Warbat
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Warbats (ワーバット Wābatto) are winged snake-like monsters who appear in Legendary Pictures' 2021 film Godzilla vs. Kong. Massive predators of the Hollow Earth, they menace Kong and the Monarch-Apex Cybernetics expedition shortly after their arrival.
Name
The Warbats were given the name Nozuki during their conception; the name was first revealed to the public on early leaked packaging for its 6" Playmates figure.[1] Walmart receipts for the figure also used the Nozuki name.[4]
According to the Japanese theater program for Godzilla vs. Kong, the Warbats' species is named Vellum vespertilio (ベラム・ヴェスペルティリオ).[3] Unlike most other MonsterVerse creatures, it does not have a "Titanus" designation. The Warbats scientific name, Vellum vespertilio, comes from vellum, meaning “prepared animal skin or membrane,” and vespertilio, which is a genus of bat.
Design
Warbats are large serpentine creatures, grayish in coloration and equipped with two red membranous wings running down the top half of their bodies, supported by long spines which are extensions of their ribcages. Between their long, slender bodies and membranous wings, they resemble cobras. The bottom half of their torso also has ventral scales.
Their heads are also snake-like, with two enormous fangs protruding from their bottom jaws as well as rows of needle-like teeth jutting out from their mouths. The ireyes are green, with the pupils being horizontal and almost cat-like. They posses bony ridges above their eye, resembling that of a crocodilian. Warbat blood is light green.
History
MonsterVerse
Godzilla vs. Kong
No sooner had Kong and the Monarch-Apex Cybernetics expedition begun to explore the Hollow Earth than they were ambushed by a pair of Warbats. The first sank its teeth into a HEAV, destroying it instantly. It circled around for another strike, but just before it could bite the HEAV carrying Dr. Nathan Lind, Dr. Ilene Andrews, and Jia, Kong grabbed it by the tail and slammed its head into a sharp rock, killing it. He swung its corpse around to bludgeon the second Warbat. The serpent quickly recovered and constricted him, covering his face with its hood. Lind ordered his HEAV to launch a missile barrage at the Warbat. In its agony it loosened its grip on Kong, and the ape made it pay, slamming it repeatedly into the ground and pounding it to death with his fists. Ripping off its head, he spent a few moments slurping its innards as the humans watched in disgust.
Abilities
Flight
Warbats can use their membranous wing-like hoods to fly/glide through the air.
Physical capabilities
The first Warbat's fangs easily destroyed an HEAV. During its fight with Kong, the second Warbat managed to latch onto and wrap around him with its snake-like body, then attempted to suffocate him with its wings. Seeing Kong struggle to break free, Lind quickly ordered his HEAV to intervene.
Durability
Kong killed the first Warbat by slamming its head into a sharp rock. The second Warbat loosened its coils when it hit by a HEAV's missiles, allowing Kong to break free and quickly dispatch it by repeatedly slamming it into the ground and bashing it with his fists.
Speed and agility
Warbats are agile fliers and display excellent maneuverability. They are quick in combat, able to coil the entire length of their bodies around prey in seconds. Using their wings, they can utilize the fingers as limbs in order to quickly crawl about, as seen when one swiftly repositioned itself using its fingers to face Kong after the latter knocked it to the ground.
Venom
According to the description of the larger Warbat Playmates figure, the creatures have venomous wings.[5] This trait was not explicitly demonstrated in the film.
Filmography
- Godzilla vs. Kong (2021)
Gallery
- Main article: Warbat/Gallery.
Roar
The Warbats have a deep, raspy roar. When agitated or in pain, the Warbats can be heard making high-pitched screeches that sound similar to the screams of the Nazgul, or Ring-Wraiths, in The Lord of the Rings. In the trailer for Godzilla vs. Kong, the Warbats briefly made a sound identical to the Xenomorphs in the Alien franchise.
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Trivia
- "Warbat" is also the name of an Arabic pastry.
- A piece of concept art by Matt Millard shows Nozuki, a scrapped male counterpart to Warbat that would've had an electric tail and prehensile wings.
- Kong's killing of the second Warbat was an homage to the sleeping bag scene in Jason X.[6]
References
This is a list of references for Warbat. 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]
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