Warning: Spoilers for Skull Island episode 8Skull Island debuted a brand-new Titan, who has stood revealed as a secret rival to Kong in the MonsterVerse. As a show canon with the MonsterVerse, the new Netflix anime serves as a noteworthy addition to Legendary’s franchise. Though it takes place in the past and likely won’t have any influence on Kong’s future, it does make some meaningful contributions to the MonsterVerse lore, particularly in regard to Skull Island and Kong’s backstory.
For the most part, the series was about the personal stories of a small group of humans stuck on Skull Island. For a while, Kong was merely a larger-than-life figure lurking in the background. But by the time season 1 had ended, Kong had received significant attention. Flashbacks to an earlier time, combined with what occurred in the timeframe of the series, added an interesting new chapter to Kong’s life in the MonsterVerse. In doing so, Skull Island also introduced a nemesis for Kong that preceded his rivalry with Godzilla in Godzilla vs. Kong. Here’s a breakdown of the MonsterVerse’s new Titan and how he fits into Kong’s story.
The MonsterVerse Has A Second Squid Titan On Skull Island
For now, Skull Island’s new Titan doesn’t have an official name. Referring to frequently as “the squid” in the series, the monster has been dubbed “the Kraken” by Skull Island showrunner Brian Duffield, due to his resemblance to the mythological beast of the same name [via Twitter]. It’s worth noting, though, that the Kraken shouldn’t be confused with the Kraken mentioned in the Godzilla: King of the Monsters novelization. The Titan in question was later revealed to be a different monster, Na Kika, in the MonsterVerse tie-in comic, Godzilla: Dominion.
As for Skull Island’s new Titan, he remained hidden for the majority of the season, using his octopus-like tentacles to menace Kong and the show’s central characters while keeping his body submerged. That said, it was clear from the beginning that what they were dealing with was some sort of cephalopod monster, similar in some ways to the creature Kong battled in Kong: Skull Island.
Apparently, Kong had not one, but two cephalopods as enemies in the MonsterVerse. In Kong: Skull Island, Kong was shown battling a giant squid. Later, the Godzilla vs. Kong opening credits confirmed that it was indeed a Titan. This new creature is similar to it but is portrayed as a much greater threat. It also possesses abilities and physical characteristics that separate it from squids, such as its beak and claws. Whereas the creature in Kong: Skull Island was essentially just a Titan-sized squid, Skull Island’s Kraken is a full-fledged sea monster who only bears the properties of a squid.
The Kraken’s Powers & Abilities Explained
A force to be reckoned with in the MonsterVerse, the Kraken is even larger than Kong himself. Big enough to hoist Kong over his head with his tentacles, the Titan possesses a tremendous amount of raw power. A big part of what makes him so dangerous is the sheer size of his tentacles. Skull Island’s characters weren’t safe from him even when they were adventuring inland; they’re so long that he can reach onto land and scoop up unsuspecting humans as he pleases, or rip helicopters of the sky. Plus, they release a form of venom that’s lethal to humans.
As if poisoning his enemies and constricting them with his tentacles aren’t enough, the squid Titan has another powerful weapon in his arsenal. He also boasts potent electrical powers. He can shoot out bursts of electrical energy through his tentacles, shocking his opponents. Using this power while holding Kong in his grip made it all the more challenging for Kong to prevail.
The Kraken Wanted To Become The Skull Island Alpha
It was discovered in Skull Island that the Kraken’s ultimate goal in the MonsterVerse was to unseat Kong as the island’s alpha Titan. Kong has filled this role for decades, but the Kraken was intent on taking the throne and asserting himself as the dominant predator in the ecosystem. To this end, he openly provoked Kong by attacking a human village under his protection. Intentionally or not, the new Titan killed a young woman with whom Kong had formed a strong emotional bond. Since he didn’t eat the humans, it was clear that angering Kong was his primary motivation. Just as the characters theorized on the show, it seems he's been wanting Kong to attack him.
However, Kong refrained from retaliating. According to the humans, it’s likely that Kong didn’t go after the squid Titan because he was aware that the creature would have the advantage if they fought in the ocean. Similarly, the Kraken hasn’t attacked Kong due to his inability to come on land. As a result, the two were in a standoff for an unspecified period of time. For years, if not decades, Kong and the Kraken have been at odds, with neither able to act on their animosity for the other.
Godzilla and Kong had been in a deadlock as well (up until Godzilla vs. Kong), but this rivalry is decidedly different. Godzilla and Kong shared a feud driven by the history of their ancestors and the natural desire to prove their dominance. Put simply, their fight was more about instinct and less about any real beef they had with each other. Kong’s fight with the Kraken, on the other hand, was deeply personal. Because of the village girl, he had good reasons for wanting to kill the sea monster.
The Kraken Is Dead In The MonsterVerse (But Is There Another One?)
Thanks to the careful planning of Skull Island’s protagonists, the squid Titan is dead in the MonsterVerse. Knowing that they couldn’t leave the island as long as he was around, they successfully lured Kong into the water, forcing a fight between the two rivals. The Kraken held the upper hand for a while, but Kong persevered and managed to obliterate the creature in the Skull Island season 1 finale. Kong ripped it to pieces, ensuring that the threat it posed was eradicated for good, thus making it unlikely that this creature will ever be seen again in the MonsterVerse.
An exact timetable on when the show’s events haven’t been laid out, but their lack of knowledge regarding the Titans makes it altogether obvious that the show takes place before 2014, when Godzilla fought the MUTOs in San Francisco. So by that point in the MonsterVerse timeline, the Kraken was already dead. But since the Titans aren’t one-of-a-kind, with Godzilla and Kong both representing species with multiple , it’s not impossible that another version of Skull Island’s villain is out there, lurking somewhere in the MonsterVerse, whether it be in the oceans’ depths or the hidden Hollow Earth world.