Zazahn | Monster Profile

Monster Name: Zazahn

Monster Appearances: Return of Ultraman

Zazahn is a giant seaweed monster that stands upright on two legs with a humanoid shape made entirely of mutated seaweed. Like Hedorah, Zazahn was created as a result of toxic industrial pollution. The creature can swim with ease and is capable of spitting a thick mist from its mouth.

Zazahn’s debut in Return of Ultraman begins with a brutal fight against Takkong in Tokyo Bay. The two monsters battle for quite a while, tearing through everything in their path. The fight ends when Takkong pushes Zazahn into a factory, causing a massive explosion. While Zazahn’s body remained intact, the concussive blast was enough to kill the creature.

Interestingly, the Zazahn suit was originally created by Toho before being handed over for use in Return of Ultraman. During production, Zazahn’s working name was “Hedra.” With both Zazahn and Hedorah debuting around the same time, it raises an interesting question: could Zazahn have been an early concept or precursor to Hedorah the Smog Monster?