Volga
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Volga (ヴォルガ Voruga) is an extraterrestrial kaiju who appears in the 2025 Akita Publishing manga Godzilla Galaxy Odyssey.
Name
In-universe, Volga was the designation given to the kaiju by the Japanese government. It was alternatively called "Space Kaiju" or "The Space Kaiju".
Design
Volga is a large, bipedal kaiju with a long tail and covered in off-white metallic armor-plating with a vague knight-like appearance. There are multiple cracks or veins on its armor. It possesses a bird-like head with a series of slit-like openings. Inside of its mouth is a large black sphere that resembles an eye. This "eye" has a yellow iris and located on the sides of this "eye" are two large yellow spikes. The left arm appears normal with a three-digit hand, while the right possesses a scythe-like blade. Spines in the shape of a crescent moon run down the length of the kaiju's back and tail. When in flight, Volga possesses a pair of angular, energy-based wings which are orange in color. Indentations on Volga's abdomen glow orange when his energy-based wings are deployed. The flesh in between Volga's armor-plating is blueish-grey in color and has a ribbed texture, resembling that of dust coverings used on mechanical joints.
Personality
Initially, Volga appeared to be purely destructive, immediately destroying a fleet of Galactic Treaty Organization ships in space after being deployed by a UFO. Similarly, it spent little time inactive after descending on Earth, focusing on obliterating its surroundings in quick succession and seemingly ignoring the fleet of aircraft that flew around him. It did, however, prepare to fire at them after being struck by missiles. Strangely enough, Volga attempted to retreat after being struck by Godzilla's atomic breath, before freezing up and attacking him. It was soon revealed that Volga was being controlled by the UFO that deployed it prior, restricting its ability to run away. After the UFO was destroyed, Volga went out of control after being shot by a missile from the UFO at the last second, making it "run wild".
Origins
Volga is an extraterrestrial kaiju whose appearance was preceded by the arrival of an unidentified spacecraft. The spacecraft launched eight devices which formed the wireframe of a cube, from which Volga emerged. Its exact connection to this spacecraft is unknown, although it was revealed to have been in control of Volga's actions. The occupants of the spacecraft were given the name "Nebula".
History
- Godzilla Galaxy Odyssey (2025-2026) [EP:001-007, 014, 016; mentioned in 005, 007, 12.1, 014; flashback in 006, 016]
Godzilla Galaxy Odyssey
EP:001 "Contact"
While several humans traversed space, sensors picked up on a mysterious spacecraft which suddenly deployed Volga. The human ships were unable to detect the kaiju and were immediately destroyed as Volga proceeded to cleave through the fleet. 12 hours later, news of Volga's appearance and destruction of the space fleet reached the Galactic Treaty Organization (GATO). During the discussion, it was explained that Volga was unable to be perceived through video cameras or sensors, as the alien possessed electromagnetic properties. As such, a sketch of the monster was made based on a survivor's testimony in order to visualize the threat. Quickly thereafter, GATO sensors detected Volga making its way towards Earth before quickly losing it due to the extreme speed it was traveling at. 30 minutes later, Volga made impact with Earth's surface and touched down in Tachikawa, with the monster's energy wings disappearing as quickly as it landed. Wasting no time, Volga began to rampage through the city. The space invader destroyed numerous buildings with its scythe arm, leaving the remains of the structures melting, before switching to its energy beam and leveling the city further. Volga was soon engaged by a fleet of FAV-1001 Startail VI GATO forces, who were unable to faze the kaiju, as their Anti Giant Biological Missiles were unable to lock onto Volga due to its electromagnetic waves, and rounds from autocannons simply bounced off Volga's armor.
EP:002 "Godzilla Lands"
As GATO forces struggled to contain the situation, Godzilla surfaced from Sagami Bay and made landfall. Reasoning that he was responding to an invasion of his territory, GATO decided to lure him to Volga in order to contain the damage. While keeping Volga distracted, a full volley of AGBMs were fired at the alien, who showed no reaction and remained startlingly still after the impacts. Preparing to charge its energy beam again, Volga was attacked on sight by Godzilla, the reptilian firing his atomic breath at the beast and severing its left arm. After recovering, Volga attempted to flee before going stiff and refocusing back on the fight, returning fire with its own energy beam. Godzilla continued his advance unfazed after the beam only bounced off his hide, slashing into Volga's chest with his claws. Volga then used its scythe-like claw to attack Godzilla.
EP:003 "Anomaly"
While they fought, Miyu Kaido theorized that Volga might have been under the orders of the UFO that was spotted summoning the kaiju, as she noticed it attempting to flee before suddenly changing its mind back to fighting. As Godzilla continued to pierce into Volga's chest, Kaido noticed the aforementioned UFO attached to Volga's back, deducing that it must have slipped by due to Volga's nature. After the UFO was destroyed, it shot a missile into Volga's neck, causing the alien kaiju to sprout its wings once more and morph a whip-like weapon from the stump remaining on its left arm, flying towards and lashing at Godzilla. After noticing its change in behavior, Kaido realized the missile fired into Volga's neck must have been a power booster, removing the alien's limitations and allowing it to fight at unmatched power. Swinging its whip, Volga cleaved through a skyscraper before the limb hit Godzilla in the neck, knocking the rival kaiju to the ground. As Volga quickly flew around the city, the alien proceeded to whip Godzilla again, flooring him. However, when Volga attempted a third strike, Godzilla caught Volga's whip and slammed it into the ground. Seeing his opponent weakened, Godzilla charged up his atomic breath.
EP:004 "This Feeling"
As Volga attempted to get back up, Godzilla finished charging his atomic breath and unleashed it at the downed alien kaiju. Unable to withstand the blast, Volga was vaporized alongside a majority of the city, with only its scythe claw remaining. The blade fell from the sky, impaling a car as it landed.
EP:005 "Something's Wrong"
Half a day later, a news report of Volga's fight and subsequent death with Godzilla was broadcasted. Later, Miyu Kaido speculated as to whether the UFO was piloted. While walking through the halls of GATO's military branch, Kaido bumped into Shinya Osaki, who congratulated her for coming up with the plan of luring Godzilla to Volga. During another meeting, it was discovered upon analyzing the spacecraft's wreckage that the UFO had teleported Volga using a matter transferring device known as a Kaiju Seizure and Relocation Device, halting time in the surrounding space before the target was summoned.
EP:006 "The Operation Begins"
While transferring Godzilla and Odo Island onto the Goten using the Relocation Device, Kaido and the ship's captain Alan FitzRoy theorized about the alien's invasion plan, with Kaido suggesting that they were after more giant life forms such as Volga.
EP:007 "Guest"
After Godzilla survived a full charged blast of the Goten's Maser Cannon, Kaido reflected back to his fight with Volga, noting how Godzilla's exodermis has grown more robust in the coming years, and that it was only natural the beam would do no lasting damage to the reptilian.
EP:014 "Doctor Mantis' Research"
While discussing possibilities of taking down Galdra, Kaido mentioned how the space avian seemed to have a lower level of durability compared to Volga. Her reasoning was that the missiles that impacted Galdra managed to stun it long enough for GATO ships to retreat, while the missiles used against Volga would not have done anything but make it attack immediately afterward.
EP:016 "Touching Fingers"
On the mission to use a Lepus gemis to cancel out Galdra's electromagnetic waves, Osaki objected to Kaido coming as she was simply a civilian. In response, Kaido brought up how she was present during the fight with Volga.
Abilities
Flight
Using its wings, Volga is able to fly through space and on Earth. After descending on the planet, Volga retracted its wings, but brought them back out when changing strategies against Godzilla. Thereafter, Volga began to speed around Tachikawa while flying.
Scythe claw
The scythe-like claw on Volga's right arm is capable of tearing through the hull of a spaceship and cutting through buildings with ease. It appears to glow after slicing through a building, with Second Lieutenant Shinya Osaki noting that the remains of the structure had begun to melt. The blade glowed again after it struck Godzilla's shoulder, though it was incapable of harming him in any noticeable way.
Arm whip
After losing half of its left arm, Volga regenerated a whip-like weapon from the stump, using it multiple times against Godzilla and even knocking the rival kaiju to the ground.
Energy beam
Volga can emit a powerful beam of energy from its "eye", which is capable of demolishing several city blocks in a single sweep. The beam, however, was incapable of harming Godzilla in any noticeable way, merely deflecting off his skin.
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Volga unleashing its beam attack
Electromagnetic properties
Volga is unable to be captured on video or cameras. This had the side effect of preventing Shinya Osaki and a group of FAV-1001 Startail VI aircraft from using their Anti Giant Biological Missiles.
Durability
Volga was able to shrug off autocannon barrages from several FAV-1001 Startail VI aircraft, as well as a volley of Anti Giant Biological Missiles after Shinya Osaki used his plane as a decoy. While Volga was completely vaporized by an anomalous variant of Godzilla's atomic breath, its scythe claw remained completely intact after falling from the sky.
Weaknesses
Despite Volga's durability against manmade weaponry, its armor was far more susceptible to damage from Godzilla's atomic breath. In a single blast, the King of the Monsters severed one of Volga's arms, temporarily forcing the space monster into a retreat. Volga was completely vaporized by an anomalous variant of his atomic breath, save for its scythe claw which came crashing down from the sky after the beam ceased.
Video games
- Godzilla Battle Line (2021; added in 2025) - Android, iOS, PC
Gallery
Concept art
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Volga character sheet by Hiroshi Maruyama
Scans
Internet
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Teaser -
Promotional Poster featuring Godzilla fighting Volga
Roar
A muffled Gigan roar is used for Volga in the 30-second trailer for Godzilla Galaxy Odyssey's first paperback volume. In Godzilla Battle Line, Volga emits multiple muffled Gigan roars.
Trivia
- Volga also shares multiple similarities to the Ultraman kaiju Kaiser Gyrares XIII, also designed by Hiroshi Maruyama.
- Volga is one of the first kaiju in the Godzilla franchise to originate in printed media and later appear in a video game, as well as the first to do this without being from the Monsterverse.
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