who now works for Zaguresu. I guess it’s hard to make a decent living when you are an evil monster, as there are only a few employment opportunities.
	Black Mechagodzilla – Old School 1974 Mechagodzilla reappears with a black paint job (to help people tell them apart and sell new toys, I bet!) first as Zaguresu’s weapon, then Torema fixes it to use. Its age is shown by making it beat up and barely operating.
	Destoroyah – He killed Godzilla and all he gets is a villain slot on a kids TV show. And beat up on said show. That will learn him! Try as I might I will never like him.
	Fireman Jet Jaguar – The third form of Jet Jaguar seen on the show, this one puts out forest fires, distributes Smokey the Bear comics, and gets beat up by Megalon and Destoroyah. Only you can prevent forest fires, but only Fireman Jet Jaguar can up them out while looking so cool. That name suits him.
	Gigan – Former servant of the space cockroaches, now is suddenly all about being a samurai. This was before his stupid chainsaw upgrade, thank goodness.
	Godzilla – The King of Monsters. Godzilla is pure awesome in giant fire-breathing lizard form. Everyone who comes to Godzilla Island wants a piece of Godzilla. And they all get kicked to the curb.
	Godzilla Junior – Godzilla’s lamest son is here also. Looks likes some sort of lizard squirrel or something. Give me Minya! I’ll even take nephew Godzooky!
	Gorosaurus – Old foe of King Kong who spends most of his days watching whatever happens on Godzilla Island. His special move was to do kangaroo kicks.
	Kamacuras – Kamacuras comes to Godzilla Island under false pretenses, but soon is revealed to be working for Zaguresu and the Xiliens. Because he’s always evil, in case you missed him being evil in Son of Godzilla like the main characters did.
	King Caesar – King Caesar is King of Zen as well. He’s a Samurai Lion who will kick your behind! He is some sort of Taoist/Shinto priest or something in addition to being a giant monster.
	Mecha-King Ghidorah – Part robot, part King Ghidrah, all cop. Okay, not a cop. Needs a driver, as an entire plot line revolves around. Comes in a vending machine, like all things in Japan from comic books to used panties.
	Mechagodzilla – This is the second Mechagodzilla, which was created by humans to fight Godzilla. Now stationed on Godzilla Island as one of its defenders. Usually automated, but can be piloted at times (and has been by G-Guard Commander.) Usually paired with Moguera.
	Medical Jet Jaguar – Jet Jaguar got his medical degree from Daikaiju University. Now he helps the sick and injured monsters on Godzilla Island. That name suits him!
	Megalon – Drills for hands, the former guardian of Seatopia now works for Zaguresu because he hasn’t been beat up by Godzilla or Jet Jaguar enough yet.
	Moguera – The Mobile Operation Godzilla Universal Expert Robot Aero-Type, or MOGUERA, was also built to fight Godzilla, and is also stationed on Godzilla Island to defend it now. In one episode we see Torema pilots Moguera, but other episodes it is unclear who is in control. Moguera can separate into Star Falcon and Land Moguera pieces in the movies, but doesn’t here.
	Mothra Leo – a boy Mothra who has extra powers, from the Rebirth of Mothra series. Can zap things with antenna and wing blasts. No one has a good explanation on how male Mothra Leo is supposed to continue the Mothra line. But don’t worry, as an egg magically appears anyway.
	Proto-Moguera – This new, tiny, cuter Moguera was being used for contruction work until Zaguresu captures it and goes on a rampage. She then steals it to her ship for use in future plots. Eye blasts are powerful enough to down even Godzilla, and some monsters don’t even want to fight it.
	Rodan – A prehistoric monster awakened in modern day, Rodan is a former foe of Godzilla who has learned to work with him to fight off the evil monsters. Has some hot springs named after him on Godzilla Island. Will eventually become Fire Rodan, because he did so in the Heisei movie series that was still recent, in addition to giving Bandai another toy.
	Weird Godzilla – An army of these Weird Godzilla’s attacked Torema’s home planet. Torema had to blow them up with rocket launchers, which haunts her to this day. These Weird Godzillas did not have giant spines down the back and it is unknown if they had atomic breath.

Episode 104 – The Monster from the Next Island
Torema and Lucas are chatting, including discussion about Godzilla and Junior, when Lucas detects incoming kaiju! In the G-Guard Command center, the new kaiju is seen to be Kamacuras flying in, pursued by Megalon. Torema takes her ship the Panatolute to go intercept, and Megalon flies off. Kamacuras lands on Godzilla Island and Torema opens communication with him. Then Kamacuras collapses! Tsuzuku!

Episode 105 – The 100 Monster Army
Medical Jet Jaguar aides Kamacuras, who escaped the formation of a 100 Monster Army that is meant to wipe out Godzilla Island. Not even a 100 Monster Army could hold back the White Stripes as they head to Wichita. G-Guard Commander sends Torema and Godzilla to Matango Island to check it out, as the dastardly Zaguresu plots in her ship and we Tsuzuku! Obviously Kamacuras is trustworthy, because he’s never been seen as a bad guy in his movie appearances. Okay, maybe he was bad in every single movie appearance, but that’s no reason to not trust him this time!

Episode 106 – The Devised Trap
Announcer is so excited to introduce this episode I’m surprised his heart didn’t explode! In fact, during he intros of this story arc he is the most excited I’ve ever heard him, and Japanese announcers can get pretty darn excited. Torema and Godzilla spot Destoroyah and Megalon on Matango Island and follow them. Into a cave. So OF COURSE it’s a trap! Admiral Akbar would see right through this! Megalon and Destoroyah head outside and blast the entrance closed. Then as Torema and Godzilla are trapped inside the cavern, Proto-Moguera’s head pops out of the ground and fires eye rays! Tsuzuku!

Episode 107 – The Gift from the Giant Dark Emperor
Giant Emperor appears and gives Zaguresu Mecha-King Ghidorah! Meanwhile Proto-Mogeura is popping his head up out of random holes and blasting Godzilla like a deadly game of whack-a-mole. Tsuzuku.

Episode 108 – Strike Proto Moguera!
Whack-a-mole continues as Godzilla gets more annoyed and fights back with energy blasts, feet, and tail stomps. Finally, a blow strikes Proto-Moguera and he’s out of commission. But Godzilla is hurt and collapses as well. So it’s a draw. Tsuzuku.

Episode 109 – Rock Shattering Friendship
Torema tries to blast out of the cave with her ship, but it is not powerful enough. She then sits by the injured Godzilla to talk, and remembers shooting the Weird Godzillas back home. I’ve seen this flashback so many time and yet the weird appearance of Weird Godzilla is still weird. Weird. Godzilla gets up from being gravely injured to start blasting the cave entrance. Was her story that boring? Anyway, tsuzuku!

Episode 110 – SOS G-Guard
Godzilla and Torema combined manage to make a small hole, allowing communication with G-Guard Commander, who tells them that Mecha-King Ghidorah and Kamacuras are running amok! We see Gorosaurus get blasted by Mecha-King Ghidorah and communication is severed. And now a cave-in! Godzilla pushes Torema’s ship out of the cave before it comes down on top of him. So I guess he’s dead! I suppose we’ll remane the show Anguirus Island! Tsuzuku. But we all know Godzilla can’t die.

Episode 111 – G-Guard Base Inferno!
Torema escapes back to Godzilla Island, but sees the G-Guard Complex lying in ruins, and Rodan sprawled around injured. Further flying reveals Mechagodzilla and Moguera are down, Mothra Leo, Gorosaurus, and Anguirus are injured, and Medical Jet Jaguar is helping King Caesar as Junior watches. NO ONE attacked Junior? NO ONE??? They must see his evilness and leave him be to further attack Godzilla Island by not attacking Godzilla Junior. Torema goes into the ruined G-Guard Complex and finds that Lucas is fine (darn!) but G-Guard Commander is missing (as he was driving Moguera.) Then Kamacuras returns to stir up more drama as we tsuzuku. Somebody get the Raid!

Episode 112 – Kamacuras’ Invitation
G-Guard Commander is back but injured (I guess he dressed his own wounds or something) and Kamacuras is trying to get the rest of the monsters to go all evil. Torema calls him names and so does King Caesar, until Kamacuras drops the bomb that Godzilla is dead. Then people freak. I’m talking panic. Riots in the streets. Dogs and cats, living together. The choice is join Kamacuras and evil or get killed. Tsuzuku.

Episode 113 – The Broken Promise
Kamacuras returns to Matango Island, where Mecha-King Ghidorah is all set waiting with army banners for the rest of the kaiju to arrive and join them. What are we, Kurasawa all of a sudden? Someone dig up a Toshiro Mifune toy. The kaiju on Godzilla Island discuss what’s what while Torema tries to pursued them to not go evil. Looks like cowards Baragon and Gorosaurus are heading over to join up so the rest of the kaiju mobilize for defense as we Tsuzuku.

Episode 114 – Go! Torema
Gorosaurus and Baragon have gone all Benedict Arnold, making Zaguresu happy. Torema is given orders by G-Guard Commander to find Godzilla, and takes off for Matango Island. Tsuzuku. At least G-Guard Commander realizes Godzilla can’t be killed by something so simple as a cave-in.

Episode 115 – Back into Darkness
Torema arrives, blasts through the rubble, only to find Godzilla is fighting Proto-Moguera again! We’ve gone back in time to whack-a-mole! More and more whacks and moles until Torema waits by a hole and blasts Proto-Moguera as he pops up! Then he’s bonked by Godzilla tail and now…oh, wait, Proto-Moguera got back up and is shooting again! D’oh! Tsuzuku!

Whack-a-mole!
[FLOWPLAYER=http://tarstarkas.net/movies/godzillaislandstory12_clip1.flv,480,390]

Episode 116 – Escape
Proto-Moguera seems broken, as he starts popping in and out of holes in a random fashion, then drills through the entrance of the cave and wanders off. Godzilla and Torema head outside, only to have Megalon and Destoroyah start attacking Godzilla as they have awoken from their nap. Tsuzuku.

Episode 117 – Gigan Appears
Torema shoots Destoroyah off of Godzilla, but gets her ship shot down by Megalon. Destoroyah and Megalon continue to double team Big G until Proto-Mogeura wanders through the melee and pushes aside all three! Destoroyah is ticked off and next thing we know Proto-Mogeura is upside down with his head shoved in the ground. Destoroyah and Megalon continue their attack, at one point Godzilla is lying down and Destoroyah is smashing his head. Then Gigan appears! That’s all Godzilla needs! Tsuzuku!

Episode 118 – Until That Day
We’re doomed as Gigan charges Godzilla to go for the kill. Except the kill happens on Megalon! Yes, Gigan isn’t evil right now, and shoots Destoroyah with his eyebeams! Godzilla tail-whips Destoroyah and the two drag the evil monsters’ bodies into the cave and collapse the entrance again. Godzilla and Gigan looks at each other and Gigan flies off. Torema exlains what happened, except the lack of speaking Japanese leaves me with a “WTF?” look. Probably some samurai honor thing, based on the episode title. I blame Tom Cruise. Anyway, G-Guard Commander calls that Mecha-King Ghidorah is up to no good again, so she tells Godzilla to go kick his butt while she repairs her ship. So he leaves and Tsuzuku.

Episode 119 – The Commander’s Large Pinch
Mecha-King Ghidorah, Kamacuras, Gorosaurus, and Baragon attack the G-Guard Command Complex. G-Guard Commander gets into Mechagodzilla to fight them, and Gorosaurus and Baragon just knock him over. I guess they’re evil now. Too bad G-Guard Commander didn’t use any secret strategies to defeat the two monsters he should be very familiar with. Anyway, King Caesar leads Junior, Anguirus, Rodan, and Mothra Leo in an attempt to beat the invaders. But Mecha-King Ghidorah is more than a match for all of them. But Godzilla arrives, and boy is he ticked off!!! Tsuzuku

Episode 120 – Godzilla has Returned!
Godzilla blasts Mecha-King Ghidorah, and Kamacuras flies off as Zaguresu in her ship also retreats. Gorosaurus and Baragon realize the only way they won’t get beat up is to help Godzilla, and soon everyone is attacking Mecha-King Ghidorah, who manages to escape with two of his heads still attached! Zaguresu begins to freak because Giant Emperor is calling again. Time to forward to voicemail. Tsuzuku…

Episode 121 – The Anger of the Giant Dark Emperor
Giant Emperor is less than pleased. At one point he gets so angry the entire screen turns red. The yelling is still all Japanese, so no clue what specifically he says. But it must be bad. We end with tsuzuku.

Episode 122 – Charge! Vabaruda
Zaguresu has decided to just all out attack Godzilla Island again. Torema is still making repairs and chats with G-Guard Commander. We end as Zaguresu’s ship closes in on Godzilla Island. Tsuzuku.

Episode 123 – Hurry! Panatolute
That giant big laser gun from Story Arc 10 that I complained they never used is finally being used to target Zaguresu’s ship! Except she fires at it as the laser fires, so it only hits the side of her vessel before the laser is destroyed. Torema flies her ship in the big hole made by the laser, but Zaguresu closes doors around Torema’s ship, trapping it inside. Why all the extra random doors? That keeps us from having a Star Wars moment here. Torema just beams into the bridge with a gun to Zaguresu’s head! That’s one way to beat being trapped by doors! Zaguresu just beams off and manages to set the self destruct in doing so before Torema can stop her! Tsuzuku. Everyone loves beaming in this episode. It’s transporter-licious. Luckly, none of these girls have Transporter Psychosis like Lt. Reginald Barclay from Star Trek: The Next Generation. Yes, I made that reference.

Episode 124 – Thank You Godzilla Island
Zaguresu escapes from the ship in a life pod and sets off all of the other ones as well. Just like Spaceballs! If Zaguresu lands on the Planet of the Apes (or even Time of the Apes) then time to call some lawyers. Torema flies the ship upward away from Godzilla Island, but G-Guard Commander calls the ship and sees Torema is driving, and hears the announcement for the autodestruct and wants her out of there! Why did Torema even answer the phone? Just to worry him? She says she’ll get out asap but must fly away, but her message is filled with static. The ship flies up and explodes. A very sad tsuzuku.

Episode 125 – Goodbye, Torema
Announcer sounds so exicted to report of Torema’s death that if he were a real person instead of a disembodied voice he’d tear himself apart. G-Guard Commander and Lucas are sad…until Torema’s ship flies back to the island! Torema is alive! But as she’s saved the monsters from the Xiliens unlike the monsters on her planet, her mission here is done and she decides to go. That’s abrupt. Hugs goodbye, and she flies off in the sunset. Everyone is there to send her off, and we get proof positive that Fireman Jet Jaguar and Medical Jet Jaguar are two different kaiju. No sign of regular Jet Jaguar, who hasn’t been seen since his brief appearance in the beginning story. Tsuzuku because everything we know is about to change!

We’ll, that was an epic story considering the medium it is being told in. With a cast change happening soon, this episode is a finale of the first half of the series and lets us see the concluding stories for some of the characters before the new ones show up. We get a new monster, returns of many former monster foes, and the destruction of a ship that has been around from the beginning. With the next story being a whole three episodes long, we won’t get something this large for a while.

March of Godzilla Island isn’t over, so sit right back and Tsuzuku! Story Arc 13 is the next chapter, and we have many story arcs after that! Tsuzuku!

New Monster Match-ups – Godzilla and Gigan vs. Megalon and Destoroyah, Gorosaurus and Baragon vs. Mechagodzilla

Rated 9/10 (Medical Jet Jaguar, Blasting Gorosaurus, Nappy time, Junior, Za!, Mecha-G stomp, Ion Cannon, Fly into the superstructure, Escape Pods)