大怪獣シリーズ 「ウルトラマンティガ(マルチタイプ)」 少年リック限定版

​JAPAN RELEASE: APRIL 2013

​SERIES: LARGE MONSTER SERIES

​MATERIAL: SOFT VINYL

​FROM: “ULTRAMAN TIGA”, 1996-97
ウルトラマンティガ

HEIGHT: 9 INCHES / 22.86 CM

​WIDTH: ABOUT 6 INCHES / 15.24 CM

LENGTH: 13.5 INCHES / 34.29 CM

​ARTICULATION: ANKLES (AND YOU’RE GONNA NEED THEM!)

​REVIEW AND PHOTOS: JOHN STANOWSKI

​After a 15-year absence (not including American and Australian versions) Ultraman finally returned to Japanese television in ‘Ultraman Tiga’. The series ran from 1996 to 1997 and the X-Plus rendition is nothing less than ultra-amazing.

The X-Plus Large Monster Series Ultraman Tiga (Multi-type) vinyl figure is an astounding likeness. Free from all the unwanted embellishments and artistic interpretations from other lines, this figure… Everybody… looks like it just walked out of the TV show. You may be hard-pressed to make an immediate conclusion if the above shots were actually of the real suit. That’s how accurate X-Plus can be!

Tiga is overall much smoother than the X-Plus Showa Ultraman figures with noticeably less ‘crinkles’ in the suit. This is no doubt because modern suits were made of more advanced material. The hands and feet are especially smooth. I think it would have been nice, though, to see more wrinkles to set it apart from other ‘toys’. There are a pair of lines running down the back which I suspect represent the zippers on the actual suit (see below, right).

The eyes are made of clear plastic with a honeycombish texture. There is a space between the eyes and a light material inside. This allows light to pass through the plastic and create refractive patterns inside. The temple ‘crystal’ is also clear plastic but usually appears dark because of refreaction. But if you move it around until the light hits it right, it becomes ridiculously accurate! The color timer is also clear plastic but unfortunately almost always looks too dark even though it’s actually blue. The Ric Boy exclusive version of this figure includes a light-up gimmick for clear plastic parts and this probably the reason why they didn’t use a lighter blue on the timer for standard versions.

VISIBLE SEAMS & JOINTS: At first you’ll notice seams only around the ankles as they are visible from the front. There is a seam behind the left elbow and the backs of both shoulders have noticeable gaps which are hidden from view when placed on the shelf. The rotation of the shoulders can be tweaked only enough to make sure the paint and lines match up.

The pose is undeniably a signature Tiga stance! One hand is clenched in a fist close to the chest while the other extends outward ready to deflect a blow. While most other X-Plus Ultraman figures stand tall with level heads, the Tiga figure is tucking his chin to his chest. At first this really bothered me because it looked a little odd from the front. But during the course of this review that feeling went away. The pose is awesome.

This figure comes with a stand comprised of a clear base, arm and ‘claw’. This stand really isn’t necessary as Tiga is fully capable of standing on his own, though maybe not right away. The ankles are articulated so with a few tweaks you can get your shiny, new Tiga figure fully balanced.

Ultraman Tiga is the first Ultra to not have an all-red color scheme. In his standard “multi-type” mode, comparable to all previous Ultras, he sports the standard red and a purpleish blue in non-toyish shades. The hand painters at the factory did an excellent job of keeping the colors “in the lines”. The yellow stripes across his chest are subdued and the silver, as usual, looks great.

The X-Plus Giant Monster Series Tiga is comparable size-wise with other Ultraman figures. At first glance, he matches up nicely with both the Toho Series 25cm line (as seen with Gigan above) and the ultra kaijus from the Reborn Series. Perfectionists, however, may be annoyed with the true discrepancy in scale lurking below first impressions. Tiga should not be as tall as either of the kaiju he’s pictured with above. A good way to tell is to note where the shoulders line up. Tiga’s shoulders are higher than the others’… and he’s crouching!

​Tiga comes wired into a plastic shell in a window box with a snazzy, new design for the New Generation series.

By John Stanowski Originally posted May 17th, 2013​ on Kaiju Addicts.

​東宝29CMシリーズ 「ゴジラ（1984）

​JAPAN RELEASE: APRIL 2013

​JAPAN REISSUE (SHINJUKU BATTLE VERSION): SEPT./OCT. 2016

​NORTH AMERICAN REISSUE (DIAMOND): DECEMBER 2016

​SERIES: 30CM SERIES

​MATERIAL: SOFT VINYL

​FROM: “GODZILLA”, 1984 (OFTEN REFERRED TO AS ‘THE RETURN OF GODZILLA’ AND ‘GODZILLA 1984’. KNOWN AS ‘GODZILLA 1985’ IN THE WEST.
ゴジラ

​HEIGHT: 11.25 INCHES / 28.57 CM

​WIDTH: 7.5 INCHES / 19.05 CM

​LENGTH: 13.5 INCHES / 34.29 CM

​ARTICULATION: MID-TAIL, KNEES

​REVIEW AND PHOTOS: JOHN STANOWSKI

After a nine-year hiatus, Godzilla returned to theaters in ‘Godzilla’ (1984). This was the first of the Heisei films. Gone was the wacky Godzilla of old, and in his stead, a frightening force of nature. After a lackluster entry into the 25cm line, X-Plus presents a much improved 29cm version.

First and foremost, the X-Plus 29cm Godzilla 1984 is a vast improvement over the 25cm version (above right). The new figure is a darned good likeness. The 1984 Godzilla’s signature design of the head are well represented. A lot of collectors feel this figure is a tad slim in the belly area.

Godzilla’s grumpy looks are captured in the sculpt. The mouth is wide open in mid-roar and reveals a set a fantastic-looking teeth. X-Plus did, however, take one liberty by correcting the position of the eyes, which had a tendency to drift apart in the movie.

VISIBLE SEAMS & JOINTS: Not much to complain about here as far as seams. There are some behind the elbows if you look, but overall they’re not very obvious. The tail joint isn’t a perfect fit, but that detail is in the rear so you won’t be seeing much of it. The knees rotate; first time I ever saw that on an X-Plus figure (but that’s me). The knee joints are worked into the sculpt so aren’t overly obvious. There is a chance that mid-way down the tail your dorsal fins don’t quite line up. If that is the case, just give it a twist, there’s a joint there.

The X-Plus Godzilla 1984 seems to lean forward from the waist up; a common position seen in the movie. This may account for his apparent lack of height when compared to other figures in the 30cm series. The right leg is a step back. This, combined with the upper half of the body leaning forward, makes the right side profile look a bit odd; almost like it’s ready to fall forward. (See above.) This figure looks GREAT from most other angles!

​Mostly pretty standard stuff here. Godzilla 1984 is uniformly the usual asphalt black. There’s a darker black under the eyes. There are some areas, though, which appear glossy here and there on the front, legs and sides. I don’t know if this was intentional or if something happened while they were painting it. The teeth are an off-white and not stark at all; they look great! Claws have a tannish, boneish shading. And perhaps most impressive, are the eyes. X-Plus took the time to add tiny, little, red veins creeping into the whites. (Click on the side-view headshot above for a larger view.)

​Godzilla’s tail makes a hard turn upward making his footprint only 13.5 inches long. This will definitely make him easier to place on the shelf.

​The X-Plus 29cm Godzilla 1984 is actually only 28 and a half centimeters tall (11.25″). This is noticeably shorter than his pals in the same line. The lack of height may be attributable to his pose (he’s leaning forward). But if you compare the size of his feet to the others you’ll find that they’re smaller. This figure, though, makes up for a lack of height by just looking so fantastic.

​The X-Plus 29cm Godzilla 1984 comes in a blind box with awesome cover art. For some reason, the gold sticker on the box is marked “2012” even though this was an April 2013 release. The figure inside the box is in two pieces, wire-tied to a plastic shell. The joint for the tail piece is somewhat triangular. This made it a little difficult for me to insert using my preferred method of heating the butt, but not the tail. In the end I wound up defying the glue and pulling the dorsal piece away from the rest of the body, leaving a little gap. X-Plus reviewer Rich Eso had warmer weather when he assembled his ’84 and he said the tail went right in with no problems at all. So, if the weather is a bit cool when you assemble yours, you might want to heat both the butt and tail before connecting.

By John Stanowski Originally posted May 13th, 2013 on Kaiju Addicts.

JAPAN RELEASE: SEPTEMBER 2012

​SERIES: 30CM SERIES

​MATERIAL: SOFT VINYL

​FROM: “GAMERA 2: ATTACK OF LEGION”, 1996
ガメラ2 レギオン襲来

HEIGHT: 9 INCHES / 22.86 CM

​WIDTH: 12 INCHES / 30.48 CM

​LENGTH: ABOUT 15.5 INCHES / 39.37 CM

​ARTICULATION: NONE

​REVIEW AND PHOTOS: JOHN STANOWSKI

Based on the second film in the Heisei Gamera trilogy (some of the very best kaiju movies ever made) comes one lean, mean, and green vinyl figure from X-Plus. I’ve tried to write about the sculpt a few times but I just don’t know what to say that the photos below don’t already by themselves.

Particularly impressive are a series of flat plates running down the top of the tail. I have no idea how they pulled this out of a mold!

VISIBLE SEAMS & JOINTS: There are no seams visible unless you turn him on his back to see the tail joint, which is a pretty good fit. The seams where the lower legs meet the body aren’t even worth mentioning (which I just wasted my time doing). I suspect there’s a join running across his chest, under his arms and over his shell. But this join is perfectly hidden as it zig-zags around the breast and shell plates in the sculpt.

Gamera leans menacingly forward with his feet spread wide as if braced for a confrontation with Legion. This pose makes it seem shorter than it really is yet at the same time seems really dynamic.

The surplus of detail on this figure paves the way for a splash of color, albeit desaturated ones (the way I like it). The X-Plus Gamera 2 is coated in gorgeous greens, browns, tans and charcoal black. The back shell is a slightly glossy mix of dark green with even darker olive shading. A dull brown covers the front plate while deep, dark oranges fade to bony white on the claws and fangs. Gamera’s skin is the standard charcoal black. The eyes are a bright, vivid green with tiny, black pupils; the whites recede into red shading where it meets the skin. Looking good!

When considering shelf space, this figure may seem no different than a Godzilla or other kaiju with a long tail, but have another look. Quite unlike other biped figures, the Gamera 2 spreads out sideways (12 inches) almost as much as it does from head to tail (15.5 inches). This guy is a bit of a shelf hog. It demands all of the room around it except the front. If you have standard shelves, you’ll only have room to position this figure facing left or right. I believe his left is his best angle; this is for the best since the tail drifts slightly toward its left foot and thus the left toes don’t reach as far toward the edge of the shelf whereas, facing right, they may creep over the edge. (The toes on X-Plus figures can get scratched easily so it’s best to keep them tucked in.)

The soda can should give you a good idea about the size of this statue. On the right, the Gamera 2 is pictured with the X-Plus Godzilla 1992 from the 30cm line and the Gigan from the Giant Monsters 25cm line. Even though Gamera is part of the 30cm line, he’s actually shorter than some of the 25’s because of his pose. If you collect only 30’s, be prepared for a dip in your “skyline”.

​Gamera comes in the standard 30cm series box with printed box art and hinged lid. The figure itself comes in two pieces each wire-tied into a plastic shell. You’ll need to attach the tail.

By John Stanowski Originally posted May 6th, 2013 on Kaiju Addicts.

The X-Plus 25cm Rodan 1956 has a habit of falling down. It was designed so that the tips of its wings would hold it up. But for some collectors, gravity and heat soon turn those soft vinyl wing tips into noodles. That’s when Rodan takes a nosedive. Here’s one collector’s unique, homemade solution.

A member from Toho Kingdom Forums, who wishes to remain anonymous, was faced with the problem of his X-Plus Rodan ’56 loosing its ability to stand on its own. Here, in his own words, is his solution:

“Basically what I did was I just cut slots into 2 pieces from an old storm door window. I cut the slots [with a scroll saw] so that they were just deep enough so the wings rest inside while the figure is standing. It’s been working out perfectly. They look much crummier than they are with the stands laying on this white surface (being able to see scratches and stuff in the glass instead of just looking clear), but this should give you an idea of the size.”

“I made some guides for the stands out of cardboard first and once they seemed to be right I just traced it onto the plexiglass. If you’re going to do similar, use thick enough plexiglass that it won’t chip and break when you try to saw it. Sand it down real smooth on all the cuts so it’s not a rough edge rubbing against the figure, even though it shouldn’t anyway.

“Since I got Rodan 1964 I’ve had to do the same for him, but his balance is better than 1956. Great figures and I love them, but that’s one of the annoying things about soft vinyl.

“If you aren’t worried about the stands being clear, you could buy a piece of foam poster board and cut that with a razor blade no problem. It’s about the same width and pretty durable. I always buy this stuff at Walmart for arts and crafts.”

Great idea! As for myself… right now I’m using a rock. 😛

By John Stanowski Originally posted May 5th, 2013​ on Kaiju Addicts.

​大怪獣シリーズ ウルトラマン編 「古代怪獣 ゴモラ（REBORN）」

​JAPAN RELEASE: NOVEMBER 2010

​SERIES: LARGE MONSTER SERIES (25CM)

​MATERIAL: SOFT VINYL

​FROM: “ULTRAMAN”, 1966-1967
ゴジラ・モスラ・キングギドラ 大怪獣総攻撃

​HEIGHT: 9.1875 INCHES / 23.33 CM

​WIDTH: 5.5 INCHES / 13.97 CM

​LENGTH: 12 INCHES / 30.48 CM

ARTICULATION: NONE

REVIEW AND PHOTOS: JOHN STANOWSKI

Gomora first appeared in the 2-part story “The Monster Prince” (episodes 26 and 27) of the original “Ultraman” series in 1966. He is a fan-favorite kaiju which has made numerous reappearances in later Ultra series. Gomora made his X-Plus debut in 2007 and was later resculpted for a newer “Reborn” version in 2010. This review is for the latter.

​I think it’s safe to say that the head on the figure a perfect likeness. Once again, the sculptors for X-Plus were careful enough to count every tooth and reproduce the mouth very accurately. The scrunchy, ‘Pigmon-ish’ texture on the chest is sculpted and reproduced beautifully. The creases in this area are so deep and sharp I wonder how they managed to pull these things out of the mold! There was a rectanglur ‘strip’ which ran down the back of the suit and it’s reproduced faithfully on the figure. Another amazing job that helps elevate X-Plus above other vinyl lines!

On a sour note for perfectionists: a few areas of Gomora’s body have been replaced with a fairly rough texture. The area below the knees, for example, and most notably on the sides of the tail. Where that area of the suit was fairly smooth (and even had a bit of a sheen to it), the figure has a bumpy texture. But despite the liberties they’ve taken with the extra texturing, the X-Plus Gomora is an awesome likeness.

​Gomora’s head is a separate piece of vinyl which was glued on in the factory. When viewed from the back, a seam is visible. There is no geometry in the sculpt to help hide it. This seam is not visible from the front or sides so you’ll probably never see it much. As for the tail: after you attach it you’ll find that the rings of folded skin help to hide this joint. And I have to say this: of all the X-Plus vinyls I’ve acquired thus far, the Gomora Reborn has the snuggest fit on the tail.

The pose for this ultra kaiju is accurate and fits his personality. Gomora’s large hands were often raised into the air with his elbows tucked back to his sides. The X-Plus rendition does the same.

The X-Plus Gomora is predominately a dark matte brown which I find a bit too dark. In the episode he was actually a lighter, almost reddish brown. There are areas of ultra-subtle highlights brushed in but they’re really only visible if you look for them. Gomora crawled out of a mountain, rolled around in the dirt and dug several tunnels. He was caked with dirt most of the time. This would have looked great on the vinyl. X-Plus’ original attempt at Gomora in 2007 (below) seems to have a paint job which, although a tad light, seems to mimic the original suit better.

The squiggly, red striping on Gomora’s horns look great! But no attempt was made at reproducing the dull shine that they had in the show. The eyes (corneas) are a vivid blue; too vivid to match the actual suit. At first sight, the teeth on this figure seem to be a toyish, stark white which, on the suit, they indeed were … but only in close-ups. The extra dark brown skin makes them seem even whiter. If you’re good with paint, this might be an area to tone down. Overall, the paint job — though simple — isn’t bad.

​Though just a hair shorter, Gomora (Reborn) lines up well with most other Reborn kaiju from the Large Monster Series. (Above: Gomora, Baltan, Bemular and Red King.)

But judging by the misalignment of shoulder heights here, Gomora is really not in scale with X-Plus Ultraman figures. But that doesn’t stop it from looking good on the same shelf. (Above: X-Plus Ultraman C-Type Specium Pose and Ultraman C-Type Standing Pose.)

The DVD in the photo above is a contextual real world item to convey this figure’s size for those who don’t have an Large Monster Series Reborn figures yet. And for the Gomora completist, an Ultra-Act version of the beast.

The length of the X-Plus Gomora Reborn vinyl is 12 inches, yet fits comfortably on a standard shelf because the tail curves to its right. If desired, you’ll probably be able to get this figure to face front on the shelf (unlike many other figures with long tails) though it may be a bit too close to the edge.

​It’s X-Plus! I used to Photoshop to composite an image of the vinyl figure over the original in this shot from the series.

By John Stanowski Originally posted May 2nd, 2013 on Kaiju Addicts.