Outrageous Flying Mothra! (1996-1998)
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Outrageous Flying Mothra! (とんでもとんでモスラ! Tondemo Tonde Mosura!), titled It's Outrageous Flying Mothra! (とんでもとんでモスラだい! Tondemo Tonde Mosura Dai!) for its first three chapters, is a gag manga by Hirokazu Hikawa. Spanning 10 chapters, it was originally serialized in the Shogakukan children's magazine Third Year Elementary from November 30, 1996, to December 1, 1998.[1] The full series was later collected into a single volume which Shogakukan released on January 25, 1999.
The series served as a tie-in to the Rebirth of Mothra trilogy, parodying each film with loose adaptations of their plots. As such, the series centers around the various misadventures of Mothra Leo and features his encounters with Desghidorah, Dagahra, and King Ghidorah. While the stories deviate substantially from the films, the most notable change would be the depiction of the monsters as human-sized and capable of speaking directly to the human cast.
Paperback contents
Note that, despite the King Ghidorah volume's placement first in the paperback, it was the last to be serialized.
- Vs. King Ghidorah VSキングギドラ編
- (p. 2) Releasing Secrets of the Latest Movie Rebirth of Mothra 3 最新映画「モスラ3 キングギドラ来襲」ひみつ大公開[a]
- (p. 11) Mothra's Worst Day...!? モスラ、最悪の1日･･･!?
- (p. 19) Strongest Mode Armor Mothra Has Appeared!? 最強モード鎧モスラたん生!?
- (p. 27) Mothra Loses His Memory 記憶をなくしたモスラ
- (p. 46) Mothra 4-koma Special: Part 1 もすら4コマすぺしゃる その一[b]
- Vs. Desghidorah VSデスギドラ編
- (p. 50) Movie Rebirth of Mothra Analysis 映画「モスラ」大かいぼう
- (p. 54) The Guardian of Justice, Mothra, Arrives!! 正義の守護神モスラ参上!!
- (p. 65) Big Battle at the Ski Resort! スキー場の大バトル!
- (p. 75) Welcome to the Amusement Park 遊園地へようこそ
- (p. 84) Mothra 4-koma Special: Part 2 もすら4コマすぺしゃる その二[b]
- Vs. Dagahra VSダガーラ編
- (p. 88) Movie Rebirth of Mothra 2 Analysis 映画「モスラ2 海底の大決戦」大かいぼう
- (p. 93) Let's Go Treasure Hunting! お宝さがしに出発!
- (p. 102) Transform into Underwater Mode!! 水中モードに変身!!
- (p. 110) Enter the Pyramid! ピラミッドに突入!
- (p. 121) Mothra's Final Battle!! モスラ
最終決戦 !! - (p. 132) Mothra 4-koma Special: Part 3 もすら4コマすぺしゃる その三[b]
Chapters
Outrageous Flying Mothra! had three distinct volumes. The first volume's three chapters are based on Rebirth of Mothra and ran from 1996 to 1997, the second volume's four chapters are based on Rebirth of Mothra 2 and ran from 1997 to 1998, and the third volume's three chapters are based on Rebirth of Mothra 3 and were released in 1998. All publication dates in the below sections are sourced from volume 2 of the independently-published Heisei Godzilla Manga and Amecomi Complete Commentary.[1]
Volume 1: Vs. Desghidorah
- "The Guardian of Justice, Mothra, Arrives!!" - published November 30, 1996
- "Big Battle at the Ski Resort!" - published December 28, 1996
- "Welcome to the Amusement Park" - published February 3, 1997
Young Taiki Goto is walking home from school when he spots a large egg floating in a river. After he fishes it out, the tiny fairies Moll and Lora appear and thank him, explaining that the egg belongs to Mothra, a hero of justice. A terrifying monster appears to hatch out of the egg, scaring Taiki, though it is revealed to simply be the mischievous Mothra Leo wearing a mask. After Mothra says he is hungry, Taiki takes him and the Elias to his house. As they eat, Belvera arrives with Desghidorah, who reveals his plans to destroy Earth and challenges Mothra. Mothra spits what appears to be silk at Desghidorah, though it turns out to be regurgitated ramen, prompting Desghidorah to scorch Mothra with fire in retaliation. At the Elias' urging, Mothra metamorphizes and quickly emerges from a cocoon in imago form. Mothra defeats Desghidorah with ease, who retreats while Mothra accidentally wrecks Taiki's house with his wings.
The Elias and Mothra, now in larval form again, grow accustomed to life at Taiki's house. One afternoon, the group witnesses a news report on Desghidorah, who publicly threatens to eat all of the snow on a mountain so humans can't ski anymore (only to be quickly overwhelmed by the task). Mothra and the others journey to the mountain to intervene, where Taiki throws Mothra at his foe. Mothra gathers snow as he rolls down the mountain before striking Desghidorah, who is crushed by the giant snowball. Desghidorah burns the snow away while the Elias point out that Desghidorah could have dispatched the snow that way as opposed to trying to eat it all. Desghidorah proceeds to stand atop Mothra and use him to sled down the mountain. Mothra spins a cocoon to transform, only for Desghidorah to pummel the cocoon while Mothra metamorphizes, resulting in Mothra emerging in his imago form with severe injuries. Mothra retaliates and burns Desghidorah with a powerful light attack that also melts all of the snow away in the process, inadvertently causing the very thing Mothra originally set out to prevent and ruining nearby skiers' fun.
On another day, Taiki brings Mothra (again in larval form) and the Elias to an amusement park. There, they encounter Desghidorah, who is working as the ride operator on a roller coaster. Taiki and Mothra go on the ride, where Desghidorah blasts their cart off the track. Before they can fall, Mothra inflates his head like a balloon and catches Taiki, allowing them to gently float to the ground. Mothra attempts to continue having fun, though Desghidorah uses rides such as the spinning teacups to torment Mothra. Frustrated by his lack of success, Desghidorah grabs Mothra and uses his side heads to create a reverse bungee, which leaves both Mothra and two of his own heads in a daze. Mothra spins a cocoon, this time adorned with spikes to prevent Desghidorah from attacking it. After emerging, Mothra latches onto Desghidorah and imitates a roller coaster, flying his foe through the air at high speeds, spinning him around in loops to disorient him, and finally dropping him to the ground. Desghidorah collapses in a heap. Taiki and other fairgoers think the "ride" looks fun and decide to create a "Mothra Coaster", employing Mothra to fly guests around the park.
Volume 2: Vs. Dagahra
- "Let's Go Treasure Hunting!" - published November 1, 1997
- "Transform into Underwater Mode!!" - published December 1, 1997
- "Enter the Pyramid!" - published December 29, 1997
- "Mothra's Final Battle!!" - published February 3, 1998
Mothra Leo attempts to win a specific prize from a claw machine, only to fail and run out of money as Moll and Lora berate him. Shiori Uranai comes along and wins multiple prizes along with her friends, Yoji and Kohei, including the one that Mothra sought. Said prize reveals itself to be a living creature named Ghogo, who got stuck in the machine earlier and thanks his saviors while Mothra and the Elias also introduce themselves to the kids. Grateful that the children rescued Ghogo for them, the Elias invite the trio to join them in locating a pyramid of treasure on Treasure Island. Before they set out on their journey, they are intercepted by Belvera and Dagahra, who attempt to bribe the lot into giving them Ghogo but fail as Mothra transforms into his imago form and flies the group away. Ghogo directs them to Treasure Island, though Mothra crashes into the water before they get there, as the lot proved too heavy. Mothra reveals he cannot swim, but uses the egg he hatched from as a floaty. Dagahra and Belvera give chase by boat.
Upon making landfall, the group ventures into the island's vast forest by foot on account of Mothra's wings being too wet to fly, but lose their sense of direction. Belvera and Dagahra also arrive with the latter leaving behind a trail a Barem to ensure they will not get lost as well, only for Mothra to begin collecting the Barem as the opposing teams reconvene. Ghogo is able to lead everybody out of the forest, where they discover the pyramid across a lake. Mothra attempts to swim there but fails, at which point Dagahra launches a tickle attack to defeat him. Ghogo creates a hoop with his antenna and instructs Mothra to jump through it, allowing him to transform into Aqua Mothra. Aqua Mothra uses his newfound fish-like tail to slap Dagahra around and forces him to withdraw. Upon reaching the pyramid, Mothra returns to his normal form after discovering he cannot walk on land as Aqua Mothra. They find the gates to the pyramid locked, but Ghogo uses his antenna as a key, allowing them to enter. Along the way, Mothra accidentally sets off several booby traps, though the group is able to continue on relatively unscathed. Soon, they encounter a mummy, though it turns out to be Dagahra covered in bandages on account of all the injuries he sustained by also falling victim to various traps. Ghogo brings them to a room where they encounter Princess Yuna, who reveals that there is only one treasure chest. She encourages the monsters to settle the dispute through a battle, which ultimately ends up being a comedy battle as the monsters attempt to make each other laugh. Mothra wins the battle, and Princess Yuna gives the chest to him. Before he can open it, Dagahra distracts him, steals the chest, and flees the pyramid.
Outside of the pyramid, while Mothra and his allies fruitlessly search for their foes, Dagahra opens the chest. Shortly thereafter, Dagahra confronts Mothra in a new, larger form akin to a sumo wrestler. Overwhelmed by Dagahra's power, Mothra detonates a bomb above his own head, blowing himself apart into numerous smaller "Chibi Mothra" clones. The Chibi Mothras attack Dagahra, but their attacks fail to so much as faze him. Mothra then subjects Dagahra to a game to locate Aqua Mothra amongst the numerous Chibi Mothras, which briefly overwhelms him. The kids question what was in the treasure chest, only for Princess Yuna to return and explain it was the bento she made; Dagahra simply ate too much. Princess Yuna also reveals that she has made more, which the Chibi Mothras consume before recombining. However, the portly Mothra ends up being so massive that he can no longer fly. Mothra crushes Dagahra and Belvera as he falls to the ground, leaving the helpless Dagahra to plead for Mothra to move.
Volume 3: Vs. King Ghidorah
- "Mothra's Worst Day...!?" - published October 2, 1998
- "Strongest Mode Armor Mothra Has Appeared!?" - published November 2, 1998
- "Mothra Loses His Memory" - published December 1, 1998
Mothra Leo is having a having a streak of bad luck when Belvera arrives with King Ghidorah to battle Mothra. Daunted by his recent misfortunes, Mothra Leo flees, bumping into a boy named Shota Sonoda along the way who is also having a bad day. After Mothra theorizes that he would have had more luck earlier in the week, Moll and Lora inform him that they could travel through time. Mothra proceeds to time-travel alongside Shota, King Ghidorah, and the Elias, only to travel too far into the past and encounter dinosaurs. The Elias urge Mothra to return to the present, but Mothra refuses, believing luck to be on his side. He is promptly beaten to a pulp by King Ghidorah, who unwittingly attracts the attention of a Tyrannosaurus rex while gloating. King Ghidorah is chased away while Mothra pretends to be a flower to avoid detection. Mothra then meets Primitive Mothra, who acknowledges Mothra cannot defeat King Ghidorah in his current form and shows him a technique to turn into Armor Mothra, which involves cocooning him for millions of years. Shota protests, insisting he can't wait that long. Primitive Mothra speeds up the process by shaking the cocoon, allowing Armor Mothra to emerge. However, Mothra's new armor proves too heavy and prevents him from flying, so he decides to discard the armor and change back into his normal costume. King Ghidorah returns and accidentally walks in on Mothra changing, causing the flustered Mothra to knock King Ghidorah out with one punch. Afterwards, Mothra, Moll, Lora, and Shota return to the present, stranding King Ghidorah and Belvera in the past to be menaced by dinosaurs.
Some time later, Mothra hits his head and suffers from severe amnesia, failing to remember his own name. Suddenly, King Ghidorah and Belvera arrive, having somehow found their way back to the present. King Ghidorah wishes to resume their bout, but Shota informs him that Mothra is suffering from memory loss. The group attempts to jog Mothra's memory with familiar mementos while King Ghidorah suggests that the Elias sing "Mothra's Song", though all efforts are in vain with Mothra failing to remember any combat skills or even how to fly. Belvera urges King Ghidorah to take advantage of Mothra's confused state to defeat him, though King Ghidorah refuses, stating he would feel guilty if he did so and instead vows to make Mothra remember everything. After Shota ties Mothra to a kite so he could relearn how to fly, he sneezes and accidentally fires his Crossheat Lasers, burning King Ghidorah. Mothra begins to remember that he is a hero, but struggles to recall anything else and believes eating can help him remember. He forces King Ghidorah to bring him more and more food, though nothing works. The group resolves to go to the hospital, only to find it closed. Mothra gives up, accepting that he has lost his memories and offers a heartfelt thanks to King Ghidorah, who reminds him they are supposed to be enemies. Upon returning home, Mothra hits his head again and suddenly exclaims that he remembers. King Ghidorah eagerly anticipates the continuation of their fight, only to be punched into the air while Mothra explains that the thing he remembered was a television show he wanted to watch.
Mothra 4-koma Special
A series of unrelated four-to-five-panel comic strips known as "Mothra 4-koma Special" appear exclusively in the paperback edition.[1] These strips are often simple visual gags and typically center around Mothra, his human allies, and the Elias. One strip, "Many Mothras", introduces a new Mothra form called Mecha Mothra. All of the strips are listed below.
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Appearances
Characters
Monsters
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Weapons, vehicles, and races |
Gallery
Color page
Mothra Leo larva's Godzilla mask
Desghidorah and Mothra Leo
Taiki Goto, Mothra, and the Elias at an amusement park
Desghidorah working as a ride operator
Mothra and his allies on Treasure Island
Aqua Mothra
Dagahra's second form
Mothra and the others in prehistoric times
Armor Mothra
Mecha Mothra in one of the comic strips
Trivia
- Despite being based upon the Rebirth of Mothra films, several monsters are notably absent, including the original Mothra herself; Mothra Leo and Primitive Mothra are the only Mothras to appear in the series. Similarly, while the Elias are featured prominently, their steeds - Fairy Mothra and Garugaru - are not present.
- The omission of Mothra herself may have been to avoid showcasing her demise, as unlike the films, none of the kaiju die in the series, with enemy monsters simply being defeated.
- While Godzilla was never seen nor mentioned in the original Rebirth of Mothra films, this series contains several references to the King of the Monsters. Most notably, when Mothra Leo first hatches from an egg, he dons a Godzilla mask that scares Taiki. Statues of Godzilla also appear outside of Treasure Island's pyramid, and the Elias reference GODZILLA (1998).
- Many of the gags in the manga break the fourth wall. For instance, one gag involves the "reveal" that Mothra Leo cannot really fly and merely hangs on strings made from his own silk in a clear reference to how the props from the films were brought to life on strings.
- When Mothra travels back in time, the circle patterns on his wings turn into clocks.
- In the amnesia chapter, after remembering that he is a hero, Mothra Leo appears to mistake himself for Ultraman and flies away while making reference to Ultraman's color timer running low.
- While the depiction of Belvera directly teaming up with and aiding all of Mothra's enemies is a departure from the films, her alliance with King Ghidorah is a particularly notable deviation, as Belvera went as far as teaming up with Lora to defeat the three-headed dragon in Rebirth of Mothra 3. In this series, Belvera never teams up with or otherwise aides her sisters.
- Desghidorah and King Ghidorah briefly meet in the comic strip called "The Strongest Monster".
Notes
- ↑ Shortened in the table of contents to "Latest Movie Mothra 3 Exhibition" (最新映画「モスラ3」大公開).
- ↑ Jump up to: 2.0 2.1 2.2 Part number not included in table of contents.
References
This is a list of references for Outrageous Flying Mothra!. 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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