​Episode 2 of Kaiju Addicts TV is now available. I take a look at all of the Diamond and Bluefin Reissues that have just released and will be released now thru January 2017.

They are the Gigantic Series Godzilla 1995 SDCC Exclusive (Available Now), 12in Series Godzilla 1992 (Available Now), King Ghidorah (Available next week!), 12in Series Godzilla 1984 (Coming in December), Biollante (Coming in December) and the Gigantic Series GMK Fin Emission Version (Coming in January 2017).

Leslie Chambers introduces this episode and we also get our first Guest Review from Jeremy Soles on his Gigantic Series Godzilla 1962 Ric Boy.

There’s also a contest for a Godzilla 1984 photo signed by suit actor Kenpachiro Satsuma.

​By John Stanowski Originally posted November 27th, 2016​ on Kaiju Addicts.

Rich Eso reviews the Large Monster Series Legion 大怪獣シリーズ 大映特撮編 「レギオン」 vinyl figure by X-Plus. It’s from what is arguably one of the very best kaiju movies ever made: Gamera 2: Attack of Legion, ガメラ2 レギオン襲来 (1996).

See more content from Rich at his YouTube channel Fresh Vinyl Reviews.

​By John Stanowski Originally posted November 23rd, 2016​ on Kaiju Addicts.

​東宝30CMシリーズ 「ゴジラ（1992版）

​JAPAN ORIGINAL RELEASE: 2011

​NORTH AMERICAN REISSUE (DIAMOND): NOVEMBER 2016

​SERIES: TOHO 30CM SERIES

​MATERIAL: VINYL

​FROM: “GODZILLA VS. MOTHRA” (1992)
ゴジラVSモスラ

​HEIGHT (HEAD): 12.125 INCHES / 30.79 CM

​WIDTH: (TOE TO TOE) 9.25 INCHES / 23.49 CM

​APPROX. LENGTH: 16 INCHES / 40.6 CM

FIGURE WEIGHT: 1 LBS, 6 OZ / 623 G

ARTICULATION: NONE

​REVIEW AND PHOTOS: © JOHN STANOWSKI

​GODZILLA: TM & © TOHO CO.,LTD.

The Toho 30cm Series Godzilla 1992 is based on the Heisei film, Godzilla vs. Mothra. X-Plus first released this figure in 2011, very early on in the modern run of accurate vinyls which had a slow start around 2009. This was X-Plus’ very first Heisei Godzilla figure in the 30cm Series.

I had to dish out $500 for this figure in the aftermarket back in 2013. But new collectors will get a way better deal than I did.

Five years after this figure’s debut, it’s set to be re-issued for the first time, but only for the North American market. Sorry, Japan! Diamond Distributors will release it in late November 2016. It has a suggested retail price of only $160. But you will find retailers selling it for less. (You lucky bastards.)

This figure is known for not having the most accurate sculpt, but it does have other stellar qualities instead.

Like all 30cm Series figures, this figure arrives in a no frills, garage kit style, brown box. A separate, color cover is glued onto the lid.

BIG BOX
This box is very noticeably larger than the usual 30cm Series box. In fact, it’s so big, you could open it and put a standard 30cm Series box inside it and have room to spare. Keep in mind that shipping is going to be just a little bit higher for this one.

DIAMOND REISSUE
The Diamond Reissue box will look the same with the one exception of the PX Exclusive logo added to the cover art.

ADDING THE TAIL
When you first remove the figure from the box, you’ll find that the tail is separate and must be attached by you. Use a hairdryer on the hole on the body to make the vinyl soft. You’ll want to give this one an extra blast of heat because the tail hole is up high and the figure’s legs may get in your way. It’s been three years since I had to assemble mine and I really don’t remember how easy or difficult it was.

And there it is. The Toho 30cm Series Godzilla 1992 may have a couple of accuracy issues, but holy shit, does that thing look good. I’ve always considered it a good all around, general representative of the Heisei series. I just like damn near everything about it.

This sculpt exudes a strong sense of “power” while at the same time seeming relaxed and unimpressed by any rockets, missiles or maser beams headed its way.

The two main features which seem off to me are the face and the neck.

All of the details seem to be in the right places as far as I can tell. Yet, still, the face seems not quite accurate from certain views. The front and front 3/4 angles seem… okay but that snout appears a little fat from the side view. I don’t know. I’m not an expert that knows every nook and cranny of every suit so I really shouldn’t be talking about this. Look the photos and judge for yourself.

Now, putting aside an overreaching need for picture perfect accuracy, this portrait just screams Heisei Godzilla and is a good all around representative of that series. And it looks pretty badass.

The horizontal “ribbing” on the neck flanked by two vertical tendons (?) are right for this suit but the detail is a little overly pronounced. Again, not an issue to most casual collectors.

TEETH
The signature double rows of teeth are really done really, really well here. Each tooth is individually sculpted as they should be for such a pricey figure. And the tongue isn’t simply a raised part of the lower jaw but it also individually sculpted and glued in. Even though it lays flat over the floor of the mouth, it’s still clearly a separate piece with incredible detailing. Also, you may not notice right away, but the roof of the mouth has waves of articulate ridges. Incredible work. This is why I collect X-Plus.

I hate to be repetitive, but for the benefit of those seeing X-Plus for the first time: the skin texturing in the sculpt is nothing short of incredible.

It’s like they gave separate attention to every single “tree bark” groove, bump, crease and fold.

As usual, X-Plus focuses a ton of attention to each and every individually sculpted dorsal fin. Their shapes, arrangement and even the occasional stray reaching too far to one side like wayward teeth are faithfully reproduced in this sculpt.

​The attention to fin detail runs down the back, over the tail joint and runs all the way down the tail.

This figure looks GREAT from almost any angle. The side and quarter angle views are particularly cool as f**k! I’m not crazy about the front on view but I usually never am, with any of the figures. But that’s just me.

​[ A joint is where two pieces connect and have not been glued and can still move. Tails are joints even though they are not intended to articulate. A seam is a meeting of two different pieces which have been glued and painted over yet can still be seen. ]
This figure is made up of at least 8 different parts. Yet, it reveals virtually no seams at all.

The arms attach to the figure right above the biceps. A noticeable “crease” can be seen here, luckily, the actual suit also had these creases.

Both lower legs attach to the figure below each knee, but you wouldn’t know it by how it looks. I had to look very hard to even find a seam.

The back piece which has the dorsal fins is expertly fitted and attached. No sign of a connection at the back of the lower jaw either.

It’s only at the tail joint where any line can be easily seen. And even there, the seam is hidden in the sculpted ridges of the tail. It also helps that the connection is up high on the figure and has both legs helping to shield it from view.

Five Stars for hiding virtually any evidence of its assembly!

​I am using the original 2011 release of this figure so, future proud Diamond Reissue owners, take note: it’s been 5 years. Your newer figure may have slight paint differences.

As for this original:

The figure has the usual, reserved, dusty, realistic, off black. No toyish, shiny blacks here. There are very, very subtle highlights over the feet, chest and neck. And while not a paint application, the figure’s rough skin is a virtual playground for lights and shadows which help to complicate it’s appearance, in a good way.

​The dorsal fins are painted with what I consider to be too stark of a white. Often, with dorsal fins, claws and teeth, X-Plus will use colors which are too bright to be overly realistic. And in the case of this Godzilla 1992 figure, they’re even brighter.

Despite this, the application is excellent. The tips of the fins are all white, with the off black skin color filling the flank of each fin, and feathering up to the base of each fin spike. Multiple rows of minor fins (more bumps) traverse the tail and are, again, expertly painted.

The whites may be too white, but they are well done. This is still a high end vinyl collectible for sure.

CLAWS
The figure’s 16 claws are painted in a dark, off tan which is only slightly glossy. Be careful with these, the paint on X-Plus toes is easy to scrape. It’s an expensive figure and should be treated as such.

MOUTH
The mouth has a base of a very unsaturated, off pink and completely avoids looking gaudy like lesser vinyl lines. Each individually sculpted to tooth is individually painted in an off white. The result is fucking incredible, especially with this guys double row of teeth. This kind of attention has always been one of X-Plus’ biggest selling points.

EYES
Each eye has a large, black pupil surrounded by a yellow iris. To say that they’re piercing is almost an understatement.

The X-Plus 30cm Series Godzilla 1992 is a little over 12 inches tall and about 16 inches long. It takes up pretty much the same room as most 30cm Series Godzilla figures. The end of the tail curves hard to the figure’s right making it easier to fit the figure on the shelf.

THE ’92’S
Here is the Toho 30cm Series Godzilla 1992 beside the Toho 30cm Series Battra Larva, also from 1992’s Godzilla vs. Mothra.

But, wait. Godzilla fan and X-Plus collector, Jessica Etchells, had told me that all of the water scenes during the Heisei series used the suits from the directly previous film. That means the battle at sea with Battra was done with the Godzilla 1991 suit!

​And here is the 30cm Godzilla 1992 with the only other Heisei villain in the whole of the 30cm Series, the Toho 30cm Series Space Godzilla (1994).

​Here is a size comparison with the ’92’s closest X-Plus relative, the Toho 30cm Series Godzilla 1989. (I’m not including the Sakai series as blood relatives since they’re so much smaller, but a comparison with the Sakai ’91 is coming up).

For the longest time, if you wanted X-Plus 30cm Series Heisei Godzilla figures in your collection, these two were all you could get. That’s since changed with the arrival of Godzilla 1984. Aren’t we about due for another?

​THE GODZILLAS
A size comparison with other Toho 30cm Series Godzillas: Godzilla 2014, 1984 (1985), 1999 (2000) and 2004.

Every one of the figures in the photo above will be re-issued in North America (Diamond Reissues). One will come out each month starting now thru Summer 2017.

​RECENT RELEASES
Here is the 30cm Series Godzilla 1992 surrounded by X-Plus Kaiju recently released in Japan and in North America. (Left to right): Titanosaurus, Rodan 1964, Mechagodzilla (Kiryu) 2003, Mechagodzilla 1975 and Gigan 2004.

​The final size comparison which needs to be made is with the upcoming Toho 30cm Series Yuji Sakai Modeling Collection Godzilla 1992. They represent the same suit after all.

Unfortunately we can’t make that comparison because the figure hasn’t even been made yet. So, here to stand in for the new ’92 is the Toho 30cm Series Yuji Sakai Modeling Collection Godzilla 1991. You can bet the new ’92’s height will be comparable to this one. As a bonus, the pose on the new ’92 is almost the same as this ’91.

I still don’t understand why X-Plus is including these new Yuji Sakai vinyls in the 30cm Series when they’re so short. But what they lack in height they more than make up for in accuracy. (I just keep them displayed separately.)

The Toho 30cm Series Godzilla 1992 is one of the few Heisei entries in the series. While a few details push it the bottom of that short list when it comes to being completely movie accurate, its size and sense of power has no match. There will be a lot of comparisons when the Yuji Sakai version comes out. Despite what will be said, this figure will always have to look down to see the Sakai.

It has an amazing sculpt, pose and paint apps (despite the fins being a bit too stark). And when you get the larger than usual X-Plus box in the mail, you’ll have to fight the urge to bow to this king.

By John Stanowski Originally posted November 12th, 2016​ on Kaiju Addicts.

​My first real episode of Kaiju Addicts TV is now available. It’s a news video covering the new X-Plus announcements made this month.

Special thanks to Rich Eso for doing the intro to this episode!

By John Stanowski Originally posted November 8th, 2016​ on Kaiju Addicts.