Bikini Atoll
Bikini Atoll (also known as Pikinni Atoll) is an atoll in one of the Micronesian Islands in the Pacific Ocean, and part of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. It is referenced in multiple films in the Godzilla franchise, often having a connection to Godzilla's backstory involving exposure to nuclear weapons testing.
Bikini Atoll consists of 23 islands surrounding a 229.4-square-mile (594.1 km2) lagoon. As part of the Pacific Proving Grounds, it was the site of more than 20 nuclear weapons tests between 1946 and 1958. The United States hydrogen bomb test that was conducted on March 1, 1954 was a major influence on the original Godzilla film.
History
Showa era
Godzilla (1954)
Dr. Kyohei Yamane hypothesized that an American hydrogen bomb test conducted at Bikini Atoll awakened and removed Godzilla from his underwater environment and caused him to absorb massive amounts of radiation.
Heisei era
Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah
Writer Kenichiro Terasawa hypothesized in his book The Birth of Godzilla that the Castle Bravo H-bomb test conducted at Bikini Atoll in 1954 mutated a Godzillasaurus living on nearby Lagos Island and turned it into Godzilla. After learning of and testing this theory, the Futurians traveled back in time to 1944 and moved the Godzillasaurus from Lagos Island to the Bering Sea, with the intention of erasing Godzilla from history. In the dinosaur's place, Futurian operative Emmy Kano left behind three genetically-engineered creatures called Dorats, which were later exposed to the Castle Bravo test instead. The nuclear blast both merged and mutated the Dorats into the three-headed monster King Ghidorah, which became the pawn of the Futurians in 1992 in their bid to prevent Japan's future rise to a global superpower.
Monsterverse
Godzilla (2014)
The United States military, after suffering attacks on their nuclear submarines by Godzilla, readied a nuclear warhead at Bikini Atoll in an attempt to kill the monster. When Godzilla began to swim ashore at Bikini, the bomb was detonated. Though it failed to kill or even visibly harm Godzilla, Godzilla was not seen for another 60 years.
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters
"Secrets and Lies"
In 1954, Lee Shaw, Dr. Keiko Miura, and Bill Randa arrived on Bikini Atoll to find the U.S. military setting up a hydrogen bomb, as General Puckett was carrying out an attempt to exterminate Godzilla under the notion that the Titan was a threat to global security. Soon after, Godzilla reached the atoll, as all personnel on the island watched. Inquisitive, the King of the Monsters analyzed the nuclear device as the military prepared to detonate. Keiko attempted to disrupt the antennae to stop the detonation, but Lee stopped her, and the hydrogen bomb exploded. Godzilla was presumed dead.
Reiwa era
Godzilla Minus One
In June and July 1946, the United States military carried out Operation Crossroads, a pair of nuclear weapons tests codenamed Able and Baker at Bikini Atoll. Caught in the blast of one of the detonations was Godzilla, a large dinosaur-like monster hailing from Odo Island. Exposure to the nuclear test heavily burned Godzilla's flesh, but also caused him to grow substantially in size and power and gain the ability to fire a highly destructive atomic breath from his mouth. The enraged monster began sinking American vessels in the South Pacific over the ensuing year as he gradually made his way toward the Japanese archipelago.
Comics
- Gorgo #22 (1964)
- Godzilla: The Half-Century War #1 (2012)
- Godzilla: Awakening (2014)
Gorgo #22
While Gorgo was resting on Bikini Atoll, U.S. bombers prepared to drop a bomb for nuclear testing, not knowing of the young monster's presence. Just as the bombs dropped a pilot noticed Gorgo, who was then consumed in a nuclear explosion. After the explosion, Gorgo was temporally irradiated and fought the jet planes while also firing a fire breath for the only time in the series. After the fight, Gorgo swam into the waters below.
Godzilla: The Half-Century War #1
On February 28, 1955, Godzilla suddenly appeared at Bikini Atoll after surviving the effects of an experimental device months prior. Colonel Schooler showed a picture of him that was taken there to Lieutenant Ota Murakami and Ken Yoshihara in his bid to recruit them into the Anti-Megalosaurus Force.
Godzilla: Awakening
Planning to eliminate both Godzilla and Shinomura, the United States military lured the monsters to Bikini Atoll with a nuclear warhead, then detonated it as they battled on land. The blast successfully killed Shinomura, but Godzilla survived and went into hibernation.
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