Kaiju Custody Battle

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In this episode of The Introverted Obelisk, we pack our bags for an ill-advised tropical expedition into the technicolor fever dream that is Gappa: The Triphibian Monster (1967). When a group of journalists and scientists arrive on a remote island owned by a deeply unethical corporation, they discover a baby kaiju nestled in a cavern filled with glowing eggs and ancient warnings. Naturally, they do what any responsible explorer would do—kidnap it and bring it back to civilization. What follows is a lesson in kaiju parenting, as Mama and Papa Gappa transverse land, sea, and sky to retrieve their child and exact some perfectly justifiable destruction.

We walk you through the plot step-by-squishy step, from the misguided capitalists and baffling romantic subplots to the unforgettable monster tantrums. Along the way, we muse on themes of colonial arrogance, the dangers of poking prehistoric bears (or bird-lizard-fish hybrids), and why stealing someone’s baby is generally frowned upon—even when the parents are the size of a department store.

So pour yourself something tropical with a side of foreboding, and join us as we wade knee-deep into nuclear metaphor, monster mayhem, and one very angry Gappa family reunion. No island resort is safe.

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