It's been a while since we've reviewed a Godzilla. I've seen multiple Godzilla movies since the last time we looked at one! Plus Mothra, Gamera, Gorgo, Reptilicus, Yongary... MST3K deciding to do a never-ending stream of their movies on YouTube is a hell of a drug!
This toy is identified, on the packaging, as "Godzilla '89," which means it's BioGoji, the version of the monster that first appeared in Godzilla vs. Biollante - remember, with over 30 movies and a dozen or so different suits, G-fans wanting to discuss particular incarnations
tend to nickname them based on the movies in which they first appeared.
It also helps that, like Halloween sequels, there are several different continuities that are or are not interested in tying in with previous films. The "Showa Era" films (named for Japan's reigning emperor at the time, better known in English as Hirohito) ran from the original 1954 movie until 1975's Terror of Mechagodzilla, but declining box office returns meant Toho decided it was time to stop making Godzilla movies; what are now known as the "Heisei Era" films actually began five years before the historical Heisei Era itself, because in 1984 The Return of Godzilla rebooted the franchise in time for the 30th anniversary. Although it would take five years for there to be a followup film, Godzilla became a marketing star in the interim, which helped increase demand when Biollante was released.
This figure is part of Super7's new Toho Super Kaiju line, which is done in a 5.5" scale - so right in between the ReAction and Ultimates sizes. Of course, do note that that's the scale
for the monsters themselves, not in relation to any humans: the Showa Era Godzillae were all approximately 165 feet high, but the increase in the number of large buildings in Japan by the '80s meant the Heisei Era started out by bumping that to 260', so in a true 5.5" scale the toy would need to be (math math math) 47'6". The height of a five-story building. Since the toy is a bit more than 5⅛" tall, this is actually a 1:600 scale version of Godzilla, for you model-builders out there. That's slightly smaller than the Bandai vinyl figures you can find in stores, annoyingly.
The toy's sculpt is decent for the size. 1984 Godzilla was
designed to look like the original, just as the 1984 movie retured to the series' political commentary roots over the child-friendly antics the Showa films had become. To make the 1989 incarnation look larger and more powerful, his head was shrunk slightly. Gone was the "puppy dog" face of the 1970s, with this one being slightly more feline. 89 also has little ear-flaps 84 lacked. The body is soft and rounded,
with chunky digits at the end of the limbs, and there's a scaly pattern all over.
If not for the red interior of the mouth, you might think this was a black and white release. Under a strong enough light, you'll make out a green tint to the dark body. The fins on the back get painted, but it's very sloppy. Was it meant to look like they're glowing with energy? To evoke the style of old vinyl figures? Whatever the intention, it doesn't look great. An airbrushed mess.
One thing Toho Super Kaiju Godzilla does have over simple vinyl figures is the articulation. Unfortunately, it doesn't even come close to things like NECA's great toys.
Godzilla '89 has swivel/hinge ankles and knees, balljointed hips, swivel/hinge elbows and shoulders, a swivel neck, and a hinged jaw. The tail is bendy, though it's so thick it barely moves at all; you'll have to be content with the balljoint at the base. We can understand not having a chest joint, given the size, but the lack of wrists is weird, and the choice to do the head as a simple swivel is disappointing. This could have been a lot better with just a minimal effort.
This Target-exclusive figure is sold in a stylish black and silver box with simple graphics and a yellow backdrop creating a lovelu contrast for the dark figure to stand against. It actually includes an accessory, too: half a smashed building, which is a cute thing to give him. Not the greatest thing ever, but better than nothing.
Super Kaiju Godzilla '89 is a nice enough figure, but the retail price is $35, and this is absolutely not $35 worth of action figure. Maybe $20, but for $35 it would need to have articulation on par with NECA, or a far more involved set of accessories, and it simply doesn't. So nice try, Super7, but "meh."
-- 11/06/24
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