Triax
Triax is a giant alien monster who first appeared in the twelfth issue of the 1977-1979 Marvel comic series Godzilla.
One of the great Mega-Monsters, Triax was sent to Earth alongside its brethren Rhiahn and Krollar to plunder the planet for its resources at the behest of their masters, an alien race known as the Megans. However, the alien monsters were forced to contend with Godzilla and Red Ronin before the Megans' invasion could begin.
Design
Triax is a bizarre creature who resembles a tortoise, but has a large beak and eyes with yellow irises that are separated from the rest of his body by stalks, giving him characteristics of land snails and slugs. Triax's legs are short and stumpy, resembling those of an elephant. Triax's shell is dark green.
Origins
Alongside the other Mega-Monsters, Triax was captured from an unknown alien world and used as a war-monster in a centuries-long conflict between the Megan aliens and their sworn enemies, the Betans. The Megans made various "biomech genetic alterations" to their war-monsters, giving them additional powers and weapons. With the war exhausting the Megans' resources, they sent Triax and two other war-monsters to Earth to plunder the planet for its resources.
History
- Godzilla #12-14 (1978)
Godzilla
"The Mega-Monsters from Beyond! Part One: The Beta-Beast!"
After Godzilla defeated the Beta-Beast, the Betan aliens told Godzilla of their history, explaining that for centuries their people have been at war with another race known as the Megans and that both sides often employed giant war-monsters in conflict. Though both sides have suffered heavy losses, the Betans were on the brink of defeat. The Megans, having exhausted their resources, were preparing to plunder Earth for its own resources which, in addition to conquering Earth, would provide them with the means of defeating the Betans once and for all. The Megans sent the Mega-Monsters, a trio of their strongest war-monsters, to accomplish this goal. The Betans pleaded with Godzilla to protect Earth and defeat the Mega-Monsters, sending Godzilla to the location of the first Mega-Monster to arrive - Triax - just outside of Salt Lake City.
"The Mega-Monsters from Beyond! Part II: Triax"
Upon arriving on Earth, Triax immediately attacked the giant mech known as Red Ronin and Godzilla. Fortunately, both combatants held their own against the bizarre alien invader, prompting the Megans to dispatch their remaining Mega-Monsters - Rhiahn and Krollar - as Red Ronin threw Triax out of the city. Triax soon returned and joined its brethren, and the trio began overwhelming the duo. During the battle, Godzilla grappled with Triax and threw the monstrosity into Great Salt Lake. Shortly after Red Ronin was defeated by Rhiahn, the Megans fired an "Energex-Ray" at their monsters, increasing their strength and size as the three alien monstrosities loomed over Godzilla, now alone in the fight.
"Mega-Monsters Part III: The Super-Beasts"
While its brethren dealt with Godzilla, Triax attempted to stomp on the decapitated head of Red Ronin to kill its pilot before S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Dum Dum Dugan thwarted the attack. After Godzilla attempted to attack Krollar, he was knocked back by Triax and allowed Krollar to retaliate with an underground attack. Agent Gabe Jones joined the fray and distracted Triax while Dugan distracted Rhiahn, allowing Godzilla to concentrate on Krollar. Upon eliminating Krollar, Godzilla turned his attention on Triax, who attempted to ram Godzilla in a flying ambush, only to take Godzilla's radioactive flames directly to its face and open maw, burning it alive from the inside out and killing it.
Abilities
Flight
Triax's most distinctive feature is its ability to fly via a jet propulsion system in its feet - the result of cybernetic altercations made by the Megans. Triax often used this feature in battle to not only ram into opponents, but also to blast energy at them through its feet. Triax demonstrates immense force when ramming into things, being able to knock Red Ronin out of flight upon first appearing. He was able to send Godzilla off his feet by ramming into him, while also cleaving through a building. Triax also used the jets in his feet to blast Godzilla in his chest, and used the jets in his rear legs to launch Red Ronin backwards.
Physical abilities
Triax used his large elephant-like feet to stomp foes and his large, beak-like mouth to bite them. He attempted to stomp on Red Ronin's decapitated head, although he was halted after Dugan blew up a building in his face. He later tried to chomp Gabe Jones's helicopter out of the air.
Durability
Triax possesses a tough armored shell that protects him from most attacks, such as Red Ronin's Solar Blade. Triax endured a blast of Godzilla's radioactive breath directly to his underside, along with a tail whip. Triax was briefly taken out when Godzilla threw him against the ground, but recovered in time to reunite with Krollar and Rhiahn. Triax survived another blast of Godzilla's radioactive breath to the neck when attempting to ram into him, and finally died after another blast was sent down his throat and out through his flank. Like the other Mega-Monsters, Triax can survive in space.
Gallery
Trivia
- After being struck by the Megan's Energex-Ray, all three Mega-Monsters dramatically increase in size and utterly dwarf Godzilla. However, when Godzilla subsequently engages them again mere pages later, all three seem to have reverted to their previous sizes and are never shown at an increased size again.
- Triax shares its name with another Marvel Comics creation known as Triax the Terrible, a New Man who first appeared several years prior in Warlock #3 (1972).
- The manner in which Triax is killed by Godzilla bears similarities to the way Godzilla dispatches the Female MUTO in Legendary Pictures' 2014 film Godzilla, with Godzilla firing his atomic breath down the throat of both monsters.
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