Gedos

Gedos (ゲードス, Gēdosu)^[1][2][3] is an aquatic Kaiju who appeared in the second episode of Ultraman Blazar.

Subtitle: Abyssal Kaiju (深海怪獣, Shinkai Kaijū)^[1][2][3][4]

Conception

Etymology

Gedos' name is derived from the Greek term Cetus (ケートス, Kētŏs, κῆτος), used to refer to any given sea monster in Greek mythology. The Katakana "ケートス" had its first two consonants changed into its voiced letters, hence resulting in Gedos' name.

Design

Gedos was designed by Kaiju artist Kisen.^[5] Various elements of Gedos's design appear to be based on deep-sea fish, including the lure on his forehead, which resembles those used by anglerfish. Specifically, Gedos was based on the image of the Japanese horse mackerel with various other fish-like features added to its body. ^[6]

History

Ultraman Blazar

Gedos was first sighted some time in the Edo period, where it ate a vast quantity of fish before going onto land to consume more food, before retreating back to the sea. Its appearance was passed down as "Gedos the Sea Demon^[4]," who would rise when humans did not respect the sea, a fisherman's tale that survived to the modern day.

Gedos awakened once more in modern times, just after SKaRD had been officially formed. Gedos attacked several fishing boats, attracting the attention of the GGF who deployed several submarines to exterminate the monster, but they were all sunk. Chief of Staff Retsu Haruno decided to send out SKaRD despite their recent formation, general unpreparedness, and lack of training.

Further attacks from the GGF only managed to provoke Gedos, making it come on land and tear through a factory containing fish paste. Further analysis of Gedos revealed a vent on its back that expelled hot gas, leading them to speculate that damaging it could cause Gedos to die of a thermal runaway. Gento Hiruma volunteered to get closer to shoot at it, and was able to transform into Ultraman Blazar when the Blazar Brace appeared over his left arm.

Blazar fought against Gedos and was initially having the upper hand until the monster sent its electrical lure at him, electrocuting the Ultra. With assistance from Emi Aobe and Anri Minami, Blazar severed the lure on Gedos' head, making it retreat into the sea. Blazar then used his Spiral Burrade like a fishing rod to pull Gedos into the air before impaling it, cooking the monster alive before making its body explode into pieces. ^{The Man who Created SKaRD}

Gedos would later reappear as a wandering spirit before being vanquished by Zangill.^{The Wandering Zangill}

Little Gedos (げ～どすくん, Gēdosu-kun), a chibi-style digital avatar created from the data of Gedos, appeared in two special recap episodes hosted by the digital navigator Pag, alongside Little Mogusion.^{Blazar Digital Picture ScrollPag's Ultra Lecture}

Trivia

• Suit actor: Kenji Kajikawa
• Voice Actor (Little Gedos): Shun Horie
• An Ultraman Connection article directly compares Gedos to Guesra, as both are sea monsters that attacked seaside cities in search of food.^[7]

Ultraman Arc

Gedos was one of the ghostly monsters controlled by Hellnarak, sent through the dimensional rift opened by Zadime's tail.^[8]

As part of its invasion into Ultraman Arc's world, Hellnarak sent Gedos and many Taganulars, who hatched out of eggs. Guided by memories of its previous life, Gedos began to make its way towards the ocean. It encountered resistance from SKIP, who analysed the sound of Zangill's Demon Slicing Meteor Sword and used it in their Soniters to blast sound waves at Gedos to force it to materialise. It was then easily defeated by Ultraman Arc, who threw it into the air and sliced it in half using his Arc Exa Slash. ^{Demon Slicing Meteor Sword}

Data

Stats

• Height: 50 m^[1][2]
• Weight: 20,000 t^[1][2]
• Origin: The deep sea, south of Shichijojima Island
• Weakness: On Gedos' back is a heat vent it uses to expel excess heat from its body to regulate temperature while out of the water. It is speculated that damaging it will eventually lead to Gedos melting down.

Powers and Weapons

• Water Jet: Gedos fires a high-pressured water jet from its mouth.
• Lure: Gedos has a lure on its forehead that shines like a lantern,^[4] similar to that of an anglerfish. In addition to it possessing bioluminescent qualities, the lure functions like a tentacle, as it can extend to great lengths and coil around opponents.
  • Gedos Pulse Whip (ゲードスパルスウィップ, Gēdosu Parusu Wippu)^[9]: Gedos can discharge electricity through the lure into opponents, incapacitating them.^[7]
• Sharp Fins: The fins on Gedos' arms are said to be sharp, and presumably usable in combat, though this was not displayed in the series.^[4]
• Adept Swimmer: Being an aquatic monster, Gedos can swim through the ocean at at least 80 knots.

Merchandise

Ultra Monster Series (2016)

• Gedos (2023)
  • Release Date: July 17, 2023
  • Price: 700 yen
  • JAN/ISBN: 4570117960444
  • Materials: PVC

Ultra Monster Series (2016) Gedos is a small soft vinyl figure with 2 points of articulation in the arms. Its lure on the forehead can be extended or retracted.

Gallery

Ultraman Blazar

Gedos

Little Gedos

Miscellaneous

References

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} https://www.ultramanconnection.com/news/ultraman-blazar-monster-bulletin-gedos/
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} https://m-78.jp/character/blazar-2/
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} https://cocreco.kodansha.co.jp/telemaga/news/feature/blazar/wIVyS
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3} https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ddRcQBZA3eM
5. ↑ https://twitter.com/kisen_guy10/status/1680017036070768640
6. ↑ https://twitter.com/kisen_guy10/status/1680603918609584128
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} https://www.ultramanconnection.com/news/gedos-and-guesra-undersea-gluttons/
8. ↑ https://m-78.jp/character/arc-17-2/
9. ↑ Professor Teruaki's "Blazar Kaiju Academy" 1