Rogue Cinema - Shadow's Monster Survival Guide: Cyclops of Collossa

Name: Cyclops

Monster Genus: Monoculus Munchonmanus

Notable Appearances: The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1957)

Height: No doubt the species varies in height like we humans do, and some specimens may be taller than others, but overall the average height for this particular breed of Cyclopes is roughly thirty to thirty-five feet. This is purely speculative and based on the comparative heights of both Cyclopes and Humans. While not approaching King Kong dimensions, let alone the likes of Godzilla, this is still a large enough figure to classify the Cyclops in the “Giant” category. A smaller giant species, sure…but a giant nonetheless! What this means for you is that hiding in a tree is out of the question, unless the tree is a giant Redwood. Even hiding on the third floor of a building isn’t a good idea, as a Cyclops can easily get to you. Plus, with it’s long arms, it could easily reach deep into a building or hiding spot for you. On the positive side, this height may actually help you to hide from the beast if you use your gray matter properly. Find small places that the monster will overlook, or tight places where it cannot fit it’s large hands.

Weight: Due to it’s sheer size, a Cyclops weighs many, many tons at the very least. The exact numbers are not known, as anything short of a massive industrial scale will be crushed into dust if a Cyclops steps on it. However, taking into consideration their size in relation to Humans, and we can guesstimate a weight in the twenty to thirty ton range. In this case, the facts speak for themselves: There is no way in hell that you will win in a one-on-one fight with a Cyclops. I don’t care if you’re popping steroids like Tic Tacs, a Cyclops will own you. Have you ever stomped on a mouse (and before you ask, no I have not)? Not a pretty sight, is it? Well, in this case you are the mouse. Stay alive by mimicking said mouse and keeping on the move. Don’t stand still too long or SQUISH. As bad as that may sound, a Cyclops’ large body mass will be a handicap for the critter if you exploit it properly. Lure the beast some place where that colossal poundage will cause it to fall or trip, and where said fall will either be off a cliff or into a very deep hole or pit.. You know the old saying: The bigger they are, the harder they fall. Now is you chance to prove it.

Intelligence: 2/5 Lucky for you and others, you are the Cyclops’ intellectual superior…but then again, so are the likes of Paris Hilton, Kelly Ripa and Jessica Simpson. It would be more than a slight stretch to call a Cyclops stupid. Rather, they are just primitive. They are smarter than your average bear…literally. They are not just dumb animals, but are more akin to ancient man. They build and use tools and weapons, have mastered the ability to make and control fire, and appreciate a good piece of jewelry by collecting loads of treasure. So don’t go thinking a Cyclops will walk blindly into any trap you set for it. You will need to be creative and stealthy. Conversely, don’t underestimate them when one is after you. Einsteins they may not be – after all, they don’t have any form of speech and just make wailing sounds most of the time, but they still are decent problem solvers and can set traps for you as well.

Description: Aside from their height and weight, this species of Cyclops is unique in that they resemble giant Satyrs. From the waist down, their bodies are covered with a thick, bushy fur. Their legs are like the rear legs found on most quadrupeds (backwards knee) and each ends with a cloven hoof. Above the waist a Cyclops mostly resembles a Human – a hairless torso and head, the latter sporting pointed ears and a lone horn sprouting from the forehead in addition to that great single eye. Their hands feature only three digits, but their size compensates for the lack of fingers.

Origin: At this time, the origin of this breed of Cyclops is completely unknown. Whether they are a naturally occurring species or the result of magical and/or scientific experimentation is matter for investigation and debate.

Habitat: This particular Cyclops species is found in only one place – the Isle of Collossa. There, in a deep ravine known as “The Valley of the Cyclops” these creatures make their homes. All they need to survive is on the island, which features Mediterranean-like weather.

Behavior: Cyclopes lead solitary lives. Their mating practices and rituals are unknown at this time, and truth be told, that is an episode of National Geographic that I do not want to see, but we can surmise from their lifestyle that they only come together for mating purposes and most likely consider all other members of their species as rivals the remainder of the time. Life for a Cyclops is simple. They hunt, they eat and they salvage treasure from wrecked ships. The latter they horde in secret caches, some of which may be accessible by moving a boulder that only the Cyclops is strong enough to handle. They are known carnivores and cook their prey before devouring it. They prefer fresh game and will not kill their prey outright, preferring to take it alive and keep it in a cage until meal time. Sadly for you, they love the taste of roasted Human. Indeed, it may very well be their favorite dish.

Special Abilities: Cyclopes have no special abilities beyond those which their tremendous size affords them. They can easily lift objects weighing multiple tons. They can fend off numerous Human attackers at once if need be, and are quite resilient to any type of knife, sword, spear or other cutting weapon – though such implements will cause them pain.

Weaknesses: A Cyclops is vulnerable to the same things as you or I. It is just that, because of their size, it takes a lot more of those things to do them in. A few sword cuts won’t kill them, but hack away long enough and they will bleed to death. A fall will kill them, but you are going to have to get them to walk off a very tall building or cliff for it to do any real good. Poison, in large enough quantities, will also work wonders. Their peripheral vision must suck, as they have only the one eye. And naturally, blinding that single eye of theirs leaves them very helpless, as they do not possess a back up.

Relatives: The Cyclops Centaur from The Golden Voyage of Sinbad (1974)

What to do if you encounter: First and foremost: do not stop moving! A Cyclops is big, but isn’t always the fastest thing on two feet. Keep yourself in motion and you stand a better chance at not getting caught. Try and remain to the side of a Cyclops as it’s peripheral vision is poor and this may help you escape. Get too close or move too slow and all one of the beasts has to do is reach over and pick you up like an annoying piece of trash. After that, you face either three fates: The Squish Treatment, The Rag Doll Shake and Throw, or dumped into a cage for convenient snacking at a later time. Despite the giant legs and colossal stride, which would make it easy to believe that a Cyclops can cover more ground than you, they are somewhat slow moving for their size and can often be easily outrun or outmaneuvered. As for weapons, unless you have an army at your disposal, avoid anything sharp as it is just too small to be effective. What you want are firearms, the more rapidly firing the better. Unleash a veritable spray of bullets on a Cyclops and giant or not, it will be going down fast. Remember to ALWAYS aim for the eye, no matter what weapon you are wielding. If fighting is not an option, hide some place where the creature’s bulk will hinder it’s efforts to grab you – a crawlspace, sewer or small cave.