Saturday, August 27, 2011

IDW's GODZILLA Comic Books For November!

Source: IDW Publishing

In November IDW will add yet another title to their hugely popular Godzilla line with "Godzilla Legends"!

Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters #9

Jason Ciaramella (w) • Victor Santos (a) • David Messina (c)

As the dust settles on last issue's epic monster battle, humanity finds a silver lining among all the destruction, and things quiet down. But just because some of the monsters have retreated doesn't mean the rampage has ended… after all, there may be more gargantuan threats right around the corner. Whatever may be next, mankind may finally be ready to put up a fight!

*Retailers: See your order form for incentive information.
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

*Variant covers:
Matt Frank Gigan cover!

Bullet points:
Ask you retailer how to get a different character cover for each issue. In this issue: GIGAN!

Godzilla Legends #1 (of 5)

Matt Frank & Jeff Prezenkowski (w) • Matt Frank (a) • Bob Eggelton, Art Adams (c)

The Legends begin here! Presenting the first of five spotlight issues, each of which explore a self-contained story centering on one of Godzilla's fearsome foes! In this tale, drawn and co-written by Godzilla superstar artist Matt Frank, Anguirus, the armadillo-esque perpetual underdog, goes toe-to-toe with one of the most devastating monsters of all time—Destroyah! It's a classic tale of David vs. Goliath... monster style!

*2 regular covers will be shipped in a 1-to-1 ratio.
*Retailers: See your order form for incentive information.
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

*Variant covers:
Variant Matt Frank cover!
Unique hand-sketched cover by Matt Frank!

Bullet points:
Matt Frank is the artist behind the blockbuster 'Destroy Your Store' Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters #1 promotion and other white-hot Godzilla covers!
First-ever story centering on fan favorite Toho monster Anguirus!

Godzilla: Gangsters and Goliaths

John Layman (w) Alberto Ponticelli (a) Geof Darrow (c)

Detective Makoto Sato is on a quest to bring down the Takahashi crime syndicate. Sato's efforts earn him a one-way trip to a tropical getaway, courtesy of the Tokyo criminal underworld. The exotic locale? MONSTER ISLAND! Alone and facing death at the hands of both gangsters and goliaths, Sato must use his wits to survive—and enlist the aid of some most unusual friends. Join superstar creators John Layman (Chew) and Alberto Ponticelli (Unknown Soldier) for this unusual and exciting miniseries of monster mayhem!

HC FC $19.99 120 pages 6.625” x 10.187” ISBN: 978-1-61377-033-7

Bullet points:
“Layman does a great job filling in a little character and giving us the whole set-up… art work by Ponticelli is fantastic and his pencils fit right at home capturing the feeling of Monster Island.” — ComicAttack.net

“This comic feels like a newly-discovered 1960s Godzilla movie that was buried and somehow lost between classics like “Destroy All Monsters,” “Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster,” and “All Monsters Attack.” — ComicBookResources.com

See Also: Godzilla & Mechagodzilla SH Monster Arts Action Figures / GODZILLA vs HEDORAH 40th Anniversary Poster, Lobby Card And Photo Bonanza! / Godzilla Vs Hedorah (aka Godzilla Vs The Smog Monster)(1971)(Toho) / Godzilla Kingdom of Monsters #4 / New Japanese GODZILLA Video And Manga Bonanza! / Godzilla 2012 Poster: Real or Fake? /Dean Devlin Finally Takes Credit For GODZILLA (GINO) Failure / Godzilla Gangsters and Goliaths #1 San Diego Comic Con Varient / Godzilla - Kreeeang Silver T-Shirt /Loathing "King Kong vs. Godzilla"? / GODZILLA To Get Spoofed In NOTZILLA: DUKE OF THE MONSTERS / "Godzilla, King of the Monsters!" 55 Years Ago /IDW Releases Info On GODZILLA Comics For July / IDW Launches GODZILLA: KINGDOM OF MONSTERS eBay Auction To Aide Japan / GODZILLA: KINGDOM OF MONSTERS #4 And GODZILLA: GANGSTERS AND GOLIATHS Coming In June / Is Legendary Pictures About To Hand GODZILLA Over To Del Toro / Godzilla To Stomp On 70 Comic Book Stores This March /What Was It Like To Play Godzilla, King Kong, Rodan, Mothra ......? / Godzilla: Kaiju World Wars Board Game / The 100 Greatest Monsters From Movies And Television #10 - #1 /Godzilla Stomp Card Game / Gareth Edwards Talks About GODZILLA To The Press / Is There Going To Be A New "Japanese" Godzilla Movie In 2012? / Reflections On The Hiring Of Gareth Edwards As The Director of Godzilla / Gareth Edwards To Direct Legendary's Godzilla/More Info On GODZILLA MONSTER WORLD From IDW / Godzilla vs The Gryphon - Exclusive Art From Todd Tennant/ Godzilla - 13-Inch Plush - Doll / Chinese Entertainment Co. Buys Share In Legendary Pictures

Godzilla & Mechagodzilla SH Monster Arts Action Figures

YSource: Entertainment Earth

Godzilla SH Monster Arts Action Figure:

All hail this amazingly detailed S.H. MonsterArts Godzilla Action Figure!
Superb detail, from his eyes down to every scale on Godzilla's body.
Superior articulation, for a never-before-seen range of movement!
Rendered by the renowned Yuji Sakai.

All hail the S.H. MonsterArts Godzilla Action Figure! Measuring slightlyhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif over 6-inches tall, the figure is constructed of high-quality plastic materials for enhanced detail. Rendered by the renowned Yuji Sakai, it features unprecedented detail. Godzilla has 29 points of articulation. The superior articulation allows for depiction of Godzilla as seen swimming underwater! All the figures in this series will achieve a never-before-seen range of movement, as well as unprecedented levels of detail and coloring. That includes capturing fine points like the eye pupils and back plates!

Note: Bonus effect parts and special display stand for the effect parts are included in the first production wave only!

Order From Entertainment Earth For Only $69.99 Here!



Mechagodzilla SH Monster Arts Action Figure:

All hail this S.H. MonsterArts Mechagodzilla Action Figure!
Die-cast parts for faithful mechanical portrayal.
Parts and accessories to swap.
Enhanced detail, durability, and articulation. Display him in flight mode!

UX-02-93 Mechagodzilla features die-cast parts for additional weight and faithful mechanical portrayal, as well as high-quality plastic materials for enhanced detail, durability, and articulation. The superior articulation allows for portrayal of Mechagodzilla in flight mode! This high-end figure set also includes interchangeable hand, neck, tail parts, and mid-section parts (plasma grenade launcher!), as well as effect parts and a special display stand for the effect parts (first-edition bonus only).

As part of the SH MonsterArts line, all sculpts are rendered by renowned Yuji Sakai and feature unprecedented detail. The figures in this series will achieve a never-before-seen range of movement, and feature unprecedented levels of detail and coloring.

Order From Entertainment Earth For Only $80.99 Here!


See Also: GODZILLA vs HEDORAH 40th Anniversary Poster, Lobby Card And Photo Bonanza! / Godzilla Vs Hedorah (aka Godzilla Vs The Smog Monster)(1971)(Toho) / Godzilla Kingdom of Monsters #4 / New Japanese GODZILLA Video And Manga Bonanza! / Godzilla 2012 Poster: Real or Fake? /Dean Devlin Finally Takes Credit For GODZILLA (GINO) Failure / Godzilla Gangsters and Goliaths #1 San Diego Comic Con Varient / Godzilla - Kreeeang Silver T-Shirt /Loathing "King Kong vs. Godzilla"? / GODZILLA To Get Spoofed In NOTZILLA: DUKE OF THE MONSTERS / "Godzilla, King of the Monsters!" 55 Years Ago /IDW Releases Info On GODZILLA Comics For July / IDW Launches GODZILLA: KINGDOM OF MONSTERS eBay Auction To Aide Japan / GODZILLA: KINGDOM OF MONSTERS #4 And GODZILLA: GANGSTERS AND GOLIATHS Coming In June / Is Legendary Pictures About To Hand GODZILLA Over To Del Toro / Godzilla To Stomp On 70 Comic Book Stores This March /What Was It Like To Play Godzilla, King Kong, Rodan, Mothra ......? / Godzilla: Kaiju World Wars Board Game / The 100 Greatest Monsters From Movies And Television #10 - #1 /Godzilla Stomp Card Game / Gareth Edwards Talks About GODZILLA To The Press / Is There Going To Be A New "Japanese" Godzilla Movie In 2012? / Reflections On The Hiring Of Gareth Edwards As The Director of Godzilla / Gareth Edwards To Direct Legendary's Godzilla/More Info On GODZILLA MONSTER WORLD From IDW / Godzilla vs The Gryphon - Exclusive Art From Todd Tennant/ Godzilla - 13-Inch Plush - Doll / Chinese Entertainment Co. Buys Share In Legendary Pictures / Godzilla Goes Prime-Time! - Godzilla vs Megalon On NBC In 1977

GODZILLA vs HEDORAH 40th Anniversary Poster, Lobby Card And Photo Bonanza!

Written By: Ken Hulsey

This past weekend I posted an article that was very well received about classic monster movie posters so I have decided to turn the subject into a series of features here at Monster Island News. The only problem is .... where do I start? There are so many awesome sci fi, horror and monster movie posters out there it is hard to pinpoint just where to begin.

That's when it hit me.

As our very own Armand Vaquer noted in a couple of great pieces a few of weeks back this month marks the 40th anniversary of the release of "Godzilla vs Hedorah" in Japan so I figured this was as good a place to start as any.

To the left is one of the original Japanese adds for the film. As you probably have noticed the poster is rather tall and narrow. These "skinny" posters were displayed in Japanese theaters alongside standard sized ones to promote the film. As is typical of these posters this one contains giant sized lettering and a small graphic of the monsters at the bottom.

Here is a collection of "Godzilla vs Hedorah" posters, lobby cards, and promotional photos from around the globe:

Japan

Where better to start off this gallery than in the film's country of origin. Here is the original artwork for "Godzilla vs Hedorah" circa 1971.









Above are four Japanese promotional photos that would have been released to magazines and newspapers.

United States



Here in America the film was released under the title "Godzilla vs The Smog Monster". This is the poster that was featured in theaters during that release.

A promotional photo for American magazines and newspapers.

An "add slick" for "Godzilla vs The Smog Monster" for newspapers.

Italy


You really have to love this Italian poster. Strangely Godzilla has been replaced by a T-Rex.


Likewise in this companion poster Godzilla has been replaced by not just one dinosaur but two.


This lobby card features not only Godzilla and Hedorah but the Korean movie monster Yongary as well. Many foreign movie posters and lobby cards for Godzilla films often times feature monsters not in the movies themselves. Most often times it's Gamera who appears in these adds.







Poland

Most Polish Godzilla posters look like they are adds for The Beatles "Yellow Submarine". This one features Hedorah inside Godzilla's silhouette.

Germany


A German variation on the original Japanese poster art. The most obvious thing that stands out about this poster is the name "Frankenstein". Oddly all such German promotional materials for the films in the Godzilla movie series feature the names "Frankenstein" and "King Kong".I

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Criterion's Godzilla: New Developments

by Armand Vaquer


The kaiju world is abuzz at the prospect that Gojira (i.e., Godzilla) (1954) will receive a DVD/Blu-ray restoration treatment from Criterion.

Classic Media released a subtitled Japanese version along with the Americanized Godzilla, King of the Monsters! DVD set a few years ago that received a lot of kudos from fans. Having both movies released and restored by Criterion would be the icing on the cake.

Now, there's word that a fine-grain 35mm print of Godzilla, King of the Monsters! has been found. August Ragone has details on this at his blog.

The last version of Godzilla, King of the Monsters! was the closest thing to a restored print released (by Classic Media) to date, but it was pieced together from several sources and some items were edited in out of original order.

Having a fine-grain print available (provided it is still in good shape) on DVD would be tremendous! (August Ragone explains why.)

Above, the "Godzilla King of the Monsters! plaque at Frank del Olmo Elementary School in Los Angeles.

Godzilla, King of the Monsters! was the edited version by Terry Morse that featured Raymond Burr and was filmed at Visual Drama Studios in Los Angeles in 1956. A commemorative plaque has been placed at the location (now an elementary school).

It'll be interesting to see what transpires!

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Facts and Details Godzilla Page

by Armand Vaquer

Above, Miki Hayashi with "The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan is prominently mentioned in Facts and Details's page on Godzilla. My interview with The Daily Yomiuri is extensively quoted.

Also included is a photo of the premiere of Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-out Attack (2001) that I took.

It is interesting that Godzilla is referred to as "her."

Facts and Details is run by Jeff Hays, who describes himself:

I am a teacher and writer currently living in Saga, Japan. I was born in the Mojave Desert in California and brought up mostly in Reston Virginia, in the Washington D.C. suburbs. I graduated from Wesleyan University in 1979 and later took courses to be a high school teacher. Over the years I wrote about rock music and had some pieces published in the Washington Post, the NME, The Face and other publications, wrote a guide about sports in the Washington D.C. area, worked construction, did a stint as bike messenger in D.C. but mostly I have worked overseas as an English teacher—at an elementary school in Istanbul, language institutes and a university in South Korea, as a freelancer in Barcelona and for the last 10 years or so running my own little informal school in Japan. Being an English teacher is not a very high status job but it does allow one to travel around and has given me ample free time to pursue the website project that you see here.


There is a misquote. It was posted: "One place he didn’t visit, Vaquer told The Daily Yomiuri, was New York City, dismissing the monster in the 1998 U.S. film as GINO ("Godzilla In Name Only")." During The Daily Yomiuri interview, it was discussed that New York City wasn't included in the travel guide since it was only for locations in Japan. Fans are aware that the real (Japanese) Godzilla did pay a visit to New York City in Destroy All Monsters.

To view the site, go here.
"LEGENDARY PICTURES TO DEVELOP AND PRODUCE MAJOR MOTION PICTURE BASED ON TOHO COMPANY’S ICONIC MONSTER, GODZILLA

Burbank, CA – March 29, 2010 – Legendary Pictures announced today that they will develop and produce a new film based on Toho Company’s famed GODZILLA character. Through the terms of the agreement, Legendary Pictures has acquired the rights to produce a movie inspired by Toho’s Godzilla, a franchise the Japanese company created and has nurtured for over fifty years.

Toho’s GODZILLA franchise boasts one of the most widely recognized film creatures worldwide, resulting in a series of books, television programs, video games and more than 25 films worldwide. Legendary intends to approach the film and its characters in the most authentic manner possible. The company will, in the near future, announce a filmmaker to helm the film for an intended 2012 release. The film will fall under the company’s co-production and co-financing deal with Warner Bros. Toho will distribute the film in Japan."

"Godzilla" is coming back -- this time, with Legendary Pictures taking the lead, co-producing and co-financing with Warner Bros. for release in 2012.

Legendary announced Monday it had obtained rights to the iconic monster character from Japan's Toho Co., which has overseen more than 25 "Godzilla" films. Toho will release the pic in Japan.

Legendary said it's planning to announce a director shortly.

In addition to Legendary, producers on the new film will be Dan Lin, Roy Lee and Brian Rogers. Yoshimitsu Banno, Kenji Okuhira and Doug Davison will exec produce.

"Godzilla is one of the world's most powerful pop culture icons, and we at Legendary are thrilled to be able to create a modern epic based on this long-loved Toho franchise," said Thomas Tull, Chairman and CEO of Legendary. "Our plans are to produce the Godzilla that we, as fans, would want to see. We intend to do justice to those essential elements that have allowed this character to remain as pop-culturally relevant for as long as it has."

Legendary noted the film will fall under its co-production and co-financing deal with Warner Bros. Legendary's productions with Warners have included "The Dark Knight," "300" and "The Hangover."

Speculation about a new "Godzilla" has been active since last summer. The Bloody Disgusting web site reported in August that the project was in development.