​In this second installment of a new series, Kaiju Addicts talks with Mike Ross about his X-Plus collection.

WHY DO YOU LIKE TO COLLECT X-PLUS?
You know, there are so many brands out there. My first ever Godzilla toy was the 1985 12-inch imperial figure. I eventually moved up the ranks and got myself into Bandai. I didn’t think anything could ever top Bandai when it comes to detail. Then, X-Plus came along. And, the game changed.

I am absolutely in love with the brand. X-Plus puts out the most detailed Kaiju figures out there in the current market.

WHEN AND HOW DID YOU START COLLECTING X-PLUS VINYLS?
I want to say I started collecting X-Plus in 2012, I believe. My best friend Joe Astalfa (RIP) introduced me to the line when I went over to his house one day. I was like “Wow, these things are amazing!”.

So, I went on eBay one day and started looking up X-Plus figures until I saw one that caught my eye. It was the Large Monster Series Godzilla 1971 Godzilla Ric Boy. I bought the figure, received it in the mail, and fell in love with it.

Ever since then, I’ve been buying X-Plus. No regrets.

HOW MANY VINYLS ARE IN YOUR COLLECTION?
Too many! I’m at the 100+ mark in my X-Plus collection. There will be more added into it, because the world is not enough!

WHICH X-PLUS SERIES DO YOU COLLECT? (SIZE)
Honestly, I collect each and every series: the 25cm Series, the 30 cm Series, the Gigantics — you name it. If they produce a good figure, I’m gonna buy it, no matter the size.

DO YOU HAVE A FOCUS WHEN IT COMES TO SHOWA, HEISEI, MILLENNIUM, ETC?
No, not really. I enjoy all the monsters and each era, so anything that is released I will purchase.

WHAT ARE YOUR TOP THREE FAVORITE X-PLUS VINYLS AND WHY?

​When you have so many X-Plus figures, it’s really hard to choose which ones are your most favorites. But I have to say my top three would be:

First, The Gigantic Series Shin Godzilla. This is probably my ABSOLUTE favorite in my X-Plus collection. X-Plus totally NAILED this figure! I couldn’t be any happier.

Next, the 30cm Series Yuji Sakai Godzilla 1991 Hokkaido version. The 89/91 design is my ALL TIME favorite Godzilla. So when I received this, I was utterly pleased. The pose, the eyes, everything about this figure is perfect to me.

Finally, the Large Monster Series Godzilla 1971 RIC BOY Version. What can I say? You never forget your first X-Plus!

Non-Godzilla honorable mentions: Biollante, 30cm Titanosaurus, the 30cm Series Gargantuas, and Destoroyah.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO SOMEONE INTERESTED IN STARTING AN X-PLUS COLLECTION?
Two things: Have space and have a good job, because these figures will kill your wallet and take up all the space in your home.

For someone who is an addict, like myself, I know first-hand what it is like to be running out of space. It seems X-Plus comes out with a new figure every month, AND Diamond is releasing the reissued figures on top of that.

The hobby is expensive, so be prepared! 🙂

SELECTED SHOTS FROM MIKE’S COLLECTION

By John Stanowski Originally posted April 27th, 2018 on Kaiju Addicts.

WHY DO YOU LIKE TO COLLECT X-PLUS?
I think it really boils down to the fact that they are willing to make figures of certain kaiju that other companies are not willing to do, like the Gargantuas, the entire Destroy All Monsters roster and much, much more.

I also love the meticulous detail that goes into each and every figure they make. They’ve had their ups and downs over the years, but I think X-Plus has been a brand that I’ve consistently been happy with since I started collecting their figures.

WHEN AND HOW DID YOU START COLLECTING X-PLUS VINYLS?
I began collecting X-Plus in the Spring of 2012. It started out from curiosity. I had just gotten back into collecting not too long before then, and I was buying figures left and right. I knew of X-Plus from over the years, but I was unaware of their newer 30cm and 25cm figure lines. I saw the 25cm Gigan 1972 in stock at Hobby Search one day and decided to give it a shot. I think it’s safe to say that the rest is history.

HOW MANY VINYLS ARE IN YOUR COLLECTION?
Hmm… Let me think. In total, with preorders included, I have at least 43 X-Plus figures in my collection. It’s funny. When I first started buying into X-Plus, I intended to stick to a small few. Oops!

WHICH X-PLUS SERIES DO YOU COLLECT? (SIZE)
I’ll buy from any series. I have no specific preference. Gigantic Series, 30cm Series, Large Monster Series, DefoReal and Tokusatsu Museum figures. As long as they make a great looking figure, I’ll buy it regardless what series it is in.

DO YOU HAVE A FOCUS WHEN IT COMES TO SHOWA, HEISEI, MILLENNIUM, ETC?
I think Showa, a bit of Millennium and anything post-2014 are my main focuses when it comes to X-Plus. Since I have plenty of S.H. MonsterArts figures from the Heisei era, my desire for X-Plus figures from that series is not so high. However, there’s always exceptions, like Biollante.

WHAT ARE YOUR TOP THREE FAVORITE X-PLUS VINYLS AND WHY?
My top three favorites have to be the Gigantic Series Shin-Godzilla, the Gigantic Series Burning Godzilla and the Toho Large Monsters Series Biollante.

They are incredible figures and add a dominating presence to one’s collection. I love them! Plus, they were all “holy grail” items for me at one time. So, I don’t think I will have the heart to part with any of them.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO SOMEONE INTERESTED IN STARTING AN X-PLUS COLLECTION?
To any budding X-Plus collector: I advise them to be very mindful with their spending. It is way too easy to become addicted to this brand. Don’t be a completist, because that would be financial suicide! Plus, it’s so easy to run out of space very quickly.

Buy what you really like. With that being said, if you do in fact have the money and space for ALL X-Plus figures, then go nuts!

By John Stanowski Originally posted April 15th, 2018 on Kaiju Addicts.