Tuesday Toy Flashback : Godzilla Destroy All Monsters Battlezone

With Christmas tomorrow many fans will have visions of kaiju dancing in there heads in hope that good old St. Nick will bring them some. And while there are a number of kaiju goodies that fans will get, X-Plus, S.H. MonsterArts figures among other things, there is one collectible that I personally wish we kaiju fans would have gotten, the completed Godzilla Destroy All Monsters Battlezone set. The set which was being produced by Far East Monsters Ltd., back in the late 2000's, was a statue series that was to include the battle scene from Destroy All Monsters where all the Toho monsters team-up to battle King Ghidorah, but unfortunately it never happened.
We did get Godzilla and King Ghidorah but never got the rest as Far East Monsters apparently went out of business. It would have been an awesome set each piece was designed to fit together to make one giant scene with lights and sounds for each piece.

There was a prototype for what was going to be the next piece Rodan and a Mothra larvae and a layout showing five more sections after that. But without any word the company disappeared along with hopes of a completed set. I hoped over the years someone would have finished this but no one has, to bad too because it would have been great. Godzilla stands about six inches tall (not counting the base), Ghidorah stands about eight inches tall with a fifteen inch wingspan, both are nicely detailed right on par with figures like S.H. MonsterArts. It could almost be possible to use those to "finish" the display, granted you would need to make bases and finish the Destroy All Monsters logo which parts of came with each section. Maybe hopefully Santa or someone else will give us the rest of this cool set, we can only hope.

Pacific Rim Star Hints Second Film Could Be A Prequel

From Comicbook.com

In a new interview with Empire Magazine, Pacific Rim star Max Martini seems to have suggested that the next installment of the monsters-versus-robots franchise, currently being written by Travis Beacham and co-writer/director Guillermo del Toro, may turn out to be a prequel exploring the backstories of the existing characters, rather than a sequel as previously hinted.
“Working with Guillermo [del Toro] was a highlight, and the green-screen work was new to me,” Martini said of Pacific Rim, adding, “It’s funny, I fell in love with this character [Herc Hansen]. The key component was this relationship I had with my son, exploring the dysfunction and the loss, so where does Herc go from here? I don’t know. It’ll be interesting to see where Guillermo [del Toro] and Travis Beacham take it. I don’t know if it’s a prequel or a sequel, but if it’s a prequel you’ll learn more about Herc’s family history. But Guillermo has such a vivid imagination, it could go anywhere.”
Previous rumors had suggested that the next film could include a “mecha-kaiju,” an evolutionary abomination created by the sacrifice at the end of the first film. If the film were a prequel, that would presumably be off the table–although going a somewhat more character-driven route and reusing designs and concepts that have already been created might be seen as a cost-saving measure considering that the first movie wasn’t the massive hit everyone was hoping for.

For the full Empire Magazine interview click here.

Muto Musings: Thoughts On Godzilla's Adversaries In The New Film

There has been speculation as to Godzilla's adversaries in next years film, early on director Gareth Edwards suggested there would be other monsters. There was hope for classic foes and new ones alike, then came the trailers and toy listings and we found out there would be a monster called Muto. Then of course we got the viral marketing that popped up, before the official teaser trailer hit, which opened up more questions.

Warning possible spoilers ahead!

I've been thinking about it and here is what I came up with, which may or may not be acurate, but there was a lot of "M.U.T.O sightings" at sinkholes around the world. What if these sinkholes are not just sinkholes but the spots where Mutos burrowed into the ground many centuries earlier. The toy listings state an 8-legged Muto, which like other arachnids, could have burrowed to avoid weather say the ice age. It's possible M.U.T.O discovered them and that could be what they are looking for in the viral pics that surfaced. But that isn't all the toy listings stated a winged Muto as well, could there be a transformation say like a certain other Godzilla foe. Mothra starts out in larve form and transforms into it's adult form, is it possible Muto does the same. While I have no proof any of this is what will happen in the film it does certainly fits the facts we have so far,well in less than five months we shall find out and I'm looking forward to it. 

Godzilla: Heritage Fan Film

Godzilla Concept Art

There is a Godzilla fan film in the works called Godzilla: Heritage in been in the planning stages for a while but is now starting to take shape. A Godzilla suit is being created and a design for an updated Anguirus who would battle Godzilla in the film. Here is the info from there Facebook page about the project -

Godzilla Suit In Production

Description: From an initial idea formed in late 2009, Godzilla: Heritage's concept has drawn the interest of several talented artists and actors - non-fan and fan alike and is now entering pre-production status. The film seeks to return the Godzilla mythology to its darker roots and ground the character and some of its memorable kaiju in an altered continuity that explores a world where they have been a staple of everyday life for almost 60 years. The project will utilize traditional suitmation and miniatures as well as more contemporary effects. The film is a non-profit project . "Godzilla" and all related character designs are copyright Toho Company, Limited.

Plot Outline: Since Godzilla's first attack in 1954, mankind has been under constant threat from gigantic creatures known as "Superfauna" - animals mutated by the coming of the nuclear age and man's abuse of the atom's destructive power. Humanity was united against a common foe and for almost 60 years, worked collectively to study and combat the creatures as millions died, cities crumbled and the world's economy continued to collapse. Now in 2012, the world seems to finally be bringing the threat under control. Jack Martin is a correspondent for United World News and the grandson of Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Steve Martin, who's riveting coverage of the 1954 raid on Tokyo made him a legend. With his grandfather's shadow always overhead, Jack has spent his career attempting forge his own legacy and in the process, has severally damaged both his reputation and his marriage to family friend, Amaya Ogata. Before leaving the agency, Jack decides to travel to a small pacific island with his life-long friend Mitch Lawrence, who now owns United World News. While the two wait to attend a ground-breaking ceremony for a new UWN building, Godzilla suddenly reappears after nearly 30 years of absence...and he hasn't returned alone. With the King of the Monsters' threat looming, Jack must decide whether to flee or finally embrace his heritage and report the attack as it happens - risking not only his life, but the lives of his best friend and his wife.

Anguirus Concept Art

Godzilla Suit In Production

Production:
Started: 2009
Release Date: Pre-Production
Genre: Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi
Studio: Graves Pictures, Empire Films, MTM Studios
Starring: Azumi Tsutsui, Tim Schiefer, Tyler Graves, Rashaad Santiago
Directed By: Gregory Graves
Written By: Tim Schiefer and Gregory Graves
Screenplay By: Tim Schiefer
Produced By: Gregory Graves, Tim Schiefer, Tyler Graves, Rashaad Santiago and Chris Elchesyn
Additional Credits:
Costumes: Kylie Joyner
Creature Concepts: Elden Ardiente (http://ldn-rdnt.deviantart.com/), Sean Sumagaysay (http://seansumagaysay.deviantart.com/)

Facebook pages:
www.facebook.com/GodzillaHeritage
www.facebook.com/gravespictures

Check it out!

S.H. MonsterArts Gigan 2004

Gigan well feature multiple heads and arms along with the usual S.H. MonsterArts features.

Godzilla Website Updated For 60th Anniversary

The official TOHO Godzilla website has been update for his 60th anniversary with animation and sound, you can make him walk, roar, destroy buildings, and shoot his atomic breath with the right arrow key and "G" key. You can also make Mothra, "M" key, and King Ghidorah, "K" key, appear with sound. I tried other keys but none of the others don't appear to do anything yet. Check it out here.

Kaiju Addicts Review: X-Plus 30cm Gamera 1999 Figure

With the recent release of X-Plus’ 30cm Series Gamera 1999 we now have all three Heisei turtles represented. And I think it’s safe to say that this is easily the most impressive of the bunch.

I have to admit I was surprised to see Gamera 1999 with such a small head. It didn’t look that way in the movie, did it? Yeah, it did. It’s just a lot more obvious on the figure with no fire and smoke and shadows from the film getting in the way. (This is why I’m worried about upcoming Godzilla 2014 figures with super obvious elephant feet.) Well, small head aside, this is one amazing vinyl!

Not only is this figure a good likeness, it’s pretty big! It stands significantly taller than the Gamera 1995 and especially the Gamera 1996. And without a crouched pose like the other two have to varying degrees, the 1999 figure looks… grand.

One thing I really love about the Gamera figures are the shells. They’re so un-Godzilla-like and shake up the status quo on the X-Plus shelves. The shell on the Gamera 1999 figure is especially impressive. I’m not talking about the sculpt but the suit itself. This time around those armor plates get more jaggy and radiate outward making for a more menacing appearance. And, yes, the sculpt captures that. It’s a shame the wall gets to see it more than I do.

Click here to check out the full review!

CLASSIC COMICS : Godzilla King of the Monsters #12

Godzilla King of the Monsters #12
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Date: June 1996

Cover: Bob Eggleton
Penciler: Brandon Mckinney
Inker: Andrew Pepoy
Letterer: Clem Robins
Colorist: Perry Mcnamee
Other: Mark Cox, Mike Richardson
Editor: Randy Stradley

Three hundred years from now there is no war, no conflict - only peace and brotherhood for all mankind. That is, until Professor Mason and his time-traveling army show up with Godzilla in tow! Mason has come to rob the future in order to rule our present, and he's brought the King of the Monsters with him to make sure nobody says different. The current story arc comes to a cataclysmic conclusion as Godzilla goes wild in a world he never made! - Comicvine 

In Harmony Cluster Nine, Mason's men are warned against descending below the 80th level and that they remain indoors after dark. After the futurian game show hosts who hired Mason agree to provide him with weapons of the future, mason agrees to secure Godzilla for them. Dixon arrives, being controlled by G-Force and asks Mason what his plans are. Mason receives the weapons. The mad scientist immediately transports Godzilla to the futuristic city. With the weapons, Mason plans to conquer Harmony Cluster Nine, perhaps transporting other monsters to the future in a bid to conquer the pacifistic and decadent futurians.
The imbecile futurians are unaware that Godzilla cannot be controlled as he smashes their city. Dixon argues with Mason that he cannot let Godzilla destroy the future, causing Mason to blast him with one of his new weapons, revealing Dixon to be a robot. The futurians impress on Mason to get his men to stop Godzilla, since the futurians are incapable of violence. As Mason leaves, G-Force emerges from the robot's head and returns to normal size. Elsewhere, Helzer and Meltev subdue mason as he addresses his men from a hovering platform. He falls into the armoury just as Godzilla arrives.

Before G-Force can capture Mason, he activates his time machine, but Godzilla swallows the mad scientist and starts to fade, headed for wherever Mason was going. G-Force leaves the future and returns to the present and tries to determine where in time Godzilla has wound up.