JP's Mirror for "The Official GodzillaC Charter / Godzilla Collecting Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ)"

The Official GodzillaC Charter / Godzilla Collecting Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ)
or "What the heck is a C9 MIB Marmit Vinyl Paradise King-Goji anyway?"

Version 1.2
Created By Richard Cox ([email protected])
Maintained By Richard Cox
Where can I get the GodzillaC FAQ?
The most current version of the FAQ is on the Web at <http://clubtokyo.simplenet.com/text/faq.html>. (Soon)
A text version is posted monthly to the GodzillaC mailing list, as well as periodically to the newsgroups "alt.movies.monster" and "alt.fan.godzilla".
Any changes or additions should be directed to Richard Cox ([email protected]).
Mirror copy locations include:
The Godzilla Room:
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Corridor/8705/index.html
Translations Available:
None as yet. If you would like to translate the FAQ, please e-mail me.
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Contents:
[1] The GodzillaC Charter
    [1.1] What is GodzillaC?
        [1.1.1] How do I subscribe?
        [1.1.2] How do I access the archives?
    [1.2] What are the list guidelines?
        [1.2.1] What's on topic? And while we're at it, what's off topic?
        [1.2.2] How should I go about starting up a petition for (fill in the blank)?
[2] The Godzilla Collecting FAQ
    [2.1] Terminology
        [2.1.1] Genre Terminology
            [2.1.1.1] The Godzilla Suits
            [2.1.1.2] Daikaiju
            [2.1.1.3] Eiga
            [2.1.1.4] Heisei
            [2.1.1.5] Henshen
            [2.1.1.6] Kaiju
            [2.1.1.7] Sentai
            [2.1.1.8] Showa
        [2.1.2] Collecting Terminology
            [2.1.2.1] The "C" Scale
            [2.1.2.2] CNP
            [2.1.2.3] FS, FT
            [2.1.2.4] Loose
            [2.1.2.5] M, Mint, "Deadstock" Mint
            [2.1.2.6] MIB, MIMB, MISB
            [2.1.2.7] MOC, MOMC
            [2.1.2.8] MWT
            [2.1.2.9] NM, Near Mint
            [2.1.2.10] NRFB
            [2.1.2.11] One-Sheet, Two-Sheet, Insert, etc.
            [2.1.2.12] UP
            [2.1.2.13] WTB, WTT
    [2.2] A Short History of Godzilla Collecting
        [2.2.1]Posters
            [2.2.1.1] One-sheets
            [2.2.1.2] Other miscellaneous poster sizes
            [2.2.1.3] Other theater-related merchandise
        [2.2.2]Toys
            [2.2.2.1] Vintage vinyl figures (1954-1982)
                [2.2.2.1.1] Marusan
                [2.2.2.1.2] Bullmark
                [2.2.2.1.3] Popy
                [2.2.2.1.4] Mattel
            [2.2.2.2] Modern vinyl figures (1983-Present)
                [2.2.2.2.1] Yamakatsu
                [2.2.2.2.2] Bandai
                [2.2.2.2.3] Marmit
                [2.2.2.2.4] M-1
                [2.2.2.2.5] Trendmasters
            [2.2.2.3] Candy and Capsule Toys
            [2.2.2.4] Miscellaneous
        [2.2.3] Model Kits
            [2.2.3.1] Plastic Kits
            [2.2.3.2] Garage Kits
        [2.2.4] Miscellaneous
    [2.3] Where can I learn more about Godzilla and other Japanese monster films?
        [2.3.1] Books
        [2.3.2] Online
    [2.4] Where can I learn more about Godzilla toys and collectibles?
        [2.4.1] Books
        [2.4.2] Online
    [2.5] Where can I buy Godzilla collectibles?
    [2.6] Is there a way to "check out" a person before purchasing items advertised on the Internet?
    [2.7] What does "mint" mean?
    [2.8] Can I detach the tags from my Bandai figures without affecting their value?
    [2.9] What's the difference between a candy and capsule toy?
    [2.10] Who is "Jiras", and why does he look like Godzilla?
    [2.11] For that matter who is Gomess?
    [2.12] What are those numbers on the bar code of a Bandai figure tag / box?
[3] References and Credits
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Recent changes :
05-Dec-99
Added the _Internet Trading Risk Minimization and Fraud Reporting Guide_ to [2.6]
Updated the link for House of Monsters [2.5]
09-Dec-99
Updated the following sections:
[2.2.3.2]
[2.4.1]
[2.6]
[2.11]
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[1] The GodzillaC Charter
[1.1] What is GodzillaC?
Created on February 6th, 1999, the GodzillaC mailing list is "THE place to learn about and discuss all collectible things related to Godzilla. Toys, posters, models and more, our main focus is Godzilla memorabilia." Messages are available either individually or in a digest format. The list is moderated, quite loosely, by Sean Linkenback and Jim Cirronella.
[1.1.1] How do I subscribe?
To subscribe to the list, please visit the following web page: http://www.onelist.com/community/GodzillaC .
The following e-mail addresses will prove to be useful as well:
Post message: [email protected]
Subscribe: [email protected]
Unsubscribe: [email protected]
List owner: [email protected]
[1.1.2] How do I access the archives?
The GodzillaC archives can be accessed via the web at: http://www.onelist.com/archive/GodzillaC . The archives are fully searchable, and results are shown in digest format.
[1.2] What are the list guidelines?
The list is intended primarily for the discussion of collectibles of any and all sorts related to both Toho's Godzilla films and Tristar's Godzilla effort.
[1.2.1] What's on topic? And while we're at it, what's off topic?
Again, any discussion revolving around Godzilla collecting is relevant. Quite often, posts diverge into talk of the collecting of merchandise relating to other Toho Kaiju films and characters, which is also quite on topic, at least peripherially. Gamera and collecting of other non-Toho kaiju in general has also proven to be fair game, though it should be pointed out that it too is, at best, peripherially on topic and should probably be kept to a minimum.
So, what's off topic? Henshin and Sentai collecting has been brought up before on the list, and was firmly struck down by a moderator as off topic. Also, talk of Godzilla or other kaiju (Gamera, Gorgo, Reptilicus, etc) is well off-topic if the subject of the discussion does not involve collecting. For example, posting how much you love or hate the Tristar Godzilla film is off topic. Posting how much you love or hate (and *why*) the Tristar Godzilla merchandise is on topic. This is an important distinction to keep in mind.
Given the anonymous nature of both the Internet and e-mail, disagreements and arguments are bound to arise. Intelligent conversation over disagreements can bring about interesting and informative discussion, while bickering and fighting are pointless, leading nowhere but to a lessened regard for the opinions of those involved. Flaming and flame wars are not tolerated.
[1.2.2] How should I go about starting up a petition for (fill in the blank)?
While petitions are always welcome and a good thing if they are on topic, repeated responses on-list with names, addresses, etc. amount to "me too" posts and are definitely discouraged. It is important to remember that many collectors on the list must pay for the amount of time they spend online, so please have some consideration for others and reply via e-mail to any requests for additions to a petition.
Insofar as where to send a petition, that would of course vary from topic to topic, and would be a welcomed question on GodzillaC. Insofar as the writing of a petition, or any letter or post for that matter, remember that politeness, being concise, and intelligence go farther than beligerence. A showing of respect and a well-reasoned arguement is far more likely to elicit a response than blind yelling.
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[2] The Godzilla Collecting FAQ
[2.1] Terminology
The collecting of anything, be it Godzilla, cookie jars, Star Wars, books, or even teapots, brings with it a lot of information and terminology for the newbie to pick up on. It can be an daunting task, requiring many questions and hours of dedication and work. Insofar as collecting Godzilla memoribilia, the prospective collector faces a twofold challenge, in that s/he must not only come to know and understand the terms relative to the hobby, but also those relating to the Kaiju Eiga, Asian cinema, and film genres themselves.
[2.1.1] Genre Terminology
Insofar as the Kaiju Eiga genre, defined below, there are certain terms and phrases that crop up over and over again in relation to the collecting of associated merchandise. This section will deal specifically with those terms. For more detail on genre terminology and information, please see the information in section [2.3].
[2.1.1.1] The Godzilla Suits
Throughout the 45+ year history of Godzila films, it's only natural that the suits have also undergone quite a few changes. As a result, certain names have become attached to suits in order to better identify them. Of course, many of these names have also entered the nomenclature of collecting. Thus the Bandai '91 Godzilla toy is also known as the Ghido-Goji figure.
Year Suit   Film(s)
1954 Shodai-Goji Godzilla
1955 Gyakushu-Goji   Godzilla Raids Again
1962 King-Goji Godzila v King Kong
1964 Mosu-Goji Godzilla v The Thing, Ghidrah, The Three-headed Monster
1965-66 Daisenso-Goji   Godzilla v Monster Zero, Godzilla v The Sea Monster
1967 Musuko-Goji   Son of Godzilla
1968-72 Soshingeki-Goji Destroy All Monsters, Godzilla's Revenge, Godzilla v The Smog Monster, Godzilla on Monster Island
1973-75 Megaro-Goji   Godzilla v Megalon, Godzilla v The Cosmic Monster, Terror of MechaGodzilla
1984 84-Goji   Godzilla 1984
1989 Bio-Goji Godzilla v Biollante
1991 Ghido-Goji Godzilla v King Ghidorah
1992 Bato-Goji Godzilla v Mothra
1993 Rado-Goji Godzilla v MechaGodzila II
1994 MOGE-Goji Godzilla v SpaceGodzilla
1995 Desu-Goji Godzilla v Destoroyah
1998 Ameri-Goji, GINO USA (Tristar) Godzilla
1999 Mire-Goji Godzilla 2000 Millennium
[2.1.1.2] Daikaiju "Giant Monster"
[2.1.1.3] Eiga "Film", or "movie"; For example Daikaiju Eiga is the genre of giant monster movies.
[2.1.1.4] Heisei The "Heisei" era of Japan refers to the reign of the current Emperor, Akihito.
   When "Heisei" is used in relation to Godzilla films, it is referring to those created during the reign of Akihito, with the exception of Godzilla (1984), which is considered a part of the Heisei series though it was produced before Akihito's ascention.
[2.1.1.5] Henshen "Transformed"; Generally used to refer to a genre of television shows / films in Japan involving people who transform into heroes. An example would be Kamen Rider.
[2.1.1.6] Kaiju "Monster"
[2.1.1.7] Sentai "task force" or "team"; Generally used to refer to a genre of television shows / films in Japan involving teams of heroes. Dairanger and Megaranger are examples.
[2.1.1.8] Showa The "Showa" era of Japan refers to the reign of the Japanese Emperor Hirohito. During his life, the Emperor would be called just Emperor or Emperor Hirohito. Only after his death do they begin calling him according to the name of his Era.
   In reference to the Godzilla films, those produced between 1954-75, during Hirohito's reign, are referred to as the "Showa" Series.
[2.1.2] Collecting Terminology
As with any hobby, it is essential to know what the terminology is. With the coming of online buying, through both eBay and both online dealers and collectors, this has become even more imperitive. On the flipside, it is important for sellers to understand the terminology so as to better represent their items up for sale, and to prevent miscommunication and bad feelings.
Luckily, many of the terms associated with Godzilla collecting is also applicable to many other hobbies, especially insofar as toys.
[2.1.2.1] The "C" Scale
The "C" Scale is a grading system wherein the C (Condition) is coupled with a number from 1 to 10 in order to better represent the condition of a piece of memorabilia. C10 is perfect, while C1 might as well be a dog toy or landfill fodder. Decimal points are also employed often, usually a .5 (ex. C8.5). Any other decimals used are, quite frankly, clutter and useless for the most part. a "+" or "-" (ex. C8.5+) are also used a lot, and are perfectly valid, though they too can confuse the matter. As with any grading system, a position on the scale will vary from person to person, rendering it all, to an extent, somewhat arbitrary. Make no mistake though, a C10 is always a C10 and is FLAWLESS. Also there is no such thing as a "C9 except for.." or "...otherwise a C10". It either is or it isn't, period. In any case, the C Scale does give the buyer one of the best summaries of the condition of a piece. The C Scale is not, however, a good substitute for a highly detailed description and good photos, but instead a nice compliment and method of summarizing the descriptions and photos.
C10- Mint condition. A flawless piece that looks exactly like the day it was made. I can't stress enough that there is abolutely nothing wrong with a C10 toy. A perfect example. All parts and accessories are included.
C9- Near Mint condition. A toy that has almost no wear. All parts and accessories are included. The only flaws are miniscule and probably not immediately obvious.
C8- Excellent condition. A piece that has minor wear. This is the most common condition that a modern example would be found in, and is still a very good, collectible piece. There will be a few evident defects, but absolutely nothing to detract from the overall appeal of the toy, poster, etc. There might be missing accessories, but no broken or missing parts on the toy iteslf.
C7- Very Fine - Fine condition. A toy that has noticeable wear and tear but does not have any damage. There has been some obvious handling, but is still a good display piece. There might be some minor breaks, and accessories might be missing. Many vintage toys are found in this condition.
C6- Very Good condition. Noticeable wear and tear, some damage that is quite obvious but not too distracting or unappealing.
C5- Good condition. Definitely a piece that has been around the block. Major pieces or accessories will be missing, large areas of paint scratched away. Tears, folds, creases, etc. are evident. Can still be displayed, but defects will be obvious.
C4- Fair condition. Major defects and problems are evident. All of the problems of C5 but more prominent. Would make a great spare parts piece for a toy, but otherwise most collectors wouldn't touch one of these.
C3- Poor condition. In many cases, these are more damaged than intact, and possibly only salvagable as spare parts.
C2, C1- Bad condition. Speaks for itself. Only upon close inspection can these probably be identified as what they once were. Missing parts, huge tears and chunks, no paint whatsoever, Rover's tooth marks. Perhaps at one point in it's life it was a lawn ornament. You never know.
[2.1.2.2] CNP
Complete, with No Package.
[2.1.2.3] FS, FT
For Sale, For Trade
[2.1.2.4] Loose
Just as it says. The packaging might be included, but the toy has been removed.
[2.1.2.5] M, Mint, "Deadstock" Mint
Perfect in all ways. Not a single little defect anywhere.
A "deadstock" pices is one that never left the factory and entered the market. Literally dead stock. Usually these end up in C9 or C10 condition, but are found in lesser condition. Deadstock mint is in every way a C10 piece.
[2.1.2.6] MIB, MIMB, MISB
Mint in Bag/Box- The toy or item is in C10 condition, in packaging. Note that this does not mention the condition in any way of the packaging itself, which could be in C4 condition.
Mint In Mint Bag/Box- Just as it states. The pacaging could have conceivably been opened, though.
Mint in Sealed Bag/Box- A perfect piece in never-opened packaging. Note this also does not state the condition of the packaging. MIMSB would be Mint Sealed, but you get the idea.
[2.1.2.7] MOC, MOMC
Mint on Card and Mint on Mint Card. See [2.1.1.6].
[2.1.2.8] MWT
Mint With Tag- Refers primarily to the tags that accompany most Bandai action figures. Note that this doesn't mention whether or not the tag is currently attached to the figure or not.
[2.1.2.9] NM, Near Mint
See [2.1.1.1]. A C9 piece.
[2.1.2.10] NRFB
Never Removed from Box. The packaging has been opened to inspect the toy itself, but the toy was never removed. All inserts are still in place and untouched. This states nothing about the condition of the toy or packaging itself, though many wrongly assume both are C9+
[2.1.2.11] One-Sheet, Two-Sheet, Insert, etc.
See [2.2.1]
[2.1.2.12] UP
Unpunched- This refers to the perforated hanger hole area on many figure cards or bags which would have to be removed for the toy to hang from a peg. "Unpunched" is when this area has never been punched out.
[2.1.2.13] WTB, WTT
Want To Buy, Want To Trade
[2.2] A Short History of Godzilla Collecting
The release of Godzilla (Gojira) in 1954 brought with it the first of the Godzilla Collectibles, in the form of the theatrical poster. Of course, posters followed with subsequent re-releases, both in Japan and abroad, as well as with forthcoming movies.
The first non-theatrical merchandise was a gun game that coincided with the release of the second Godzilla film in 1955, and also heralded a moratorium on Godzilla collectibles for most of the next decade. Finally, in 1963 and 64 the ball got rolling again with Ideal's Godzilla game and the well known Aurora model kit. With the astounding success of these toys, the first Japanese toymaker took notice, and Marusan issued the first of their Godzilla vinyls in 1966. The rest, as they say, is history.
[2.2.1]Posters
The first of the Godzilla collectibles, and probably both the most numerous and widest in variety.   Theatrical posters are available for Japanese releases and reissues, as well as a multitude of foreign (to Japan) releases.
[2.2.1.1] One-sheets
The most common size of theatrical poster, this is the size most commonly found in both collections and theatrical marquees. Unfortunately, depending on the country and year of release, the size of a one-sheet will vary. Below is a comparison of one-sheet sizes betwee the U.S. and Japan, in inches:
vintage   modern
U.S. 27x41   27x40
Japan 20.25x28.75(to 1963) 28.5x40.25 (1964-)
Also note that the sizes are also going to vary for international releases as well.
[2.2.1.2] Other miscellaneous poster sizes
In addition to the one-sheet, various other sizes of poster have been available, including the half-sheet, two-, and three-sheets, all the way up to the gigantic Godzilla v King Kong twelve-sheet. Obviously, a two-sheet is twice the size of the one-sheet, etc., etc.
[2.2.1.3] Other theater-related merchandise
In addition to posters, various other theater-related pieces can be sought out and collected; they are widely varied and can in and of themselves form an entire collecting focus. A small listing of some of the stuuf available includes Inserts, lobby and window cards, displays and standees, programs, press kits, tickets, and exclusive toys.
[2.2.2]Toys
Ah, toys. For many a collector toys, specifically vinyl figures, form the backbone of their Godzilla collections. As stated previously, the first Godzilla toy was actiually produced in the U.S., and was a shooting game. From that point there really weren't any toys of note issued (barring model kits) until the Marusan Company, in 1964, issued their Godzilla model kit, and followed it up in 1966 with the first ever Godzilla vinyl figures. The rest, as they say, is history.
Of course, limiting the scope of Godzilla toys to just the vinyl figures, as popular as they are, is to ignore a wide variety of other neat stuff out there, from Die Cast toys to tin toys, games, and both candy and capsule toys, to name only a few.
[2.2.2.1] Vintage vinyl figures (1954-1982)
Arguably the most collected pieces of Godzilla memorabilia are the various lines of vinyl figures. The dividing mark of 1982-3 between what I'm calling "vintage" and "modern" is my own, but I feel that it is a valid breaking point, for it was in 1983 that Yamakatsu and Bandai both first entered the vinyl figure market, causing changes in the face of vinyl Godzilla figures that continues to this day.
Insofar as the vintage figures, the landscape is dominated by the Bullmark line, which is considered by many vintage collectors to be the finest and most varied line of Godzilla toys ever created. They even appear in a Godzilla movie (Godzilla v Hedorah). In any case, all of the vintage figures bear two things in common; a highly stylized design and a usually unrealistic, brightly colored paint scheme. One can safely say that the Marusan and Bullmark lines are, historically, the most important of any Godzilla toy series.
[2.2.2.1.1] Marusan
The first Marusan vinyl figure, and as a matter of fact the first ever Godzilla vinyl figure, appeared in 1966, a year in which six different variations of Godzilla-related Marusans were ultimately issued. Unfortunately, the last of the Marusan figures would be released the very next year, as declining sales across lines were forcing the company into closing, which would ultimately come across in 1969/70. Luckily for us collectors, that very same year Bullmark bought Marusan's molds and took up the line through 1975.
In 1998 a series of reissues began appearing under the Marusan name, but I personally am uncertain as to if they have their origins in the same company.
[2.2.2.1.2] Bullmark
n 1969/70, Bullmark got the license from Marusan to do the Toho Kaiju. >From this point until the
mid-late 1970s, Bullmark released a wide variety of vinyl toys, in four different sizes, and including a number of Marusan reissues, albeit with different paint schemes. Many Bullmark vinyl figures come in multiple paint variations as well. Unfortunately, with the decrease in quality of the Godzilla series, so waned interest in the related merchandise, including toys, and Bullmark ceased production in 1975.
[2.2.2.1.3] Popy
In 1978 the Popy company acquired the Godzilla license and made their go at vinyl figures. However, while both the Marusan and Bullmark releases were very similar in style, Popy went in a new direction. Gone was the cartoony sculpting and bright colors, replaced by more serious features and darker colors. However, overall the figures remained highly stylized in comparison to their suitmation counterparts, and the colors themselves were still those of the rainbow. An example would be one of two variations of Baragon, presented in red and green.
As significant as some of the releases were, the line was shortlived and production had ceased by 1980. There weren't to be any more significant vinyl toy issues in Japan until 1983 and the emergence of the modern toy lines with the first Yamakatsu and Bandai offerings.
[2.2.2.1.4] Mattel
The first American release of any vinyl figures was Mattel's Godzilla's Gang series. Released in the U.S. in 1978, the eight Godzilla's Gang figures are one of the few sets to actually be issued in the U.S. prior to the extensive releases by Trendmasters in the nineties.
The figures in the set are all actually toys released originally by Popy, and distributed with some variations by Mattel in the States. Of the seven companion figures in the series, it is interesting to note that none of them are actually Godzilla foes, but instead various Ultra Kaiju.
Also in 1978 Mattel issued what is probably one of the most well known Godzilla toy in the U.S., the large Shogun Warriors Godzilla, with that flame tongue and shooting fist, following it up in 1979 with the "World's Greatest Monsters" Rodan, a figure, ironically enough, that is more highly sought after in Japan then in the U.S.
[2.2.2.2] Modern vinyl figures (1983-Present)
For many, it was 1983 when it all began. With the announcement of the first new Godzilla movie since 1975, merchandising kicked into high gear, and was arguably more well received than ever before. 1983 also, markedly, was the year that Yakmakatsu and Bandai both entered the vinyl figure market, and changed everything with their completely realistic approach to figure production. These figures were the first truly realistic renditions produced, both in sculpture and painting. It was, however, not until the early '90s that the U.S. caught onto the act with Trendmaster's release of it's King of the Monsters line.
[2.2.2.2.1] Yamakatsu
Yamakatsu released their standard line of ten figures in 1983, the same year that Bandai re-entered the Godzilla toy-producing market, to very little fanfare. However, their toys are very well done and detailed in appearance. While certainly not as detailed as the Bandai issues eventually became, these are on a par with the earliest Bandai issues, even surpassing them with such toys as the Mothra Larva and Baragon, though eventually Bandai too would issue wonderful representations of these characters.
[2.2.2.2.2] Bandai
For many collectors, the Bandai line of figures, which continues to this day, it the greatest line of Godzilla toys ever created, and these vinyl pieces have come to form the core of many a collection. The first Bandai figures appeared in 1983-84, and was followed by a lull of four years before the line really kicked into gear. Since then, Bandai has produced well over 75 figures in varying sizes, theater editions, and limited series. They have come out with figure sets and larger "DX" mechanized toys. Recently Bandai's popular 8 inch series of figures came to an end, only to be supplanted in 1998 by their numbered "Toho Kaiju Series" of figures, scaled down to six inches and including, finally, their first ever Shodai-Goji figure (G-15).
[2.2.2.2.3] Marmit
Marmit began issuing the Vinyl Paradise line of kaiju-related toys in 1996, and their first Godzilla-related release was, appropriately enough, Shodai-Goji (VP-011). Since then, Marmit has gone on to put out a plethora of Godzilla toys. The figures are all a hard vinyl and stand 10-12 inches in height, dominating the Bandai figures on any shelf. Marmit also has a habit of releasing their figures in multiple paint variations and limited editions.
The limited versions of their figures tend to appear in solid colors, usually transparent and usually blue. There are opaque limited figures as well as some in other colors, white and green for instance. The exact numbers of many of these releases are unknown, but most were show exclusives. A ballpark figure for many of these would be between 50 and 100 per blue figure, and from 10 to 50 of the white Godzilla '62. The two Showcase exclusives were limited to 300 each.
It was thought that the Vinyl Paradise line was to end with #100, but with the release of VP-101 (MechaGodzilla 2) it looks like the line could very well be continuing.
[2.2.2.2.4] M-1
M1 has produced figures from many different series throughout the 90s, and with a very high quality control. Figures have been to rejected after production because of bad paint jobs or too thin vinyl. Some figures may take a while to be released, but when they arrive they tend to be well worth the wait. The vinyl is thick and well detailed, and each figure is hand painted.
Typically, M1 will release two versions; one to resemble a Bullmark paint style and one for a Marusan style. Some figures have only had one style as well. They also do special runs for show exclusives, video releases and other events. The runs are usually limited to a fairly small amount. The figures retain an old toy style look while having a high degree of detail.
[2.2.2.2.5] Trendmasters
The first major toy company since Mattel to release Godzilla toys domestic to the U.S., in their few years of releasing Godzilla toys and merchandies, Trendmasters has become *the* source of goods for North American collectors.
Having already released more product than any company outside of Japan, Trendmasters acquired
the license to issue toys for the Tristar Godzilla release as well, further cementing their
place as a major Godzilla toy producer. Trendmasters tends to release figures in several different packaging variations, and it can be a real challenge for a collector to try and get all the different issues. The major lines in the Classic Godzilla series have been King of the Monsters and Godzilla Wars. A Doom Island series was prototyped, and after years of delay looks to finally be released, via their web site.
[2.2.2.3] Candy and Capsule Toys
Candy and capsule toys come in all shapes and sizes, from one inch to three and over, and have been issued by numerous companies, though Bandai by far leads the pack in candy / capsule figure production. A good deal of them are cute and super deformed, while others are incredibly true to the original designs. In any case, it's difficult to define what exactly, a candy toy is, as some do not even come with candy.
Insofar as the Bandai company, they have two seperate divisions, one handling candy and the other capsule toys. The Candy Toy Division handles toys that are distributed through supermarkets, etc., while the Gasyapon/Cardass Divison handles capsule toys and trading cards that are distributed via vending machines.
[2.2.2.4] Miscellaneous
In addition to the major players in the Godzilla-producing toy arena, there have been companies to issue smaller, but by no means less important, releases. Some quick examples include:
Medicom's Combat Joe series, Marui's beautifully done remote control toys, and Yutaka's (who is owned by Bandai) many releases. There are also the strange Beetland issues, such as their phone rest, the ever-available Imperial releases, and Billiken's beautiful line of tin toys.
[2.2.3] Model Kits
An ever-popular aspect of Godzilla collecting has to be the acquiring and building the many different model kits available. Only a select few, all of which are molded in plastic, are considered "collectors items" per se, so many can be found near or below their SRP. Godzilla series model kits have been produced as far back as the mid 1960s, with the first plastic kits from Aurora. Generally, models can be divided into two categories, plastic and garage kits.
[2.2.3.1] Plastic Kits
Plastic kits are the earliest produced of the two types, and are those that are generally collected for intrinsic value, as there have been kits produced by both Bullmark and Marusan among others. Plastic kits have been produced over many years, and come in many sizes. Some even glow in the dark.
Of all of the kits, the most highly sought-after are those in the Marusan Plamodel series. All are extremely rare, especially with the box. In fact, one could argue that the Plamodel kits are the rarest production Godzilla toys out there. If you find one, get it. Chances are you will never see one again.
[2.2.3.2] Garage Kits
Garage kits first appeared in the early 80s, and are highly sought after by collectors due to their great detail and creative sculpting. Luckily for those without deep pockets, they have little secondary market value due to their generally being built up after purchase, as well as the popular ones being reissued numerous times.
Garage kits tend to come in one of two flavors; resin or vinyl. Vinyl pretty much speaks for itself. Resin is composed of either Polyester or polyurethane, a mixture which hardens in a short time. Unlike the light, hollow vinyl kits, most resin kits are solid.
Gremlins in the Garage! <http://www.gremlins.com/> has an excellent overview of garage kits on their site.
[2.2.4] Miscellaneous
In addition to the above, a veritable plethora of other types of collectibles have been issued over the years, and to attempt to list them all would be an overwhelming task. However, some of the key areas would include prototypes and props, recordings, books, videos, laserdisc sets, household items, tradig cards, and original artwork.
[2.3] Where can I learn more about Godzilla and other Japanese monster films?
Information on Kaiju Eiga, and the Godzilla series in particular, is abundant. This of course results in a lot of bad information being mixed in with the good. Below is a selective list of resources, both online and off, that prove to be excellent resources on the genre.
[2.3.1] Books
_Age of the Gods: A History Of The Japanese Fantasy Film_, by Guy Mariner Tucker
_A Critical History and Filmography of Toho's Godzilla Series_, by David Kalat
ISBN: 0786403004
_The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Godzilla_, by Ed Godziszewski
_Japan's Favorite Mon-star (The Unauthorized Biography of Godzilla)_, by Steve Ryfle
ISBN: 1550223488
_Monsters Are Attacking Tokyo! : The Incredible World of Japanese Fantasy Films_, by Stuart Galbraith IV, et al.
ISBN: 0922915474
[2.3.2] Online
alt.fan.godzilla <news://alt.fan.godzilla>
alt.movies.monster <news://alt.movies.monster>
Barry's Temple of Godzilla <http://www.stomptokyo.com/godzillatemple/>
G-Project <http://www.inteleco.com/gproject/>
Godzilla Tohotopia <http://www.students.bucknell.edu/mlockwod/>
Goji-World <http://www.gojiwprld.org/gojiworld/>
Kaiju-Direct <http://www2.arkansas.net/~gsraptor/sites.html>
Monster Zero <http://www.fandom.com/godzilla/>
[2.4] Where can I learn more about Godzilla toys and collectibles?
[2.4.1] Books
_An Unauthorized Guide to Godzilla Collectibles_, by Sean Linkenback
     ISBN: 0764305441
_Bandai Toy Museum_
_Collecting Japanese Movie Monsters_, by Dana Cain
ISBN: 0930625552
_Collecting Monsters of Film and TV : Identification & Value Guide_, by Dana Cain
ISBN: 0873415159
_Hobby Japan_, magazine
_Hyper Hobby_, magazine
[2.4.2] Online
Bullmark.com Message Board <http://www.bullmark.com/bbs.html>
Club Tokyo: The Godzilla Virtual Museum <http://clubtokyo.simplenet.com/>
Ghostlord's Kaiju Model Page <http://www.megsinet.net/~ghost/models/>
GodzillaC: The Godzilla Collectors E-Mail Club <http://www.onelist.com/subscribe.cgi/GodzillaC>
GojiWorld: Collectibles Corner <http://www.gojiworld.org/gojiworld/collect/>
[2.5] Where can I buy Godzilla collectibles?
Bullmark.com <http://www.bullmark.com/>
Clawmark Toys <http://clawmarktoys.simplenet.com/>
Club Daikaiju <http://www.daikaiju.com/>
Creature Feature Productions <http://www.desertisle.com/cfp/>
eBay <http://www.ebay.com/>
Goblin Kaiju <http://goblinjp.com/figure/m1gomn.html>
HobbyLink Japan <http://www.hlj.com/>
House of Monsters <http://www.thehouseofmonsters.com/>
J-axion <http://www.jaxion.com/>
Kimono My House <http://www.slip.net/~kimono/index.html>
Rising Sun Creations <http://www.rsc-online.com/>
Showcase Collectibles <http://www.godzillatoy.com/>
Wonderful Japanese Movies <http://home9.highway.ne.jp/junko13/index.html>
[2.6] Is there a way to "check out" a person before purchasing items advertised on the Internet?
There are many different ways to check out sellers online before committing your well earned dollars to a purchase that may never arrive. If you are purchasing through eBay, it is important to note where the buyer is from, as this may affect delivery times, as well as the all-important feedback rating. When checking out feedback, do more than just look at the number. Open the file and see what people had to say about them. How many negatives are there, if any?
If the auction is run by a retailer, they often include a link to their web site. Check out their site or e-mail them to find out how much they regularly charge for the item. You can find out right away what a reasonable bid limit should be. Quite often they set the reserve or starting bid at the "retail" price, so you might just be better off ordering direct (and avoiding the auction hassle).
If you're not dealing through eBay, then things could get a bit more tricky. Ask for references, an be sure to check with them. Be wary of the same domain in the references, as well as AOL and free e-mail accounts. Many of these are easy to set up as aliases, and should be well balanced by other refereences. Also try to find out what state / country the references are from in relation to the seller, and how their transaction went (what it was, the amount, time, etc.) Finally, Deja.com <http://www.deja.com/> can be an excellent resource for serching for the history of people who have posted on usenet (newsgroups) before, and can be a fine way to check on user history. This may all seem like a lot of trouble, but if you have certain suspicions and a goodly amount of money is involved, you should ask yourself if it's worth it.
In the unfortunate case that you have had a problem with a "seller" online, I greatly suggest checking out this web site for excellent information on the steps you should follow in an attempt to resolve the issue:
Internet Trading Risk Minimization and Fraud Reporting Guide <http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Crater/6738/fraud.htm>
[2.7] What does "mint" mean?
See [2.1.2.1] and [2.1.2.5]
[2.8] Can I detach the tags from my Bandai figures without affecting their value?
In a word, yes. Both the cardboard and earlier plastic tags can be easily reattached using the appropriate gun and plastic hanger, readily available at any office supply store. Be careful, however, to reattach the tag in it's original hole instead of punching a new oe through the vinyl. This WILL affect the value of the piece.
When buying figures with loose tags, be aware that many tags look generic and similar to one another, barring two things; the character's name in Japanese and a serial number specific to that figure. It is not unheard of to get the wrong tag loose with a toy (or, one assumes, the wrong tag reattached to a figure). See also [2.11].
[2.9] What's the difference between a candy and capsule toy?
See [2.2.2.3] for detailed information. Shortly, "capsule" toys are just that; small figures, generally 1-4 inches in height, available in vending machines, while candy toys tend to come boxed, either individually or in sets, with a packet of candy and sometimes a trading card or other extras.
[2.10] Who is "Jiras", and why does he look like Godzilla?
Jiras (spellings vary slightly) was a foe from the original Ultraman series based upon a Godzilla suit. The Mosu-Goji suit was modified for the series simply by adding a frill around the neck. Which I will point out the Ultraman rips off, in one of the more violent memories from my childhood...
[2.11] For that matter who is Gomess?
The other Godzilla clone who got dressed up for Ultra Q.

[2.12] What are those numbers on the bar code of a Bandai figure tag / box?
The serial numbers, also known as stock numbers, of a Bandai figure are unique to each toy, thus can be used in order to be sure of getting a correct tag with a figure, which could otherwise be a problem for those earlier figures whose tags bear no distinguishing characteristics not in Japanese. The serial number is located on the tag of the figure, above the barcode. The earliest figures, instead of a serial number, had a Collection Number.
The serial numbers are, for the most part, a series of three strings of numbers separated by dashes. The first string, 205020, is carried by all Bandai Godzilla figures (as well as other Bandai series figures) with a serial number; the second, and most important, is individual to each figure. The third string denotes the original price of the vinyl toy in Yen.
Both Club Tokyo <http://clubtokyo.simplenet.com/figures/bandai/>and Gojiworld <http://www.gojiworld.org/gojiworld/collect/>have detailed listings of Bandai serial numbers.
[3] References and Credits
The below books and web sites have been consulted in the creation of this FAQ:
_An Unauthorized Guide to Godzilla Collectibles_, by Sean Linkenback
_Club Tokyo: The Godzilla Virtual Museum_ (http://clubtokyo.simplenet.com/), by Richard Cox and Michael Johnson
_Godzilla Tohotopia_ (http://www.students.bucknell.edu/mlockwod/), by Mark Lockwood
John Parkinson

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Copyright 1999 by Richard Cox. This document may be redistributed only in its entirety with version date, authorship notice, and acknowledgements intact. No part of it may be sold for profit or incorporated in a commercial document without the permission of the copyright holder. Permission will be granted for complete electronic copies to be made available as an archive or mirror service on the condition that the author be notified and that the copy be kept up to date. This document is provided as is without any express or implied warranty.
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The Official GodzillaC Charter / Godzilla Collecting Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ) or "What the heck is a C9 MIB Marmit Vinyl Paradise King-Goji anyway?"

The Official GodzillaC Charter / Godzilla Collecting Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ)
or "What the heck is a C9 MIB Marmit Vinyl Paradise King-Goji anyway?"