He is Gaea’s beloved bundle of wind, the most powerful, the storm giant of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, the king of all monsters: Typhon. When this guy blows into town, you know the Olympians are in for a bumpy ride. And here’s why.

Saving the Best for Last

Typhon is the pinch hitter you call on when the chips are down. Let’s say every other member of Gaea’s army of Gigantes children has failed to lay the smackdown on the gods. Time to bring out the big gun. Standing at 2,000 feet tall, with enough power to level entire cities and send the Big Three Olympian gods to their knees, Typhon’s appearance signals nothing but trouble. And it always leaves us asking: Why was he just waiting in the background this whole time?

Bane of Olympus

Next time you look at the moon, take note of its deep craters. Know where those came from? Typhon’s battle with Selene. Ever wonder why the Olympians fled to Egypt that one time? Yup, that was because of him, too. And he’s the only being we know of who was able to take down Zeus in a fight. At this point, we’re thinking Typhon must also be the one responsible for slow internet speeds and the recent rise in the price of coffee.

Hurricane Warning

To those of us who can’t see through the Mist, Typhon appears as a mighty storm atop a raging volcano. To demigods, his appearance is nearly impossible to describe. His body constantly shifts between that of various horrifying monstrosities, each nastier than the last. It’s said that staring at Typhon for too long could drive a demigod insane, if they weren’t first crushed by his mighty foot. Because what’s scarier than a ruthless, destructive force of nature brewing on the horizon? One with a vendetta.

Blower of Hot Air

When Typhon escaped to New York City in The Last Olympian, it was only with the help of Poseidon, Tyson, and an army of Cyclopes that Percy was able to take him down, seizing his moment when Typhon wandered into the Hudson River. Typhon’s subsequent banishment to Tartarus resulted in a wave of chaotic venti being released into the wild. Thankfully, venti are much easier to deal with. And some of them turn out to be pretty cool horses.

In terms of Monsters that Keep Us Up at Night, Typhon can be found near the top of the list. Right up there with Kronos, Gaea herself, and Mr. D when he hasn’t had his Diet Coke.