BATRAGON

Real Name: Batragon

Identity/Class: Terrestrial animal mutate

Occupation: Warrior, weapon of Dr. Demonicus

Group Membership: Children of the Lifestone (Centipor, Ghilaron, Lepirax)

Affiliations: Dr. Demonicus (creator); Demon Troops

Enemies: Godzilla

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: Bat-Dragon Freak (affectionate nickname from the Demon Soldiers)

Base of Operations: Dr. Demonicus' underground volcano lair in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska (specifically on the Lifestone within the volcano mound)

First Appearance: Godzilla#4 (November, 1977)

Powers: Batragon was an immense creature, dwarfing even an oil tanker.  Its size granted it vast strength (@ Class 100, enabling it to lift/press in excess of 100 tons) and durability.  It could fly and had sharp talons capable of rending through several inches of thick steel.  It could heal its injuries by exposure to the Lifestone, but it also would die if it remained distant from the stone for any significant length of time.

   Batragon was somewhat savage and difficult to control.  It shredded an oil tanker it was sent to disable, causing half of the oil to be lost on the ocean surface.  It also was a pawn of its own fighting instincts and lack of intelligence.  It didn't have the sense to stay away from Godzilla even after its quick beating from their first fight.

Height: 95' (not including tail; by estimation)
Weight: Unrevealed, but presumably into the hundreds of tons range
Eyes: White sclera, black slitted pupils (no visible irises)
Hair: Red

History: (Godzilla#5 (fb)) - Batragon was the first creation of Dr. Demonicus, produced by exposing the tissues of a regular bat and Komodo dragon to the cosmic radiations of his Lifestone, then extracting hormones from the mutated tissues to inject back into the animals, then exposing the creatures directly to the Lifestone, triggering the bat's mutation into the gigantic dragon-like Batragon. Quickly learning that his creations could not survive without the Lifestone, Demonicus sought to forge an immense arc from the Lifestone, on which he and his creations could travel and takeover the Earth.

(Godzilla#4 (fb) - BTS) - In order to power the machinery necessary to forge the ark, Demonicus required large amounts of oil. 

(Godzilla#4) - Demonicus sent Batragon to disable an oil tanker so that his Demon Soldiers could then collects its precious fossil fuel cargo.  However, this attack drew the attention of Godzilla, who was swimming under the ocean waters in that vicinity.  Godzilla attacked Batragon, burning it and nearly dragging it underwater before it escaped his grip.

   Batragon fled back to Demonicus' base, with Godzilla trailing behind.  Batragon's wounds were healed by the Lifestone, but when Godzilla approached it, it broke free from its pen and attacked him.  Batragon succeeded in knocking Godzilla off the volcano, but was then quickly overpowered and apparently slain by him.

Comments: Created by Doug Moench, Tom Sutton and Tony DeZuniga.

   Based on the times Batragon grapples with Godzilla, it's close in height to the big G, at least when standing upright on its hind legs and including his lengthy neck, and when neither tails are counted. However, Batragon was way more slender, so in terms of weight class, it was at a definite disadvantage.

   It's unknown if the Lifestone used by Demonicus has any connection to the Lifestone described in Thunderbolts#46.

Profile by Snood; 2004 update/editing by Kyle Sims; 2026 update by Loki

CLARIFICATIONS: Batragon should not be confused with:

• BAT-THING of Earth-Amalgam (Kirk Sallis)--Bat-Thing#1
• BAT TRASK of Earth-Amalgam--Generation Hex#1
• BATWING (Jimmy ) - mutated inadvertently by Dr. Antonio, later cured, bat-like appearance, fly--Untold Tales of Spider-Man#2
• BAT-WING of Earth-Guardians - Rancor's lieutenants--Guardians of the Galaxy I#8
• any other "bat" or bat-like creatures
• VARAN the Unbelievable - winged Kaiju--Varan the Unbelievable (motion picture, 1958)

Dr. Demonicus' Lifestone has no known connection to:

•  the Lifestone Tree @ Thunderbolts#46

images: (without ads)
Godzilla#4, p7, pan3 (main image)
Godzilla#4, p13, pan5 (inset headshot)
Godzilla#5, p9, pan5 (Demonicus mutating the bat that became Batragon - presumably the lizard on the right became Ghilaron)
Godzilla#4, p1, pan1 (attacking tanker)
Godzilla#4, p15, pan1 (attacking Godzilla, providing scale)

Appearances:
Godzilla#4 (November, 1977) - Doug Moench (writer), Tom Sutton (pencils), Tony DeZuniga (inks), Archie Goodwin (editor)

First Posted: 09/15/2001
Last updated: 10/03/2026

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

Non-Marvel Copyright info

All characters mentioned or pictured are ™  and © 2001 Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Please visit The Marvel Official Site at: http://www.marvel.com

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