The Retroverse: The Savage Uty

Name : Uty
Title : The Savage  
Type : Invasive alien organism

Date of first appearance : July 29th, 1963

Size:
Height - 215 feet
Weight - 85,000 tons

Powers:
Electro-Shield - From the PSIONIC CRYSTAL embedded within the transparent brow of the SAVAGE UTY, an IMPENETRABLE BARRIER SHEILD is projected! This UNBREAKALE FEILD of electrons deflects all metal projectiles and energy attacks! Can any weapon harm this pirating space organism!? Can Uty be stopped?!?!
Cation Ray - From the underside of its EYELESS HEAD, Uty fires a BLISTERING STREAM of positively charged ions to SCORCH his foes with UNENDING FURY FROM THE STARS!!! Mere proximity to this BLINDING DEATH RAY ruins electrical devices and causes severe migraines!!!!

Biography:
In the midst of a searing summer, a series of electrical anomalies occur throughout the central United States: mass power fluctuations, thousands of burnt out transformers, even state-wide blackouts! At the same time, West Coast sensors detect brief seismic activity likely to be from the same area! Suspicions are raised and worries are voiced. The nation fears the arrival of another giant creature...

And, although it will not be widely known for several weeks, the ruins of Talhie island shudder, stir, and finally- crack open! Like a grave upheaved!!  

THE UNTHINKABLE ZAL IS ROUSED AGAIN!!!      

Likewise pulled from his retirement from all things monstrous, Dr, Richard Schwartz is once again called upon to investigate the strange happenings in the heart of the country. The government is eager to quell the rumors of a new titan, so they turn to the good doctor in hopes that he can be enticed back into the game that he quit after the destruction of Talhie. Schwartz eventually relents, even agreeing to being escorted by a federal agent, but only on one condition- he be allowed to bring his adopted son Ko, an orphaned Talhien boy, as a research assistant! The condition is quickly accepted.  

Not a day after the doctor sends confirmation of his compliance, there is a sharp rapping upon the door of their south California home as he and Ko pack their things. When Schwartz answers it, he is greeted by the sight of a very serious looking young woman...

Agent Sara Groos, she introduces herself. His government escort.

Dr. Schwartz, Ko, and Agent Groos are flown to the center of the nation, passing over dozens of dark cities as they soar into the thick of the large scale mystery. The good doctor notes that a lot of the land is brown and dead as well- something that reminds him all too much of the radiation scarred earth left behind by Zal. Agent Groos explains that it had not gone unnoticed, but fixing the electrical grid to calm the nearby people was currently of greater concern.

Schwartz scoffs and expresses his disapproval in working the public before the facts, but Groos coolly points out that is why they brought him on: to deal with the facts.

Ko, by now accustomed to his highly opinionated adoptive father butting heads with authority, ignores their back and forth squawking to sketch... then something catches his eye in the distance!!

A flash of light revealing a figure on the horizon!! A figure small from the eyes of the plane, but able to make the surrounding farmland and roads seem minuscule by comparison!!!  

Ko tries to alert the adults before the shape falls out of sight, but Schwartz is too busy trying to pick a fight and Groos is preoccupied with shrugging him off.

The plane lands in South Dakota, the center of the affected area, and Schwartz seems to forget that Ko and Groos are with him as he sets to work mapping the blacked out cities and dead earth. It seems the good doctor already has his suspicions. With nothing else to do, Ko and Agent Groos chat to fill the time. She is surprised to find him a very curious and clever child, but then wonders if she is right to considering whose care he has been under the past two years. Or perhaps he was always this way and that is what lead Dr. Schwartz to grow attached to and adopt him. Either way, she enjoys talking to him more than his father, as he is perfectly sociable and polite. She is thankful the doctor's confrontational nature has not rubbed off on him...

While Groos is telling Ko about her younger sister, a shy girl a few year older than him, Schwartz lets out a sudden exclamation of excitement! He has found something! While the blacked out areas are broad and wide spread, they show a consistent width! And, even more telling, the vast scars of dead plains and forests seem to follow a rather narrow path..!

But the pin the case is this... both are moving at the same rate!!!

The good doctor concludes that both anomalies have the same epicenter!! One that is moving west!!!!

Meanwhile IN the west...

Overshadowed by the panic in the center of the country, a series of boating accidents draws near the coast of Oregon, but goes mostly ignored. Only Shane McDermott, a rookie marine biologist who apprenticed briefly under Dr. Schwartz before he was called to Talhie Island, seems intent to investigate...

Unsure of his ability to complete a competent investigation alone, McDermott attempted to contact the good doctor, but, unaware that he is tending to his own business, has no luck reaching him at home...  

Though uneasy about seeking answers alone, the greenhorn scientist swallows his fears and sets out in The Merlin, the small seaplane that he inherited from his father, a pilot who made a career out of delivering gas to fresh, overambitious sailors who did not make it back to shore in time.

The ocean is deathly quiet and ghostly still as McDermott flies low over the Pacific, looking for a sign, any sign, of what could be causing boats to vanish. Eventually he spots the waterlogged remains of a fishing vessel and lands The Merlin on the water near the wreckage...

While McDermott finds no signs of survivors among the debris, his exploration of the wreckage seems to trigger the first movement of the sea he has seen all day...

A MASSIVE SWELL OF WATER ON THE HORIZON!!!  

The skittish scientist begins to panic as the wall of water draws near, but then remembers what he was told by Dr. Schwartz about how vital stillness of mind is during times of crisis. He calms himself and stays still, not wanting to risking falling into the water or failing to take off before the swell reaches him. The Merlin would do better riding out the wave instead of fighting it, so McDermott braces himself...

The swell strikes the seaplane and nearly capsizes it right away! McDermott cannot hold back a yelp as he is throw back and forth by the violent rocking of the sea!! As he cling to The Merlin for dear life, the young biologist happens to peer down and sees... he sees..!

A wide band of green scales lead by three black, unblinking eyes cutting silently through the ocean!!!!!

The wave passes and McDermott flops breathlessly back into The Merlin. The young marine biologist starts up the seaplane and begins the flight back to land. When he gets there, he intends to track down Dr. Schwartz right away. Because, of all people, he deserves to know best...

THAT THE UNTHINABLE ZAL HAS RETURNED ONCE MORE!!!          

Back in the heartland, Schwartz, Ko, and Groos take soil samples from one of the slain portions of the Great Plains by the good doctor's insistence. Upon arrival, they discover that the destruction goes past blackened grass and has carved into the very earth itself!! The ground has been charred and bored into periodically, as if some higher being had itself been taking soil samples before them!!! The distance between them is vast and their depths too extensive to measure with what equipment they have!!    

As Dr. Schwartz mulls over what could have caused such markings, Agent Groos receives a call...

Something huge has been spotted only miles away!

Groos and Ko pull the good doctor from his thoughts and pile into a vehicle to race towards whatever has been reported! The path is rough and kicks up dead grass and soot, but then... there! There, on the horizon! Look! Look!!!

Is that..?

A sail?!?

Bands of ghostly, glowing colors peak over the dead plains! A tall, curved, mast-like structure lurches up like the fin of a slate gray orca! Pink-orange crystalline bone shines dully from beneath patches of  translucent skin! Tall, arthropod-like legs carry a thorn-shaped body more than a hundred feet off the ground! An eyeless, voiceless head stares straight forward unwaveringly even as choppers and cars spiral around it in a frenzy of excitement!!

Ko mutters a single word...

“Uty.”

Talhien for, 'ship!'

On the 29th of July, 5:37 p.m. MST, Dr. Schwartz makes the report...

A new monster has been confirmed!

But the good doctor is surprised to find a call waiting for him as well. Patched through from east Idaho where he stopped to refuel The Merlin, McDermott frantically greets the doctor and reveals..!

HE HAS BEEN FOLLOWING ZAL ON AN EASTWARD MARCH ACROSS THE NATION!!!

Groos makes a calls and confirms it!! Zal is approaching!!!

Before Uty completes another mile of his tireless trek, the rumbling of the earth doubles! The strange silence that Uty compels is SHATTERED by a primal howl!! Charging across the dying Great Plains like an avenging stone idol brought to life, the UNIMAGINABLE ZAL crashes into Uty!!!

Snarling fury batters silent immensity as Zal throws himself upon the larger Uty, clawing and biting like the savage beast he is! Uty does not even react even as talons and teeth grind against his flesh.

Bellowing in frustration, Zal staggers back, chest swelling, and... unleashes his potent breath!

BUT THE ELECTRIFIED VAPOR MERELY SPLASHES OVER AN INVISIBLE BARRIER!!!

Zal spits in disbelief and anger, then... violent motion!! Uty kicks forward his scythe-like forearms and throws his surprised foe to the ground!!!

Zal quickly shakes off the blow and tramples forward once more, but there is a flash from the glowing organ hanging on the underside of Uty's eyeless head..!

A SCATHING WAVE OF IONIC RAGE SLAMS INTO ZAL!!!!!

The UNIMAGINABLE monster falls away with a pained trumpet as the DEATHLY ions scorch and strip away his scales!! Uty does not relent, bathing the downed Zal is YET ANOTHER searing death ray!!! As flames and smoke consume the mighty desert titan, the stranger surges forward with a brief burst of speed and rakes its scythes across Zal!

And then, for the first time... the armored scales of the indomitable Zal..!

THEY BREAK!!!!!!    

Zal collapses with a terrible squeal!!

Dr. Schwartz waits for the creature to rise, but... but...

He does not.

Zal... he... he has.... he has been..!

ZAL HAS BEEN DEFEATED!!!!!!!

Uty coldly continues his march over the bloodied form of Zal. The tremendous beast growls and shifts, but does not seem to have the energy to do anything further. The good doctor can only watch stunned as the once undefeated Zal lays broken and weary. It is only the urging of Agent Groos that rouses Schwartz from his shock.

Though Dr. Schwartz seems distraught that his champion has fallen, Ko reminds him that the Talhien people believed him to be the human avatar of Zal, so Zal is not defeated until he is!

Once again determined, the good doctor goes to work analyzing the soil samples and finds that they have been all but stripped of all minerals and organic matter that can be used to sustain life. The gears of his minds whirl, and he realizes that Uty must be some sort of interplanetary plunderer, raiding other worlds for their resources which he strip mines by merely walking over their surface! Beams like drills from his hollow, conical back legs pierce the soil and draw in the desired materials, leaving punctured, dead earth behind! This means that perhaps the great, spectral sail of the invader is merely exhaust.  

With one anomaly explained, the good doctor turns to the other, believing it itself may be the key to a puzzle- Zal's inability to harm Uty with his infamous breath! An electrical barrier, a shield composed purely of negatively charged particles, could explain both the breath weapon's ineffectiveness and the mass blackouts!!! An electrical ability that affects the electrical grid and deflects energy aimed at the alien organism!!

This theory is all but confirmed as far as Schwartz is concerned when he receives reports that it is not just energy attacks... but metal that cannot penetrate this intangible barrier! Bullets, rockets, and tank shells! None of them can harm the savage invader!! They only bounce or swerve away!!!

To know the enemy is to defeat the enemy, Schwartz reminds Ko as he makes arrangements to carry out a plan that he is confident will spell the end of the invader...

Because if Zal cannot defeat Uty, then he will!!!    

Dr. Schwartz sees that Ko is left someplace safe, then has Agent Groos commandeer the use of the Ben French power station immediately in the path of the hostile visitor. Coordinating the wrapping of nearly eleven miles of cooper wire around the perimeter of the power station, Schwartz creates a trap for Uty...

A vast magnetic field!!

The good doctor believes that the magnetized area will disrupt the invader's powers just as THEY have disrupted the nation's electrical grid! And without his impenetrable electron shield..!

The pirating extraterrestrial organism will be left with only his flesh to defend him!!!        

Only moments after the preparations are completed, a silence falls over the land...

THE SAVAGE UTY HAS ARRIVED!!!!

Unnoticing or uncaring of the human activity all around him, Uty stalks mutely into the boundaries of the electrical station and the waiting magnetic field it will host. The nervous station technician attempts to throw the switch the moment the alien steps over the threshold, but Dr. Schwartz stops him- he wants Uty to be deep within the heart of the power station before the field is activated...

Uty carries on single-mindedly, walking unknowingly deeper into the trap laid for him...

The military workmen and station hands that helped create the trap wait tensely...

Agent Groos feels impatient words forming, but decides to trust the doctor...

...

SCHWARTZ GIVES THE SIGNAL!!!

THE MAGNETIC FEILD WHIRLS TO LIFE!!!!!  

Uty for the first time reacts with distressed thrashing as light and electricity crackles around him!!!

A low, spiraling moan like the hellish echoes of a whale's call rises into the sky! Uty's ghostly cry!  

AN EXPOSION..! A BURST OF LIGHT LIKE THE BIG BANG..!

Uty's shield... it...

IT IS GONE!!!!!!!

The baritone howl of the galactic raider is drowned out by the thunder of military fire!! A bombardment of tank shells and bullets peppers Uty!!! Smoke and flecks of bloodless flesh billow into the air!!!!

… BUT UTY DOES NOT FALL!

Though the metal of man can now harm the space giant, his skin is still too thick to be fully penetrated by conventional weapons!!! The spark of hope that Dr. Schwartz nourished into a flame wavers!!!

But... wait a moment... what is that? There! Hidden in the smoke and noise from the battle below!

Can it be..?

..

Yes!

IT IS!

The Merlin!

Having completed his flight from West Coast to the heartland, McDermott soars over the war zone in his small sea plane. Wait... above? And past! What can he can doing..?

EEGADS!

His destination is not the power station... BUT ZAL!

Circling the still form of the defeated giant, McDermott swoops low and, from a radiophone, begins to transmit a recording... a warped, pained screech...

By God! The distressed cry of Zal himself! Sent by Ko from where he is being kept safe!

And... and..!

ZAL IS RESPONDING TO IT!

Slowly rousing, the bloody giant growls at the spiraling sea plane.. not in anger... but concern?

Could it be that Zal believes another of his kind is in trouble!?

Whatever his belief, the desert titan shakes off his weakness and begins to follow McDermott!

And the young marine biologist is leading him... TO THE POWER STATION!!!

Catching sight of his rival, Zal abandons pursuit of the plane... or perhaps he assumes that Uty is the cause of the distress call... and the battle of the impossible colossi resumes!

Uty, disorientated by the loss of his shield and the hail of bullets battering his hide, is caught off guard and staggers to a MASSIVE blow by Zal!! The reptilian titan howls triumphantly and begins beating his claws and fists against the confused invader!!!

But Earth's champion has not yet healed from his earlier battle with the brutal raider...

Blood trickles down Zal's side in thick rivers before Uty lands a single blow..!

AND LAND BLOWS UTY DOES!!

With another awful, warbling groan, the alien wheels around and slashes away with his scythes!

Zal clobbers the eyeless head of Uty!!

Uty tears at the belly of Zal!!!  

Finally, Zal reels back and unleashes his THUNDERHEAD BREATH..!!

AND THE OPAQUE BROW OF UTY BURSTS!!!!

As watery, brownish liquid begins spewing from the split head of the invader, Zal CLAWS through the shredded membrane and GRABS HOLD of the crystal in Uty's skull!!

And then, with a monumental heave..!!!

THE CRANIAL CRYSTAL IS TORN LOOSE!!!!!  

The alien unleashes a dying groan and collapses to the ground!! Zal, covered in bloody stripes, shows no mercy and BEATS the ruined form of the alien raider with his own crystal brain!!!

The tables turned, it is now Uty who is helpless before Zal!!!!

The savage bludgeoning stops, and the desert titan throws the crystal spitefully to the ground. The light of Uty's organ and sail begin to fade... he lets out one last quiet moan...

And then the alien menace known as Uty perishes.

But he may not be the only casualty today.

Though victorious, Zal begins to shiver and sway. The blood of the mutant giant has showered the soil below and turned it black like the Fields of  Punishment from Greek myth. The celebratory bellow of the titan weakens and falls away... and... then...

Zal falls.

As Agent Groos informs her higher ups that Uty has been dealt with, Dr. Schwartz approaches Zal. He is somehow disappointed when he looks into the monster. He had imagined them as  killer's eyes first, then as intelligent, emotional eyes. The eyes that caused no further destruction after besting Yoz. The eyes that took pity on Toa...

But the misting black orbs he stares into are nothing more than the eyes of an animal...

An animal in pain....

An animal dying.

While most of the world would celebrate the loss of two monsters after that day, for Schwartz it would always be a moment he remembered mournfully. Even years afterwards, when he began to grow old and saw Ko follow in his footsteps and even marry, he would think back to it sometimes.

Some days, he was saddened. And some days he was humbled.

Because that was the day he realized that even beasts as might as Zal are still mortal.    

Cinema History - Famous for the ten-foot puppet used to portray Uty and infamous for its blunt tag line of, “Zal Dies!,” Zal Against the Invader (1960) is considered a highlight of the franchise for those who prefer fun monster romps. Though its plot is straightforward and predictable, it is widely agreed to have the best effects in the series. The massive Uty puppet, which incorporated multiple transparent pieces, several fully realized internal components, and sported a waving flag of glowing filaments, is noted to be very imposing and ghostly looking, although is was also somewhat stiff due to its size and complexity. Zal received an improved suit with better detailing and circulation that stretched more than seven feet tall, giving a greater sense of size than previous costumes. While it has been express by many that they were disappointed the film was a standard sci-fi adventure after the mystical Zal vs. The Island God, those who were greater fans of the original film enjoyed it as a perfected revisit to the classic formula. In rankings of the five classic Zal movies, it is rarely found below the midway point and is more often higher than not.          
 
Artist's Notes - Oh, look. Yet another design I absolutely love for my silly side project.