​大怪獣シリーズ ジャイアント 「スカイドン」

​JAPAN RELEASE: MARCH 2013

​SERIES: TOHO 30CM SERIES

MATERIAL: SOFT VINYL

​FROM: “ULTRAMAN”, EPISODE 34 “PRESENT FROM THE SKY”, 1967
ウルトラマン, メガトン怪獣

​HEIGHT: 7.25 INCHES / 18.41 CM

​WIDTH: ABOUT 7.5 INCHES (FOOT TO FOOT) / ABOUT 19.05 CM

​LENGTH: (HEAD TO TAIL) ABOUT 15.5 INCHES / 39.37 CM

​ARTICULATION: NONE

​REVIEW AND PHOTOS: JOHN STANOWSKI

THE HEAD
The head is overall a good likeness though I feel it has overly smooth texturing below the eyes. The entire piece is made of a translucent material which allows the lights from the Ric Boy Exclusive version to shine through. Opaque paint hides the light from emitting anywhere except the eyes. Unfortunately, on my figure, there are pinpoints of light visible is some of the cracks in the sculpt. And though light doesn’t emit from the four horns, their semi-translucent quality gives the figure a nice touch.

Overall, the sculpt is a mostly faithful representation of Skydon. All of Skydon’s features are there and are ‘mostly’ in the right place. Multiple textures make this figure visually interesting. There are brick-like armor plates on the back, rough skin on the sides and legs. There is also the combed line texture on the belly left over from when this suit originally belonged to Gamakujira, the pearl-eating kaiju.

​X-Plus’ attention to detail shines for fashioning most of this figure from the actual Skydon suit. The eyes on the Skydon suit were ridiculously out of allignment with each other as his right eye was much higher than his left. The figure recreates this.

However, X-Plus dropped the ball on the tail which is larger than it should be. And to make matters worse, the two spikey horns on the tail seem to be twice as tall as they should be.

The Ric Boy exclusive version of this figure has a removeable head and that features gives you an obvious seam line which runs around the “neck”. From above, this line is only somewhat disguised into the sculpt as it conforms to the shape of the first row of armor plates on the back. The seam is move obvious from below but, thankfully, you don’t really get to seem him from the angle most of the time.

The tail seam is the same as the head. It’s somewhat cloaked on the top by conforming to a row of armor plates and is more visible from below.

The only other seam I can detect runs laterally along both sides above the first row of plates, just above the side spikes. This seam is mostly invisible having been filled at the factory. However, on the figure I have, they “missed a spot” leaving behind what looks like a crack in the body. The seams on the legs are really invisible and you’d have to look really close to find evidence of them.

​The pose of the X-Plus Skydon vinyl figure is pretty standard stuff. And that’s fine with me. Skydon was a lazy kaiju and basically was seen as pictured here, or flat on the ground taking a nap.

​There really isn’t much of a paint job here on this figure. The teeth are a stark, toy white which probably is appropriate for an early Ultraman monster. The inside of the mouth and the “lipstick” area were painted in a desaturated color that’s sits somewhere between red and pink, but being neither. I like it.

Though not part of the paint scheme, the translucent parts are part of the coloring. The four horns on the head are a bronze color and change appearance depending on the light. The eyes themselves are clear, with black pupils painted on. Inside the domes of clear plastic is a colored material giving the eyes an overall yellowish appearance.

As for the rest of the body from the neck to the tail… It’s brown. Just brown. No highlights, tones, shades, etc. Just brown. There does seem to be some attempt at darker shades here and there, but you need to close out the rest of the world, meditate and super focus on them just in order to see them. So, basically, they’re just not there. And it’s a big blob of brown.

But because this figure has so many deep textures, light plays on it very, very well giving it a ridiculously good amount of highlights. It looks especially good in the sun (though I wouldn’t recommend keeping it there!)

​If you like your figures large, then Skydon delivers. He fits in well with the X-Plus 30cm Godzilla figures and is borderline difficult to manage with one hand because of his bulk. As for scaling with the Ultraman figures: he’s really too big for that. They may look okay next to each other on the shelf (see photo below under Ric Boy heading), but scale freaks will likely be disappointed overall.

A good match for the X-Plus 30cm Series Anguirus 1968.

When sized with another quadroped from the smaller line (Gabora), Skydon is significantly larger. Scale freaks will want to keep their Giant Series figures on a different shelf.

From the front, Giant Series Skydon seems to fit in well with this gang of mostly non-Giant Ultra kaiju.

(Left to Right: Gyango – rear, Gomora, Skydon, Red King, Bemular and Gabora. Only Gyango and Skydon are from the Giant Series.)

​As with all four-legged figures, Skydon has extra space requirements. His tail goes straight back but is short. His extra Giant Series size though makes him more difficult to place on a standard shelf.

​The X-Plus Skydon Ric Boy exclusive version vinyl figure has a light gimmick allowing his yellow eyes to shine just like they did in the television series. Above he is seen beside the X-Plus Ultraman C-Type Standing figure, also with light gimmick.

To get the magic to work you’ll have to pull off the head, flick the switch and push it back in. Groan. The figures already comes ready to go with two LR 44 batteries already installed. You’ll have to be careful though as the inner workings of the head comes in two pieces. The vinyl head is precariously glued onto another plastic piece which the switch anchors onto. These two pieces promptly divorced and came away from each other the first time I removed the head. Luckily it all went back together again for me with no problems. You can try to avoid this yourself by heating the parts with a hair dryer. Probably more so than you would need to add the tail.

By John Stanowski Originally posted August 11th, 2013 on Kaiju Addicts.

​東宝大怪獣シリーズ 「クモンガ（1967年版） 怪獣島の決戦 ゴジラの息子」 少年リック限定版

​JAPAN RELEASE: JULY 2013

​JAPAN REISSUE: JULY 2016 (WONDER FESTIVAL SON OF GODZILLA SET)

​DIAMOND REISSUE: EXPECTED JANUARY 2019

​SERIES: TOHO 30CM SERIES

​MATERIAL: SOFT VINYL

FROM: “SON OF GODZILLA”, 1967
怪獣島の決戦 ゴジラの息子

HEIGHT: ABOUT 3.75 INCHES / 9.52 CM

​WIDTH: (LEGSPAN) ABOUT 20.25 INCHES (FOOT TO FOOT) / ABOUT 51.43 CM

​LENGTH: (FRONT LEGS TO ABDOMEN) ABOUT 13 INCHES / 33 CM

​REVIEW AND PHOTOS: JOHN STANOWSKI

Kumonga is one of my favorite things from the movie “Son of Godzilla” and the X-Plus vinyl figure is easily one of my favorite figures. It was originally released in July of 2013 and was re-issued as part of a “Son of Godzilla Set” for Summer Wonder Festival in July of 2016.

I was tempted to say ‘Really, now, how hard would it be to match the sculpt to a giant spider?’ But after reviewing scenes from the movie I immediately saw distinct details that give Kumonga’s form personality. And I actually recognized these details readily because I had spent so much time with the figure for this review. So, if you ask me, X-Plus did an amazing job of capturing this kaiju in the sculpt. It really does look like it stepped crawled right out of the movie!

If I had to find something to complain about, it would be the stubby spikes scattered over Kumonga’s long appendages. In the movie, the giant spider had large thorn-like hairs which were translated to the vinyl as spikey triangles. Granted, it’s not that easy to reproduce this feature in vinyl, and even if they could it would make for a painful handling experience. So, to me, what we got in the end is close enough.

Kumonga’s set of eight eyes are multi-textured and mimic the (real) thing well. The eyes themselves are semi-translucent plastic domes tinted purple or blue. And under the dome is a bubbly texture creating the insectoid compound-eye look. Nice job!

Nice texturing on the body helps to make up for the lack of any highlights in the paint job.

The X-Plus Kumonga is posed on an incline so that the front half of its body is higher than the rear. Both the standard and Ric Boy versions of this figure comes with a base to help him keep that posture. Pictured here is the base that comes with the Ric Boy exclusive version. It’s larger than the standard base and comes with a Kamacuras entombed in Kumonga’s webby spray.

​The Ric Boy exclusive base is, in a word, awesome, and, in a way, gives you two kaiju for the price of one (or for the extra price of a Ric Boy). The detail on the giant mantis is sharp, maybe too detailed for something under a coating of goop, but I’m not complaining!

​Kumonga is virtually seamless! There are some faint lines here and there around a leg or mandible but this spider’s segmented limbs are covered in ringed lines anyway. The only out-of-place seam is under the spider’s abdomen (the large bulb at the end of his body). There, a round line follows the outer curve of that section. This is curious. It would seem to me that the entire back abdomen section would be molded as one piece but I suspect Kumonga’s entire top half is all one piece, and the bottom half another single piece. Strange choice but they must have had their reasons. Either way, there are no awkward joints or seams killing the look of the great vinyl figure.

​The Pose is Meh
With eight prickly treebranch arms you’d think there are a lot of choices to pick from when deciding how to pose this vinyl. In the end, though, what we got is just standard in a cheap rubber-spider sort of way. Okay, the pose is neutral and let’s it fit in the box well. Plus I understand that any interesting pose would likely melt away as gravity would pull down against the spider’s soft legs. Under these circumstances I think X-Plus did a good job. I was surprised to see that Kumonga’s body does not lie flat against the shelf but actually tilts upward. Not bad. But I wouldn’t have minded having a leg on each side retracted a bit more, pushing its spider knees over it’s current three and a quarter inch height.

​Kumonga is covered in a flat, one-shade off black and airbrushed with yellow markings. The feathering from the sprayed yellow attempts to mimic the combing of the yellow hairs mixing with the black hairs on the original beast, and it does a good job of creating that illusion. But that’s it; pretty standard stuff.

I wouldn’t have minded seeing some highlights (or shading) to mix up the black a bit. It might also have been nice to get some sandy, dirt splotches sponged into the top side dimples on Kumonga’s back to mimic the dirt he just crawled out of.

On a positive note, Kumonga’s dark exoskeleton has decent texturing on the sculpt off which the light plays, creating real highlights.

Fitting in with the ‘Family’
The X-Plus Large Monster Series Kumonga 1967 vinyl at first seems large when placed with other 25cm series figures but is, as far as I know, in scale with them. I have no other 1967 figures so I placed Kumonga here with the next best thing: his Destroy All Monsters buddies, Godzilla 1968 and Anguirus 1968. Yes, Kumonga looks big beside them. But he’s supposed to be big!

​Sizing up to the 30’s
The nice thing about Kumonga’s large size is that it fits in well with the 30cm series figures as well. Here he’s posed with the 30cm series Godzilla 1968 and though the scale may be off, they still look great together.

​Size Comparison with other Huge Figures

The final inevitable size comparison would be with Biollante. Both of these figures are in the Large Monster Series and are supposed to be in scale with each other. As for Mothra Imago, Kumonga has pretty much the same width as her wingspan.

Real World Comparisons

One the left is a fully grown adult cat of average size which is a tad larger than this huge vinyl spider. And for those of you who do not have a fully grown adult cat of average size handy, the photo on the right shows the X-Plus Kumonga atop a soda can which should give you a good idea of its girth.

Talk about shelf hogs! The X-Plus Giant Monster Series Kumonga vinyl figure has a ‘legspan’ of a whopping 20 and a quarter inches! This guy is gonna own the shelf! If you are planning to display him on a standard width shelf (like a bookcase), you’ll have to devote most of it to Kumonga. There’s room left for two more biped figures with short tails such as Mechagodzilla, King Seesar or maybe even a Gigan.

Kumonga is about 13 inches from the tip of his front legs to his butt. On a standard shelf, his front pincers may hang over the edge. The standard base adds nothing to this figure’s space requirements. And the Ric Boy exclusive base, though larger, can still occupy the space already claimed by this figure’s outstretched legs.

It is ironic that such a large figure which demands so much space is not even 4 inches tall. Unless you’re creative with some sort of support mechanism to hoist your Kumonga higher, your kaiju skyline is going to get a new dip.

The X-Plus Kumonga comes in a box similar to Mothra Imago and several of the Rodan figures. It’s plain white with black printing. Inside your vinyl kaiju spider lies nested in a plastic shell retrained by a single wire tie. Below the figure rests the base, also held in place with another wire tie.

A Word of Warning
Be careful when trying to pull your untied wire out from around the base. While I was removing my base, the untied, yet still twisted end of the wire didn’t want to come out of the hole in the plastic shell. I pulled a little too hard and, without realizing it, the wire was pressed hard against one of the small spikes on Kamacuras’ back and I wound up nicking it. A spot of glue will save mine, but a little more patience would have saved me the trouble.

Below is a fan video I found on YouTube which has tons of scenes featuring Kumonga. I’ve embedded it here so that you can review it, pause it, and compare it to the photos above.

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

東宝30CMシリーズ「ゴジラ（2001版） ゴジラ・モスラ・キングギドラ 大怪獣総攻撃」

​JAPAN RELEASE: LATE 2011

​DIAMOND RE-ISSUE: JANUARY 2014

​SERIES: TOHO 30CM SERIES

MATERIAL: SOFT 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

​WIDTH: ABOUT 9.25 INCHES (FOOT TO FOOT) / ABOUT 23.49 CM

​LENGTH: ABOUT 19 INCHES / 48.26 CM

​ARTICULATION: LEGS CAN ROTATE, BUT SHOULDN’T

​REVIEW AND PHOTOS: JOHN STANOWSKI

The established Millennium Godzilla suit design took a vacation for Director Shūsuke Kaneko’s (Gamera ’90s trilogy) “Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack” also known as “GMK”. For this one-shot continuity, a new design was created with fierce crocodilian features, souless white eyes and a few extra pounds. X-Plus first released their interpretation of this love-him-or-hate-him kaiju in late 2011. This vinyl has a few issues, but in the end is just as badass as the (real) thing.

Note: this figure was re-issued for the North American market with the help of Diamond Distributors/Previews in late 2013/early 2014 and all but sold out. Still, the aftermarket (Ebay, etc.) may make this figure easier to find for a short while.

This review is for the Original Release which has slight difference in paint scheme.

NOTE: I just realized (Feb. 2014) that the fins on my GMK figure (the one in all of these photos) were glued on upside down. So, if you think something looks strange, there is. Fortunately (not for me) this seems to be an isolated case.

​THE HEAD
I think they got the head dead on. At first I thought it was too fat from the front but after reviewing photos I saw that it’s pretty much dead on. (Because of this I also noticed that the head on the 25cm version is actually too skinny!)

Once again, we have individually sculpted teeth. If you look closely you find the odd smaller tooth poking out out of row — amazing attention to detail. The large GMK fangs look great!

SPINES
While the dorsal spines on this figure certainly capture the unique personality of the ones found on the (real) GMK Godzilla, they also seem to come up a little short. To me they seem smaller, softer and rounder. The 25cm figure seems to win out over the 30cm in spine accuracy. Thing is, it’s so hard to tell. While reviewing the movie I did see shots where both figures looked right at some point.

As I mentioned in my review for the 25cm version, the 2001 Godzilla has a myriad of patterns and textures over its body and, again, they are faithfully represented in the 30cm series sculpt.

Many collectors prefer the sculpt on the 25cm version over the 30. I thought so, too. But after spending so much time studying the 30 for this review, I’m beginning to wonder. While it may be true that the 30 is too fat, I’m beginning to think that the 25 is also too thin. I used an in-camera trick in the photo above to make it appear that both figures are the same size. What do you think? Chime in in the comments below.

​The seams on the arms are less noticeable on this vinyl than on most X-Plus Godzilla’s I’ve seen. Particularly impressive is the seam running around the base of the neck which is totally cloaked. (I didn’t even realize there was one there until I recently looked at the unfinished production photos.)

What may be of concern to some collectors are the doll-like joints occurring where the legs meet the body. Combined with his wide leg stance, they are even more obvious. This feature was on the actual suit but looked more like creases in the skin. Here, they look like… well, doll joints.

There is a 1.25-inch indented “line” that’s just as fat as it is deep at the top of the spines on the back of the neck. This feature was also on the original suit but it seems stronger on the figure than it should, probably because this is actually an intersection where 3 different pieces of vinyl meet.

The X-Plus 30cm Series Godzilla 2001 stands powerfully in mid-roar with arms tucked back and head lurched forward focused on his foe or next target. Every bit of GMK positional personality is captured in this figure. However, though the wide leg stance is typcial of GMK, I’m just not that fond of it. Luckily this is minimized when viewed from an angle which is probably the only way this guy is going to fit on most shelves. (Click on the photo above for a larger view.)

​The legs can rotate, but they shouldn’t. They know where they belong and you should make sure that’s where they are. You know you have it right when the flat areas below the feet are flush with the ground. If you rotate the legs forward to make him lean more than he already is, the feet will start to slant inward and won’t be flat.

​The skin color used on this vinyl figure is another thing that bugs me. Instead of the usual Godzilla Off-Black we have something a shade or two lighter. I think it’s too light. And it’s even more noticeable when the figure is on the shelf between two other X-Plus Godzilla’s which have the proper color.

There is very slight highlighting on the tops of the feet and sides of the tail. And there are obvious highlights brushed over the chest. One thing I like about the actual suit is that there were lighter colors in the cracks between the tiles of skin in this area. If you are into customizing the paint jobs on your X-Plus figures, this may an area to tackle. It would look awesome.

The claws radiate from a dirty tan to an off white and look great as per usual. The inside of the mouth is a very dark red and doesn’t look anywhere near as toyish as some of the others. The highlights on the spines were sprayed on well and they did a fantastic job of taking these colors all the way down to the end of the tail is super subtle increments. The highlights on the stubby spines which run down the tail on many an X-Plus Godzilla figure could learn a thing or two from this guy.

DIAMOND RE-ISSUE
The re-issue of this figure (licensed only for North America and distributed by Diamond Comics) has some differences in paint scheme. Judging by photos, it seems the Diamond Re-issue, thankfully, is clothed in a darker shade of black much more in sync with other Godzilla releases. The claws have less feathering and more defined “crack” lines. Finally, most collectors have reported a sloppy paint job on the mouth. The red used for the gums, expertly applied on the original release, spill out over the “lips” on the re-issue. I would not let that stop you from getting one of these. The originals seem long gone, and after all, it does have a better looking skin color.

​The X-Plus 30cm Godzilla 2001 vinyl figure fits right in with his 30cm Millennium Series buddies and other 30cm figures as well. Though not evident in the photo above, his eyeline is lower than the others but this is due to his forward leaning attack/intimidation pose.

Fans of director Shusuke Kaneko will be glad to know that the X-Plus Godzilla 2001 sizes – and interacts – well with the X-Plus Gamera 1996.

​Above we see how the 30cm GMK compares in size with the 25cm version. For those of you who have never had a 30cm X-Plus vinyl in front of you, the shot with the soda can will give you a good idea of it’s size.

This figure is about 19 inches (48.26 cm) from the nose to the tip of the tail! And it’s still just under 16 inches (40.64 cm) from toes to tail (you can allow the head to protrude over the edge of the shelf). Since the tail goes straight back and has no space-saving curves, you’re not going to be able to fit this guy facing forward on any standard shelf. It has to be a side or angled view for this figure. (Which is just fine with me as I’m not fond of the frontal appearance of this legs.)

​By John Stanowski Originally posted July 26th, 2013 on Kaiju Addicts.

​大怪獣シリーズ ジャイアント ギャンゴ

​JAPAN RELEASE: AUGUST 2011

​SERIES: TOHO 30CM SERIES

​MATERIAL: SOFT VINYL

​FROM: “ULTRAMAN”, EPISODE 11 “THE RASCAL FROM OUTER SPACE”, 1966
ウルトラマン 宇宙から来た暴れん坊

​HEIGHT: 11 INCHES / 27.94 CM

​WIDTH: 6 INCHES (FRONT ARMSPAN) / 15.24 CM

LENGTH: ABOUT 13.75 INCHES / 34.92 CM

​ARTICULATION: NONE

​REVIEW AND PHOTOS: JOHN STANOWSKI

Gyango is probably one of the most recognized ultra kaijus from the orginal Ultraman series, no doubt in part to his appearance as a silhouette during the show’s opening sequence. X-Plus created a great likeness in this entry into the Giant Series.

Probably one of the more ‘interesting’ ultra kaijus, Gyango is a hodge podge of parts sprung from the imagination of a two-bit gangster coupled with the power of a mysterious rock from outer space. Made from the remains of the Bemular suit, the very first kaiju to appear in Ultraman, Gyango sported an unusual array of features including metallic clamp hands, winding antennae ears and a splash of tribal-like shapes down his belly.

The X-Plus Giant Series Gyango is an awesome likeness. It’s broad range of features and textures are faithfully represented from diamond-shaped scales to spikey areas on his back. The only thing that bothers me sightly is that the right arm is a bit too “rounded”. The right arm, however, almost gives you the impression that there is a suit actor’s arm in there with subtle bends and bulges.

​The head is very well done with a mouthful of individually sculpted teeth. The ears are amazing; where other figure lines would skimp out on the finer detail, X-Plus individually sculpted every single spoke. (This is why we collect X-Plus!) On a side-note: the ears are made of a very soft squishy material.

​It’s no secret that X-Plus sculpts their figures based on the actual suits rather than idealized or stylized versions. And Gyango is a perfect example of this as a silver zipper runs down the back and neck. The colorful totem pole shapes were added with a thin layer of material no doubt to act as a guide for the painters. Where these shapes occur over the belly a bit of the scale detail is lost.

​There are two seams very well hidden around the middle of the head and base of the neck which are virutally invisible. The arms look like they may rotate at the shoulder but I’m afraid to try and force them to find out. They look best where they are anyway. The feet rotate at the ankles and you may need to tweak these in order to get the figure to stand properly balanced. The Ric Boy version of this figure comes with 2 sets of ears and so it may be possible to remove or rotate them on the standard version, but again, I’m afraid to try as they are so soft and may be glued. Finally, if you want to nitpick, the ears and hand “claws” have subtle flange lines on them from the mold, something I would expect to see only on a plastic model kit. Overall, though, good show!

The pose is typical of Gyango and looks best from a front angle. The side and rear views are unexciting.

The base coating of brown is pretty standard and uneventful without any shading or highlights. The front neck and chest were well down with desaturated totem pole colors of which Gyango may be most known for. The inside of his red mouth is surround with a pink lower lip and a dull metallic blue upper lip and snout. The feet are a dull silver which have a sandy tan paint texuring. There is also silver on the claws and ears (which is particularly shiny on the ears.) Nice job!

At 11 inches tall, the X-Plus Gyango scales somewhere in its own range. It’s taller than the Large Monster Series yet shorter than the 30cm series Godzilla figures. If you’re a collector who buys from multiple vinyl figure makers, then the discrepancy of scale likely doesn’t bother you in the least. But X-Plus obsessive scale freaks like myself and (Hi, Ryan!) may be a little disappointed.

But there is good news…

The Giant Series Gyango is a perfect match for the X-Plus Ultraman vinyls! Gyango is taller than Ultraman (seen here beside the X-Plus Ultraman C-Type Standing figure) and he should be! What matters the most is that the shoulders on Gyango and Ultraman are level with each other, just as were likely the shoulders of the actors who wore the suits.

​The figure comes nested in a plastic shell and wrapped in a blind box that’s twice as large as it needs to be. A single tie keeps the figure in place.

The X-Plus Giant Series Gyango is an awesome addition to the collection of any Ultraman fan and I am overly pleased to finally add him to my shelves. He was a bit hard to find but the search was worth it!

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

大映30CMシリーズ 「ガメラ（1995年版）」

​JAPAN RELEASE: MAY 2013

​SERIES: TOHO 30CM SERIES

​MATERIAL: SOFT VINYL

​FROM: “GAMERA: GUARDIAN OF THE UNIVERSE”, 1995
ガメラ 大怪獣空中決戦

​HEIGHT: 9.75 INCHES / 24.76 CM

​WIDTH: ABOUT 11 INCHES (NOT INCLUDING TAIL) / 27.94 CM

​LENGTH: ABOUT 13.75 INCHES / 34.92 CM

​ARTICULATION: NONE

​REVIEW AND PHOTOS: JOHN STANOWSKI

In 1995, director Shusuke Kaneko (Death Note, Azumi 2, GMK) released the first of the Heisei Gamera trilogy, arguably some of the very best kaiju films of all time. X-Plus follows up the 2012 release of the 30cm series Gamera 1996 vinyl figure with this new, 1995 version.

X-Plus released their first 30cm series Heisei Gamera vinyl figure (from 1996’s Attack of Legion) just last year, so it was a total surprise for me when they announced another less than 12 months later. And a fine job they did!

​Once again X-Plus has produced yet another excellent vinyl figure that looks just like its movie counterpart. And similar to its ’96 predecessor, the 1995 Gamera is a myriad of sculpted textures from reptilian skin, intricate breast plate patterns and turtle shell ridges. The fine detail around the head is amazing from the ridges running over his cranium to the super fine wrinkles radiating around his eyes.

Gamera’s hands are particularly impressive… and expressive. You can almost feel his blind rage and urge to dig his claws into a Gyaos. The inside of his mouth looks crazy real and organic with flaps of pink flesh unfolding as he roars.

The sculpted detail on the back of the tail is utterly amazing with overlapping plates of… tail scales(?). I suspect though, and I’ve checked three times already, that the tail came from the same sculpt as the 1996 version released last year. The tail plates are virtually identical.

I also feel confident saying that X-Plus also double-dipped with the feet which are virtually idential sculpt-wise as the ’96 version. Finally, I’m compelled to “suspect” the shell itself was also borrowed but I can’t really tell if that’s the case. The shells on both the ’95 and ’96 figures have the same number of segments in all the right places though the later is a lot smoother. The new 1995 figure does have a curious “kink” around the edge of the shell near the shoulders that looks like it was forced into a new shape. Either way, who cares? If that’s how it was with the actual suit, then it’s fine with me.

​The post is pretty standard but Gamera manages to pull it off really well. ‘Nuff said. (Click on the photo below for a larger version.)

​There are no joints on this figure which were intended to be used as articulation. The tail is the only joint which isn’t glued and you need to attach that yourself. And when you do you’ll find that the seam between the two parts is an utterly perfect match!

There is a seam which runs across the chest and over the shell but can’t be seen unless you look for it. The elbows and knees have glued joints and are somewhat noticeable depending on how you look at the figure. For the most part they are hidden in the sculpt. Finally, I’m sad to say that there is an obvious seamy line running around the base of Gamera’s neck.

​The X-Plus Gamera 1995 vinyl figure is enveloped in a light black (really?) that is very similar to the color used on the X-Plus 30cm Series Godzilla 2001. (Coincidentally they’re both Shusuke Kaneko’s kaijus.) The breast plate seams to have the same black as a base but with subtle brown highlights. The shell is a dull yet vibrant dark green much brighter than the 95’s dark olive green. The claws are a brighter-than-usual off white with brownish shading. The inside of the mouth is vibrant with fleshy pinks and oranges which gives it a really organic and eww! look.

The Gamera 1995 vinyl figure demands more space on the sides due to his wide stance and large feet. He’s almost 14 inches long from nose to tail but you only need to consider his feet when putting him on the shelf. Unlike the 1996 version, this figure can actually face completely forward on a standard shelf, though it may be precarious having his center of gravity so close to the edge. But you can do it.

This figure scales just fine with other 30cm series figures. Yes, it’s true that he is shorter than the rest, but he’s a turtle! He’s supposed to be shorter, rounder and stockier. He makes up for his lack of height with his bulk.

Gamera 1995 comes in a blind box with the usual awesome box art and a tray inside in which rests the main body and the tail piece.

At first glance, the biggest difference between the two is the pose. Where the X-Plus Gamera 1996 lurches menacingly forward, the 1995 version stands tall.

The next thing to notice is the difference in head size. I never really noticed a change in this from Guardian of the Universe to Attack of Legion, but going by these figures the ’95’s head is noticeably larger and somewhat reminiscent of the Showa design.

The ’96 has webbed fingers and elbow “spikes” where the ’95 does not. The paint scheme is almost the same with the exception of brigher claws and a more vibrant green on the shell than the ’96’s dark olive.

I don’t know… is there room for two Heisei Gameras in the same collection? Hell, yes.

By John Stanowski Originally posted June 11th, 2013​ on Kaiju Addicts.

​東宝30CMシリーズ 「ゴジラ （ゴジラ ファイナルウォーズ 2004版）」

​JAPAN RELEASE: MAY 2013

​NORTH AMERICAN REISSUE: MARCH 2017

​SERIES: TOHO 30CM SERIES

​MATERIAL: SOFT VINYL

FROM: “GODZILLA FINAL WARS”, 2004
ゴジラ ファイナルウォーズ

​HEIGHT: 11 INCHES / 27.94 CM

WIDTH: ABOUT 8.5 INCHES (NOT INCLUDING TAIL) / 21.59 CM

​LENGTH: ABOUT 12 INCHES / 30.48 CM

​ARTICULATION: KNEES

​REVIEW AND PHOTOS: JOHN STANOWSKI

The Godzilla Final Wars suit is not often a favorite among many fans… but this is one hell of a figure!

You don’t need me to tell how good this guy looks. The X-Plus Toho 30cm Godzilla 2004 vinyl figure is a dead ringer for the actual suit. From every single angle the sculpt and pose combine to make a fantastically faithful reproduction.

I never noticed a purple tongue and gums in the movie, but I’m sure it’s accurate. The purple appears really vibrant in this close-up photo, but have no fear: on the shelf it appears much darker and unsaturated. The teeth look great in their off white, almost tan color. There’s a ton of great detail in this guy’s maw including folds on the tongue and ridges on the roof of his mouth.

The eyes have incredible detail. Black pupils fan out over a ring of yellow and then red. Unfortunately the eyes really can’t be appreciated with the naked eye and need a camera to reveal them. But it’s nice to know the detail is there! From a distance the eyes appear mostly dark red.

All of the claws have the added detail of ridges reaching out of the cuticles along with dark tan or brown shading brushed in. Lookin’ good!

​This figure’s right knee rotates and I found I had to do so in order to make his foot fall flat on the shelf. His left knee does NOT rotate so don’t forget which is which or you might break a glue seal.

I’m pleased to report there are no unsightly panty lines on this figure. There are seams at each elbow and knee but they are well hidden. And the tail is a pretty close fit to the body, too!

The pose is dynamic, more so than usual. It reminds me of a scene in which Godzilla had just run past a kaiju foe and then whipped around for another strike. There are so many great angles to this figure that you may find it difficult to decide how to display him.

​The tail on this figure makes a hard turn to its left making for a nice fit on most shelves. So many long tails force us to display figures at angles because of walls and the backs of bookcases, but you might actually get this guy to face forward. The arc of the Godzilla 2004 tail makes it possible to place another figure fairly close to him.

At first glance this figure seems to scale well with it’s 30cm Series buddies. But take a closer look and you’ll see the shoulders come a little short. This may be explained away partially by two things. First, the figure’s wide stance brings him closer to the ground. Second, the Final Wars suit was much slimmer than the suits which came before it, but I still don’t think this would affect the height much. In the end, it seems this figure is on the short side, just like the 30cm series Godzilla 1984 which was released the month before.

The X-Plus 30cm Godzilla 2003 comes packaged in a blind box. It arrives in two pieces: the main body and one tail piece. The tail joint is not completely round but rather elliptical and flat on one end. I had trouble attaching the tail. I wound up having to cool it off and heat only the butt before it would go in without creating folds in the flange of the tail piece. Collector Ryu Hayabusa had absolutely no trouble at all after dipping the tail into boiling water.

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

​東宝30㎝シリーズ 「ゴジラ2003」塗装済完成品

​JAPAN RELEASE: MARCH 2010

​JAPAN RE-ISSUE: DECEMBER 2013

​NORTH AMERICAN RE-ISSUE: 2014

​SERIES: TOHO 30CM SERIES

​MATERIAL: SOFT VINYL

​FROM: “GODZILLA × MOTHRA × MECHAGODZILLA: TOKYO SOS”, 2003
ゴジラ×モスラ×メカゴジラ SOS

HEIGHT: 12 INCHES / 30.48 CM

​WIDTH: 8.5 INCHES / 21.59 CM

​LENGTH: 19 INCHES / 48.26 CM

​ARTICULATION: MID-TAIL

​REVIEW AND PHOTOS: JOHN STANOWSKI

Feast your eyes on one of X-Plus’ rare excursions beyond the Showa era.

One of the first things that stand out on the Millennium Godzillas (not including 2001 and 2004) is the unique design of the dorsal spines. And they look fantastic on the X-Plus figure. Not only did they get the overall shapes right, but they’re adorned with great textures and coloring. Amazing job! Click on the photos for a larger view.

The sculpt of the head is dead on from all angles. The figure’s chest sports the infamous scar received from Godzilla’s final battle with Kiryu in Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla and his close brush with the power of the Absolute Zero gun. Like Godzilla 2001, this suit has a variety of skin textures ranging from standard Godzilla “tree bark” to more reptilian patterns on the front of the neck and spiky bumps along the shoulders and back, all faithfully sculpted into the figure. There’s so much to discover about this figure.

VISIBLE SEAMS & JOINTS: Sorry to say but visible seams abound on this figure. Most obvious are lines above the elbows. You can also detect seams below the knees though they did a good job of hiding it on the left leg. There is a seam running around the neck somewhat visible from the side but invisible from the front. The tail joint is pretty undetectable as it’s worked into the mold, and it’s a perfect fit. There is another joint at mid-tail also well hidden.

The pose is fantastic! It captures the personality of this beast perfectly. I may be wrong but this pose seems to come from the scene where he first erupted out of the water at the entertainment center/park in the preceding movie Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla. I’m sure he’s been in this position again in the 2003 movie from which he’s marketed as coming from. This pose seals the deal and makes this a great Millenium Godzilla figure.

​The base color is a mostly standard asphalt black but with a very slight bluish tinge. The claws are a tannish, dirty ivory with darker shading near the cuticles (more color detail than we usually get on Godzilla claws!). The teeth are really off white and often appear yellowish in photos. The inside of the mouth, tongue, gums are an unsaturated red very realistically done and very un-toy-like. The eyes are a dark, dirty mustard color. They are perhaps a tad darker than they should be, but seem correct when looking at them from a distance. Dorsal fins are highlighted with sprays of white and tan and they look great! One problem though is that the fins on the tail piece are a brighter white than as on the back. This may be a painting error on the specific figure that I have and you may not encounter this.

From the upcoming X-Plus Godzilla 1999 Review: “The X-Plus Godzilla 2003 is just a hair shorter than the Godzilla 1999. But it seems even smaller when you consider the mass and girth of the neck on the 1999 figure.”

The X-Plus Godzilla 2003 scales well with it’s foe, the X-Plus Kiryu 2003.

Collectors should be used to X-Plus Godzilla figures demanding a lot of room on the shelf to accommodate their long tails. But the Godzilla 2003 vinyl has a tail which is longer than usual and goes straight back, curving only on the Y-Plane. This figure is a whopping 19 inches from nose to tail! Place him carefully into your collection.

The X-Plus 30cm Series Godzilla 2003 is 12 inches tall and fits in perfectly with most other 30cm-series figures.

The X-Plus 30cm Godzilla 2003 comes packaged in a blind box. It arrives in three pieces: the main body and two tail pieces.

And on a final note: it looks great beside the X-Plus Kiryu 2003 released in 2013. See the link below!

By John Stanowski Originally posted June 1st, 2013​ on Kaiju Addicts.

​東宝29CMシリーズ 「ゴジラ（1984）

​JAPAN RELEASE: APRIL 2013

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

​NORTH AMERICAN REISSUE (DIAMOND): DECEMBER 2016

​SERIES: 30CM SERIES

​MATERIAL: SOFT VINYL

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

​HEIGHT: 11.25 INCHES / 28.57 CM

​WIDTH: 7.5 INCHES / 19.05 CM

​LENGTH: 13.5 INCHES / 34.29 CM

​ARTICULATION: MID-TAIL, KNEES

​REVIEW AND PHOTOS: JOHN STANOWSKI

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

JAPAN RELEASE: SEPTEMBER 2012

​SERIES: 30CM SERIES

​MATERIAL: SOFT VINYL

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

HEIGHT: 9 INCHES / 22.86 CM

​WIDTH: 12 INCHES / 30.48 CM

​LENGTH: ABOUT 15.5 INCHES / 39.37 CM

​ARTICULATION: NONE

​REVIEW AND PHOTOS: JOHN STANOWSKI

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

JAPAN RELEASE: 2012

​JAPAN REISSUE: (SOFT VERSION), 2012

​DIAMOND RE-ISSUE: JUNE 2014

​SERIES: TOHO 30CM SERIES

​MATERIAL: SOFT VINYL

​FROM: FROM “MOTHRA”, 1961
モスラ

​HEIGHT: 2.625 INCHES / 6.6675 CM

​WIDTH: 2.375 INCHES / 6.0325 CM

​LENGTH: 12.5 INCHES / 31.75 CM

​ARTICULATION: HINGED MANDIBLES

​REVIEW AND PHOTOS: JOHN STANOWSKI

UPDATED: June 2014.

This figure is the spitting image of Mothra in her larva form. It has a fantastic paint job and is a great figure for diversifying your collection. This figure was released three times. The first release used the standard harder vinyl. There was then a limited re-issue using a softer “squooshy” vinyl. Finally, X-Plus reissued it yet again, this time for the North American market (Diamond Reissue). Although this review covers all of the versions, most of the photos here feature the squishy version.

​The X-Plus Mothra 1961 looks like it crawled right out of the movie. Most of the find detail is in the head since most of the larva is composed simply of ringed segments. Subtle cracks and dents, along with the find paint job, take care of that. The front end seams accurately scuplpted with lots of creases and folds behind the head. The lower face has a fine, bumpy texture which runs all the way to the tail. The beak is hard plastic and holds hinged mandibles which you can open and close. On the particular figure which I own, the hingles aren’t completely in place, but they are so snug that they still stay in place. If you grub — I mean grab — this figure you’ll want to take care you don’t loose one of the pieces. There is a hair-like line draping along both sides where its belly leaves the ground. X-Plus did a pretty good job cutting a lot of tiny little lines to simulate this.

The paint job is excellent. Especially when you consider the fact that a lot of it doesn’t have corresponding geometry in the sculpt. The creases between each segment of Mothra’s body have feathered shading like it was airbrushed; and done very well, too. Spots and speckles were also softly added over the entire body. And, check this out: X-Plus actually took the time to replicate near-precise spot locations on the head! I don’t have a ton of 1961 Mothra larva photos around, but from what I’ve seen, they took care to replicate how the spots look on the front of the head between the eyes. There’s also a three-spot pattern behind Mothra’s left eye which was also replicated. Holy Attention-to-Detail, Batman!

And they eyes! It must have taken a very steady heand to perfectly fill the tiny eyes (with a diameter of about only one sixteenth of an inch) with a pale cyan which jump out and almost glow against the dark browns and tans that surround it.

On a slightly sour note: There is a bit of a paint mismatch between the front and rear sections of my “squishy” reissue where they were glued together. The browns on the front half are slightly warmer than the less saturated browns on the rear. I would imagine this is because each half was painted at a different station and the paint mixtures weren’t completely identical. I’ve also noticed this on a couple other X-Plus figures I have. But honestly, I didn’t even notice it until I took close-up photos for this review.

As for my Diamond Reissue: the paint on the separate pieces match perfectly. Although, the “freckles” have harder edges as opposed to the softer spots on the 2012 version.

​Articulation on X-Plus vinyls is not a common. The 30cm Series Mothra Larva, though, is one of the exceptions, albeit in a small way. It has hinged mandibles which can be opened and closed. They are rather tight on my new Diamond Reissue and for that I’m glad because one of the mandibles on my older soft version has come out of place and it’s been impossible for me to pop the post back in place. So, be careful with these little pieces!

​Mothra’s main body is in three pieces and each has a joint which can be rotated. These joints are not meant to be used for articulation, though. These joints are hidden very well between segments on the body.

​There isn’t much of a pose. The X-Plus Mothra larva is pretty much a straight figure. Her head turned ever so slightly to the left.

Not much to say here in how this gal is going to fit on your shelf as it’s pretty obvious. Mothra is not a hog for space and will easily fit between 2 other figures either perpendiculary or on an angle. But she’s easily overlooked that way. Try to run her parellel to the shelf in front of another figure who isn’t hogging the whole shelf.

This figure doesn’t seem very imposing size-wise when compared to the can, but it is over twice as long as one. Though Mothra may not be as cool as a Godzilla or other kaiju in the 30cm line, it does add variety to the shelf. 

By John Stanowski Originally posted April 27th, 2013​ on Kaiju Addicts.