Coming February 2013
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Matt Frank New Movie Godzilla Design
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| Matt Frank's take on what the new movie Godzilla might look like. |
Saturday, December 29, 2012
CREATURE FEATURE : Baragon
Baragon (バラゴン) is a fictional Kaiju (Japanese giant monster) that was first featured in the 1965 Toho-produced film, Frankenstein Conquers the World. Baragon is a four-legged dinosaur with a horn on his head and large ears. His main weapon is a heat ray that he can fire from his mouth. In addition, he can jump very high and burrow through the ground.
Origin
Showa series
(1965) Frankenstein Conquers the World: Baragon was a dinosaur who burrowed underground to escape the extinction of the other dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures died out. He adapted to and lived successfully. But when the sounds of a nearby factory disturbed and awakened Baragon, he emerged from the underground and attacked it. He appeared later at Shirane and destroyed the village. Then he emerged at a farm, where he ate the livestock - with feathers flying out of his mouth. During these attacks, Baragon was not seen, so the mutant human Frankenstein was blamed. But there was a person who survived the destruction of the factory who claimed there was a second monster that had attacked the factory. When a small group of scientists searched for Frankenstein, an explosive awoke Baragon from his sleep. He emerged to attack the scientists, but Frankenstein appeared to protect them from Baragon. The two fought a climactic battle, but Frankenstein ultimately defeated Baragon by choking him and breaking his neck. But in the end, a fissure appeared beneath the two and swallowed them up into the Earth
(1968) Destroy All Monsters: Baragon is seen as one of several monsters kept in captivity on Monster Island. Along with the rest of Earth's monsters, he is brought under the control of an alien race called the Kilaaks during their invasion of Earth and forced to destroy cities in their cause. It is unknown if this was the same Baragon that battled Frankenstein or another. The latter theory is supported by the fact this Baragon was smaller than the original. The 1965 version of Baragon stands 25 meters (82 feet) in height, the 1968 version stands up to 57 meters (or 190 ft) in height. He later breaks free from this mind control, and watches (but does not actually take part in) the fight against the Kilaaks and their remaining monster, King Ghidorah before returning to Monster Island with the other Earth monsters.
Use of suit
Of all the monsters in the Toho fame, the Baragon suit was borrowed and used the most by Tsuburaya Productions, the company made famous for its work on the TV show Ultraman. The Baragon suit was reused several times to create the monsters in the series: Neronga, Gabora, and Magular, as well as Pagos from Ultra Q. Notably, Haruo Nakajima (the Godzilla suit actor as well as suit actor for Baragon in his initial debut) also played the suit actor for these monsters (with the exception of Magular.)
In Destroy All Monsters, Baragon was supposed to attack Paris for the film, using his burrowing ability to smash the Arc de Triomphe from below. Unfortunately, the Baragon suit was unavailable due to the fact it was on loan for work on Ultraman. Baragon was replaced with Gorosaurus for this scene, but was still blamed for the attack. Gorosaurus was also given Baragon's special burrowing ability and even his signature roar to further confuse viewers. Baragon was also supposed to be used as a guard for the Kilaak base, but he was not shown on screen while doing this, possibly for the same reason above. Baragon's other appearance was supposed to be Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla. He was supposed to fight Mechagodzilla in the scene after he smashed that building, but instead they replaced him with Anguirus.
Millennium series
In the Millennium series, Baragon reappeared in the 2001 film, Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack as one of three ancient guardian monsters. The other two are Mothra and King Ghidorah (originally Varan and Anguirus). When Godzilla is revived by the souls of the people who died in World War II, Baragon, Mothra, and King Ghidorah were summoned to protect the nation from the threat. Baragon was the first of the three guardians to confront Godzilla and was eventually killed by the monster's atomic breath. Baragon does not have a heat ray or a glowing horn, but he still has his burrowing and extraordinary jumping abilities.
In Godzilla Final Wars, Stock footage of Baragon from Frankenstein Conquers the World was seen during the opening claiming that Baragon was one of many monsters that arose due to the devastation that the World Wars brought, along with Varan, Gezora, Gaira, Titanosaurus, and Megaguirus.
Origin
Showa series
(1965) Frankenstein Conquers the World: Baragon was a dinosaur who burrowed underground to escape the extinction of the other dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures died out. He adapted to and lived successfully. But when the sounds of a nearby factory disturbed and awakened Baragon, he emerged from the underground and attacked it. He appeared later at Shirane and destroyed the village. Then he emerged at a farm, where he ate the livestock - with feathers flying out of his mouth. During these attacks, Baragon was not seen, so the mutant human Frankenstein was blamed. But there was a person who survived the destruction of the factory who claimed there was a second monster that had attacked the factory. When a small group of scientists searched for Frankenstein, an explosive awoke Baragon from his sleep. He emerged to attack the scientists, but Frankenstein appeared to protect them from Baragon. The two fought a climactic battle, but Frankenstein ultimately defeated Baragon by choking him and breaking his neck. But in the end, a fissure appeared beneath the two and swallowed them up into the Earth
(1968) Destroy All Monsters: Baragon is seen as one of several monsters kept in captivity on Monster Island. Along with the rest of Earth's monsters, he is brought under the control of an alien race called the Kilaaks during their invasion of Earth and forced to destroy cities in their cause. It is unknown if this was the same Baragon that battled Frankenstein or another. The latter theory is supported by the fact this Baragon was smaller than the original. The 1965 version of Baragon stands 25 meters (82 feet) in height, the 1968 version stands up to 57 meters (or 190 ft) in height. He later breaks free from this mind control, and watches (but does not actually take part in) the fight against the Kilaaks and their remaining monster, King Ghidorah before returning to Monster Island with the other Earth monsters.
Use of suit
Of all the monsters in the Toho fame, the Baragon suit was borrowed and used the most by Tsuburaya Productions, the company made famous for its work on the TV show Ultraman. The Baragon suit was reused several times to create the monsters in the series: Neronga, Gabora, and Magular, as well as Pagos from Ultra Q. Notably, Haruo Nakajima (the Godzilla suit actor as well as suit actor for Baragon in his initial debut) also played the suit actor for these monsters (with the exception of Magular.)
In Destroy All Monsters, Baragon was supposed to attack Paris for the film, using his burrowing ability to smash the Arc de Triomphe from below. Unfortunately, the Baragon suit was unavailable due to the fact it was on loan for work on Ultraman. Baragon was replaced with Gorosaurus for this scene, but was still blamed for the attack. Gorosaurus was also given Baragon's special burrowing ability and even his signature roar to further confuse viewers. Baragon was also supposed to be used as a guard for the Kilaak base, but he was not shown on screen while doing this, possibly for the same reason above. Baragon's other appearance was supposed to be Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla. He was supposed to fight Mechagodzilla in the scene after he smashed that building, but instead they replaced him with Anguirus.
Millennium series
In the Millennium series, Baragon reappeared in the 2001 film, Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack as one of three ancient guardian monsters. The other two are Mothra and King Ghidorah (originally Varan and Anguirus). When Godzilla is revived by the souls of the people who died in World War II, Baragon, Mothra, and King Ghidorah were summoned to protect the nation from the threat. Baragon was the first of the three guardians to confront Godzilla and was eventually killed by the monster's atomic breath. Baragon does not have a heat ray or a glowing horn, but he still has his burrowing and extraordinary jumping abilities.
In Godzilla Final Wars, Stock footage of Baragon from Frankenstein Conquers the World was seen during the opening claiming that Baragon was one of many monsters that arose due to the devastation that the World Wars brought, along with Varan, Gezora, Gaira, Titanosaurus, and Megaguirus.
Film Appearances
Frankenstein Conquers the World
Destroy All Monsters
Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack
Godzilla: Final Wars
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Monday, December 24, 2012
Rare Godzilla X-mas Photo
From Bob Eggleton
Now HERE's a Godzilla picture I have not seen (which is because August Ragone had it and he's good for pulling rabbits out of hats like that). Anyway, I suspect this was around the late 60's or early 70's judging by the Godzilla suit. Probably a Dept Store promo, and the bags most likely had (I'm guessing) Bullmark toys in them.
Saturday, December 22, 2012
CREATURE FEATURE : Yongary
Yongary or Yonggary (대괴수 용가리 - Taekoesu Yongary lit. Great Monster Yongary), also known as Yongary, Monster from the Deep, is a 1967 South Korean Kaiju film directed by prominent genre-film director Kim Ki-duk (no relation to the art film director Kim Ki-duk). In 1999, a reimagining of the film was produced, released in Korea simply as Yonggary and released in the United States as Reptilian.
Synopsis
In the Middle East, a bomb is set off that creates massive earthquakes. Meanwhile in South Korea, a young couple is about to get married and the tension builds when South Korea sends a manned space capsule to investigate the bomb site. The earthquake makes its way to South Korea, caused by a giant monster named Yongary (inspired by a mythical creature in Korean lore). Yongary attacks Seoul and makes his way to the oil refineries where he consumes the oil. A child related to the aforementioned couple turns off the refineries' oil basins; Yonggary, enraged, starts attacking until a chemical explosion at the refinery proves to have an effect on it. The Korean Government then uses oil to draw Yonggary to a local river, and kills it with a refined version of the ammonia compound.
Trivia
In South Korea, Reptilian was very unpopular, and no DVDs were sold. In the USA and Japan, they can be purchased online and at some stores. However, it aired a couple of times on SciFi Channel.
The new design of Yonggary is completely different from the original. He is taller, has three horns on his head, and has a jewel on his forehead called the Damon. The Damon was placed there by the aliens, so that they can control Yonggary and use him to destroy planet Earth. When the Damon was destroyed, they lost all control over Yonggary, and Yonggary turned good and helped mankind defeat the aliens.
The original Yonggary had flamethrower breath and could shoot a laser beam from the horn on his snout, but the new Yonggary shoots fireballs from his mouth and has powers he has yet to discover(according to the aliens at the end of the film).
The original Yonggary bears a striking resemblance to Barugon from the Gamera series, as well as Godzilla, whom of which inspired Hyung Rae to create Yonggary.
In the original film, Yonggary is shown to have a diet of oil. However, in the remake, he is not shown eating (or drinking) anything.
Although the original version of the beast was closer in appearence to Godzilla, the remade version fought another monster, which is featured in most Godzilla films. Another similarity, the original kaiju was meant to terrorize the people of Korea, much like the original Godzilla destroyed Japan. Also, in the US version of the remake he is a savior to mankind, like Godzilla is in countless movies.
The origin of the new Yonggary is unknown; the original was burrowing underground, but the new monster is just a skeleton at the beginning and is resurrected by the aliens.
Yonggary means Huge Dragon in Korean.
One of the possible reasons for Yonggary's redesign in the remake might be people criticized the monster for looking like Godzilla. Another reason might be the remake was inspired by the American Godzilla remake, and Godzilla's design for the movie changed the monster completely. This could be the case, as it has many similarities to the American Godzilla remake, such as a Western cast. Also, the American Godzilla ends with the camera going into the surviving baby's mouth, and Reptilian ends with the camera going into Yonggary's mouth.
There was an alternate ending for Reptilian that was exclusive to the original Korean release; Yonggary never turns good and is eventually killed by mankind, and never fights Cykor.
Synopsis
In the Middle East, a bomb is set off that creates massive earthquakes. Meanwhile in South Korea, a young couple is about to get married and the tension builds when South Korea sends a manned space capsule to investigate the bomb site. The earthquake makes its way to South Korea, caused by a giant monster named Yongary (inspired by a mythical creature in Korean lore). Yongary attacks Seoul and makes his way to the oil refineries where he consumes the oil. A child related to the aforementioned couple turns off the refineries' oil basins; Yonggary, enraged, starts attacking until a chemical explosion at the refinery proves to have an effect on it. The Korean Government then uses oil to draw Yonggary to a local river, and kills it with a refined version of the ammonia compound.
Remake
The film was remade in 1999 by Shim Hyung-rae. To date, the Yonggary remake is the most expensive Korean film ever produced. The film was a moderate success and due to its success, a 2001 Upgrade Edition was produced a few months after its initial release. This version was slightly different from the original 1999 cut. The 2001 Upgrade featured new additional scenes, a new soundtrack by Chris Desmond, and new effects. 60% of the original 1999 cut made it to the 2001 upgrade version. It first premiered at a Japanese film festival in 2000 and then had its worldwide release in January 2001, which flopped due to poor promotion. The original 1999 cut was never released on VHS or DVD and the only version of the film available is the 2001 upgrade edition, which is now known as Reptilian. It's been debated whether prints of the original 1999 cut had been destroyed by the studio when at the time they believed that the 2001 upgrade edition would be a box office success.The 1999 cut was a proper remake of the first film, where Yonggary dies at the end, and the aliens were not in it.
Trivia
In South Korea, Reptilian was very unpopular, and no DVDs were sold. In the USA and Japan, they can be purchased online and at some stores. However, it aired a couple of times on SciFi Channel.
The new design of Yonggary is completely different from the original. He is taller, has three horns on his head, and has a jewel on his forehead called the Damon. The Damon was placed there by the aliens, so that they can control Yonggary and use him to destroy planet Earth. When the Damon was destroyed, they lost all control over Yonggary, and Yonggary turned good and helped mankind defeat the aliens.
The original Yonggary had flamethrower breath and could shoot a laser beam from the horn on his snout, but the new Yonggary shoots fireballs from his mouth and has powers he has yet to discover(according to the aliens at the end of the film).
The original Yonggary bears a striking resemblance to Barugon from the Gamera series, as well as Godzilla, whom of which inspired Hyung Rae to create Yonggary.
In the original film, Yonggary is shown to have a diet of oil. However, in the remake, he is not shown eating (or drinking) anything.
Although the original version of the beast was closer in appearence to Godzilla, the remade version fought another monster, which is featured in most Godzilla films. Another similarity, the original kaiju was meant to terrorize the people of Korea, much like the original Godzilla destroyed Japan. Also, in the US version of the remake he is a savior to mankind, like Godzilla is in countless movies.
The origin of the new Yonggary is unknown; the original was burrowing underground, but the new monster is just a skeleton at the beginning and is resurrected by the aliens.
Yonggary means Huge Dragon in Korean.
One of the possible reasons for Yonggary's redesign in the remake might be people criticized the monster for looking like Godzilla. Another reason might be the remake was inspired by the American Godzilla remake, and Godzilla's design for the movie changed the monster completely. This could be the case, as it has many similarities to the American Godzilla remake, such as a Western cast. Also, the American Godzilla ends with the camera going into the surviving baby's mouth, and Reptilian ends with the camera going into Yonggary's mouth.
There was an alternate ending for Reptilian that was exclusive to the original Korean release; Yonggary never turns good and is eventually killed by mankind, and never fights Cykor.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Monday, December 17, 2012
Godzilla March 2013 Comic Book Solicitation
Duane Swierczynski (w) • Simon Gane (a) • Bob Eggleton (c)
Boxer and his team are beyond working for money... now they just want to save their planet! In order to do so, they must support and cover Godzilla and other monsters from Earth in their savage battle against Space Godzilla, Gigan and others! Prepare for the final, unthinkable battle!
FC • 32 pages • $3.99
Variant Cover: Matt Frank variant cover!
Bullet points:
The penultimate chapter in a mega monster brawl two years in the making!
Godzilla, Vol. 2
Duane Swierczynski (w) • Simon Gane (a) • Zach Howard (c)
Boxer and his team decide it’s time to turn their sights to the big game—Godzilla! But, a perfect plan goes awry when a billionaire adventurer gets his hands on Mechagodzilla and the world’s governments have branded them outlaws. Nothing will stop Boxer from avenging his daughter and getting revenge on Godzilla though!
TPB • FC • $17.99 • 104 pages
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Kaiju Combat - Giant Monsters. Awesome Fighting. Online.
Help support the Kickstarter project KAIJU COMBAT here and read some project details below or on the Kickstarter page.
WHAT IS KAIJU COMBAT? Kaiju Combat is the final word in giant-monster battle games. It takes the core team & technology from the Pipeworks/Atari Godzilla fighting games, and merges them with the design input & creative output of our amazing fans.
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| Tornaq - one of our original monster concepts (art by Matt Frank) |
Game Features:
1-4 player battles in awesome environments.
Frequent releases of new content (monsters, stories, game modes) which can be mixed & matched with your existing content, or purchased as stand-alone products!
Our first Kaiju Combat release will feature Kaiju concepts submitted by our backers. Check out the reward tiers!
Future releases will feature monsters such as Gamera, Ultraman, Godzilla, Zone Fighter, Stay-Puft, Cthulhu, and plenty more originals!
Online matchmaking & tournament play. LAN support too.
DRM-free PC release (console release date TBA, as funding allows)
Dynamic grappling, melee, ranged weapons, flight, burrowing, teleportation, dizzies, air combos, OTG hits, reversals, parries, super moves & more!
WHO IS DEVELOPING KAIJU COMBAT?
We've got a world-class team of professionals to make Kaiju Combat the best game it can possibly be, including most of the key talent from the classic Pipeworks/Atari Godzilla games. But the most important contributions to the game will be made by direct design discussions between the dev team and our contributors!
The dev team includes:
Simon Strange - Owner of Sunstone Games, LLC. Simon is a 15-year veteran of the video game industry with nearly 20 console titles under his belt, including Rampage: Total Destruction, Prince of Persia, Tomb Raider, Army of 2, Tony Hawk, and the Deadliest Warrior series.
Of course, Simon is best known for designing the combat & controls of giant monster fighting games such as Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee, Rampage: Total Destruction and the classic Godzilla: Save the Earth:
Matt Frank - Kaiju Artist extraordinaire, Matt Frank started at IDW comics with The Beast Wars Sourcebook and Transformers Animated: The Rise of Safeguard. You can follow him at deviant art and mattfrankart.com
Matt hit the big time (literally BIG!) with the smashing-success of Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters, providing covers for the entire run of the series. Matt went on to co-write and draw the first issue of Godzilla: Legends, and provide covers for the new IDW Godzilla ongoing series.
Matt's also no stranger to games. He's worked extensively with Chaotic Moon Studios on iOS projects such as Age of Booty, contributing both in-game illustrations and conceptual work.
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| Macrosaurus - an original character for Kaiju Combat (art by Matt Frank) |
Bob Eggleton - Bob is a Hugo award-winning fantasy/SF artist who works on both publishing projects and film concept work. You can see some of his work here. Godzilla fans will recognize Bob's work from comics, posters, and other famous illustrations stretching back at least 20 years!
WHAT MONSTERS WILL BE FEATURED IN KAIJU COMBAT?
Kaiju Combat is a framework upon which we plan to build several stand-alone games. If you own multiple Kaiju Combat products, you will be able to mix and match their content - both offline and on! We plan to launch in September 2013 with two distinct products:
1 - A free online fighting game with one environment and 4 licensed Kaijuland monsters. (copyright Kaiju Empire, LLC.) Check out the monsters here.
2 - A retail game featuring a robust single-player story, multiple environments, and original monsters designed by our backers. Check out some of the monsters our backers have already created here.
G-Fan 100th Issue Artwork
While the issue is out I still thought the artwork by Matt Frank is awesome.
