Last year, for Thanksgiving, I reviewed a figure of King Kong with the promise that I would return with another Kong for 2025. I also explained why I associated Thanksgiving with the mighty monkey but if you missed it, you can read it here. True to my word, I’m back with another Kong, and this year’s Kong figure is a major improvement over last year’s.
Classification: Science fiction
Little Godzilla (All Monster Encyclopedia, HG Godzilla Gashapon Series 1 by Bandai)
5 (3 votes)
On a recent trip to Target a unique assortment of blind bag figures caught my eye, Godzilla Gashapon figures by Bandai! Looking at the lineup of characters that you might get on the packaging, I decided that I would be happy enough getting any of them that it was worth gambling with my money.
Creature from the Black Lagoon (Little Windups by Azrak Hamway)
5 (2 votes)
Not since the beginning of time has the world beheld terror like this! Centuries of passion pent up in his savage heart! Terrifying monster ravages mankind!
And so reads the tagline for Universal’s Creature from the Black Lagoon. Released in 1954, Creature from the Black Lagoon was, like all the Universal monster movies, a special effects triumph.
Wampa (1981), The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars, by Kenner
4.5 (2 votes)
The wampa is a yeti-like hairy creature that inhabits the icy planet of Hoth (the sixth planet of the Hoth System). It appears in the beginning of The Empire Strikes Back (1980), attacking Luke Skywalker and his tauntaun mount, dragging them back to his cave. Of course, Luke escapes, dismembering the poor hungry wampa in the process.
Alien Queen (Aliens, Movie Maniacs Series 6 by McFarlane Toys)
5 (3 votes)
Today I’m finally sharing one of the crown jewels of my collection, monster or otherwise, the Alien Queen by McFarlane Toys, part of the Movie Maniacs line. I’ve been planning on reviewing this one since the blog was launched but had it packed away so that young eyes wouldn’t be disturbed by its horrifying tableau.
Godzilla (1998) (Electronic Rumble Roar ‘N Power Blast by Toy Biz Inc.)
3.4 (5 votes)
Although I enjoy virtually all the Godzilla movies there’s one Godzilla film that I cannot abide, the 1998 Roland Emmerich film. That’s not a hot take. The movie has a 20% critic’s score on Rotten Tomatoes, which means it must be bad, since Invasion of the Astro Monster has a 50%.
Godzilla ’65 (Victory Celebration) (Super7 Toho Reaction Figures)
3.7 (7 votes)
Since 1954, Godzilla has appeared in 38 films. He has been both a hero and villain, and the films have been both serious social commentary and cheesy schlock. Halfway through the original Shōwa era (1954–1975) of films Godzilla began his transition from a terrifying force of nature to a kid-friendly superhero of sorts.
Battra (4” & 6”) (Trendmasters)
3.8 (10 votes)
We’ve already looked at a couple different Mothra figures so now it’s time to look at Mothra’s villainous doppelganger, the dark moth, Battra. Battra isn’t evil per se, he just wants to rid the world of humanity. He regards humans as a blight on the planet that he is supposed to protect, which is fair.
Mothra (6”) (Trendmasters)
3.8 (6 votes)
In my last review I introduced the company Trendmasters to the blog, and in the review before that I introduced Mothra, albeit in larval form. Considering that, it seems like an ideal time to look at the adult Mothra by Trendmasters. As I mentioned in my Biollante review, Trendmasters produced toys in 4”, 6”, and 10” size ranges, with some able to make sound.
Biollante (4″ & 6″) (Trendmasters)
4.3 (8 votes)
Biollante is a hybrid kaiju created by Dr. Genichiro Shiragami through the combination of DNA from his deceased daughter, a rose, and Godzilla. Initially looking more like a gigantic rose, Biollante eventually morphs into a monster that’s basically a plant version of Godzilla, resulting in one of the coolest kaiju in Toho’s roster.
Shimo (Giant)(Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire by Playmates)
2.8 (5 votes)
Shimo, sometimes called the World Ender, the Blizzard Lizard, the Bringer of Ice Ages, and the Monster Whose Breath Makes the Ocean Into Stone, is a ginormous Kaiju, far larger than Godzilla himself, with ice-based powers capable of wreaking havoc on the planet. She is, however, a benevolent beast, and most of the devastation she caused over the millenia was due to her enslavement by the vile Skar King.
