Rival: Difference between revisions

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m (Les moved page The Rival to Rival)
(Removing massive assumptions. Unless Keyes or Johnson have said something about it, the rival could have died at any time and the lair could've been traded between any number of individuals.)
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|type1                  =Charcoal
|type1                  =Charcoal
|type2                  =Dark
|type2                  =Dark
|name                  =The Rival
|name                  =The rival
|image                  =Dominion - Ancient Kong.jpg
|image                  =Dominion - Ancient Kong.jpg
|caption                =The Rival in Godzilla: Dominion
|caption                =The rival in flashback in Godzilla Dominion
|dt                    =The Rival
|classification        =''Apus Giganticus'' ([[Kong's species|species]])<ref name="Omnibus">{{cite book|title=[[Legends of the Monsterverse: The Omnibus]]|last=Napton|first=Robert|date=2023|publisher=Legendary Comics|page=442|isbn=978-1681161174}}</ref><ref name="PDF" group="lower-alpha">Hidden text only accessible in the revised PDF of the collection.</ref>
|classification        =''Apus Giganticus'' ([[Kong's species|species]])<ref name="Omnibus">{{cite book|title=[[Legends of the Monsterverse: The Omnibus]]|last=Napton|first=Robert|date=2023|publisher=Legendary Comics|page=442|isbn=978-1681161174}}</ref><ref name="PDF" group="lower-alpha">Hidden text only accessible in the revised PDF of the collection.</ref>
|species                =[[Kong's species|Giant ape]]
|species                =[[Kong's species|Giant ape]]
|originplace            =[[Hollow Earth]]
|originplace            =[[Hollow Earth]]
|enemies                =[[Godzilla (Monsterverse)|Godzilla]], [[Tiamat]], several deceased [[Titans]]
|enemies                =[[Godzilla (Monsterverse)|Godzilla]]
|written                =[[Greg Keyes]]
|written                =[[Greg Keyes]]
|designed              =[[Greg Keyes]], [[Drew Edward Johnson]]
|designed              =[[Greg Keyes]], [[Drew Edward Johnson]]
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}}
}}
{{Quote|This was [[Godzilla (Monsterverse)|his]] old lair but something is not right. His rival was not the same. Before the [[Tiamat|serpent]] was here, there was another. '''This one'''.|Narrator (''[[Godzilla Dominion]]'')}}
{{Quote|This was [[Godzilla (Monsterverse)|his]] old lair but something is not right. His rival was not the same. Before the [[Tiamat|serpent]] was here, there was another. '''This one'''.|Narrator (''[[Godzilla Dominion]]'')}}
'''The Rival''' is a member of [[Kong's species]] who made his debut in the [[2021]] [[Legendary Comics]] graphic novel ''[[Godzilla Dominion]]''. An ancient individual that [[Godzilla (Monsterverse)|Godzilla]] remembered from his youth, the Rival was responsible for kicking Godzilla out of one of his old lairs, which he claimed as his own. The Rival took residence in Godzilla’s former lair for so long that he killed various [[Titan|Titans]] who attempted to claim it for themselves, including a [[MUTO Prime]] individual.<ref name="Prime head">{{Sup|In ''[[Godzilla: Dominion]]'', Godzilla passes by a graveyard of deceased Titans, including a head belonging to a [[MUTO Prime]].}}</ref> However, that ended at some point after the events of ''[[Godzilla: King of the Monsters]]'', when the serpentine Titan [[Tiamat]] awoke and made her presence in his home. The Rival was seemingly killed in the ensuing confrontation with Tiamat, who may have devoured his remains, as inferred by Godzilla coming upon his skull after reclaiming the lair from her.
A member of [[Kong's species]] known only as "'''the rival'''" is alluded to and seen in flashback in the [[2021]] [[Legendary Comics]] graphic novel ''[[Godzilla Dominion]]''. An ancient individual that [[Godzilla (Monsterverse)|Godzilla]] remembered from his youth, the rival was responsible for driving Godzilla from his lair, which he claimed as his own. The rival died sometime later, and Godzilla found his skull inside the lair in the present day.
==Name==
==Name==
The narration in ''[[Godzilla Dominion]]'' merely refers to this monster as "The Rival," which was also its name in the script.<ref name="Dominions script">{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/Drew_E_Johnson/status/1524907750005694464|title=Yep—that's the only way the script refers to him.|last=Johnson|first=Drew Edward|author-link=Drew Edward Johnson|date=12 May 2022|work=X|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513002248/https://twitter.com/Drew_E_Johnson/status/1524907750005694464|archivedate=13 May 2022}}</ref>
This Kong has not been given a proper name; [[Greg Keyes]]' script for ''[[Godzilla Dominion]]'' refers to him exclusively as "the rival".<ref name="Dominions script">{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/Drew_E_Johnson/status/1524907750005694464|title=Yep—that's the only way the script refers to him.|last=Johnson|first=Drew Edward|author-link=Drew Edward Johnson|date=12 May 2022|work=Twitter|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513002248/https://twitter.com/Drew_E_Johnson/status/1524907750005694464|archivedate=13 May 2022}}</ref>
 
==Design==
==Design==
The Rival bears a strong resemblance to the adult form of [[King Kong (Monsterverse)|Kong]], with some distinct differences. His fur appears much shorter in length and covers slightly more of his abdomen. The same areas of his being are exposed, though they are much more naked than that of Kong’s, showcasing a greater amount of the dark grey skin underneath. Along with bearing many battle scars across his arms and torso, the Rival possesses a patch of exposed skin on his upper right arm. His face and mouth are wider than that of Kong’s, and his eyes appear incredibly bloodshot in all depictons of them.
Being a member of [[Kong's species|his species]], the rival resembles [[King Kong (Monsterverse)|Kong]]. However, his arms and torso are covered in battle scars, and he is missing a patch of fur on his left bicep.
==Behavior==
==Behavior==
Known to have been a highly aggressive individual, the Rival killed numerous [[Titans]] who encroached upon the lair he had driven a young [[Godzilla (Monsterverse)|Godzilla]] out of. He may have gone so far as to kill the humans living atop the King of the Monsters' former lair, given the narration for Godzilla's recollection of the scene. With his death at the hands of [[Tiamat]], it can be inferred the Rival was unwilling to back away from a challenge, even when losing.
The rival was evidently an aggressive and territorial creature, challenging [[Godzilla (Monsterverse)|Godzilla]] in his lair and driving him out, then claiming the lair for himself.
==Origins==
It is unknown to what extent the Rival was involved in the conflict between his [[Kong's species|species]] and [[Godzilla's species|Godzilla]]'s, if at all, though he is known to have existed during Godzilla's youth.  
==History==
==History==
*''[[Godzilla Dominion]]'' (2021)
*''[[Godzilla Dominion]]'' (2021)
===[[Monsterverse]]===
===[[Monsterverse]]===
====''[[Godzilla Dominion]]''====
====''[[Godzilla Dominion]]''====
[[File:IMG 20210417 150924.jpg|thumb|217x217px|Godzilla is forced out of his old lair by the Rival]]
[[File:Remains of The Rival.jpeg|thumb|200px|The rival's skull inside Godzilla's lair in ''[[Godzilla Dominion]]'']]
At some point in Godzilla's distant past, the Rival made an appearance before the King of the Monsters with the intent of claiming the other Titan's lair as his own. Through unknown means, the Rival triumphed in their territorial dispute, forcing Godzilla to search for a new residence. During his time living in Godzilla’s former lair, the Rival protected his claim from other Titans, killing all that attempted to challenge him. His existence came to an unfortunate end sometime after the events of ''[[Godzilla: King of the Monsters]]'' when the serpentine Titan, [[Tiamat]], appeared. The unseen battle ended with the Rival’s death and Tiamat's claim of the lair, after which she appeared to have devoured his corpse. Sometime later in [[2021]], Godzilla himself came to an unknown location on the planet’s surface far above his former lair. He let out a roar in hopes of challenging the Rival and reclaiming the lair as his own once more, but was instead greeted by Tiamat, with him ultimately prevailing over her. Godzilla had sensed something off about the Rival from the moment he arrived, his suspicions confirmed upon finding the skull of his ancient foe was all that remained.
At some point in Godzilla's distant past, the rival challenged him for claim of his lair and managed to win out, forcing Godzilla from his home. Countless years later, in [[2021]], Godzilla sought out this former lair, determined to reclaim it. However, when he arrived, he found the lair to have a new occupant, the serpentine [[Titan]] [[Tiamat]], who he battled and drove off. Upon proceeding through the lair, Godzilla discovered the skull of his former rival.
{{Clear}}
{{Clear}}
==Abilities==
==Abilities==
===Physical abilities===
The rival was powerful enough to drive a younger Godzilla from his home, though the means by which he achieved this are unknown. The rival eventually died of unknown causes.
Up until Tiamat challenged him for occupancy of the lair, the Rival had slain every [[Titan]] that had challenged him, discarding their bodies into the ocean around his lair. One of these Titans was, in fact, a [[MUTO Prime]] individual, further showcasing the Rival‘s strength and combat prowess. His most impressive feat, however, comes in the form of defeating Godzilla himself in his younger years, with the King of the Monsters bitterly recalling this defeat as recently as [[2021]].
===Weaknesses===
Though the exact details of their encounter are unknown, the Rival was ultimately defeated and killed by [[Tiamat]]. It could be reasoned that his triumph over Godzilla came down to the latter’s immaturity or state of being at the time of their encounter, though Godzilla would seemingly refrain from rechallenging the Rival until the loss of his current lair in [[2019]] forced him to seek a new one.
<gallery>
File:Remains of The Rival.jpeg|thumb|228x228px|The Rival's remains in Godzilla's old lair
</gallery>
==Trivia==
==Trivia==
*The Rival is the first known member of [[Kong's species]] to have fought [[Godzilla (Monsterverse)|Godzilla]], followed by [[King Kong (Monsterverse)|Kong]] himself.
*The rival is the first known member of [[Kong's species]] to have fought [[Godzilla (Monsterverse)|Godzilla]], long predating his battles with [[King Kong (Monsterverse)|Kong]] himself.
*When compared to other [[Titan]]s he's fought, Godzilla's particularly brutal treatment of Kong could be reasoned to be a result of his fight with the Rival in the past. Godzilla had returned to his former lair to rechallenge the Rival for occupation of the lair 3 years prior to the events of ''[[Godzilla vs. Kong]]'', but was too late to face him as [[Tiamat]] had taken that liberty already.
*It is possible, though unconfirmed, that the rival was killed by [[Tiamat]] or another creature that sought to claim his lair.
 
==Notes==
==Notes==
{{Notelist|lower-alpha}}
{{Notelist|lower-alpha}}

Revision as of 21:51, 19 March 2024

The rival
The rival in flashback in Godzilla Dominion
Class-
ification
Apus Giganticus (species)[1][a]
Species Giant ape
Place(s) of emergence Hollow Earth
Enemies Godzilla
Written by Greg Keyes
Designed by Greg Keyes, Drew Edward Johnson
First appearance Godzilla Dominion
This was his old lair but something is not right. His rival was not the same. Before the serpent was here, there was another. This one.
„ 

— Narrator (Godzilla Dominion)

A member of Kong's species known only as "the rival" is alluded to and seen in flashback in the 2021 Legendary Comics graphic novel Godzilla Dominion. An ancient individual that Godzilla remembered from his youth, the rival was responsible for driving Godzilla from his lair, which he claimed as his own. The rival died sometime later, and Godzilla found his skull inside the lair in the present day.

Name

This Kong has not been given a proper name; Greg Keyes' script for Godzilla Dominion refers to him exclusively as "the rival".[2]

Design

Being a member of his species, the rival resembles Kong. However, his arms and torso are covered in battle scars, and he is missing a patch of fur on his left bicep.

Behavior

The rival was evidently an aggressive and territorial creature, challenging Godzilla in his lair and driving him out, then claiming the lair for himself.

History

Monsterverse

Godzilla Dominion

The rival's skull inside Godzilla's lair in Godzilla Dominion

At some point in Godzilla's distant past, the rival challenged him for claim of his lair and managed to win out, forcing Godzilla from his home. Countless years later, in 2021, Godzilla sought out this former lair, determined to reclaim it. However, when he arrived, he found the lair to have a new occupant, the serpentine Titan Tiamat, who he battled and drove off. Upon proceeding through the lair, Godzilla discovered the skull of his former rival.

Abilities

The rival was powerful enough to drive a younger Godzilla from his home, though the means by which he achieved this are unknown. The rival eventually died of unknown causes.

Trivia

  • The rival is the first known member of Kong's species to have fought Godzilla, long predating his battles with Kong himself.
  • It is possible, though unconfirmed, that the rival was killed by Tiamat or another creature that sought to claim his lair.

Notes

  1. Hidden text only accessible in the revised PDF of the collection.

References

This is a list of references for Rival. These citations are used to identify the reliable sources on which this article is based. These references appear inside articles in the form of superscript numbers, which look like this: [1]

  1. Napton, Robert (2023). Legends of the Monsterverse: The Omnibus. Legendary Comics. p. 442. ISBN 978-1681161174.
  2. Johnson, Drew Edward (12 May 2022). "Yep—that's the only way the script refers to him". Twitter. Archived from the original on 13 May 2022.

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