Noriyoshi Ohrai's Original Godzilla Posters Are Freaking Amazing

Noriyoshi Ohrai is a Japanese illustrator with a prolific 50-year career spanning multiple popular culture franchises, including Star Wars, Metal Gear, and, since 1984, the Godzilla pantheon. Although the daikaiju has undergone numerous transformations at the hands of different creative directors, no one has quite captured Godzilla's awesome terror quite like Ohrai did.

1
Godzilla is an allegory for nuclear weapons, in case this poster doesn't make it obvious enough.

Via UCreative
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2
Versus Biollante

If you see a rose above, you're not wrong: Biollante's original name was Rose Biollante, and is made of one-third Godzilla genes, one-third human genes, and one-third rose plant genes.

Suspension of disbelief, people.

Via UCreative
3
Versus King Ghidorah

Despite looking like a traditional Chinese dragon (and thus, screaming allegory of Japan vs. China), King Ghidorah is portrayed as a heroic defender of Japan against Godzilla, and was inspired by the hydra of Greek mythology.

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4
With Mechagodzilla and Rodan

Rodan is taken from the word pteradon. The 'a' and the 'o' were switched for marketing purposes in English-speaking markets only, with his original Japanese name being Radon. Radon also happens to be the name of an element which is, surprise surprise, highly radioactive.

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5
With Destoroyah

Quite possibly the most aptly named kaiju in the entire franchise.

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6
Versus Mothra

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7
With Mothra and Minilla (Mini Godzilla)

Speaking of nuclear weapons, if Godzilla is the Fat Man, then Minilla must be Little Boy.

Via UCreative