Edzilla

Woodsy,

Here's my lone Kaiju toy - a Bandai Godzilla from 2013. I remember watching the old school Godzilla vs. (whatever man-in-monster suit he finds) movies as a kid but never really bought into the whole phenom.

From Gojira Island

Ed

Kan You Kaiju?

 I like Kaiju but I don't know the names beyond the big four.

Here's a bagged Kaiju from 1995 I don't recognize. You?

Colours of the Spectrum

The passion for Gerry Anderson's TV shows in Japan is so evident in their countless toys bearing his trademark vehicles.

This is just one example of a Anderson Kaiju mash-up in what is almost a lucky bag. There's so much in there and I for one would have adored it as a kid. Just the card art would have been enough!

I don't know the monster but the beautifully coloured chopper is a Spectrum Helicopter from Captain Scarlet.

There's even a little plastic snap-fit model of it in the bag!

Anyone ever made one up?

Legacy of Monsters: Kurt's Kaiju

I've taken up Apple TV's free 7 day trial, so I could watch Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. 

I'm still on Season 1, very nearly done and in the main enjoying it. Overall I'm sure anyone who's seen it would agree that more monsters couldn't harm this series and less talking. 

Having said that it's not a film, so Apple have to inevitably pad it out and like all modern series its aimed at teenagers and, whilst searching for thier Dad among the titans, are often very emotional and talkative.

An olive branch to oldies like us is the great Kurt Russell, essentially the leading man in season 1 and his sci-fi chops shine through. Every time he appears I think is The Thing, Escape from New York and so on. Kurt and Kaiju are a superb combo!

To capture a younger vote Kurt's real life chiselled chinned son plays his character as a young man. Talk about role reversal! You'll know this Russell, he was the President-appointed Captain America after Steve Rogers hung up his shield before the Falcon got it.

The kaiju clock is ticking and I need to finish season 1 and begin 2, which has only just started. I've got till Wednesday night!

Are you watching Legacy of Monsters readers?

Monster X Projector

 I thought this was so darn cool.

A vintage Japanese projector set.

Looks neat and tidy. 

And the film appears to be Ghidorah! 

What a set! 

BRIAN'S KAIJU CAVE

Hi Woodsy.

Here is my Kaiju Room!

 In its current state not too messy, but getting tricky to navigate in. Other Monster Base denizens are stored in totes, residing in the attic or spare bedroom closets. I rather enjoy my house and don't want to move, but I'd love to have these obscured toys on display also. My future plan is an out-building on my property, possible a pole barn, to keep my overspill.

-BrianF 

Monster Base 

NJ USA

RODAN ID'd!

Hi Woodsy. Here's two examples of the Jakks Pacific Rodan you encountered over the weekend. I'm guessing you saw the larger toy (the one packaged with the building, without Godzilla)

-BrianF 

Monster Base 

NJ USA

CHRISTMAS WITH THE KING: GODZILLA MINUS ONE

There's a new big screen Godzilla coming to town, a Toho original called Minus One. He stomps into UK cinemas in mid-December.

Minus One refers to the state of play of the post-war Tokyo in the film i.e. not good at all and Godzilla is not feeling the love either.

Like the previous Shin Godzilla this is a new film from the original makers of the 1954 debut, the 33rd Japanese film and is already garnering good reviews.

Could be a Christmas cracker for fans of the King.

Will you be going to see Godzilla this holiday?

Here's the official trailer to wet your whistle.

Kaiju Who?

Rubber vending toys are always great fun to see. These bendy monsters were online and are Japanese Kaiju I think.

Alas, I don't know the exact Kaiju these fellas are. Do you?

Terranova's THEM! Diorama

I always enjoyed THEM! as it had a fair degree of reality as opposed to giant apes or dinosaurs. 

Insects will inherit the planet no matter what men do to it!

Besides, it has James Arness not as the deadly dull Marshall Matt Dillon of Gunsmoke/Gunlaw or the creature in The Thing from Another World. 

It also had a touch of Quatermass and the Pit when underground.

Here's my diorama pics. Hope you like THEM!

Terranova47

USA

ED'S GODZILLAS

I never really got into collecting monster toys.

I did manage to pick up a Bandai 'Godzilla 1954' from about 2013 and a smaller Christmas tree ornament with sound from American Greetings. AND, I did collect the entire range of Peter Jackson's 'King Kong' toys by Playmates back in 2006 or so.

Enjoy!

Ed B

Las Vegas

IMPERIAL MONSTERS

Hi Woodsy.I recently enjoyed a three day weekend for Memorial Day in U.S.I found this trio of bootleg monsters at a toy show in my neighborhood. They seem to be based on the ubiquitous Imperial Godzilla figure of the 70s,and 2 of them have been altered to look like the Toho characters Rodan and Gigan! I couldn't resist!

-BrianF Monster Base NJ USA

A SUCKER FOR KAIJU!

 

I think some of these old vending gifts are Kaiju from Japanese films but I'm not sure. What do you think readers?

Looks like you could knock over the figures with a small sucker-dart crossbow!

ROB'S MONSTERS

Woodsy,

Your recent post about watching Godzilla v Kong made me wax nostalgic for some of my favorite Showa-era Kaiju flix, so I dug out my DVDs and offer them herewith, especially as it Gorgo week.

Some are budget labels, some are bootlegs, but as long as they boast the original English dubbing jobs, they are all gold to me!

Do you like them Moonbasers?

Rob C

USA

GIANT STEPS

Back on my Jack Jones I'm turning to Titans for company, those big beasts from movie prehistory,

I've just watched Godzilla V. Kong, the monster rumble from a couple of years ago. I thought I'd seen it at the flicks but I think the Pandemic stopped me. 

I enjoyed the film. I'm a monster nut so its hard no to. Godzilla and Kong never disappoint. There's plenty of Kaiju action with big strides in the whole Hollow Earth mythology being fleshed out too, with some neat Nebuchadnezzar-like craft zipping through the crust. They made me think of the project SWORD Beetle in the SWORD Annual.

Its always a comfort knowing that an Alpha has our backs and two Titans are clearly better then one when it comes to keeping any new baddun's at bay.

This movie does bring back an old foe. I won't spoil it, suffice to say that its a proper dukeroo between the titans and a fair few window-panes get rattled.

On the downside I found the constant splattering of neon colours a distraction from the Saurian action, although that actually may be how Hong Kong looks, lit up like a Christmas tree.

Overall tho, I enjoyed Godzilla v. Kong and look forward to the next instalment in Monarch's quest to find all of the Titans. 

Have you seen G v K?

Which is your fave Kaiju film? Any Kaiju toys?

Did Gerry Anderson go in for any massive monsters?

and PS. watch this space, next week but one is Gorgo week here on MC!

MONSTROUS ANIMALS

Seeing this awesome critter, Bemular by Acro Ltd, leering at me, I went in search of Kaiju and found ...

The Monstrous Animal Series by Imai, four fabulous plastic beasts - Nessie, Seauls [how do you say that?], Galba and Bagilla.

Digging deeper into the box art I like Galba's amazing looks the most [I had a jigsaw puzzle box cover - called Monsters - similar to this].

Bagilla too! Look at those teeth!

I've never seen these kits before and don't know the monsters other than Nessie.

Do you readers?

MY MANTIS IS A MUTO

 Having watched The Deadly Mantis, 1957, I'm getting an overwhelming sense of Kaiju again. Have you seen it?

Despite its lower place in the 1950's creature feature rankings, I enjoyed Mantis a lot. 

Like many fine B-movies it begins in the Antarctic and the woken monster then takes its business straight to the States.

Deadly M goes to Washington. 

It scales the Monument and crushes vehicles as seen here. But are they toys?

Its progress to an American city reminded me of the MUTO in Godzilla.

Having escaped from the nuclear dump it stomped across the land to meet Honolulu's elevated train and its larger mate decided to play the tables in Las Vegas.

I must say I adore the MOTU, perhaps my fave Kaiju. Do you?

Just a thought, can an American monster like the Deadly Mantis be classed as Kaiju?

PACIFIC RIM: GIVE US EVEN MORE MONSTERS!

 I started watching Pacific Rim again last night. The big Kaiju movie.

I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed it the first time round. I am a creature feature nut at heart and Kaiju like Godzilla and the like are my thing when it comes to films rather than other types of 'horror'.

Some of the imagery in Pacific Rim is quite breathtaking. Not the massive punch-ups between Jaegers and Kaiju in the sea, its the quieter glimpses of these giants meeting humans.

There is an amazing shot of damaged Jaeger slowly walking out of the ocean, where a man and a boy are staring in disbelief on the beach. Its stunning.

Alas, I found the whole 'drift' sub-plot of Pacific Rim a human distraction from the monsters. Monster films need more monsters, simple. And get them in early on.

Night of the Demon had the right idea. We get to see that fabulous fire-demon from the start and can appreciate it many times throughout the movie. Dana Andrews is a great actor but the star of the show is the demon for me.

Also, show them fully. Not parts of them. Cloverfield drove me mad, the camcorder gimmick reducing the beast to short bursts of footage. Infuriating for a monster nut. Get rid of the phones and show the damn thing!

Do you like your monsters to feature a lot in monster movies readers?

THE GREAT AMERICAN KAIJU BIRTHDAY READER OFFER!

Hi Woodsy,

After some thought, I've decided to reduce my SF models collection. There are several reasons, but primarily, the wife and I are trying to downsize, in anticipation for moving to smaller quarters at some point. I've enjoyed these models for years, and I think it's time to let go. 

Before I take them to Goodwill, I thought I'd offer Moonbase Readers first dibs! I'm not asking any money for the models, but request that the interested person agrees to pay postage costs from here in the USA.

I would like to offer ONE reader the chance to own all these models shown on the proviso that they pay the shipping costs from the USA to wherever you are.

I have gathered and photographed eight Japanese Kaiju models - see below. Assembled and painted, they are mostly on the smaller side, about 4" tall. I'd prefer sending the whole lot, as they would pack nicely into one medium box. I also have the original packages for Gappa and Guilala.

Happy Birthday!

Rob C

USA

*

NOTE FROM WOODSY: 

HOW TO 'BID'

To take advantage of Rob's amazing donation you need to do the following 3 things:

1. Be absolutely sure that you will pay for ALL the shipping costs [and any customs fees] from Rob's in the USA to wherever you live.

2. Leave your expression of interest as a comment here clearly stating your name. Anonymous is NOT a valid name I'm afraid.

3. Answer the following question and include the answer in your comment:

What is the Japanese name for Godzilla?

..........

First response [based on the UK time shown in the comments] with the right answer gets the collection below! The time of the comments will decide and the decision will be final. The first comment will win even if there are several comments showing the same time.

*

Arii Gappa

Bandai Baltan

Bandai Pegila

Bandai Z-Ton

Marusan Baragon

Marusan Ebirah

Midori Guilala

Nitto Barugon