Rival

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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, Tiamat[2]
Written by Greg Keyes
Designed by 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 then claimed as his own. The rival was killed sometime later by Tiamat,[2] and his skull was discovered by Godzilla 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".[3]

Design

Being a member of the same 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, 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, slain by Tiamat sometime before.[2]

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 aging ape was eventually slain by Tiamat, similarly offscreen.[2]

Gallery

Godzilla Dominion

Trivia

  • The rival is the first-known member of Kong's species to have fought Godzilla, their conflict long predating Godzilla's battles with Kong himself.

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. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 hybriddump (28 May 2021). "@gregkeyes1 confirmed that Tiamat killed the ancient Kong a long time ago.

    Btw, It was my brother who asked me this question, which I asked Keyes"
    . Instagram.
  3. 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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