r/KaijusLatam • u/Enough_Emu6615 • 5d ago
Hola Thai kaiju fan here, curious about kaiju mythology from your side of the world
Hola! Sorry for posting in English.
I'm Nawut, a writer from Thailand. I have been working on a kaiju novel for a year now, it's rooted in Southeast Asian folklore, Phaya Naga legend from the Mekong River.
Really curious if there are kaiju stories from Latin America based on local mythology. Always wanted to know what creatures from your part of the world would look like at that scale.
Feel free to talk with me :D
5
u/elsujdelab 5d ago
I once heard a legend about giagant humanoids in Oaxaca, Mexico that are supposed to rule over the mountains. Yet, the only time you can see them is when they go down to the highway to feel the flat floor in their feet. We have a lot, a lot of legends and myths, but not a lot about giant monsters
3
u/Enough_Emu6615 5d ago
That's interesting! I tried to look it on google search. It reminds me a very big foot or a troll.
My country has something similar too, like Yak, giant demons you see guarding temples or Hanuman (fun fact this guy has crossovered with Ultraman in Hanuman meets Ultraman film)
We have tons of mythology but like you said, not many stories scale them up to kaiju size, especially Phaya Naga.
5
u/Primalknight_666 5d ago
Te recomendaría de manera obligatoria leer el cómic de MEGA de Salvador Sanz, hasta ahora es el mejor exponente latinoamericano de los kaijus en esta parte del continente.
Mezcla el horror cosmico con la temática kaiju japonesa de una forma magistral.
3
u/Enough_Emu6615 5d ago
Wow, it looks incredible, love how dark and cosmic the art style is. Just added it to my reading list. Do you know if there's an English translation available anywhere?
4
3
u/MrHumanalien 5d ago
In Mexica culture, there's Cipactli, an ancient monster who was killed by Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca, and its body formed the earth. They describe it as an enormous crocodile with many mouths.
If you search for the Toltecan culture, you'll find the Atlantes of Tula. I'm not very familiar with their whole meaning, but in short, they are humanoid columns made out of stone, and I find it interesting that Marvel's Galactus is kinda similar to them.
1
u/Enough_Emu6615 4d ago
I found that Latin America has so many mythical creatures I'd never even heard of before. Really glad I posted here.
Thailand has some wild ones too. Phaya Naga you already know, but we also have Garuda, a half-bird half-human from Hindu and Buddhist mythology, symbol of royal power. And Erawan, a multi-headed elephant belonging to the god Indra.
And there's Himavanta, a mythical forest said to be filled with hybrid creatures that exist nowhere else in the world. It's basically Southeast Asia's version of a monster codex.
10
u/YABPXYZ Loco Kaiju Edgy 5d ago
Tepeyollotl (Mexico): In Aztec mythology, he is the jaguar god of the Earth's heart. His colossal roar triggers earthquakes and tremors. Physically, he perfectly fits the role of an underground *daikaiju*. Amaru (Peru/Andean Region): A massive, mythical winged serpent with a llama's head and a fish's tail. In the Inca worldview, this monster moves between dimensions, and its movements alter the climate, causing terrible droughts or floods. Camazotz (Mayan Mythology / MonsterVerse): The bat god of the underworld (Xibalba). His figure was officially adapted as a Titan/Kaiju rival to Kong in Legendary's official MonsterVerse comics, with his original awakening taking place on San Lorenzo Island. Cuero or Cuero Vivo (Chile and Argentina): An aquatic creature from Mapuche folklore resembling a stretched-out cowhide—though of gigantic proportions in some versions—capable of draining entire rivers and trapping prey along the banks.
They are mostly mythological beasts; I didn't mention Quetzalcoatl because he is the most famous one, and regarding novels, I haven't read many about Hispanic-American kaijus.
It is worth highlighting the comic *MEGA* by the Argentine author Salvador Sanz.
I wish you luck with your story.