Godzilla Vol. 1 #4 "Godzilla Versus Batragon!" - Marvel Comics

Godzilla King of the Monsters #4
Publisher: Marvel Comics
November, 1977
Editor-in-chief: Archie Goodwin
Covers by: Herb Trimpe

"Godzilla Versus Batragon!"
Writers: Doug Moench
Pencilers: Tom Sutton
Inkers: Tony DeZuniga
Colourists: Phil Rache
Letterers: John Costanza
Editors: Archie Goodwin

Appearing in "Godzilla Versus Batragon!"
Featured Characters:
Godzilla
Supporting Characters:
S.H.I.E.L.D.
Godzilla Squad
Gabriel Jones 
Jimmy Woo
Timothy "Dum Dum" Dugan
Antagonists:
Monster Menagerie (First appearance)
Batragon (Only appearance; dies)
Ghilaron (First appearance)
Lepirax (First appearance)
Centipor (First appearance)
Doctor Demonicus (First appearance)
Other Characters:
Angels (Mentioned)
Demons (Mentioned)
God (Mentioned)
Robert Takiguchi
Tamara Hashioka
Yuriko Takiguchi
Locations:
Earth
Pacific Ocean
Demonica
Doctor Demonicus' volcano lair
Seattle, Washington (Mentioned)
Items:
Lifestone
Vehicles:
S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier

Synopsis for "Godzilla Versus Batragon!"
A strange monster that is a fusion between a bat and a dragon (dubbed Batragon) has been attacking oil tankers off the Pacific coast for its master Dr. Demonicus who seeks to use the oil in his operations. However this recent attack is interrupted when Godzilla arrives to attack the monster, bringing SHIELD's Godzilla Squad not far behind.

As Dugan checks in on Takiguchi and his clan's progress in the Stark plant, before following Godzilla. Godzilla follows the injured Batragon back to the island of Dr. Demonicus who is using a meteor he calls the "Lifestone" to give life to his monsters Batragon, Ghilaron, Lepirax, and Centipor.

When Godzilla arrives on the island and begins terrorizing Demonicus' men and the Eskimo slaves they have forced into laboring for them, Demonicus sends Batragon to battle Godzilla once more. When his creation proves to be unable to totally defeat and is killed by Godzilla, Demonicus decides to unleash all his creations to attack the King of the Monsters, just as SHIELD arrives to attack the creature. 

Notes
This issue is reprinted in Essential Godzilla, Volume 1.
First appearance of Doctor Demonicus. He appears again in Godzilla #5.
This is the only canonical appearance of Batragon, though he does appear again in flashback in the next issue.

Trivia
This is the only issue of the series not penciled by Herb Trimpe.

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