Monster Memory

The Monsterland crew with Loren Coleman

A couple weeks ago we had the distinct pleasure of meeting someone whose writing has fired the imagination of numerous readers. His name is Loren Coleman, and if the name sounds familiar to you, it is because he is the foremost cryptozoologist in North America and quite probably the world. Mr. Coleman has earned that distinction not only through the publication of many thought-provoking books, but also by making quite a few television appearances on shows such as MonsterQuest. His main project these days involves serving as curator of the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, Maine. For more about the museum, go here.

Coleman's book "Mysterious America" was a landmark book for me; up until then I was primarily interested in Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster, but "Mysterious America" unfolded a far stranger picture of reality that was far closer to home than I ever expected. Of great interest to me still is the "name game," as Coleman refers to it, which is a way of describing the link between strange phenomena and the name of the place where it is experienced. For example, the word "devil" in a place name (Devil's Lake, Devil's Pass, and so on) is often a signal that weird things have long been connected with a given location. "Mysterious America" was also my introduction to the name Charles Fort and the adjective "fortean." (If you want more on Fort go here. ) I have fond memories of repeatedly checking the book out from my local library, and can still see its black and white cover in my mind's eye. (That was, I believe, the first edition.) In writing an article about "The Legend of Boggy Creek" for Mad Scientist #22, I relied on Coleman's "Bigfoot: The True Story of Apes in America" for information and inspiration, and was happy to learn that at least one person got a big kick out of the retrospective (Letters, MS #24).

Getting to speak with Loren Coleman was a dream come true for me, but what was even better was finding out that he was a genuinely kind and decent man who took the time to remember Andy's name and encourage him in his studies. It was also great fun to talk with him about Toho's "Half Human," which was his childhood entry point into the world of the unexplained. (This link takes you to a previous post here at M.O., which serves as a reminder that Mr. Coleman was interviewed by Brett Homenick in G-FAN #69 specifically about "Half Human." All these connections boggle the mind.)

And did I mention it was Andy's tenth birthday? It was one we will never, ever forget.

G-FEST XX Updates

G-FEST XX is on the horizon, and plans are rounding into shape. This year's guests are suitmaker Shinichi Wakasa and suit actor Tsutomu Kitagawa, both of whom were involved in the Millennium Series. G-FEST stalwart Robert Scott Field (Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah) will also be on hand. Another intriguing guest will be filmmaker Shizuo Nakajima, whose "Wolfman, the Legendary Colossal Beast vs. Godzilla" made quite a stir when it was shown in part at last year's G-FEST.

On the movie front, "Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla," "Gamera vs. Gaos" and "Gamera 3: Awakening of Irys" have been announced, but no times have been set as of this writing. The Thursday double-double feature is happening again this year for those who enjoy the "full immersion" experience. (I most certainly do.)

The programming this year will include the return of the G-FEST Kid's Thread, which offers children of all ages lots of Godzilla goodness. We here at Monsterland Ohio have the privilege of organizing this portion of G-FEST. If you will be at G-FEST XX and would be willing to lead a 20-30 minute session for a bunch of kaiju kids, please drop us a line at matzkemark@hotmail.com.  

Stunning Godzilla News!

The good folks at Legendary Pictures have released this photograph, announcing that Akira Takarada has indeed filmed a cameo for Legendary's "Godzilla." He is pictured here with director Gareth Edwards.

Super-fan Tim Bean has been leading the charge for a couple years to persuade the folks at Legendary to cast Takarada in the film. A few rumors were circulating that the distinguished actor had been spotted in Vancouver, but nothing had been substantiated...until now.

It is difficult to overstate how much goodwill this news will create among hardcore Godzilla fans. It sends the message that Legendary "gets it" and will not squander this opportunity to bring Godzilla to a worldwide audience.

G-FAN: Final Poll

Issue 102 of G-FAN is putting out the call to all kaiju fans--it is time to have your opinion duly noted! G-FAN: Final Poll is your chance to sound off on all things giant and Japanese. Although having a copy of G-FAN in hand is always preferable, anyone with internet access can participate. Go here to get started.

MSN Godzilla

Not exactly sure why, but MSN Nerdcore is running a minute-and-a-half, somewhat arbitrary "Godzilla's Best Movies" slideshow. Whatever--it's Godzilla, right? Is this a preview of the cultural ripples that Legendary's Godzilla will be making? Watch for yourself here.

One of a Kind

Our "Invasion of Astro-Monster" poster signed by Akira Takarada

We just received G-FAN #102 in the mail. Included in this issue is the earlybird registration form for G-FEST, which always inspires a little daydreaming around these parts. Readers of this blog will know that G-FEST is a big deal for our family and has become a centerpiece of our summers. It provides fans of Japanese monsters and fantasy with opportunities that are exceedingly rare, such as the chance to come face to face with stars of the genre. Above you see the autograph that was given to us by Akira Takarada this past year, and it is hard to put into words what it is like to have met and thanked people like him. It certainly adds a new dimension to these films to know that you have shaken hands with the actors, and they now have a sense of how much Western fans enjoy their work. All of which is to say that if you have never been to a G-FEST before but have an interest in going, you need to find a way to get there, at least once. I think you will be amazed by the creativity and comraderie you will discover.

Tweet Godzilla to Death!

G-FEST and G-FAN are now represented on twitter! To become a follower, go here.

Mad Scientist Shipping Soon

 

The most excellent fanzine Mad Scientist (Issue # 26) is ready for pre-order and should be shipping soon. Just look at that cover! To secure your own copy, please go here.

Ultraman's Scrapbook

Looking back on G-FEST 19, one moment that stands out was a Sunday panel with Bin Furuya. While answering questions about his career, he also brought a few tangible items from his personal collection that were pretty impressive. One of those items was his own photo scrapbook, which he freely shared with us participants. It was a rare opportunity for Western fans to flip through the pages of Ultraman's scrapbook!

In this still from Monster Zero, Nick Adams and Akira Takarada are in the orange flight suits. Mr. Furuya is one of the black and grey Xians.

This is a great shot of Bin Furuya and his alter ego.



A gathering of Ultra-heroes: Kohji Moritsugu (Dan Moroboshi from Ultraseven); Susumu Kurobe (Shin Hayata from Ultraman) and Bin Furuya (Ultraman's man in the suit).



Sayonara 2012



The Monsterland Ohio Boys meet Ultraman, Bin Furuya

2012 is in the books, and here at Monsterland Ohio it's time to look back on a pretty huge year. Those who care to check this blog out from time to time no doubt noticed a big fat chunk of no posts from September until now. Suffice it to say that my vocation demanded a great deal of my energy and attention over that stretch. The time is right to get back in the game, especially with big kaiju-related treats on the horizon.

The year began with a bang: we had the rare opportunity to attend a filming of Animal Planet's hit series "Finding Bigfoot" and meet the cast. The questions we were given to ask ended up being included, and ever since the episode aired we have had people mention the fact that they had seen us on TV. Although the "best-of" show never ended up on iTunes, I'm hopeful that it will be included on future DVD releases. We were expecially pleased that cast member Ranae Holland visited the blog and gave it a glowing review on her Facebook fan page.

Another highlight of 2012 was having articles included in G-FAN issues 98 and 100. By strange serendipity, my transcript of a panel called "Discovering the Daikaiju Genre" appeared in the milestone hundredth issue, and seemed to fit perfectly from a thematic standpoint. (I have Martin Arlt to thank, so thank you, Martin!)

G-FEST XIX lived up to the hype (and then some). The dynamic duo of Akira Takarada and Bin Furuya helped attract an unprecedented number of fans. We were happy to contribute to the festivities with a Kid's Thread that went very well, and I had the fun of being invited to participate in a panel at the last minute. On a personal note, having my mom and dad on hand made this a very special occasion, in addition to renewing friendships with our kaiju friends from across the globe. The unique fellowship among G-FESTers is one of the main reasons this gathering has become an annual event for us, and we hope to bring more family and friends along for G-FEST XX.



with Robert Scott Field at G-FEST XIX



It was a good year for home video releases. Chief among them was Criterion's Blu-ray release of "Godzilla," featuring David Kalat's commentary track. The Blu-ray release of "Godzilla vs. Biollante" was a pleasant surprise. Christmas additions to our collection were the UltraSeven series and Daimajin trilogy. There should be plenty to watch and review in 2013.

The end of the year was puntcuated by a meeting of the Cuyahoga Kaiju Club. We were able to get together to enjoy some "traditional monster violence." S.H. MonsterArts figures have become very popular with some in the club, and it was cool to see figures like Mechagodzilla up close. Hopes are pretty high for "Pacific Rim" and what it might mean for the impending Legendary Godzilla film. Even though we were there very briefly, it was great to see everyone in the CKC, and it sounds like our group is going to be well represented at G-FEST XX.

We wish you monster fun in 2013!

Finding Bigfoot Season Premiere

Animal Planet has announced the new season of "Finding Bigfoot" will begin November 11th at 10 p.m., with a 9:00 p.m. "pre-show" leading up to the episode.

"Finding Bigfoot" routinely takes a beating in online forums for a variety of reasons, to which I say, "Who cares?" The show is fun. It is post-modern folklore. It is character-driven. The search is the point, not the result. But I digress. Having met the cast, I am pulling for them. They are great to their fans and very generous with their time. We are very much looking forward to a twenty-episode, internationally flavored Season Three. For more info on "Finding Bigfoot" go here.

G-FAN #100; It's a Monster

The one-hundredth issue of G-FAN magazine is arriving in mailboxes across North America as of this writing. It is appropriately gargantuan, with lots of special artwork for the occasion. I am especially glad that Martin Arlt (editor and publisher of Mad Scientist magazine) took up the gauntlet of a "100 Best Moments" article--can't wait to settle in and savor that one.

This issue looks to be an excellent representation of North American Godzilla fandom that falls under the G-FAN/G-FEST umbrella. My "toybox of life" is much richer for having G-FAN to explore on a quarterly basis. Kudos to J.D. Lees and every contributor for sharing their enthusiaism for this genre!

Thanks for visiting Monsterland Ohio--more G-FEST reports are on the way...

G-FEST XIX: Kaiju U. "The Godfather of G-FEST"

Akira Takarada's return made for an extra special experience.

His affection for his North American fans is genuine!

G-FEST XIX: Kaiju U. "Ultra Fans"

After the kaiju kids' thread wrapped up, we headed upstairs, and happened upon Mr. Bin Furuya--Ultraman himself. Thanks to Tim Bean for loaning Andy his Beta Capsule; it makes this a priceless shot.

G-FEST XIX: Kaiju U. "Good Morning, Class"

Tim Bean, collector of all things Ultra

It was not a clean break from the end of Tom Tvrdik's art session to the beginning of Tim Bean's presentation. The child artists were still very much involved in their creations when Tim and I got his DVD up and running. However, as images of vinyl delights began to appear onscreen, attention began to shift, gradually at first, and then growing in intensity over the next twenty-five minutes.

Tim shared footage of figures from Japan's Bandai Museum, which is enough to cause embarrasing salivation from kaiju collectors. But then the video presentation turned to his own gargantuan collection, and by this time, a number a kids (and their parents) had amassed near the front of the room, and began to pepper Tim with questions and comments. It became a very interactive session, and was also pretty awe-inspiring, as Tim shared not only what he collected but why.



Andy takes aim at clueless kaiju



Last up was yours truly, giving a madcap half-hour crash course entitled "Diary of a Kaiju: All of Godzilla's Films in Thirty Minutes." Using a Powerpoint presentation timed to change slides once a minute, I broke down each film's plot from a kids' perspective. In other words, my point was not to say, "This is the best Godzilla film," or "This is the worst." I just treated each film as a vaild document about Godzilla (which is really what kids do) and tried to mix in a few interesting factoids for the adults who were present. How did I do? Aaron (Dr. AC) Christensen, writing on his blog, "Horror 101 with Dr. AC," called it "an awesomely inspired whirlwind tour," which is a better assessment than I could've hoped for, and was grateful to receive.

And then, just like that, the allotted two hours were gone. The kids' thread completely exceeded my expectations in terms of participation, and the presenters--J.D., Tom, and Tim, each brought a unique perspective and activity to the table. Best of all, Andy and I both made new friends, sharing the instant bond that happens the moment you ask, "You mean, you like Godzilla, too?" (Right here I'd like to give a special G-greeting to our friend Tommy from Wisconsin--looking forward to seeing you at G-FEST 20!)



Your friendly author firing up the laptop for "Diary of a Kaiju"