Buyer's Remorse - The Target Twins

Target finally came through!

I've been more-or-less after the first releases in two brand spankin' new Godzilla toy lines for a few months now; Godzilla Monster Series' Godzilla 1954, and the Godzilla Action Figure Series' Godzilla 2004, respectively. Both produced by Godzilla's oldest and truest merchandising home-slice, Bandai, I wasn't really sure if I'd bother forking over the money for these dudes online - neither one is particularly unique in my vast, hoarder-esque galleria of Godzilla garbage - but, you know how it goes, you see 'em on the shelf, you can't resist.

Thus, the title of our new blog-post-series. I often post about my newest hauls across the web on all reaches of dusty, userless imageboards, but I figure I really may as well spam 'em here, too - even if the photos aren't to the usual Wastelnd standard. Sad!

The ShodaiGoji Family

I love the new Bandai USA Movie Monster Series dudes - they're much smaller than I expected, and I seriously love that! I hope they get broad with their figure choices; I'd love a Godzilla '74, GMK, G2K, Gigan, Hedorah. They'll scale great with a lot of the already existing MMS Ghidorahs, too - how about an in-scale Minilla?

I'll tell you what, despite being a 20+ year old sculpt, he's still a hell of a lot better than the weird Bandai Creations G'54 that inexplicably is still plastered all over both of these guy's box art. Why do they keep parading that strange sculpt around? I almost understand the vinyl, but the action figure, too? Maybe it's about nostalgia at this point, like if Imperial Godzilla were on all the packaging. Even then, it isn't even the oldest BC '54 resculpt, coming out in '09, when their first attempt was in '02. Weird.

Also, I'm psyched that they actually got his pupils right for once! They never do the wall-eyed, doofy sort of style the suit itself had anymore, not since the 1998 release AFAIK. Big points. 

I had low expectations for these action figures, based off Jakks Pacific's pretty wonky Godzilla stuff, but G'04 is pretty sick! Very fun to just pose, and play with. He doesn't feel particularly nice, but he's also not quite as hollow and fragile as Jakks.G'04 also comes with a cool replacement jaw featuring his iconic, transparent blue atomic blast, made of a nice, sturdy rubber material; though, sadly, his standard jaw really has next to no motion, so you're forced to use the accessory if you want a roaring pose. Leaves him with a sorta cute, tongue hanging out little blep. First figure in the series, still workin' out the kinks.

Is this a replacement, or substitute for something like S.H. Monsterarts? No, but... maybe. Depends on what you're here for. There was a time SHMA was basically the only Godzilla action figure line - If teenager me had fun little dudes like these readily available, I just might've skipped out on a few SHMAs. They'll obviously never be AS fancy, or even all that functionally comparable to the SHMA line, but they're still cool for poseable little dudes at a semi-fair price. $20 is definitely pushing it, when NECA was (and is) only about $10 more, but I'm nevertheless excited for more monsters in this series. I'm not very interested in his companion releases, Kiryu, but I'll probably snag the upcoming Minus One if I see him, and I'd adore more Showa stuff. THAT would be a game changer. They'll certainly please those who want something a touch more creative than MMS, and more affordable than.. y'know, any other Godzilla action figure.

Tune in next time for another... Buyer's Remorse! Or maybe I'll finish one of those MMS reviews I've been sitting on. We'll see.