Friday, May 30, 2014

[UPDATE]Hi-Res Promo Photos of SHMA Godzilla (2014) are here! (PLUS 3 EXCLUSIVES)



It's finally here after such a long wait! Absolutely breathtaking. Courtesy of Bandai Japan, the below photo is Godzilla (2014) posed next to the Godzilla Effects Set 2. Godzilla (2014) does NOT come with a beam effect. Product information for the North American release should be available soon. However, it's expected release date is October 2014 with an estimate MSRP of $66.99.

Godzilla Effects Set 2

[UPDATE] Product information and price is now available for Godzilla (2014) and Kiryu (2003). Kiryu pre-order links included!

Friday, May 23, 2014

Hi-Res Promo Stills of Kiryu (2003)!

Product information coming soon!

Site Updates:
  • Added "Out of Print" label to King Ghidorah & Kiryu (2002).
  • Added a Hi-Res images of Kiryu (2003).
  • Added Gigan (2004) Review.
  • Updated all buy it now links in the PAST RELEASES section.






Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Gigan (2004) Review!


Gigan, as it appears in “Godzilla: Final Wars,” is the third Millennium monster for the S.H.MonsterArts line. After what seemed like many web exclusive releases, Gigan is a regular release that’s priced at $94.99 in North America. Not being a fan of this particular incarnation, I find the price to be a little high. However, it’s a big figure with a lot of awesome features. The only Gigan figure I’ve ever owned was the Trendmasters figure, which was a stylized version of the 1972 incarnation. As with the rest of the line, I look for screen accurate monsters with relative scale within the line. Gigan meets most of these expectations, while reinventing others...

Monday, May 12, 2014

S.H.MonsterArts: The Articulation Series presents... Predator Wolf!


This episode highlights proper articulation using Wolf's head, neck, torso, arms, hands, legs, Plasma Caster, and Comp Controller. The special intro picks up where the Alien Warrior's special scene left off and continues with a skirmish between the two iconic creatures. Who will win?

Never Before Released Hi-Res Promo Stills of the Toho Ultimate Weapons & Godzilla Effects Set!



Before you get too excited, this isn't a reissue announcement. Never before released Hi-Res images of the Toho Ultimate Weapons & Godzilla Effects Set.. To this date, the highest unaltered resolution of the set was around 500x500 pixels. Thanks goes out to the folks at Bandai Japan for providing these images. Check them out!

Site Update:
  • Mothra & Gigan are now available at USA retailers. Namely Toy Arena and Anime King. Other bigger retailers like Amazon and BBTS are expected to have them in stock by the end of the week or earlier.
  • Moved Mothra & Gigan to the PAST RELEASES section.

Friday, May 9, 2014

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Get Your Monsters While You Can...


Today I visited Bluefin. A lot of wonderful things to come with the S.H.MonsterArts line.

  • With Godzilla (2014) coming soon, sales of the S.H.MonsterArts line have been doing very well. So well that most of the past released figures are now currently out of print. Meaning, Bluefin no longer has them in inventory. While I don't have a complete list to offer, I can confirm that most past releases all the way to Godzilla 2000 Millennium are already out of production. What is on the market, ie Amazon, BBTS, Image Anime, Entertainment Earth, is all that is available. Get your monsters while you can because if you're waiting for a deal like 30-50% off, you may lose your chance and suffer the inflated secondary market. Re-issues in the future? It's up to Tamashii Nations.
  • The Akiba Showroom on May 10th will be showing off it's complete summer collection. However, due to product restrictions made by Toho for its Japan consumers, the S.H.MonsterArts Godzilla 2014 figure will be covered by a veil. This could change if Toho lifts the product restrictions early, but time will tell.
  • As some of you know, Bluefin Distribution is trying to arrange an earlier unveiling of the S.H.MonsterArts Godzilla 2014 figure for American consumers. What it boils down to is approval from both companies, Toho & Warner Brothers. If they do get approval, watch Bluefin's facebook page for the announcement. To reiterate, they are trying to unveil it to American consumers VERY SOON.
  • The near future for S.H.MonsterArts line? There's more Heisei coming our way. Release slots have already been locked till the first quarter of 2015. This doesn't mean that there won't be Millennium or Showa surprises in the mix though, so cross your fingers!

Saturday, May 3, 2014

Battra (Adult) Review!


Continuing the Heisei era, Battra (Adult) joins the S.H.MonsterArts line. Released as a web exclusive in Japan, Battra is priced at $64.99 in North America. It’s not a bad price, but it isn’t greatest deal either. Unfortunately, being labeled a web exclusive tends to increase prices. Nevertheless, Battra is a long awaited entry and I was very excited for it when it was announced. The only figure I’ve ever owned of Battra was the 90s Trendmasters figure, which actually wasn’t all that bad given how cartoony that line was. That being said, I was looking forward to its screen accuracy and scale within the rest of the line. It doesn’t disappoint, however, it’s far from perfect...