X-Plus Unveils New, Upcoming Vinyls At Summer Wonder Festival, Including A Skull Island Kong, A Gigantic Godzilla 1964, GMK Baragon And More!

PHOTO: JAMIE DAVIES

​This past Sunday at Summer Wonder Festival in Chiba, Japan, X-Plus revealed several new vinyls for the first time. And all of them were nice surprises.

​30CM SERIES KONG

PHOTO: GEE OKAMOTO

Woah! One of the bigger highlights of the display was a 30cm Series Kong based on the monster from this year’s Kong: Skull Island.

A very early prototype stood in the center of the X-Plus booth celebrated with a huge banner behind it. Seems we’re not the only ones excited about this release.

Kong stands with one open hand and one fist draped to his sides while he looks off into the distance with an unhappy expression. One can’t help but wonder if the RIC exclusive version may be an alternate roaring head. It’s far too early to know right now. The details of the RIC version are still being considered.

There is no word on a release date nor a price. Keep visiting Kaiju Addicts for more details as they come in.

GIGANTIC SERIES GODZILLA 1964

PHOTO: JAMIE DAVIES

Standing tallest on the table beside Kong was a new prototype for a Gigantic Series Godzilla 1964. We had no warning of this so it’s truly a nice surprise. This is why we love Wonder Festival.

One thing to note on this figure is the way the tail wraps around the side just as on the Gigantic Series Godzilla 1962. No doubt this helps reel in the size of the shipping box. But it also helps us when it comes time to display the big badass.

Note: the tail on this figure is raised a good inch or two above the shelf and will come with a tail base.

No word or price or release date yet.

​LARGE MONSTER SERIES GMK BARAGON AND GMK MOTHRA SET

PHOTO: JAMIE DAVIES

​Many of us have been clamoring for a GMK Baragon for quite a while now. All I can say is, it’s about time!

Baragon looks FANTASTIC! It’s hard to tell, though, if he’s in scale with the Large Monster Series Godzilla 2001. (He looks large in some photos, small in others.)

PHOTO: JAMIE DAVIES

Mothra looks pretty small. But, she was small in the movie so this is actually an excellent size for the figure. It’s frozen in flight, supported by a base and metal pole just like its predecessors, the Large Monster Series Mothra Imago 1961 and 1964. (Just a lot smaller).

This set is a part of the Large Monster Series “Favorite Sculptors Line”. I have no clue what that means. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that these vinyls will be based on previously released kits. Whatever. They’re just new 25’s to me and that’s all I need.

PHOTO SOURCE UNKNOWN

With the release of this set, X-Plus completes yet another movie monster line-up.

It’s a shame that it’s been seven years since the Large Monster Series Godzilla 2001 had been released. Many newer collectors have yet to add him to their collections.

A fantastic substitute, and I would argue a better choice, would be the Large Monster Series Yuji Sakai Modeling Collection Godzilla 2001. Not only is it an inch taller which makes it scale better with the GMK King Ghidorah, it’s readily available to buy right now.

But keep this in mind: lately it’s been X-Plus’ modus operandi to reissue older figures to pair up with newer releases from the same movie. And since it’s been a long 7 years since Godzilla was released, it’s not unreasonable to assume a reissue may be on the way.

This set is expected to be released in November so pre-orders will open in a month or so.

LARGE MONSTER SERIES SPACE GODZILLA AND BABY GODZILLA

PHOTO SOURCE UNKNOWN

Also on display was a new, unpainted set of prototypes for a Large Monster Series Space Godzilla and Baby Godzilla.

I’m not sure what’s going on here, but that SG sure does look stylized. Hard to tell without the paint apps, but, yeah, it looks a bit fancy to be movie accurate. And that’s weird. So far, X-Plus has done stylized sculpts only with the Gigantic Series.

BABY GODZILLA
On the other hand, Baby Godzilla looks reasonably movie accurate. I’m going to assume this smaller figure will be the RIC Exclusive extra.

No word on price, but these figures are set to come out this October.

​GIGANTIC SERIES ULTRASEVEN

PHOTO: X-PLUS

X-Plus revealed a Gigantic Series Ultraseven. This big guy is the second in the series and follows the original 1966-1967 Gigantic Series Ultraman which is about 19.5 inches tall. Ultraseven here will probably be a tad taller because of that Eye Slugger on his head.

No word on price or release date.

​NEW LARGE MONSTER SERIES ULTRAS

PHOTO: JAMIE DAVIES

​Look, I am a HUGE Ultraman fan. Though, I tend to stick with the original series. I really don’t know what we’re looking at here. I don’t even recognize most of these guys I’m just going to hand the mic over to X-Plus Ultra collector and super expert, Vince Elliot.

​Wonderfest revealed FOUR new sculpts coming to the Large Monster Series Ultraman line. The X-Plus table introduced two brand new sculpts for the Return of Ultraman, or Ultraman Jack series. The first sculpt we see is the Meteorite amphibian kaiju, Zagoras (not yet painted) in 25cm scale.

The next inclusion in the Return of Ultraman series is the 25cm Leogon. The very monster that inspired Biollante. In fact, the episode was written by Shinichiro Kobayashi, the same person who wrote the storyline for Godzilla vs. Biollante. The crawling figure is seen painted, and looks to be slated for an October release.

The Ultraman Ace line continues to produce amazing figures. The next in the series is the daunting King Crab (not yet painted) in 25cm scale. With a unique tail design, this figure will surely be a shelf hog, he also looks to have great size. The final Ultra X-Plus teased was the 25cm Alien Katan (not yet painted) for the growing Ultraman Taro line-up. Katan was a formidable foe and will look amazing along with your Ultraman Taro line-up.

X-Plus is going full speed with the Ultra series, with seemingly two releases pumping out each month. And, if Wonderfest tells us anything, they’re definitely not slowing down anytime soon.

– VINCE ELLIOT

​TOHO 30CM SERIES GODZILLA 2016 THIRD FORM

PHOTO: X-PLUS

For the first time, we got a look at what the upcoming Toho 30cm Series Godzilla 2016 Third Form vinyl looks like with it’s prototype paint apps.

We also have a date and a price. This figure will go for ¥19,980 (about $181 USD) and is expected to release in November. (Same month as the GMK set! Save that money!)

​TOHO LARGE MONSTER SERIES GODZILLA 2016 SECOND FORM

PHOTO: X-PLUS

We’ve seen completed pics of the X-Plus Kamatakun already. We’ve got a date for release now. This figure is coming in October.

GIGANTIC SERIES GODZILLA 2016 FOURTH FORM

PHOTO: JAMIE DAVIES

Also on display were the Gigantic Series (Shin) Godzilla 2016 Standard and RIC versions.

What’s puzzled some collectors are their solid red (standard) and red and clear (RIC) looks. I’ve noticed that some collectors are under the impression that these are new versions in fun & fruity colors. Nope.

The figures will be molded in red vinyl and painted over with black. A small percentage of the red vinyl will be left unpainted in order to create that red glowing-in-the-cracks look from the movie. As for the RIC, some of the parts will be molded in translucent vinyl and that’s the white bits you’re seeing.

So why are they showing these figures off in the nude? My guess is that’s all they have to show right now. The painted prototypes are more than likely at the factory. X-Plus leader, Gee Okamoto, was in China just about a couple of weeks ago and I’m assuming he took the painted prototypes there to leave as a sample for the production painters.

So, sorry, no red or red and glowie Gigantic Shins for you.

​30CM SERIES GODZILLA 1989 RE-ISSUE WITH MINI ROSE FORM BIOLLANTE

PHOTO: JAMIE DAVIES

The Toho 30cm Series Godzilla 1989 Ric Boy Exclusive version will be reissued. Like its original Japanese release in 2012, this figure will come with a mini Rose Form Biollante figure (which is 4.25 inches tall).

You may think this to be an odd choice for a reissue since X-Plus put out a North American reissue just a couple of years ago. But, remember, it’s been five long years since Japanese collectors have had a chance to grab this one.

Pre-orders for this figure have not opened yet, but when they do, it will run you ¥22,000 (about $199 USD!). This figure expected to ship this November.

• Click here to see my Review of the Original 30cm Series Godzilla 1989 Release.

​LARGE MONSTER SERIES DESTOROYAH RIC

Got your eye on that reissue of that Large Monster Series Destoroyah? It’s an upcoming reissue with new, nighttime paint scheme and lights in the eyes and horn.

DEFOREAL

PHOTO: JAMIE DAVIES

Also on display were the already released Deforeal versions of the Shin Godzilla second and fourth forms as well as new entries, the Fourth Form roaring version and Third Form and, surprise, a 1954 Train Biter.

​By John Stanowski Originally posted July 31st, 2017 on Kaiju Addicts.