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.

大怪獣シリーズ 「ウルトラマンティガ(マルチタイプ)」 少年リック限定版

​JAPAN RELEASE: APRIL 2013

​SERIES: LARGE MONSTER SERIES

​MATERIAL: SOFT VINYL

​FROM: “ULTRAMAN TIGA”, 1996-97
ウルトラマンティガ

HEIGHT: 9 INCHES / 22.86 CM

​WIDTH: ABOUT 6 INCHES / 15.24 CM

LENGTH: 13.5 INCHES / 34.29 CM

​ARTICULATION: ANKLES (AND YOU’RE GONNA NEED THEM!)

​REVIEW AND PHOTOS: JOHN STANOWSKI

​After a 15-year absence (not including American and Australian versions) Ultraman finally returned to Japanese television in ‘Ultraman Tiga’. The series ran from 1996 to 1997 and the X-Plus rendition is nothing less than ultra-amazing.

The X-Plus Large Monster Series Ultraman Tiga (Multi-type) vinyl figure is an astounding likeness. Free from all the unwanted embellishments and artistic interpretations from other lines, this figure… Everybody… looks like it just walked out of the TV show. You may be hard-pressed to make an immediate conclusion if the above shots were actually of the real suit. That’s how accurate X-Plus can be!

Tiga is overall much smoother than the X-Plus Showa Ultraman figures with noticeably less ‘crinkles’ in the suit. This is no doubt because modern suits were made of more advanced material. The hands and feet are especially smooth. I think it would have been nice, though, to see more wrinkles to set it apart from other ‘toys’. There are a pair of lines running down the back which I suspect represent the zippers on the actual suit (see below, right).

The eyes are made of clear plastic with a honeycombish texture. There is a space between the eyes and a light material inside. This allows light to pass through the plastic and create refractive patterns inside. The temple ‘crystal’ is also clear plastic but usually appears dark because of refreaction. But if you move it around until the light hits it right, it becomes ridiculously accurate! The color timer is also clear plastic but unfortunately almost always looks too dark even though it’s actually blue. The Ric Boy exclusive version of this figure includes a light-up gimmick for clear plastic parts and this probably the reason why they didn’t use a lighter blue on the timer for standard versions.

VISIBLE SEAMS & JOINTS: At first you’ll notice seams only around the ankles as they are visible from the front. There is a seam behind the left elbow and the backs of both shoulders have noticeable gaps which are hidden from view when placed on the shelf. The rotation of the shoulders can be tweaked only enough to make sure the paint and lines match up.

The pose is undeniably a signature Tiga stance! One hand is clenched in a fist close to the chest while the other extends outward ready to deflect a blow. While most other X-Plus Ultraman figures stand tall with level heads, the Tiga figure is tucking his chin to his chest. At first this really bothered me because it looked a little odd from the front. But during the course of this review that feeling went away. The pose is awesome.

This figure comes with a stand comprised of a clear base, arm and ‘claw’. This stand really isn’t necessary as Tiga is fully capable of standing on his own, though maybe not right away. The ankles are articulated so with a few tweaks you can get your shiny, new Tiga figure fully balanced.

Ultraman Tiga is the first Ultra to not have an all-red color scheme. In his standard “multi-type” mode, comparable to all previous Ultras, he sports the standard red and a purpleish blue in non-toyish shades. The hand painters at the factory did an excellent job of keeping the colors “in the lines”. The yellow stripes across his chest are subdued and the silver, as usual, looks great.

The X-Plus Giant Monster Series Tiga is comparable size-wise with other Ultraman figures. At first glance, he matches up nicely with both the Toho Series 25cm line (as seen with Gigan above) and the ultra kaijus from the Reborn Series. Perfectionists, however, may be annoyed with the true discrepancy in scale lurking below first impressions. Tiga should not be as tall as either of the kaiju he’s pictured with above. A good way to tell is to note where the shoulders line up. Tiga’s shoulders are higher than the others’… and he’s crouching!

​Tiga comes wired into a plastic shell in a window box with a snazzy, new design for the New Generation series.

By John Stanowski Originally posted May 17th, 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.

The X-Plus 25cm Rodan 1956 has a habit of falling down. It was designed so that the tips of its wings would hold it up. But for some collectors, gravity and heat soon turn those soft vinyl wing tips into noodles. That’s when Rodan takes a nosedive. Here’s one collector’s unique, homemade solution.

A member from Toho Kingdom Forums, who wishes to remain anonymous, was faced with the problem of his X-Plus Rodan ’56 loosing its ability to stand on its own. Here, in his own words, is his solution:

“Basically what I did was I just cut slots into 2 pieces from an old storm door window. I cut the slots [with a scroll saw] so that they were just deep enough so the wings rest inside while the figure is standing. It’s been working out perfectly. They look much crummier than they are with the stands laying on this white surface (being able to see scratches and stuff in the glass instead of just looking clear), but this should give you an idea of the size.”

“I made some guides for the stands out of cardboard first and once they seemed to be right I just traced it onto the plexiglass. If you’re going to do similar, use thick enough plexiglass that it won’t chip and break when you try to saw it. Sand it down real smooth on all the cuts so it’s not a rough edge rubbing against the figure, even though it shouldn’t anyway.

“Since I got Rodan 1964 I’ve had to do the same for him, but his balance is better than 1956. Great figures and I love them, but that’s one of the annoying things about soft vinyl.

“If you aren’t worried about the stands being clear, you could buy a piece of foam poster board and cut that with a razor blade no problem. It’s about the same width and pretty durable. I always buy this stuff at Walmart for arts and crafts.”

Great idea! As for myself… right now I’m using a rock. 😛

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

​大怪獣シリーズ ウルトラマン編 「古代怪獣 ゴモラ（REBORN）」

​JAPAN RELEASE: NOVEMBER 2010

​SERIES: LARGE MONSTER SERIES (25CM)

​MATERIAL: SOFT VINYL

​FROM: “ULTRAMAN”, 1966-1967
ゴジラ・モスラ・キングギドラ 大怪獣総攻撃

​HEIGHT: 9.1875 INCHES / 23.33 CM

​WIDTH: 5.5 INCHES / 13.97 CM

​LENGTH: 12 INCHES / 30.48 CM

ARTICULATION: NONE

REVIEW AND PHOTOS: JOHN STANOWSKI

Gomora first appeared in the 2-part story “The Monster Prince” (episodes 26 and 27) of the original “Ultraman” series in 1966. He is a fan-favorite kaiju which has made numerous reappearances in later Ultra series. Gomora made his X-Plus debut in 2007 and was later resculpted for a newer “Reborn” version in 2010. This review is for the latter.

​I think it’s safe to say that the head on the figure a perfect likeness. Once again, the sculptors for X-Plus were careful enough to count every tooth and reproduce the mouth very accurately. The scrunchy, ‘Pigmon-ish’ texture on the chest is sculpted and reproduced beautifully. The creases in this area are so deep and sharp I wonder how they managed to pull these things out of the mold! There was a rectanglur ‘strip’ which ran down the back of the suit and it’s reproduced faithfully on the figure. Another amazing job that helps elevate X-Plus above other vinyl lines!

On a sour note for perfectionists: a few areas of Gomora’s body have been replaced with a fairly rough texture. The area below the knees, for example, and most notably on the sides of the tail. Where that area of the suit was fairly smooth (and even had a bit of a sheen to it), the figure has a bumpy texture. But despite the liberties they’ve taken with the extra texturing, the X-Plus Gomora is an awesome likeness.

​Gomora’s head is a separate piece of vinyl which was glued on in the factory. When viewed from the back, a seam is visible. There is no geometry in the sculpt to help hide it. This seam is not visible from the front or sides so you’ll probably never see it much. As for the tail: after you attach it you’ll find that the rings of folded skin help to hide this joint. And I have to say this: of all the X-Plus vinyls I’ve acquired thus far, the Gomora Reborn has the snuggest fit on the tail.

The pose for this ultra kaiju is accurate and fits his personality. Gomora’s large hands were often raised into the air with his elbows tucked back to his sides. The X-Plus rendition does the same.

The X-Plus Gomora is predominately a dark matte brown which I find a bit too dark. In the episode he was actually a lighter, almost reddish brown. There are areas of ultra-subtle highlights brushed in but they’re really only visible if you look for them. Gomora crawled out of a mountain, rolled around in the dirt and dug several tunnels. He was caked with dirt most of the time. This would have looked great on the vinyl. X-Plus’ original attempt at Gomora in 2007 (below) seems to have a paint job which, although a tad light, seems to mimic the original suit better.

The squiggly, red striping on Gomora’s horns look great! But no attempt was made at reproducing the dull shine that they had in the show. The eyes (corneas) are a vivid blue; too vivid to match the actual suit. At first sight, the teeth on this figure seem to be a toyish, stark white which, on the suit, they indeed were … but only in close-ups. The extra dark brown skin makes them seem even whiter. If you’re good with paint, this might be an area to tone down. Overall, the paint job — though simple — isn’t bad.

​Though just a hair shorter, Gomora (Reborn) lines up well with most other Reborn kaiju from the Large Monster Series. (Above: Gomora, Baltan, Bemular and Red King.)

But judging by the misalignment of shoulder heights here, Gomora is really not in scale with X-Plus Ultraman figures. But that doesn’t stop it from looking good on the same shelf. (Above: X-Plus Ultraman C-Type Specium Pose and Ultraman C-Type Standing Pose.)

The DVD in the photo above is a contextual real world item to convey this figure’s size for those who don’t have an Large Monster Series Reborn figures yet. And for the Gomora completist, an Ultra-Act version of the beast.

The length of the X-Plus Gomora Reborn vinyl is 12 inches, yet fits comfortably on a standard shelf because the tail curves to its right. If desired, you’ll probably be able to get this figure to face front on the shelf (unlike many other figures with long tails) though it may be a bit too close to the edge.

​It’s X-Plus! I used to Photoshop to composite an image of the vinyl figure over the original in this shot from the series.

By John Stanowski Originally posted May 2nd, 2013 on Kaiju Addicts.

​エクスプラス ゴジラ2001

JAPAN RELEASE: JULY 2012

​SERIES: LARGE MONSTER SERIES (25CM)

​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: 10.1875 INCHES / 25.87 CM

​WIDTH: 8.125 INCHES / 20.63 CM

​LENGTH: 12.25 INCHES / 31.11 CM

​ARTICULATION: NONE

​REVIEW AND PHOTOS: JOHN STANOWSKI

This is one of my favorite Godzilla designs. At first glance, this figure may seem slimmer than it should be. But after comparing it over and over against movie stills, methinks they got this one right on the money!

Once again, it looks like it crawled out of the movie. Fantastic, faithful sculpt! The actual Godzilla 2001 suit had a number of textures over it. The standard, elongated bumps cover his legs, arms and tail. A unique, somewhat crocodilian/grid pattern covers his chest. And a set of gill-like wisps fan away from his face on the sides of his head. All of these textures are captured in the figure. X-Plus, though, did simplify the texture on the back of the head and neck.

​His upper ‘fangs’ are smaller than they should be when comparing to stills from the movie. But other than that the rest of his pearly whites are faithfully represented. The real suit had a total of four teeth between the fangs and even that is faithfully recreated. His lower claws were given the extra detail the suit had.

VISIBLE SEAMS & JOINTS: There are noticeable joints above the elbows, but X-Plus did a great job of making sure you don’t see them from the front. The tail piece, which the purchaser must insert, is further from back than usual and lands halfway down the tail where it’s a tad more visible.

Great pose. Godzilla arches his back and holds his head up higher than his usual forward hunch and I think this really gives the figure a sense of reaction or personality. Offhand I don’t know if this pose was modeled after a particular shot in the film, but I did notice a similar posture when Godzilla was firing his second blast of atomic breath at Baragon. His stance is noticeably wider than it should be but that could be because moments ago he was hunched forward getting ready to fire his wave motion breath. It really looks great from all angles.

​The X-Plus Godzilla 2001 is painted with the standard Godzilla charcoal color with – surpisingly – no shading or highlights. The real suit had a lot of cracks and lines that were a lighter, dustier color than the surrounding black. X-Plus made no attempt to mimic that. In their defense, though, it probably would have been too time consuming to do. They did, however, put in the time to get the extra detail this Goji has on his claws, especially on the feet. The dorsal spines look great, as usual. And unlike other X-Plus figures, this one actually has glossy paint on the teeth. On my figure the paint on the teeth is a tad too reddish in hue. As much as I hate stark white teeth on a Godzilla figure, the real suit did have big, shiny, white teeth.

This suit was designed with a shorter, thinner tail and that means more room on your display shelf. Its length is just slightly over 12 inches. The tail curves slightly Godzilla’s right so if you pose him diagonally on your shelf, he’d fit better facing your right.

​By John Stanowski Originally posted April 29th, 2013 on Kaiju Addicts.

Kyle and Jeff from the KaijuCast (www.KaijuCast.com) made a video primer for new X-Plus collectors. Even more awesome is that it includes a trip to X-Plus Addict David Dopko‘s house for a look at his collection. (P.S. The KaijuCast video features an intro sequence made by yours truly featuring figures from my own collection. Yeah, Toot!)

By John Stanowski Originally posted April 28th, 2013​ on Kaiju Addicts.