The latest installment of Legendary’s MonsterVerse, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, is hitting theaters and bringing with it a few new fascinating kaiju. There are returning human characters and new ones, as well, but let’s be honest – no one cares about the human characters in the Godzilla and Kong movies. We’re here for our kaiju friends.

In the previous movie, Godzilla vs Kong, the two Titans were foes before reluctantly teaming up to stop a greater threat in Apex Cybernetics’ Mechagodzilla. In Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, the two are no longer enemies but reluctant partners – there are distinct buddy cop vibes in their pairing throughout the movie. The movie dives more into the history of the Titans and Skull Island, but the real action is on Kong and Godzilla having to team up to defeat a terrifying enemy that emerges from the Hollow Earth. That enemy brings with him a powerful partner: here are all the kaiju to know in Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.

Godzilla

As one of the two titular characters, Godzilla doesn’t really need an introduction. You know him: He’s big, he’s mad, and he has radioactive breath that can level an entire city. Traditionally the MonsterVerse version of the King of Monsters’ energy has always been blue. However, in Godzilla x Kong, the color switches to pink, and the TV show Monarch: Legacy of Monsters may have explained why: in the Hollow Earth, there are various energy sources and one of them is pink. It’s unclear how Godzilla undergoes his metamorphosis, but it indicates a huge power boost, which he’ll need if he wants any hope of holding his own with Kong across from the enemy Titans of the movie.

Kong

Like Godzilla, King Kong needs no explanation. The noble guardian of Skull Island, Kong is intelligent and largely benevolent, viewed as a protector and god to the people of the island. In the previous movie, he was brought off the island to square off against Godzilla, and also traveled to the Hollow Earth. In Godzilla x Kong, however, it’s not just Godzilla who gets a power upgrade. Kong is shown wearing a golden gauntlet known officially dubbed the B.E.A.S.T. Glove. It’s not entirely clear how he gets it, but considering the acronym in the title, it likely comes from Apex. It appears to act like a power glove, increasing Kong’s already prodigious strength for the fight ahead. Both he and Godzilla need every bit they can get, considering who they’re facing…

Shimo

The new Titan enemies of Godzilla x Kong are dark and corrupted mirrors of Godzilla and Kong themselves: bigger, meaner, and more terrifying. That’s especially the case with Shimo, a reptilian Titan with a frost breath power that can freeze entire cities at a time. Interestingly, Shimo was alluded to in the 2022 Call of Duty crossover and was also briefly depicted in a cave painting in Godzilla vs. Kong. Originally intended to be male, Shimo has now been confirmed as female, and she’s formidable: her nicknames are The Ancient One, the Sub-Zero Destroyer, and [Mother] of all Titans. Considering the trailers have shown her dwarfing Godzilla, she is the largest Titan in the MonsterVerse yet, but still only the secondary antagonist to the next on the list.

Skar King

The second antagonist of Godzilla x Kong, Skar King, is one of Kong’s colossal ape brethren. Whereas Kong resembles a giant gorilla, Skar King resembles something closer to an orangutan, covered with orange fur and possessing a leaner, ropier build. Skar, whose name means “wild” in Scottish, is fitting: the Skar King rules the Hollow Earth and the rest of the ape Titans with a cruel, iron fist. Interestingly, even though Shimo is by far the more powerful of the two, Skar King controls her through the use of his Whiplash, a giant bone whip made of the spinal cord of an ancient Titan. The blue crystals on the end of the whip has a hold of her, with which Skar King commands the mega-Titan to attack.

Baby Kong

The trailers for Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire have prominently featured Baby Kong, a new character, and it’s no surprise why: just look at him. The appearance of the baby Titan all but confirms a theory that has been floating around ever since there were reports years ago of Godzilla vs. Kong director Adam Wingard working on a followup titled Son of Kong. While they clearly decided to take the story in another direction, it seems Kong becoming a father was one idea they kept. Originally introduced in the 1986 film King Kong Lives as the son of King Kong and Lady Kong, it’s unclear if that will remain the case in Godzilla x Kong. Either way, much like Babies Groot and Yoda, Baby Kong must be protected at all costs.

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