Big News...

Those of you cool people who check in here once in a while may have noticed a marked decrease in posts over the past months. That is because we are moving! However, our move is not out of state, so Monsterland Ohio will continue under the same moniker for the forseeable future. I will get started in a new setting in January, and in time, things should pick up here again. A G-FEST wrap-up and G-FAN review are still in process-so keep checking back. Merry Christmas from the MO crew!

Spaceman's Night at the Library

Our pal Jason Williams, proprietor of Spaceman Floyd's Cosmic Toys, was invited to give a presentation on Retro Toys last Thursday night at the Perry Library. Although he had quite a bit of information regarding the anthropology of toys ready to use, the presentation went in a different direction, focusing on the toy collections of the participants and the memories they conjure. It was a unique experience, and the Perry Library again deserves thanks for hosting interesting programs such as this.

It's Gorosaurus!

Matt E. strikes again with everyone's favorite kangaroo-kicking kaiju.

'Battles of Godzilla' Now Includes Kong

Here is a shot of the models Matt E. has added to the display at the Perry Library. Watch for a future post of the Gorosaurus model which is also included, making a complete representation of the kaiju and mecha from "King Kong Escapes."

UPDATE: "Battles of Godzilla" will be coming down tomorrow, November 23rd, to make way for Perry Library's Lego Club display, so if you want to see the set-up, you'll need to act fast!

Lake County To Host Cuyahoga Kaiju Club Event

Andy and I are excited to welcome the CKC to the Perry Public Library this Saturday. In addition to viewing some kaiju classics and checking out the "Battles of Godzilla" display, participants will have the opportunity to visit Spaceman Floyd's in Madison to revel in the retro-toy goodness. Join us if you can!

'Battles of Godzilla' Now at Perry Public Library'

Andy's second Godzilla-themed display is now in place at the Perry Library. This year's showcase, "Battles of Godzilla," puts the focus on kaiju combat, depicting battles from five G-movies as well as the Ultraman episode in which a Godzilla costume is retrofitted with a large frill to become Jiras/Keyra. The collection will be on display throughout November, and on the 20th the PPL will welcome the Cuyahoga Kaiju Club for fun and excitement with the showing of "Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster" and the aforementioned Ultraman episode.

Happy Hallowe'en

Countdown to Halloween: Thirty-One Days of Godzilla

Andy entered this Polar Lights Godzilla in the G-FEST Model Contest and was awarded a blue ribbon! A happy and safe Halloween to you and yours.

Countdown to Halloween: Thirty-One Days of Godzilla

We won this masterpiece at our first G-FEST. Built by Matt E., it is a Paradise Godzilla 1964, from the film "Godzilla vs. The Thing."

Countdown to Halloween: Thirty-One Days of Godzilla

At nearly a foot tall, this burning Godzilla by X-Plus is really impressive. [purchased at Spaceman Floyd's in Madison]

Countdown to Halloween: Thirty-One Days of Godzilla

Extra-large "American Bandai" Kiryu and Final Wars Godzilla square off, with alien spacecraft/slow cooker lurking in the background.

Countdown to Halloween: Thirty-One Days of Godzilla

This 8.5" frosty giant Millenium G was made by Bandai in 2002.

Countdown to Halloween: Thirty-One Days of Godzilla

This eight-inch 2002 Bandai figure gets the look and proportions of GMK Godzilla just right.

Countdown to Halloween: Thirty-One Days of Godzilla

Here's one of those "theater exclusive" figures--a crazily colored Godzilla 2000.

Countdown to Halloween: Thirty-One Days of Godzilla

Banpresto released this 12" Godzilla '54 in 2002. It is probably my favorite "original Godzilla" figure. The combination of size and detail are really enjoyable.

Countdown to Halloween: Thirty-One Days of Godzilla

Last year's "G-mazing Exhibit" included this Matt E. train-chomper.

Countdown to Halloween: Thirty-One Days of Godzilla

The Millenium Godzilla suit is faithfully rendered in this 2007 Bandai six-inch figure.

Countdown to Halloween: Thirty-One Days of Godzilla

Bandai presents: Final Wars Godzilla [2006]

Countdown to Halloween: Thirty-One Days of Godzilla

Matt Evangelista is responsible for this ferocious GMK Godzilla, currently displayed at Spaceman Floyd's in Madison.

G-FAN # 93 Has Arrived

G-FAN 93 is in our possession, and it looks to be an excellent memento of G-FEST XVII. Of particular interest is a reprinting of "The Chicago Shimpo," a Chicago Japanese-American newspaper that covered G-FEST and Akira Takarada's visit. Expect a full write-up in the near future.

Countdown to Halloween: Thirty-One Days of Godzilla

Another super-deformed mini, depicting the infamous flying scene from "Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster."

Countdown to Halloween: Thirty-One Days of Godzilla

X-Plus produced this GMK Godzilla in 2004.

Countdown to Halloween: Thirty-One Days of Godzilla

Yuji Sakai's Concept Works Godzilla 1964- a fan favorite suit design.

Countdown to Halloween: Thirty-One Days of Godzilla

A favorite from this year's Dealers Room: newborn Minya hitching a ride on Papa G's tail.

Countdown to Halloween: Thirty-One Days of Godzilla

1968 Godzilla, brought to you by the folks at Bandai. I love the look of this figure, which faithfully presents the suit from "Destroy All Monsters."

Countdown to Halloween: Thirty-One Days of Godzilla

Super-deformed mini Godzilla '54

Countdown to Halloween: Thirty-One Days of Godzilla

I love this little gashapon-sized Bullmark repro. It reminds me of the figures glimped in "Smog Monster" and "Godzilla's Revenge."

Countdown to Halloween: Thirty-One Days of Godzilla

Featured today is the 2009 "American Bandai" Godzilla 1954.

Countdown to Halloween: Thirty-One Days of Godzilla

Another Yuji Sakai design of Godzilla, taking delight in kicking simian posterior, in "King Kong vs. Godzilla."

Countdown to Halloween: Thirty-One Days of Godzilla

Godzilla makes his icy entrance from "King Kong vs. Godzilla" in this super-deformed mini-diorama. Note the submarine's distress signal around the iceberg's edge.

Countdown to Halloween: Thirty-One Days of Godzilla

Godzilla became "Gigantis" in his second cinematic incarnation [it's a long story] and was ultimately buried in ice. His fate is hinted at in this frosty-colored Bandai figure from 2006.

Countdown to Halloween: Thirty-One Days of Godzilla

Another Matt E. jaw-dropper--Godzilla 84/85 standing victoriously over the battle-damaged Super X. This piece was featured in last year's G-Mazing Display at the Perry Library.

Countdown to Halloween: Thirty-One Days of Godzilla

Matt Evangelista built this massive 1964 Godzilla, currently on display at Spaceman Floyd's Cosmic Toys in Madison, Ohio.

Countdown to Halloween: Thirty-One Days of Godzilla

In keeping with the Godzilla 1954 theme, this interestingly colored figure seems to be partially based on the maquette made during the design phase of the original movie and used in some publicity photos. This figure was produced by Marmit in 2004.

Countdown to Halloween: Thirty-One Days of Godzilla

I love the detail on this 2007 Yuji Sakai Godzilla 1954, part of a four pack we picked up at G-FEST. The figure stands about 3.5 inches tall.

Countdown to Halloween: Thirty-One Days of Godzilla

The original Godzilla suit is represented in this 1998 Bandai six-inch figure, complete with black-and-white highlights.

Countdown to Halloween: Thirty-One Days of Godzilla

This miniature diorama by renowned sculptor Yuji Sakai brings Godzilla [1954] to small-scale life.

Countdown to Halloween: Thirty-One Days of Godzilla

This slightly translucent, shades-of-grey Godzy looks like he stepped right out of his first film.

Now Playing: Gamera vs. Viras

When a movie begins with an outer space battle between a bumblebee-patterned flying saucer and a giant, jet-powered flying turtle, you know you've got "the goods." Shout Factory's amazingly vivid presentation of "Gamera vs. Viras" jumps out of the gate to the tune of the [in]famous Gamera song, signalling that this kaiju flick is not going to take itself too seriously.

If you're not into "wacky," you'd better avoid this film. But if you are like me and enjoy heaping portions of "wacky," you will not be disappointed. There is a spirit to this film I just love, from the subversive, submarine-sabotaging boy scouts to the final battle, in which Gamera rides Viras around like a jet ski before being mercilessly gored. [How does he survive that again? Oh, nevermind.]

Gamera purists might bemoan the inclusion of copious stock footage in this film, but I actually like the section, which plays as a clip show of Gamera's greatest battles. This is audacious fun, strictly for kids at heart.

Monster Fandom Starts at Home

Here's my nephew, Zachary, sporting his very own giant monster T-shirt. His cousin Andy can't wait to introduce Zach to his favorite Japanese monsters and superheroes! We love you, Big Z!

Mini Marusan Sub

Andy and I satisfied an urge to model today with the completion of a tiny replica kit of the SSN-571 Nautilus. When completed it is about five and a half inches long. It is shown here with a GMK Godzilla gashapon, in a loose recreation of the scene where the big G is first discovered. We got a set of these mini-models, which includes the JASDF North American F-86D Sabre Jet Fighter, as well as Godzilla, Baragon, and Ebirah. Although very small, the sub was easy to work with, snapping together quickly, requiring no glue and just a little bit of trimming. We also like the artwork on the box. Thanks to the folks at Extreme Collectables for making these available at a very reasonable price.

Return to G-FEST XVII: The Videos

Some great video of G-FEST XVII has been added to www.g-fan.com. Re-live your memories or see what you're missing!

Behold...Quadzilla!

I almost forgot to post this photo, taken at the Geauga County Fair on Labor Day Weekend. Truth is indeed stranger than fiction...

G-FAN # 92 "Monster" Review

John at Monster Magazine World has posted a complimentary review of the latest issue of G-FAN on his comprehensive Blogspot site.

To check it out, click here: http://monstermagazineworld.blogspot.com

Baragon Mauls Madison

Here is a sample of what you'll see at Spaceman Floyd's Cosmic Toys in Madison, Ohio, courtesy of Matt Evangelista. While there this week, we saw people reacting to the models with amazed delight. I bet if you go see them, you will too!

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Any resemblance between these two photographs is purely coincidental.

Happy 64th birthday to my monster mentor!

Perry Library Showcases Cosmic Toys

Regular readers of Monsterland Ohio know that we have gained a little experience in putting display case exhibits together. It is at the point now where you might even call it a hobby. So when we learned that Jason, the owner of Spaceman Floyd's Cosmic Toys, had been asked to do a display at the Perry Library, we jumped at the chance to help out. Our enthusiasm to volunteer may have shocked him a little bit, but he agreed to our offer. So, the next morning, he met us at the library, talked about some of the concepts for each shelf, and let us go to it.

The display is a good cross-section of the types of vintage toys that are available at the store. If you come visit, you will see Star Trek, Star Wars, WWF wrestlers, Twilight Zone, Godzilla, King Kong, the Visible Woman being assembled by other feminine toys, and even Teddy Roosevelt riding a dewback (a big lizard from Star Wars). And yes, there is much, much more. Hurry in to see it, because it will only be there through the end of September.

One more thing: Jason is doing a presentation at the Perry Library on December 2 at 7:00 p.m. He will be talking about vintage toys, of course, mixing toy history with the psychology of boys' and girls' toys, and all of it fun and fascinating. Hope to see you there!