Rich Eso reviews the Toho 30cm Series Ebirah RIC Exclusive Version vinyl figure by X-Plus.
By John Stanowski Originally posted April 21st, 2019 on Kaiju Addicts.
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FIGURE SPECS大怪獣シリーズ パシフィック・リム レザーバック JAPAN ORIGINAL RELEASE: JULY 2016 SERIES: LARGE MONSTER SERIES MATERIAL: VINYL FROM: “PACIFIC RIM” (2013) HEIGHT (HEAD): 8.75 INCHES / 22.22 CM HEIGHT (SHOULDERS): 9.75 INCHES / 24.76 CM WIDTH: (ELBOW TO ELBOW) 12 INCHES / 30.48 CM LENGTH: (HEAD TO HEELS) 12 INCHES / 30.48 CM FIGURE WEIGHT: 2 LBS, 1 OZ / 935 G REVIEW AND PHOTOS: © JOHN STANOWSKI The Large Monster Series Leatherback vinyl figure by X-Plus was released in July 2016 nearly three years after Pacific Rim first hit theater screens. It was followed by only one other of Pacific Rim’s kaijus: Knifehead. Perhaps if X-Plus had got to work on vinyls from this franchise sooner, there would be more of them. But, as it is, we have two gems. And both of them are totally worth getting. Leatherback had some excellent screen time having engaged with jaegers Cherno Alpha, Striker Eureka and ending with an epic fight with Gipsy Danger. This gorilla-ish kaiju was f**king awesome. And, so is the vinyl by X-Plus! (Mostly) Now, let’s look at the X-Plus. THE BOXLeatherback comes in a plain, brown cube with monochromatic art printed directly on the box. This box is about 14.5 inches on all sides and has slightly more volume than a typical, larger, 30cm Series figure. If you see a round, yellow stick over this art, you’re looking at a RIC exclusive version. (I have and am reviewing the Standard.) Inside, the figure is wrapped in plastic and wire-tied in an open plastic shell comprised of only a “floor” and one “wall”. And that’s all it needs. There really isn’t anything likely to break or pop off with rough handling during shipping. (Note: I removed Leatherback from his packaging two years ago so the photo above is a recreation of an unboxing. Your Leatherback will come to you wrapped in plastic and tied in.) SCULPTX-Plus did an amazing job of recreating the fully CGI Leatherback into a real world vinyl. The likeness is spot on. All of the musculature and flab are accurately sculpted and the array of textures is expertly rendered. That, in combination with a kickass pose, makes the X-Plus Large Monster Series Leatherback one hell of a figure. POSELeatherback is posed on all fours as he was after making landfall in Hong Kong in his battle with Gipsy Danger. This guy literally looks like he’s getting ready to pounce on you! JOINTS & SEAMSIf you look hard enough, you might be able to detect where Leatherback’s various parts come together. But without such scrutiny, this vinyl is practically seamless. PAINT JOBThe first two things you will notice about the paint apps is that it is both plain and ornate at the same time. The vinyl has a base coat of a rather light bluish black quite unlike what we’re used to with our Godzilla vinyls. This may surprise you when you first see since this Kaiju seemed to be colored a standard black in the movie. But if you look closely at the scenes following Leatherbacks landing, the port lights show this guy actually is a lighter color. Despite this, I think the figure would look better if it were a tad darker. The X-Plus Leatherback’s swirly line pattern is hand-painted in a vibrant blueish-green and, at first, seems toyish. But these lines were luminescent in the movie and this is really the only way X-Plus could have recreated that effect. It’s just that these painted lines look like just that: painted lines. You quickly get used to it though and it really is excellent work. The tendrils behind Leatherback’s crown are so expertly painted that they almost look as if they were really glowing as they did in the movie. In fact, for the longest time, I thought this piece was actually molded in translucent vinyl, but the effect is actually accomplished with just paint. A similar bright blue is used on the inside of the mouth and the eyes. Now, about those eyes… WOW! All six of them are so tiny, yet so expertly colored without going outside the lines. And not only that, but catlike pupils and other details were somehow magically added. (This is why X-Plus rocks.) There are minor blueish highlight on the details on the figure’s black. But, other than that, there is nothing on the rest of the body to give it depth. This is particularly disappointing where skin meets claw on both the hands and feet. Everything is simply the same color. Overall, this figure has excellent paint apps. Yes, it could have been better. But they’ve already done so much to it. This Large Monster Series vinyl actually has the size and mass of a 30cm Series figure. Why X-Plus chose to file this one under Large Monster Series is curious. I say throw the name out the window and display him with your 30cm Series figures. Because that’s what it really is. SIZEThe X-Plus Leatherback takes up a space which is roughly a cubic foot and raises above the shelf about 9.5 inches. This Large Monster Series vinyl actually has the size and mass of a 30cm Series figure. Why X-Plus chose to file this one under Large Monster Series is curious. If you collect only 25’s, know that this figure will absolutely look grossly out of place in your collection. Regardless of the series this one belongs to, I consider it a member of the 30cm Series. I say throw the name out the window and display him with your 30cm Series figures. Because that’s what it really is. FOOTPRINT / ON THE SHELFThis figure has an actual footprint of 12 inches from front to back and 8.25 inches wide. But if you take into account the space he takes up that isn’t actually touching the shelf, then he’s a full 12 inches wide. This figure takes up slightly more space than a 30cm Series figure. But the absence of a long tail makes it easier to fit on the shelf. RIC EXCLUSIVE VERSIONThe Ric Exclusive version, which I do not have, sports a more ferocious head sculpt with a wider mouth and erect tendrils on the back of the head. I could be wrong about this (it’s been quite a while since it was released) but I think you may get both versions of the head. I seem to remember the head being held on with a magnet making switching them out quick and easy. Also, I believe there were alternate pieces for the back which mimic Leatherback’s EMP ability in action. Sorry that I could not be more specific on the Ric details. It’s been exactly two years since it was released and my memory is fuzzy on it. (Kaiju Battle note: the Ric also includes special paint that would glow under a black light.) SIZE COMPARISONSHere is a size comparison with the Large Monster Series Pacific Rim Knifehead. If you take into account that Leatherback is leaning forward then, yes, they display well next to each other. As for technically being in scale, I don’t really know. Leatherback, a Category IV kaiju is supposedly 267 feet tall while Knifehead, a category III kaiju, is 315. If you go by that, the scaling of these two look about right. (Although I’m not clear on how a Category IV can be shorter than a Category III.) At the very least, they do look good — no, FANTASTIC next to each other on the shelf. Legendary’s Godzilla (2014) is supposedly 350 feet. Leatherback is said to be 267 feet tall. I don’t know if that’s the height while standing or hunched, but one thing is for sure: It looks like it fits right in beside the 30cm Series Godzilla 2014 Roaring Version. For those of you who just can’t get by the obvious difference in height, here is a shot of Leatherback balanced on his legs beside the 30cm Series Godzilla 2014 (Original Version) which is about a quarter of an inch shorter than the Roaring Version in the previous photo. As you can see, they’re not that far off. And that subtle difference in height is there despite Leatherback being a part of the smaller Large Monster Series. The X-Plus Legendary monsters. Left to right: Leatherback, Godzilla 2014 Blue Fin Emission Version, Knifehead, (Star Ace) Kong Skull Island and Godzilla 2014 (original release). A size comparison with other figures from the Large Monster Series. Something is definitely amiss here. Again, Leatherback is too large for this line. Here is a real world comparison with a blu-ray disc. SUMMARYThe Large Monster Series Pacific Rim Leatherback vinyl figure by X-Plus has a great, movie-accurate sculpt and menacing pose. While its paint apps are intricate, the overall base coat may be a bit too light. It’s a great collectible for fans of the film Pacific Rim and fans of all modern kaiju in general. MORE INFORMATIONX-TRASBy John Stanowski Originally posted March 31st, 2019 on Kaiju Addicts.
Gojira851 reviews the Toho 30cm Series Godzilla (1967) standard version vinyl figure by X-Plus.
By John Stanowski Originally posted February 25th, 2019 on Kaiju Addicts.
With so many X-Plus releases coming out, it’s often hard to decide when to buy and when to pass. Collector Bryce Erwin takes you on a tour of his own collection and discusses how he carefully curates instead of collects. His approach makes a world of sense considering the price tags on most of these pieces. This video is also a fantastic introduction to collecting X-Plus in general. If you’re new to the line, you’re in for a treat. By John Stanowski Originally posted December 30th, 2018 on Kaiju Addicts.
Rich Eso reviews the Toho Large Monster Series Godzilla 1965 RIC Exclusive Version vinyl figure by X-Plus. See more content from Rich at his Fresh Vinyl Reviews YouTube Channel. By John Stanowski Originally posted November 30th, 2018 on Kaiju Addicts.
FIGURE SPECS「キングコング:髑髏島の巨神」 コング ソフビ スタチュー スタンダード版 JAPAN ORIGINAL RELEASE: OCTOBER 2018 NORTH AMERICA ORIGINAL RELEASE: NOVEMBER 2018 BRAND: RELEASED BY STAR ACE, BUT PRODUCED BY X-PLUS SERIES: NO SERIES AFFILIATION BUT IS COMPARABLE TO TOHO 30CM SERIES MATERIAL: VINYL FROM: “KONG: SKULL ISLAND” (2017) HEIGHT (OFF BASE): ABOUT 12 INCHES / 30.4 CM WIDTH (HAND TO HAND): ABOUT 7.75 INCHES / 19.6 CM FIGURE WEIGHT: 15 OZ / 425 G REVIEW AND PHOTOS, UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED: © JOHN STANOWSKI KONG: SKULL ISLAND AND ALL RELATED CHARACTERS AND ELEMENTS © WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT, INC. This is the long-awaited Kong Skull Island Vinyl Figure by Star Ace, a subsidiary of X-Plus. The sculpt was produced by X-Plus. It stands at 12 inches tall, weighs in at just under a pound and is a mostly movie-accurate representation of the giant ape from Kong: Skull Island (2017). It was released in Japan in October 2018 and it will reach stores in the United States in mid November 2018. It is X-Plus’ fifth vinyl based on a Legendary Pictures movie monster and the third vinyl based on a titan from the Monsterverse. (See the Size Comparison section for photos of the others.) There are two versions of this release. The EX (or “regular/standard”) features Kong with an open left hand and no accessories. The DX (or deluxe version) features the same sculpt with the exception of the left hand being closed to wrap around a helicopter as well as an island base for it to stand on. This review features the Standard Version. THE BOXThe Star Ace Kong comes in a blind, brown box. Unlike X-Plus boxes, this one opens with a flip lid on the top and has its color cover art printed directly on the front. With a keen eye, though, you will notice elements common to X-Plus box covers such as the thin, grunge border and the offset halo effect on the image of the figure. Note that the walls of this box are extremely thin. It could be easily crumbled. Please store it safely, assuming you get one dent and wrinkle free. Despite the thin box, your figure is very securely protected on the inside. It’s packaged more like a 1/6 scale figure than an X-Plus vinyl. Kong is seated in a plastic shell which comes with a plastic lid which also wraps around all four sides thus increasing its strength. Also, unlike an X-Plus, Kong is not wire-tied to the plastic since the lid keeps him securely in place. Kong’s pose, though simple, breaks the glass on the Badass Scale. SCULPTThe Star Ace Kong Skull Island Vinyl Figure sports an awesome, mostly movie-accurate sculpt of the giant ape from the movie. Three things that stand out the most to me are its apparently expertly captured proportions and gait, expressive, familiar face and intricately detailed fur which looks far better in person than I was expecting. HEAD SCULPTI’ve compared the head sculpt to several photos from the film and, yes, I did find minor details with my admittedly untrained eye which could have been tweaked. I also find the face a little more “grown-up” than the one I saw in some scenes of the movie. But in the sculptor’s defense, Kong’s face seemed to fluctuate between adolescent and adult in the movie. This sculpt seems based on the latter. It seems super expressive from almost every angle projecting anger, confidence, curiosity, thoughtfulness and power. FEET What can I say? They’re feet. I have no comment, but thought you might like to see them. POSEKong stands in a seemingly idle museum pose taken straight from the movie. And yet, the level of expression in this sculpt seems so dynamic at the same time. Kong’s pose, though simple, breaks the glass on the Badass Scale. Kong’s gait from the movie is EXPERTLY captured in this pose. This is a work of vinyl art. BALANCE Despite giving a little wobble when first placed down, this vinyl quickly stabilizes and stands firm. It does not appear to be easily unbalanced with heavy-footed traffic passing by the collection or even a sudden jolt to the shelves. Kong stands steady and proud. JOINTS & SEAMSThe only lines of note on this figure are the joints at the ankles which definitely leave a gap in the sculpt. But because they are so low, they’re not overly obvious. And they are completely invisible when looking at the figure from a higher angle. There are traces of seams above both biceps and around the base of the trapezius muscles and base of the neck. These are covered over with paint in such a way as to make them hardly noticeable. PAINT JOBFor something as uncomplicated as a giant, furry ape, Star Ace / X-Plus did a fantastic job bringing life to Kong’s fur. While it’s hard to see in this photo, Kong’s coat has just the right amount of darks and highlights over it main medium brown paint scheme. Even harder to see, even with your own eyes, are scattered accents that almost appear greenish brown. I’m not sure if these are meant as hairy highlights or if they are meant to represent the jungle debris that matted in his fur (as was purposely added by the CGI crew at Lucasfilm). Either way, they add a subtle top layer of detail in Kong’s paint apps. BRIGHT FACE Kong’s face, hands, feet and chest are treated with an off black with a very definite blueish tinge. I’ve seen this tinge on actual apes before, but didn’t really notice it in the movie. Either way, this shade seems far too bright to be movie-accurate. Despite this, I am mostly reluctant to complain about most of these areas since it seems these areas wouldn’t stand out as much had they been darker. The face is made even lighter with generous amounts of highlights made with an even lighter shade. I’m of the opinion that his face is far too light because of this and was immediately very disappointed with it when I first opened the box. I’ve since gotten used to it. The amazing sculpt, pose and perceived attitude just washed the negativity away. Mostly… BRIGHT BUTT There is one area that has me totally perplexed. And, that would be Kong’s butt. The same shades used on his face, chest, hands and feet were actually applied, over the fur, on Kong’s ass. ????? Hate to say it, but this is a glaring error. Kong’s butt is brown just like his arms and legs. But Star Ace has him looking like he just sat on a kaiju-sized bench with wet paint. What they hell were they thinking? Thankfully this error faces the wall on the shelf. PIERCING EYES Let’s get back to some sorely needed good news. Kong’s fiery, orange eyes look fantastic! They’ve no doubt used decals here since each one is a mere 3/16 of an inch wide. They are coated with a shiny gloss to bring even more life to them. CHEST Kong’s chest is painted with the same light, off black as his other bare skin areas and it feathers into the brown fur very, very well. Excellent work. His trademark skullcrawler scars seem to be in the right proportion but, I feel, are given too much focus with the starkly light lines of paint. The scars are noticeably brighter than was seen on the prototype we were teased with for over a year (below). In the above photo you can see Kong: Skull Island director, Jordan Vogt-Roberts, at X-Plus headquarters in Osaka holding the prototype. Note the much more reserved coloring on the scars. I can’t help but wonder if he is the reason for the brighter colors on the end product. Last year, Vogt-Roberts replied to a tweet made by Kyle Yount (Kaijucast) which showed the figure. His response: “This is awesome. But please make his chest scars more pronounced via discoloration…” It looks like X-Plus kowtowed to Jordan’s advice. But, despite being a little toyish, I’ve grown to like it. I knew Kong had scars but never really appreciated how cool they were until I got this vinyl. FOOTPRINT / ON THE SHELFAt 12 inches tall, the Star Ace Kong takes up only 7.75 inches at his widest and hardly any room at all in depth. This vinyl may be off the charts with its badassery but it’s extremely modest when it comes to taking up space on the shelf. His footprint will barely leave a mark even in the most crowded collections. SIZE COMPARISONSNow, let’s take a look at the Star Ace Kong with a myriad of X-Plus vinyls and other figures you may have in your collection. At the time of this writing, the most likely companion for your new Star Ace Kong Skull Island Vinyl Statue is the 30cm Series Godzilla 2014 (review) by X-Plus. They look FANTASTIC paired together on the shelf. The standard version of Godzilla seems to closely match the demeanor of Kong making for a good visual match in your display. The X-Plus Godzilla 2014 stands at 12.75 inches (32.3 cm) against Kong’s 12 inches (30.5 cm). It seems only fitting that Kong should be shorter seeing as how this version of the giant ape is actually much, much smaller than this Godzilla. But note that even at this slight disadvantage, Kong’s arms already dwarfs Godzilla’s. The fierce 30cm Series Godzilla 2014 Roar Version (review) is slightly taller at 13 inches (33 cm). Kong still pairs with it nicely. Although, Kong seems pretty unimpressed by Godzilla’s roaring head. Kong is slightly taller than your NECA Godzilla 2014 24-Inch Head-to-Tail figure. Even so, it’s still comparable in size and presence and they will look good together on the shelf. The Star Ace Kong stands here with X-Plus’ two entries from Legendary’s Pacific Rim (2013). The Large Monster Series Leatherback and the Large Monster Series Knifehead. You are probably accustomed to Large Monster Series vinyls being only 25cm tall, as am I. But these two behemoths really do have the size and mass of 30cm Series figures. And so, they look GREAT next to Kong. And here is Kong with two figures from the Toho 30cm Series: Godzilla 1964 (review) and Godzilla 1968. Kong is actually standard 30cm Series height and so will fit in nicely with any figures you may have from that series. DELUXE VERSIONThe DX version of the Star Ace Kong Skull Island Vinyl Statue comes with two awesome extras and one modification of the sculpt. A round base with Skull Island motif will raise your Kong vinyl to new heights. This vinyl deserves to be put up on a pedestal. And, now you’ve got one! Also included is a separate, mangled helicopter which can be inserted into Kong’s re-sculpted left hand. X-Plus had earlier indicated that this chopper would be permanently affixed to Kong’s hand, but we know know that isn’t the case. Kong’s hand looks just fine on its own if you elect to not use the extra piece. The Deluxe Version is a virtual snapshot right out of the movie! You can see a lot of promotional photos of both versions, including close-ups of the base and helicopter. SUMMARYDespite a couple of annoying painting issues, the Star Ace Kong Skull Island Vinyl Figure is one helluva collectible! With minimum seams, intricate textures and a sculpt and pose that feels so alive, this Kong is truly an exciting addition to any X-Plus collection. I hope it’s successful run secures places for future Monsterverse vinyls from Star Ace and X-Plus. MORE INFORMATION
X-TRASBy John Stanowski Originally posted October 19th, 2018 on Kaiju Addicts.
FIGURE SPECS東宝30㎝シリーズ 酒井ゆうじ造形コレクション ゴジラ(2016) JAPAN ORIGINAL RELEASE: OCTOBER 2018 SERIES: 30CM SERIES YUJI SAKAI MODELING COLLECTION MATERIAL: VINYL FROM: “SHIN GODZILLA” (2016) HEIGHT (HEAD): ABOUT 11.5 INCHES / 29.21 CM HEIGHT (TAIL): ABOUT 16 INCHES / 40.6 CM LENGTH: (WITH RAISED TAIL) ABOUT 17.25 INCHES / 43.8 CM FIGURE WEIGHT: 1 LB, 9 OZ / 708.7 G REVIEW AND PHOTOS: © JOHN STANOWSKI The Toho 30cm Series Yuji Sakai Modeling Collection Godzilla (2016) vinyl statue by X-Plus has an amazing, movie-accurate sculpt based on the monster from Shin Godzilla (2016). It is 11.5 inches tall (from the head) and has a massive tail which reaches 17.25 inches up into the air. Released in October 2018, it was available in both Standard and Ric Exclusive versions. The sculpt was first revealed by Yuji Sakai at Winter Wonder Festival 2017 in Chiba, Japan. A limited run resin kit soon followed. Finally, Mr. Sakai teamed up with X-Plus to produce his latest creation in vinyl. X-Plus sold a Ric Boy exclusive version molded in red, translucent vinyl. A standard version made from opaque red vinyl was available in retail stores. NOTE: This review will feature the Ric Exclusive version although the Standard Version will make appearances below for comparison. THE BOXBecause of the figure’s massive tail, it comes in a massive box measuring 19 inches high, 15.25 inches wide and 8.5 inches deep. This box is the usual 30cm Series design. Plain, brown, blind box with flip lid and full color artwork on the front. Inside the figure is wire-tied in two pieces in a plastic shell. One arm and one foot come wrapped in plastic. It’s important to be very careful when removing this plastic from the arm as this piece is very thin. Try to find the edge of the tape holding it on instead of just tugging on it. PUTTING IT TOGETHERNew and First-time X-Plus Collectors: if this is your first X-Plus, watch Rich Eso‘s video on how to attach tails. For the rest of us: the tail flange isn’t round this time and has several angles to it. It’s almost shaped like a diamond. While this makes it more difficult to attach the tail, it does make for a more snug fit. And considering how anxious gravity is to get closer with the tail, the connection won’t be as prone to pulling away and open as on the Large Monster Series versions. The figure comes with a tail base which is required to make the figure stand straighter. Although the base isn’t really needed at all if you don’t mind the figure leaning back slightly. If you are displaying this figure from the front, you probably wouldn’t even notice this backward lean. I’ve already heard from some collectors that they don’t believe that this base is high enough and wish it were taller. I’m inclined to agree. It seems the figure would look a little better if its head were pushed forward just a little more. But it doesn’t look bad the way that it is now. Also, this does seem to be the height intended by Mr. Sakai from the very beginning based on this early shot of the sculpt in progress. (Honestly, though, I have no idea why the bottom of the tail isn’t just resting on the floor. Realistically, something that big probably isn’t easily lifted off the ground.) This Godzilla design has a wide range of new textures, ridges, Giger-esque strands and bony details which are all expertly captured on this vinyl. SCULPTAnd, here it is… The Toho 30cm Series Yuji Sakai Modeling Collection Godzilla 2016 is a ridiculously movie-accurate collectible and is no doubt the most picture perfect among the three Shin Godzilla Fourth Form figures put out by X-Plus so far. It follows the Toho Large Monster Series Godzilla 2016 (click here for review) and the Gigantic Series Shin Godzilla. I’m gonna say it! …it literally looks like it walked right out of the movie. Don’t believe me? Look here. This Godzilla design has a wide range of new textures, ridges, Giger-esque strands and bony details which are all expertly captured on this vinyl. Because of all of these intersecting patterns and textures, Yuji Sakai’s signature “sculptorly” quality seems to be absent, or at the very least, hard to see. To me, that’s a good thing. HEAD SCULPTI haven’t compared it to the movie yet, but the head sculpt looks spot on from every angle. This head sculpt makes X-Plus’ two great previous attempts pale in comparison. I don’t know how to say it. This just looks right! A couple of oddities I’ve noticed though: the eyes don’t quite line up with each other; one being lower than the other. I thought I was just struck with dumb luck again until I noticed that the same is true for my standard version as well. What are the odds that I got two duds? I’m guessing that this must have been intentional for some reason. Also, the bottom jaw piece seems to be a sort of hit or miss and was easily misaligned in the factory. The jaw on my Ric is slightly crooked while the jaw on the Standard is just fine. I’m not much bothered by it since I can’t really notice it except in close-up photos. POSEThe 30cm Series Yuji Sakai Modeling Collection Shin Godzilla stands in the monster’s signature pose. This is how he looked in over 90% of his appearances as the fourth form kaiju. While this may not be as exciting as the dynamic pose on the Gigantic Series version, I find this one preferable since this is shaped the same as the standard image of Shin Godzilla burned into all of our brains. The tail runs back and then swings full up into the air, making only two slight curves on both its X and Y axes. The movement captured in the pose of the tail is visible in only half of the angles. From certain other angles, it appears to be going up into the air in a straight line which doesn’t look as exciting. When displaying your Sakai Shin, try to angle it so that you can see some curves from the front of your shelves. An added bonus to this pose is that, from the front, you can see the tail hovering in the background behind the head just as was seen so many times in the movie. JOINTS & SEAMSThe Toho 30cm Series Yuji Sakai Modeling Collection (Shin) Godzilla 2016 is made up of “at least” ten parts. And, unfortunately, some of their panty lines are showing. In the photo above, we have the Standard Version on the left and the Ric Exclusive version on the right. (Please excuse the fact that the tail hasn’t been attached to the Standard. I’m selling this figure to a friend and I don’t want to violate it any more than I have to before he gets it.) On the Standard version, you can clearly see where some of those pieces meet. Specifically at the tops of the arms and at the top of the legs. Now this isn’t anything new and, as X-Plus collectors, we’re completely used to this. These are, after all, vinyls. BADASS vinyls, but vinyls nonetheless. Joints like this are common. Curiously, these same lines aren’t as visible on the Ric Boy exclusive version. This is possibly due to them blending in more because of the translucent vinyl. So, despite what you see in the photo above, the seams are still there, just not as obvious. PAINT JOBThis is where I will describe the differences between the Ric Exclusive Version and the Standard version since they involve the figure’s colors and appearance. Instead of molding this figure in black and filling in “the cracks” with red (to replicate Shin Godzilla’s fission glows from the movie), X-Plus has repeated what they did instead with the Large Monster Series Shin Godzilla. Both versions are molded in red. Black paint is then applied on most of the body, careful not to cover over the red in the deep recesses of the skin texture and on the base of the fins. I thought this was ingenious when I saw it applied to the 25cm version. And it’s (mostly) just as impressive this time around as well. The one problem with both, is that I feel they weren’t as liberal with the black paint as they should have been. This has resulted in more red being allowed to show through than was seen in the movie. The technique was used much more effectively on the Large Monster Series version. I can’t help but think that Mr. Sakai, who has a lot to say about how this vinyl was produced, prefers it the way that it was done this time around. I don’t feel this is overly detrimental to this release. I will admit that I’m overly forgiving because I’m just so glad to have this ultimate (to me) Shin Godzilla figure on my shelf. However, not all figures come out of the factory paint stations the same way. Results may vary. Making sure that all figures get covered in black the same way and leave the same amount of red behind to shine through isn’t likely as these are done by hand. You may find that your figure has a bit more (or less!) red showing through on the chest or on a leg than you’ve seen in this review or in other photos. One thing that concerns me is that with this painting technique, mismatches can occur more frequently between the body and the tail. Luckily, my Ric looks just fine. So, what’s the difference? From a distance, there is no none. Even when you step closer, both appear pretty much comparable. But the difference starts to show when the figure is right in front of you. The Standard Version is molded in solid, opaque red vinyl. You can’t see through it. The light hits the surface of the vinyl and reflects back into your eye. These reds are brighter and, well, redder. There also seems to be more “contrast” and hard edges where red meets black. Technically speaking, the Standard kind of seems to be the more accurate between the two. And, the bright red kind of implies that it’s glowing. But for that to work, it really depends on how you look at it. You have to sort of imagine it that way. The Ric Exclusive version is made of translucent, almost clear, vinyl. It’s tinted red but is clear enough for light to hit the surface of the vinyl, pass through it, and bounce back off of an interior coating of reflective silver paint. The reds seem deeper on the Ric. And many light effects are possible when you light the figure different ways, or simply hold it in front of you and move it around. The red on the Ric also seems more organic. There is less of a hard edge where red meets black and so seems more organic. The effect is truly amazing. On a side note, this is the one benefit to having the X-Plus Ric vinyl over the original Yuji Sakai resin kit. (That and the fact that you don’t have to assemble nor paint it.) The one possible downside is that, unlike the Standard Version, the black paint is a bit thinner in certain areas (notably the neck and chest) thus making the figure look overall redder than it should be. Besides the reflective light effect on the Ric, light can also pass through the figure entirely. You could see a sudden glow from certain angles if you place your figure in front of a lamp or by a window (although we don’t condone that. Sunlight bad!) Plus, you will more often see light passing through the dorsal fins. Here is a shot with a standing flashlight behind the figure (not in it) shining the light clear through the figure. This should already be giving you ideas… INSTALLING LIGHTS IN THE RIC Yes, you can stuff the Ric Boy with LED strips. Depending on how many you use, it should look amazing. The only problem is that I believe that the back fins are over a double layer of vinyl, so light from the inside may not transmit through the back. Personally, I’m sold on the Ric. It’s really fucking amazing. Early production photos simply didn’t capture the magic. And seeing it in person is a real treat. Don’t take this as me knocking the Standard. I’ve already said that I feel it actually wins when it comes to looking more movie accurate. The sculpt is still stunning and anyone lucky enough to get their hands on one should more more than satisfied with it. Plus — and this is a big one — the regular opaque vinyl on the Standard Version is stronger and far less prone to deformation in hot weather. And, when you have a heavy, long ass tail going up in the air, that is a major consideration. HEAD The teeth are painted in a reserved, boney, off-white which, thank god, don’t obnoxiously stick out as they do on so many other X-Plus figures. They look fantastic. The eyes are particularly impressive. They are probably too toyishly white, but that’s necessary in this case. The diameter of eye is merely one sixteenth of an inch! And not enough half that space is taken up by a tiny stark black pupil. I’d love to know how the accomplished this. Such a super fine detail. The result are tiny eyes that, despite their small size, manage to pierce their way into view. TAIL Unlike the Large Monster Series Shin Godzilla, the “bony” area at the tip of the tail is painted with a tan that doesn’t really stand out. It blends in more and doesn’t call attention to itself. This is good in a way in that this area doesn’t stick out like it did before. On the other hand, it’s a little hard to see the “face” in the sculpt. You can compare yourself by looking at the photos above and below to see the tail on the Large Monster Series version. SIZEAgain, this vinyl is about 11.5 inches high from the head to the floor and about 16 inches high from the tip of the upraised tail to the floor. The size of the main body is comparable mostly to the rest of the 30cm Series Yuji Sakai Modeling Collection, the Large Monster Series Favorite Sculptors Line and also about a third of the full 30cm Series. See the size comparisons below for more information. FOOTPRINT / ON THE SHELFObviously, the tail on this vinyl will have something to say about where you can display it. For the most part, it curves up at a steep angle and stops about 16 inches above the shelf. The second half of the tail also curves to the figure’s right side. Hopefully your shelves are high and deep enough to fit him in. SIZE COMPARISONSIt’s time for a ton of size comparisons, starting with the most obvious. No doubt, the most important size comparison is one with the Toho Large Monster Series (Shin) Godzilla 2016 (Review). While the new Yuji Sakai version is almost a head taller, the figures, overall, feel around about the same overall size. While we’re at it, let’s take a closer look at both since both of these figures since they are so similar. If you have neither, hopefully this will help you decide which one to hunt down. While the Yuji Sakai (right) clearly has a superior sculpt, the Large Monster Series, aka 25cm Series, version is absolutely acceptable. The most notable difference being that the 25cm version is a tad shorter, leans forward more and has slightly more visible seams. OTHER SHIN VINYLS Here is what your new Yuji Sakai Shin Godzilla Fourth Form will look like beside the Large Monster Series Shin Godzilla Second Form (left) and the 30cm Series Shin Godzilla Third Form. These two are really meant to display and scale with the Gigantic Series Shin Godzilla so keeping all three of these on the same shelf may be a little odd. But, if you’re not a scale freak, don’t sweat it. YUJI SAKAI MODELING COLLECTION This new Yuji Sakai Shin Godzilla scales very well with other figures in the line like the Yuji Sakai Godzilla 2001 (click for review) (left) and the Yuji Sakai Godzilla 1991 (right). YUJI SAKAI MODELING COLLECTION GODZILLA 1954 Here is Shin head-to-head with the Yuji Sakai Modeling Collection Godzilla 1954, the design it is likely based on (paying homage to, updated from, etc.) The most notable characteristics common to both are the mushroom cloud-shaped heads, the position of the arms and the grossly expansive jugular notch at the top of the chest. (Funny how the last feature was — no doubt — just clumsy suit making and yet it is celebrated on the 2016 design.) 30CM SERIES While technically in the 30cm Series, this Shin Godzilla is obviously shorter, but won’t look terrible at all on display with other 30’s in your collection. It’s seen here with the Toho 30cm Series Godzilla 1964 (click for review) and the Toho 30cm Series Godzilla 2014 Roar Version (click for review). 30CM SERIES “SHORTIES” If you’re worried about the 30cm Series Shin Godzilla being a little on the short side, don’t be. About a full third of this series is just as short. It’s seen here with fellow shorties 30cm Series Godzilla 1984 (click for review) and Godzilla 1968. BTW, the Godzilla 1984 pictured above is the North American (Diamond) Reissue which stands a little taller than the original Japanese release. FAVORITE SCULPTORS LINE t turns out that the new Yuji Sakai Shin Godzilla, which is short for the 30cm Series, scales well with the Favorite Sculptors Line. Seen here is the FSL Godzilla 2001 and the FSL Godzilla 1962. REAL WORLD COMPARISON Finally, here is a shot for those of you who have yet to splurge on your first X-Plus figure. What? You don’t do blu rays? Huh? Stream? What, you stream everything? …Millennials. (shakes head). 😛 RIC BOY EXCLUSIVEAs already stated, the Ric Exclusive version is made in clear, translucent vinyl and painted silver on the inside allowing light to play off the surface of the figure. There is no LED light gimmick and no extra mini figure. You simply get a figure with more organic paint apps. SUMMARYThe Toho 30cm Series Yuji Sakai Modeling Collection Godzilla 2016 is a fantastic take on Shin Godzilla and ranks at the highest end of the movie accuracy scale. If realism is your thing, then this vinyl is a grand prize winner. It’s upraised tail makes it a little difficult to display but it doesn’t care, and rightly so. The pose is right out of the movie and isn’t that what really matters? It has super intricate textures, sculpting and ultra fine details rarely found on mere toys. This feels more like an official maquette from the Toho SPFX department than a collectible. I’m almost afraid TOHO will be banging on my door trying to take it back! This vinyl is a tribute to Mr. Sakai’s superior sculpting skills and X-Plus’ masterful execution. If you are able to add this piece to your collection, you will not be disappointed. MORE INFORMATIONX-TRASBy John Stanowski Originally posted October 14th, 2018 on Kaiju Addicts.
FIGURE SPECS東宝大怪獣シリーズ 「アンギラス(1968年版)」 JAPAN ORIGINAL RELEASE: LATE 2012 FIRST JAPAN REISSUE: EARLY 2015 SECOND JAPAN REISSUE: EARLY 2018 NORTH AMERICAN (DIAMOND) REISSUE: EXPECTED JUNE 2018 SERIES: LARGE MONSTER SERIES MATERIAL: VINYL FROM: “DESTROY ALL MONSTERS” (1968) HEIGHT (HEAD): ABOUT 6 INCHES / 15.24 CM LENGTH: (WITH CURVED TAIL) ABOUT 14 INCHES / 35.5 CM FIGURE WEIGHT: X LBS, X OZ / X G REVIEW AND PHOTOS: © JOHN STANOWSKI The Toho Large Monster Series Angurius 1968 was first released in Japan in 2012. It was reissued there twice more; once in 2015 and again in early 2018. That last one was scheduled to be released this month (April 2018) and was no doubt produced at the same time as it’s fourth reissue, one for North America. One might argue they are a part of the same reissue since they were probably made at the same time. Although, we’re still waiting on word of this vinyl’s arrival here in the U.S. So, let me be clear on this: this vinyl is coming to America any time now. You can preorder one from your local comic shop. Ask the guy behind the counter to search for it by the Diamond Distributors item code: AUG178399. It’s because of this U.S./Canada release that I’m putting this review out now. I’ve always meant to make one, but now seems like the most appropriate time. Also, since we may have more new X-Plus collectors here than usual, I’d like to talk about the series it comes from. It’s part of the Large Monster Series. This is the literal machine translation for its true name: the Daikaiju Series. You’ll also see it referred to as The 25cm Series (slang). As for its size: I’ll discuss that further down in the Size and Size Comparison sections. THE BOXThe Large Monster Series Anguirus 1968 vinyl figure comes in the typical Large Monster Series window box. All of these boxes have the exact same art on them. You have to rely on the figure itself (behind the clear plastic) and a small black sticker providing the name of the figure down near the bottom of the front. Like the 30cm Series, the figure is wired into a clear plastic shell. And, you will need to attach the tail as it comes as a separate piece. Remember: keep the tail cool and hard and blast the figures butt with a hair dryer to make it soft enough to allow the tail to be inserted. Just be very careful with those individually sculpted spikes on the tail. They can hurt! SCULPTNow, out of the box, what you have is a super, movie-accurate vinyl of Anguirus as he appeared in the 1968 Showa classic, Destroy All Monsters. Part of what makes this sculpt such a faithful reproduction of the original monster suit is it’s individually sculpted horns, spikes, teeth and tongue! It’s intricate and detailed skin texture finally sets this over the top when compared to average, lower-end non-stylized vinyls. Here’s a closer look at some of those details. Individually sculpted teeth are a standard feature on all X-Plus figures. As you can see care was taken to make the tongue a separate piece and suspend it above the floor of the mouth. This is fucking outstanding work! The head sculpt remains faithful to the movie suit from all angles. POSEAs for the pose, it’s pretty standard (again, just the way I like it!). Anguirus is standing (half-standing?) on all fours in his typical fashion. In fact, this is a good excuse to again bring up how X-Plus strives so hard to give you a sculpt so faithful to the movie. You can see in the photos below (especially the side views) how it was designed to be worn by a suit actor. JOINTS & SEAMSQuick refresher: Joints are the meeting of two pieces that interconnect and are free to rotate, even if the sculpt prevents doing that easily. A seam is where two pieces meet without a full round joint. You usually see seams on the sides of the dorsal fins on Godzilla vinyls, or around lower jaws. However, the lines left behind on joints are often referred to as seams. So, let’s just go with seams here. Yes, the Large Monster Series Anguirus has them. You’ll find them around every leg and at the base of the neck. This is very common with X-Plus “crawlers” and can be found even on this figure’s bigger 30cm Series cousin. While this may be unsightly to some, remember that this is a vinyl. And, that’s how vinyls are traditionally made. I feel if you let yourself slip into the “vinyl figure mindset”, these seams will bother you less. Hell, just take a step back and look at the thing as a whole. This thing is fucking sexy! PAINT JOBWhile X-Plus attempts to duplicate the paint apps from the original release on subsequent reissues, there can sometimes be minor tweaks. For this review, I am using the first Japanese reissue to describe it. Anguirus has base coat of a dull brown. One might call it a dark brown, but it’s devoid of any saturation so I will stick with “dull”. And when I say that, I mean it in a good way. Dull = reserved and ≠ toyish. This figure is far from having toyish colors. Affecting its overall “tint” is a very generous amount of lighter color highlights over the skin on the legs, neck and belly. This kicks the visual interest up a few notches. The extra detail in hue applied to the higher elevations of the skin texture really make this thing shine. The spikes on the back are painted a very, dull boneish, tan and it’s PERFECT. And, now here is one of the places where this figure excels. Each individually sculpted spike is individually painted, and expertly so. If you look at it from above, the back plates are dark brown and the light hues of the spikes come down to meet the back with precision. (Skip down to the photo in the “Footprint Section” to see what I’m talking about. It’s the very next pic in this review.) I have no clue how I would paint this let alone having it done on a mass scale at a factory. Excellent work. Same goes for the paint being expertly and precisely applied to each, individual tooth. It’s a vital component to a complete (or partial) X-Plus Destroy All Monsters line-up on your shelves. SIZEThe Toho Large Monster Series Angurius 1968 comes from a series where typical figures, like Godzilla, stand at about 25cm or just under 10 inches tall. It’s a little difficult to appreciate this figure’s size with the dimensions I’m about to give. For example, at the highest point, Anguirus reach up about 6 inches from the tip of his crown of horns to the floor. The dimensions you really need to look at, though, are those for length since this guy is a crawler on all fours. It’s longest dimension is about 14.5 inches from the front left paw to the tip of the tail. But that tail is making an abrupt curve. If it were laying out straight, then this figure would have a length of something more like 20 inches! That’s about 12 inches for the tail and another 8 from the butt to the nose. FOOTPRINT / ON THE SHELFAnguirus’ curved tail makes it a lot easier to fit on the shelf. If you have it facing completely forward, then you only need about a foot of shelf space in front of the back wall. By displaying him at an angle, you can make it work on even thinner shelves. The tail, which makes a hard right turn could possibly make it difficult to display figures nearby. But the way I see it, the curves tail makes a space to hug around another figure. The Large Monster Series Godzilla 1968 is able to stand quite close to Anguirus’ right side. SIZE COMPARISONSPossibly the most significant size comparison would be with the Toho 30cm Series Anguirus 1968, especially for new X-Plus collectors who have been relying on North American reissues to fill their shelves. So, yeah. It’s smaller. But it’s supposed to be smaller. The Large Monster Series is a smaller, less expensive line. But it has excellent quality that sometimes even exceeds the quality and accuracy of the 30cm Series. You can fit more in the same space. And they are a big step up from S.H. MonsterArts and Revoltech, common gateway drugs leading to X-Plus. If you are looking for only one X-Plus Anguirus 1968 for your collection, then you probably want to consider the 30 since it stands half a head higher and is about 15% longer. However, if, like me, you collect BOTH sizes, then YES, you DO need this smaller Large Monster Series Anguirus in your collection. It’s a vital component to a complete (or partial) X-Plus Destroy All Monsters line-up on your shelves. You can’t do that with 30’s. King Ghidorah and Kumonga are not likely to get 30cm versions because of their size. Now, here is the first real and relevant size comparison. The Large Monster Series Godzilla 1968 is the figure most likely to pair with this Anguirus. They scale with each other very well. This Anguirus is dwarfed by the Large Monster Series King Ghidorah 1968. But he is supposed to be dwarfed. If you are a stickler for proper scaling, you’ll be pleased. This is how both were sized in relation to each other in the movie. Here is the Large Monster Series Anguirus with a large grouping of other figures from that series. Everything you see here scales very well with everything else. This is a just a sample of what awaits those of you who have been, up until now, been collecting only 30cm Series figures. There are many kaiju in this series that haven’t shown up in the 30cm Series yet. And many are not likely to because they would be too large. Finally, for those prospective X-Plus collectors who haven’t taken the plunge yet: a real world size comparison with a blu ray disc. SUMMARYThe Toho Large Monster Series Anguirus 1968 (or its upcoming North American reissue, the Godzilla Kaiju 8in Series Anguirus 1968) is an awesome, high quality, movie accurate reproduction of the kaiju suit used in the movie. It’s picture perfect sculpt and paint apps make it an excellent Anguirus collectible. And, again, it is a vital component to a complete X-Plus Destroy All Monsters lineup. It’s also a great addition to a new and growing 25cm Series collection. If you’re not collecting the Large Monster Series and you already have the 30, then, no, you don’t need it. But, if you plan to take advantage of all the awesome 25cm Series reissues coming to the U.S. through Diamond Distributors this year (and next), then, YES, you DO need one! MORE INFORMATIONX-TRASBy John Stanowski Originally posted April 28th, 2018 on Kaiju Addicts.
FIGURE SPECS東宝大怪獣シリーズ 「キングギドラ(2001年版)」 JAPAN ORIGINAL RELEASE: APRIL 2017 SERIES: TOHO LARGE MONSTER SERIES MATERIAL: VINYL FROM: “GODZILLA, MOTHRA AND KING GHIDORAH: GIANT MONSTERS ALL-OUT ATTACK” (2001) ゴジラ・モスラ・キングギドラ 大怪獣総攻撃 HEIGHT: 11.5 INCHES / 29.21 CM WINGSPAN: 23.25 INCHES / 59 CM LENGTH (NOSES TO TIP OF TAILS): 19.5 INCHES / 49.5 CM LENGTH (TOES TO TIP OF TAILS): 15.5 INCHES / 39.37 CM FIGURE WEIGHT: 2.375 LBS. / 1077.28 G REVIEW AND PHOTOS: © JOHN STANOWSKI KING GHIDORAH, GODZILLA: TM & © TOHO CO.,LTD. The Toho Large Monster Series King Ghidorah (2001) is a truly fantastic new addition to X-Plus‘ Daikaiju Series (25cm Series). It’s very movie-accurate sculpt is based on the suit’s appearance in the 2001 film, Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack, or as we all like to call it, GMK. This figure was up for preorder in February 2017 and later released in late April 2017. The average price for a Standard figure was about $213. The Ric Boy version (which came with a layer of glitter) sold for $266. This monster design is a pretty significant deviation from the King Ghidorahs of old. It still, of course, has all of the familiar characteristics of the three-headed, golden dragon. But, those features have been dwarfed into a somewhat smaller monster. I was never very fond of this new design because of the shorter necks, thinner ankles, etc. But, on the day I got this figure in front of me and saw all of the details and design intricacies that I didn’t see in the movie, I converted. I really dig this design. THE BOXFor a Large Monster Series figure, the box is huge. It’s 17 inches tall, 10.25 inches on the side and a whopping 28 inches across the front. It sports the usual monochromatic line art which all of the larger blind boxes have. Pictured here is the box for the Standard Version. The RIC version is the same but with the addition of the yellow, circular RIC sticker in one corner. Like the new and improved packaging for the King Ghidorah 1968, this figure comes sandwiched in a firm styrofoam shell. The tail piece is stored on the outside of one of the sides. The main body is securely stored on the inside. The figure is wrapped inside a large plastic bag. Be mindful of the spikes on the tips of the wings when you pull this bag off. Some of these spikes may have impaled the bag so be sure you don’t tug hard when removing it. PUTTING IT TOGETHERWINGS Unlike its predecessor, the King Ghidorah 1968, this figure comes with the wings already permanently attached. This is a welcome change since the wings on the ’68 can sometimes pop out when handling the figure. TAIL The tails come as a separate piece which you must connect. But, check this out: the usual “suction cup” and hole approach is out the window. Instead, you just touch the tail to the body and it pops in place, held by magnets. Tail assembly has never been easier. The tail seems, at first, to do a good job of staying in place — even when you pick the figure up. But, there’s no guarantee it won’t fall off. Swift movement, bumping the tails against another figure or wandering pets could disengage the connection. Very often when I pick the figure up and put it back down, the tail falls off because they hit the shelf before the feet did. Also, the joint isn’t that snug and can often wiggle in place. The degree to which this happens probably varies by each figure. This connection does do its job when the figure is simply standing on the shelf. But it could come tumbling off when the figure is handled. If this bothers you, a dab of superglue on the butt might do the trick. SCULPTAnd here it is. The Toho Large Monster Series King Ghidorah 2001 is a f**king WORK OF ART. It has a fantastic, movie-accurate sculpt. And on top of that, jaw-dropping fine details and truly stellar paint apps. The official X-Plus photos really don’t do this figure’s good looks justice. You have to see it in front of you to truly appreciate all it has to offer. SCALES One of the first things you notice is the incredible, intricate work done on the scale texture. Literally each and every one of them is sculpted to appear as if they were actually individual pieces. The tips are raised, often with space under them. Like I said in my Ghidorah ’68 review, no idea how they pulled this guy out of the mold. This is just amazing work. SPIKES A series of fine individually sculpted spikes run down the backs of each neck. (They’re pretty pointy and can hurt if you grab them.) I was surprised to see what these spikes do next. After running down each neck, they grow and form three toothy ridges on the figure’s back. This detail isn’t really visible in the movie; at least, not that I can recall. So, this X-Plus figure gave me a bonus lesson on the details of the suit. WINGS The wings look great and seem to match what’s in the movie. There’s a lot less going on in the wing membrane wrinkle department compared to the 1968 suit and figure. This can make them seem a little plain, especially to someone who has had the ’68 on their shelf for the past year or so. But the 2001 wings are smaller and so their digits are closer together creating adequate visual interest. Each digit runs through the membrane and ends with a spike. You’ll have to be very careful with these since they can be snapped off rather easily. Not so much because they are overly fragile, but more because they’re at the ends of this figure’s widespread wings. Imagine opening an umbrella while standing in a closet. The spikes on your umbrella are going to hit something for sure. So always keep this in mind when picking this figure up. As for their material, I assume they are made of ABS plastic just like King Ghidorah 1968 and both Mothra’s. X-Plus’ website says the body and tail are made of PVC but doesn’t mention the wings at all. HEADS The head sculpts with their stubby snouts look accurate enough. And there’s a lot going on on each one. The bumps and wrinkles on the top of each head make one think of a snarling dog, making this guy a little bit meaner than he came off as in the movie. All three sets of three horns match the suit well and are in good proportion. The three-pronged bony plates (whiskers?) on the sides of the heads is very accurate when compared with photos. Each mouth is filled with individually sculpted teeth. And, rather than simply being a cheap bump on the bottom of the mouth, each tongue is also individually sculpted. X-Plus does not skimp! TAILS Each tail has just as much intricacy and detail as does the front of the figure. The same attention to detail for each scale runs all the way down to each flared club of spikes at the ends. Also impressive is the way the sculptor accurately captured the way a foam and rubber tail would crease when it’s bent. Truly fantastic attention to detail here. The Toho Large Monster Series King Ghidorah 2001 is a f**king WORK OF ART. POSEThe Toho Large Monster Series King Ghidorah 2001 Version is posed in a standard, museum stance which accurately depicts the limited mobility of the suit and avoids any artistic exaggeration of movement. The “personality” of position for each head is done exceptionally well. When you look at it, you could almost see the exact awkward puppeteering of each head bobbing up and down making them come off lighter in weight than they should. All of this, combined with the excellent sculpt, make this figure even more a dead ringer for the real thing. JOINTS & SEAMSSuper-detailed scales always make joints prone to noticeable gaps and, unfortunately, this new Ghidorah is no exception. The biggest offender on this figure is the tail joint. The scales on this joint do fit together well across the joint. The problem is, though, that the tail does not have a super snug fit. This leaves a nasty gap. See the gap in the photo above? That can be closed, but another gap opens on the other side. It’s like the inside of the tail, where the magnets are, isn’t completely flat. As I mentioned earlier in this review, though, not all figures seem to be the same so yours may look better. Either way, this joint is in the back of the figure and you’re not likely to see it when your figure is standing on your shelf. There is a line of lifted scales at the base of each neck where each connection is made. These aren’t very noticeable though unless the light hits them in a very specific way. They usually not noticed in casual viewing. PAINT JOBThe Toho Large Monster Series King Ghidorah already has so much going for it. And on top of that it has five star paint work. It’s base coat is comprised of a metallic gold which isn’t too shiny nor too dull. It has a sort of dirty gold quality to it. Even without any added shadows or highlights, it would still look fantastic because of the way light interacts with the color as well as the intricate details on the scale texture. But fantastic isn’t enough because X-Plus added dark brown shadowing in the creases on the main body and a sort of bronze along all of the spike on the back of the necks down to the tips of the tails. As is the norm with X-Plus’ paint applications, this figure has a reserved, deep red inside the mouth and the individually sculpted teeth are individually painted. Once again, I’m stunned by the quality of the work done on the eyes. King Ghidorah’s eyes are straight red and outlined in black with black pupils. Even though the irises are so large, care was taken to still add white to the tiny, tiny space remaining. This King Ghidorah requires more room than usual. Probably the most significant thing you’ll need to deal with is the wingspan which is a little over 23 inches! SIZEThe Large Monster Series (Daikaiju Series) usually makes one think of figures reaching up only to ten inches at best small enough almost to stand on your hand. But now and then comes a figure so big that it looks like it belongs to the 30cm Series. The Toho Large Monster Series is on of those. Part of the reason is this figure really is scaled larger than most of the other figures in the line. All of the vinyls based on the MM28 GMK kits are. This oversizing isn’t new. The Large Monster Series Shin Godzilla Fourth Form, Godzilla 1995 and Destoroyah are all too big for the line they’re in. (Though not large enough for the 30cm Series). If this bothers you, just look at it the way I do: There’s a secret scale in between the two lines averaging 27.5cm for a Godzilla. I just try to keep them separate as if they were their own line. Bonus is, the entirety of the 30cm Series Yuji Sakai Modeling Collection is also in this range. FOOTPRINT / ON THE SHELFThis King Ghidorah requires more room than usual. Probably the most significant thing you’ll need to deal with is the wingspan which is a little over 23 inches! Next, the twin tails reach straight back. Sorry, there are no shelf-friendly curls to help you squeeze him closer to the wall on the shelf. They reach back 15 and a half inches from the front toes. Make that 19.5 inches if you go by the tips of the tails to the tips of the noses. But those heads really aren’t a part of this figures footprint since they don’t come into contact with the shelf. To sum up: this larger-than-usual figure reaches out with limbs and such in all four directions making it a certified shelf hog. But, as I’ve been saying for years now… it’s a good problem to have. This thing is big and beautiful. SIZE COMPARISONSTHE GUARDIANS OF EARTH As many of you already know, the Toho Large Monster Series King Ghidorah 2001 by X-Plus uses a sculpt from the MonsterMaker 28 (MM28) resin kit. The recently released Favorite Sculptors Line Large Monster Series Mothra 2001 and Baragon 2001 set are also from MM28 kits. All three are meant to scale with each other. Origins aside, here’s a size comparison of all three. King Ghidorah may look too big for the bunch, but it is as it should be. Both Mothra and Baragon were shorties in 2001’s Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack. Also resurrected from MM28, the Favorite Sculptors Line Large Monster Series Godzilla 2001 will be released soon, so you’ll be able to own a complete GMK kaiju line-up. WITH GODZILLA 2001 FIGURES The Favorite Sculptors Line Godzilla 2001 mentioned above isn’t your only option for pairing with this King Ghidorah. On the left is the Large Monster Series Godzilla 2001 (review) which came out eight (!) years ago. It scales fairly well with KG. They are, after all, from the same line. But, it is a tad under in height compared to the Favorite Sculptors line version. On the right is the Toho 30cm Series Yuji Sakai Modeling Collection Godzilla 2001 (review) which you are more likely to already have on your shelf since it’s a more recent release and has also been reissued in North America through Diamond Distributors. This one is technically part of the 30cm Series. However, as we all know, all of the figures in the Yuji Sakai Modeling collection are too short for that line. Seeing as how this Sakai figure is the same height as the upcoming Favorite Sculptors Line version, it scales just fine with this King Ghidorah. KING GHIDORAH 1968 Here’s a size comparison with the KG that started the current rush of Ghidorahs we’ve been getting from X-Plus, the Toho Large Monster Series King Ghidorah 1968 (review). You can see more of this figure at my review at the last link. And, you can still grab one from me at Flossie’s, too. WITH SHOWA LARGE MONSTER SERIES FIGURES Here is a comparison with other 25cm Series figures: (left to right) Large Monster Series Godzilla 1968 (my first review!), Godzilla 1966, Mechagodzilla 1975 and Jet Jaguar (review). WITH REAL WORLD OBJECT Don’t have any X-Plus figures yet? Here’s a size comparison with a blu-ray disc to give you an idea of how “big” it is. RIC BOY EXCLUSIVEA RIC exclusive version of this figure was available to purchase direct from X-Plus. It’s extra feature was a spattering of glitter which I assume was to reproduce King Ghidorah’s look after a dying Mothra transferred all of her life energy into the beaten and inanimate dragon. It’s likely that this detail isn’t photographed easily as you can see in the above Standard / Ric side-by-side photo provided by collector, Jim Cirronella. SUMMARYThe Toho Large Monster Series King Ghidorah 2001 vinyl figure by X-Plus has a fantastic, movie-accurate sculpt, a dazzling spread of seemingly individually sculpted scales, an insanely awesome paint job (which you really do need to see in person to fully appreciate) and an amazing “presence” on the shelf. The one (big) downside is a tail overly willing to disconnect and fall off during handling. This isn’t a problem, though, when it’s just standing on your shelf looking pretty. And, it is one helluva beaut! Overall, this vinyl really is a knock out. I feel it’s probably the best Large Monster Series vinyl of 2017, and also a contender for best X-Plus vinyl overall for 2017. MORE INFORMATION
X-TRASCOLLECTOR’S GALLERYBy John Stanowski Originally posted March 4th, 2018 on Kaiju Addicts.
FIGURE SPECS大怪獣シリーズ ウルトラマン編 「油獣 ペスター」 JAPAN ORIGINAL RELEASE: MARCH 2010 JAPAN WONDER FESTIVAL SOFT VERSION: JULY 2011 SERIES: LARGE MONSTER SERIES MATERIAL: VINYL FROM: “ULTRAMAN” (1966-1967) ウルトラマン HEIGHT: 9.5 INCHES / 24.13 CM WIDTH: (HAND TO HAND) 13.25 INCHES / 33.6 CM DEPTH (FRONT TO BACK): ABOUT 3 INCHES / 7.62 CM REVIEW AND PHOTOS: © JOHN STANOWSKI PESTAR: © TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS The Large Monster Series Pestar vinyl figure by X-Plus was released in early 2010. It was later reissued as a Wonder Festival exclusive soft version in July 2011. It’s based on the oil-eating menace, Pestar which was featured in episode 13 (titled Oil S.O.S. / オイルSOS) of the original Ultraman television series which first aired in 1966. This interesting monster was unique in that the suit required two actors to move it’s many “limbs”. X-Plus has done an amazing job reproducing this kaiju in vinyl for the starry-eyed collector. THE BOXThe Large Monster Series Pestar comes packaged in a wider than usual window box but with the usual Ultraman box art. The design is a little retro and I just know that if my 8-year-old self ever got to see this box, I would probably burst with excitement. At least Big John gets to have one! The figure is saddled into a form-fitting plastic shell and tied securely in place with the same wires as other X-Plus releases. You’ll note the long, thin, black sticker on the lower right corner of the window. This sticker indicates that this is a RIC Exclusive version. (More on that later!) SCULPTThe Large Monster Series Pestar by X-Plus has an incredibly screen accurate sculpt which faithfully reproduces the giant oil-eating double-starfish from Ultraman’s very first year on screen. Even those unfamiliar with this kaiju can appreciate the level of detail in the sculpt depicting the radiating ridges reaching out from the monsters two stomachs. The tendency of this suit to fold and buckle is also captured very well. Together, these two details do well to separate this high-end collectible from mere toys. The tiny head sculpt, three-quarters of an inch wide and two inches from ear tip to ear tip is done remarkably well. When I look at it, I can almost see it move; quivering as it gulps up the barrels of oil from the episode. When that happens, you know they got it right! One thing which X-Plus did not do correctly is the appearance of the surface of both stomachs. Those are the light bluish-greenish patches in the center of each “star”. In the show, these areas were puffy and smooth; almost like inflated pool toys. Yet the figure sports a dramatic, rocky texture far more dramatic than the actual suit had. I think this actually makes the figure look more impressive even though it does noticeably deviate from being screen accurate. And, check this out! The back texture is a marvel of detail. I actually never realized that Pestar’s back looked like this until I got my hands on this figure. While it may seem easy enough to sculpt by merely etching the patterned grooves, note that each shape is individually sculpted into a bevel. This must have been a laborious process for the one who sculpted it. Judging by how well it was done, it must have been a labor of love. The back texture is a marvel of detail. I actually never realized that Pestar’s back looked like this until I got my hands on this figure. POSEX-Plus opted for a museum pose for this figure. It stands with both hands spread out to the sides as was frequently seen in the episode. But it was just as frequently seen bending forward and sideways, creating awkward buckles in the suit. While I’m sure X-Plus could have pulled it off a sculpt which realistically captured those buckles, I’m glad they went for this more standard — and grand — look. JOINTS & SEAMSHoly hell, yes, there are seams all over this thing. Each pair of legs is a separate piece of vinyl. They join with the upper body pieces by zig-zagging along the bottom edge of each stomach. The neck is molding with the figure’s upper left side body, and finally the head is also a separate piece. Despite these five separate pieces being joined together, you will not notice them, or even see them without looking for them. PAINT JOBThe paint apps on the X-Plus Pestar are a collection of primarily three reserved and unsaturated colors. But here lies the second detour from accuracy. The outer edge of each “star” is colored with a dirty, mustardy hue. The suit actually sported a lighter, more vivid yellowish color in that area. But like the rough, textured surface of the stomachs not matching the suit, this color actually looks better on the shelf. Slits below the hands on both sides of the figure are painted a coral-like off-white with light mustard highlights drybrushed over top. You can get a look at these in the Footprint Section below. The Large Monster Series Pestar has a profile and footprint very similar to all of X-Plus’ Rodan figures. It’s very wide, demanding twice the side space of other figures. FOOTPRINT / ON THE SHELFThe Large Monster Series Pestar has a profile and footprint very similar to all of X-Plus’ Rodan figures. It’s very wide, demanding twice the side space of other figures. Yet, it’s pretty slim from the side view. This figure is barely 3 inches from nose to back. There’s no need to worry about space on the shelf though. This figure is well suited to standing at the back of the shelf behind other figures, blocking view of the back wall. It’s overly wide shape will actually add a welcome bit of variety to your Ultra shelf. SIZE COMPARISONSHere is a size comparison of the Large Monster Series Pestar and the Large Monster Series Ultraman A-Type Fighting Pose vinyl which came out came at the end of 2015. For an accurate pairing, you’ll need an A-Type Ultraman so that it matches the episode. As for the two being in scale, it’s hard to tell. In the episode, Pestar was already downed by a Science Patrol VTOL jet and only had one exchange with Ultraman, and that was while this monster was already flat on the ground. It’s probably safe to say that any Large Monster Series Ultraman figure will be a tad too large for a perfect fit. This is, unfortunately, how it is with the entire series. I’ve never understood why X-Plus made the Ultraman figures slightly larger than the Kaiju. Here is a size comparison with other Ultraman Kaiju also from the original 1966-1967 series. On the left is the Large Monster Series Gesura (which came out around Dec. 2015 – January 2016) and the Large Monster Series Gabora (I believe this may be the “Reborn” version). Pestar scales well with the Large Monster Series Red King Reborn Version (released in September 2011) and the original release of the Large Monster Series Bemular Reborn (from December 2010). If you’ve no Ultra Kaiju, here’s a comparison with the Large Monster Series Godzilla 1968 and the Large Monster Series Godzilla 1966. Finally a comparison with the Large Monster Series Ebirah and the Large Monster Series Titanosaurus. Here is a real world size comparison for those who have none of the figures above. Here, Pester stands beside the Ultraman bluray set. RIC BOY EXCLUSIVEThe Ric Boy Exclusive version comes with a mini oil tank form the oil refinery scene. Unlike extra pieces from most of the Large Monster Series Godzilla figures, this tank is pretty much in scale with the figure itself. And that is a HUGE plus in my book. While it looks like a simple piece, it manages to reproduce almost exactly how the tanks in the episode appeared. This tank in particular was specifically taken from the scene where Bemular shoots his fire beam at tank No. 8. SUMMARYThe Large Monster Series Pestar vinyl figure by X-Plus is an amazing replica of the giant double-starfish from the premiere season of the long-running series Ultraman. Despite liberties taken with one texture and one color, it shines, and is an amazing collectible and keepsake from the series. It will look amazing with the rest of your X-Plus Ultraman collection. MORE INFORMATION
X-TRASBy John Stanowski Originally posted December 31st, 2017 on Kaiju Addicts.
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Author/AboutJohn Stanowski
Owner/Blogger of Kaiju Addicts, a premiere X-Plus and figure related website. Kaiju Addicts is a guide to collecting X-Plus Godzilla/Kaiju vinyls. It is site that is a web portal featuring all things X-Plus including his own written figure reviews, news, release schedules as well as content from other collectors and reviewers. Kaiju Addicts Reviews and Original photos by John Stanowski, do not copy and reuse without permission. Photos are NOT to be used for selling. Kaiju Addicts also posts content from other reviewers and user submitted photos which are copyrighted by their owners and can not be copied without permission. All articles on this page are
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