SHOWA

The Showa era began in 1954 and ended in 1975, it was the longest running era of the Godzilla series. Originally the first Godzilla was meant to be in stop motion, but there was none who was experienced at stop motion. However men in suits was popular in the same way. Some Kaiju characters came and went, others came and stayed. There were some characters who had there own spin off movies before appearing in a Godzilla film. My favourite Showa figures are Gigan, Godzilla, Anguirus, Rodan, Baragon, Varan, Gorosaurus, Megalon, King Caesar and King Ghidorah.   

GODZILLA

Figure
This is not the original Godzilla 1954, this is the third version the 1962 Godzilla from the legendary King Kong vs Godzilla and out of all the depictions of the King of the Monsters, this is my favourite. This figure is green but according to fans he is a grey or greyish, greenish colour, personal it doesn't bother me if the figure is green. At some angles Godzilla looks like a Muppet. My only complete about the figure is the licence on the tail, it's not on the bottom but on the side. Overall this is a nice figure, I give it 4/5.


Real Counterpart
Godzilla is a cross between a Tyrannosaurus Rex and a Stegosaurus because of the spikes, even though they don't look identical to a Stegosaurs but since the King is a mutant they cannot be accurate. In Japan he is called Gojira named after the director who was a big tough man named Ishiro Honda. The Showa Godzilla started out as a villain and a force of destruction or natures wrath, but over the years he rescued the Earth and the human race from evil Monsters from outer space and by the 70's he became a hero to the kids and the rest of the world. Godzilla has even befriended some of the Monsters who he originally battled with.





ANGUIRUS

Figure

The figure of Anguirus that you are looking at right now is the Destroy All Monsters version. Anguirus isn't completely black in real life, it's just the way the figure is portrayed. On one side his pupil is black like it should be, but on the other side the black is at the side of the pupil so it looks like Anguirus is looking down. Another grape that I have with this figure are the horns, when I got the figure I thought that there was something wrong with them and when I saw images of the real Anguirus I realised what it was. The horns are on the wrong way round! He looks as if he's combed them. Excepted for these issues this is a nice figure and is one of my favourites. 3/5


Real Counterpart
Anguirus was Godzilla's first rival in the second film, Godzilla Raids Again 1955. He would later become Godzilla's ally and his best friend. Anguirus is an interesting Kaiju because he is a mutated Armadillo, but still reptilian in appearance. He is supposed to be an Ankylosaurus with the face of a Dragon, but doesn't breath fire unlike the King of the Monsters but can roll into a spiky ball. Anguirus appeared through out the Showa era, big role or cameo. He did not appear in the Heisei era but returned in Godzilla Final Wars 2004.




RODAN

Figure

This figure is based on the original Rodan from the 1955 movie Rodan, yes this guy had his own film. The wings have a great feel to them, it feels like a leathery feeling. The detail on this figure is great, it resembles a guy in a suit. I like the figures pose, I believe it's meant to represent Rodan when he flaps his wings to create hurricanes. Fans may say that he is flying, but I don't think so because if he was flying. Then he would be looking ahead and there would be a flight stand like Mothra. I have no problems in the figure, it is perfect 5/5.


Real Counterpart
Rodan is a giant Pterodactyl from the dawn of time who was awaken by either nuclear explosion like Godzilla or it was mining, I don't know I havened seen the movie. When he and Godzilla meat for the first time they were enemies, but after defeating King Ghidorah many times they became friends but not as much as Anguirus. When Rodan first appeared he resembled a Pterodactyl, but later on in the series he looked more like a drunken bird. Rodan returned in the Heisei series looking like a proper Pterodactyl and was called Fire Rodan. He was last seen in Godzilla Final Wars looking Showa because he stood upright, but with the skin colour of Fire Rodan.



MOGUERA

Figure

I never was a fan of Moguera, it wasn't until I saw the show Starlight Express, the costumes reminded me of the classic Moguera and that's how Moguera became part of the collection. When I got the figure the antennae were bent, but over time they have straiten out. The figure has no articulation which is the only down side. One thing that sticks out on this figure is the shovel like jaw, in the movie the shovel is there but it's tiny and unnoticeable. On many figures of Moguera the shovel is huge, but on this figure it's on the neck. This is another nice figure and one of my favourites. 5/5


Real Counterpart

When people think of Moguera, they think of the Heisei Moguera from Godzilla vs Spacegodzilla. This Moguera first appeared in the 1957 movie The Mysterians. He was created by the Mysterians to invade the Earth. He emerges from a mountain and like any Giant Monster or Robot corers destruction. He trashes' a village until he crosses a bridge, which is a bad move. But there was more than one Moguera, the second Moguera is seen tunnelling underground. The movie isn't about Moguera, he is just one of the weapons that the Mysterians use.







VARAN

Figure

This is one my most favourite figures because Varan is one of my favourite characters along side Gigan and Ghidorah. The figures spins have a delicate feel to them, so this is not a toy you would give to rough kids. There is something that I have noticed on the figures head and that's at the side of the head. On the left the top horn is pointing straight and on the right the top horn is half way down, this is no complete because the Varan costumes horn was like that. I like the blood vessels on the wing membranes, I have no problems with this figure. It's another 5/5.


Real Counterpart

I feel sorry for Varan mainly because he's under rated and people prefer Mothra raver than Varan, but not me I like Varan I think he is a good looking Monster. Like Rodan he too had his own movie, Varan The Unbelievable 1957 and he made a tiny cameo in 1968's Destroy All Monsters. There were some unmade movies that Varan was going to appear in such as All Monsters Attack (Directive) The Return of King Ghidorah and Godzilla X Varan Baragon & Anguirus Giant Monsters All Out Attack. Varan is described as a flying Squirrel like Lizard, he has no super powers he can only glide. He cannot flap, just glide. The under rated Kaiju has appeared in comics and a couple of video games such as Godzilla Monster of Monsters on the NES and Godzilla Unleashed on the Wii. Will Varan get a change to shine in the spot light? Hopefully, I mean he looks more cooler then an oversized Moth!





KING GHIDORAH

Figure
Oh my God this figure is so freakin awesome and is my most favourite Gashapon figure! He has great detail. I like the three heads, the middle head has the mouth open and the other two are closed. I like how the left foot is up a bit to look like he is going to step on something, very clever. The heads are attached to the necks like the two tails are attached to each other. This is one of the best Gashapon figures, high grade is high quality! If you are going for a miniature figure of King Ghidorah, go for this one. 5/5


Real Counterpart

Godzilla's top enemy is the three headed Dragon from outer space, King Ghidorah. He was originally called Ghidrah, but as the years went on the name became Ghidorah and has stuck ever since. Dragons breath fire, but not Ghidorah. No he breaths electricity and like Rodan his wings create hurricanes. Ghidorah returned many times in all three series, even in the Rebirth of Mothra trilogy. Ghidorah's first Monster battles were with against Godzilla Mothra and Rodan, in the following film he was against Godzilla and Rodan and in Destroy all Monsters the three headed Dragon was against seven Monsters! The only Monster who King Ghidorah teamed up with in the Showa series was Gigan.




BARAGON

Figure

BARAGON BITCHES! Another of my favourite figures. The High Grade Baragon that you are looking at right now is brown, however I have seen that in some photo's of this figure in green. So I don't know if there are two versions of this figure, one light brown like my figure and second is green or it depends on the camera quality. The detail is good and it has cresses' to give the impression that it's a suit. The only down side to this figure is the horn, I know it's a miniature figure so it cannot be helped. The horn is straight, but in the movie it curves up. At least the back is accurate to the suit. 4/5


Real Counterpart

Baragon is another under rated Kaiju who appeared in a spin off movie, Frankenstein vs Baragon a.k.a Frankenstein Conquers the world. He is a throw back to the Dinosaurs, but he looks more like a Mammal like Reptile from the Permian period because he is a Reptile in Mammalian form. Baragon can go underground and course earthquakes and make huge cracks, so no one is safe when Baragon is underground. Baragon made a cameo in Destroy All Monsters, and was suppose to have more scenes were he attacks Paris but was replaced with Gorosaurus. His suit was many times in the Japanese TV show Ultraman, but protrude as other Monsters. After Destroy All Monsters Baragon wasn't seen again until 2001, Godzilla Mothra & King Ghidorah Giant Monsters all out attack. I use to think that Baragon was a Cyclops because his horn blocks his other eye, he isn't a Cyclops.




GOROSAURUS

Figure

Another nice figure and another under rated character. The stomach is red where really it should be light pool green and only the chin should be red. There are two versions on this figure, this one and one were the colour on the stomach is correct. The teeth are nicely sculpted and the tail is long just like the real thing. What I love about this figure is the spin on the back and it ends with a spike on the tip of the tail, I' m not sure wither or not Gorosaurus has a spike on the end of his tail, but it looks nice and I like it. 4/5



Real Counterpart
Gorosaurus' first appearance wasn't in a Godzilla movie, but in a King Kong film. King Kong Escapes. He was used as the Dinosaur in the film, he had a fight with Kong until he got his jaw broken. He returned in Destroy All Monsters. Gorosaurus is well known for his fatality move, the Kangaroo kick. This kick is so powerful he was capable of putting King Ghidorah down and keeping him on the ground. This image that you are looking at is a scene that did not have Gorosaurus in the poles, Gorosaurus was seen on Mondo island. Perhaps he was going to be in the poles, but the scene was scrapped. Gorosaurus has only appeared in two movies, will Gorosaurus appeared in another film? Only time will tell.




GIGAN

Figure

Gigan is my favourite character and this figure is differently a favourite. The colour of this figure a bluely greenly colour and a bright gold. The wings should be pointing out, but they are closed in a bit probable due to the packet that the figure was in. The buzz saw is very nice, it is Gigan's most recognizable feature. In fact the figure is in the pose that Gigan makes when he has his buzz saw on. My only complete on this figure is the licence that say's China on the left side of the tail, but luckily it doesn't stick out like a saw thump. This is another nice I give it 4/5.


Real Counterpart

Although his first film is under rated, Gigan is a popular Kaiju. He has metal hooks for hands and a buzz saw on the chest and he comes from the planet Nebula. He can fly and move like lighten. When Godzilla was getting electrocuted by the Godzilla Tower Anguirus attempted to save Godzilla, but was blocked by Gigan and every time he got close Gigan had his buzz saw on. One year later Gigan returned in Godzilla vs Megalon, but the suit was little different. His eye was bigger and a bit sad looking and he looked as if he was over sized. Gigan is often descript as a space Chicken, but he is a Reptilian Alien.
                                                                                  
                                                                                  
                                                                             
MEGALON

Figure
Not all but some of the High Grade figures when removed from their packets have a tiny bit of a sticky feeling to them and Megalon is one of them. Eventually it wares off. The figure is one of the 3 inch figures. The drills have a bit of a dirty look to them, well Megalon is an underground Monster. I have hard that the right arm can move up and down, but I havened tried it because I don't want to damage a figure that is extremely hard to find in the UK. The paint work is nice and the pose is intimidating in the classic attack pose. The problem I have with the figure is the horn, the horn is suppose to be silver. 4/5



Real Counterpart
Megalon is not only an underground Kaiju, but he is a Monster from the centre of the Earth.  Megalon can spit bombs from his jaws and shot lighten from his horn. He is sent from the kingdom of the Seatopians when the human race are conducting nuclear tests. The Seatopians use a Robot called Jet Jaguar to guide Megalon to the city, until the humans get Jet Jaguar under their control and Megalon without a guide goes berserk. Later Megalon and Jet Jaguar get into the fight, so the Seatopians contact the Nebulans who send Gigan. Megalon and Gigan beat up Jet Jaguar until Godzilla shows up. After Gigan retreats Megalon is on his own and after been dealt with by the King of the Monsters Megalon retreats and is never seen again. Megalon has retuned in fan made films on YouTube, video games and the show Godzilla Island. Will Megalon return for real? Fingers crossed he will.



JET JAGUAR

Figure

Interesting story behind this figure, I got this figure by accident. I ordered two other figures, Varan and Megalon. However the next morning I got a message from EBay saying that there was a third figure that was sent by mistake, so I had three figures coming and the mystery figure was revealed as Jet Jaguar. This is a cool figure and I am glad that I have it because that means I have the Godzilla vs Megalon set! The eyes are blue were they should be black, but when his lights came on they were blue. So that's right, but it was a bright blue not dark. I absolutely love the pose of this figure, nothing else to say over than 5/5.


Real Counterpart
Jet Jaguar was created by an elementary school student as part of a contest for kids to create their own Robot superhero which was a craze in Japan that time when the TV show Ultraman was popular. Originally Jet Jaguar was going to star in his own film and his thou would be Megalon, I'm not sure if Gigan was also going to be involved or not. The idea was half scrapped because it was decided that the movie would make more money if Godzilla was in it, so that is why Godzilla looks like Kermit the Frog because the new suit was incomplete. (BIDG) Jet Jaguar was created by a scientist and was under his control, until the Seatopians take over and used him to guide Megalon. Eventually Jet Jaguar had a mind of his own and went to battle Megalon. Megalon laughed at the little metal man, until he grow 50 meters! Jet Jaguar takes on Megalon until Gigan shows up and Jet gets owned. After the battle with Megalon and Gigan, Godzilla and Jet Jaguar shake hands and Godzilla goes home and Jet Jaguar shrinks to normal size and gets his own song.





MECHAGODZILLA

Figure

Mechagodzilla is my fifth favourite character and this version of Mechagodzilla is my favourite. Unfortunately this figure is one of my least favourites because although it's a miniature Gashapon figure, it's too small and because of that. Most of the figures with the acceptation of Anguirus, Varan, Kumonga and Kamacuras tower over him including King Caesar. At times the figure will fall on to it's front and will not stand up for a while, so at times it needs support from the other figures. There is a second bigger figure that is better. At least this the paint job is correct, the pose is good and so is the detail. 2/5


Real Counterpart
Mechagodzilla is robotic version of Godzilla who has many weapons such as finger missals, toe missals and laser eyes. The original Mechagodzilla was created by Alien space Apes and when they sent him on the loss, he was disguised as Godzilla. Anguirus shows up and tries to fight the fake Godzilla, while fighting the fake Godzilla he rips a bit of skin off exposing metal underneath. He brakes Anguirus' jaw and Anguirus retreats. Later the real Godzilla shows up and fights the fake Godzilla exposing more metal until it is revealed as Mechagodzilla. Mechagodzilla became Godzilla's top enemy along side King Ghidorah, but in second place. He defeats Godzilla and courses' more terry. His next encounter is with a Lion god Kaiju named King Caesar who we will be looking at next. Godzilla returns and he and King Caesar battle Mechagodzilla, Mechagodzilla gets his metal head ripped off and the King of the Monsters destroys him. One year later Mechagodzilla returned in a sequel called Terror of Mechagodzilla. He teamed up with an aquatic Kaiju named Titanosaurus. Godzilla pulls Mechagodzilla head off again, but this time he has a weapon underneath. So he can still fight back with out the head. 




KING CAESAR

Figure

To close the Showa collection we have the Lion god Kaiju, King Caesar. This is another nice figure. I'm not a huge fan of this guy, but over time the character has grown on me. I like the look of this figure, you know those statues in Japan that look it Lions. Well I believe that's what King Caesar is based on. King Caesar looks like a mixed ferity of Mammal and Reptile, but he is a Mammal. The third eye looks good, a real Asian look. The only issue with this figure are with the arms and feet, they can sometimes come out easily. This doesn't happen often. Overall this is another nice figure for your collection. 4/5


Real Counterpart

King Caesar was a bonus Monster in Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla. He is a lazy Kaiju because he will not wake up unless you sing to him and as soon as you have finished singing to him, he will wake up exploding. King Caesar was the guardian of the Azumi family, so basically he is a protector I wish I had a guardian Monster. He battles Mechagodzilla, but he gets his arse handed to him. At one point he is about to admit defeat until Godzilla returns for a rematch with Mechagodzilla. When Mechagodzilla is pinned by Godzilla, King Caesar rams into the mechanical Kaiju. Once Mechagodzilla is defeated Godzilla returns to Monster island and King Caesar returns to his cave. King Caesar appeared in video games, comics and in the show Godzilla Island. He officially returned in Godzilla Final Wars under the control of the Xiliens.