Godzilla (39/54) - Bandai Godzilla Minus One Ichibansho Godzilla (Heat Ray Version) (2024)

Complementing last week's statue of Godzilla from 1995 is this similarly handsome rendition of Godzilla from his latest outing, Godzilla -1.0, highlighting his look as he's about to unleash his heat ray!

Once again, the detail and reproduction of the fantastic Godzilla design is spot-on. 

A Minus One/Minus Color version will be released early next year, but given the striking look with the blue spines and throat, I can't help but feel a monochrome version would pale in comparison (particularly side-by-side)!

Check back next week for another item from my Godzilla collection!

I Am Legend (40/54) - FollettBound Platinum Library Bound Mass Market Movie Tie-In (2008)

 

When you've managed to source nearly every edition of a book that was released, stumbling across the slightest variations is very exciting.

For years, libraries have used services that produce a hardcover binding for paperback releases in order to increase their longevity in circulation. New library bound hardcovers can occasionally be found on Amazon, but for the most part, these enter the marketplace as library discards, but considering how most collectors feel about library discards in general, the bulk are likely sent off to landfills, or to foreign countries (where a surprising number of unsold books are donated). 

This copy is in surprisingly good condition. It doesn't look like it was in the hands of too many (if any) readers.

I'm still on the lookout for the subsequent Tor mass market release in a FollettBound edition. I saw someone post a copy on Facebook (as with the Tor paperback, both FollettBound editions have the same ISBN).   

Check back next week for another item from the I Am Legend Archive!

Creature from the Black Lagoon (39/54) - NECA Universal Monsters 7" Creature (2023)

As I think I have mentioned previously, we're in the midst of a golden age of Creature merchandise. NECA's 7" figure is not only extremely articulated, it features three different Creature heads to choose from, as well as multiple hands.

And another thing NECA really focuses on is the packaging. I not only love the use of the original poster art on the front flap, but I also  appreciate the fact that rather than just use stills from the film, they use product photographs to decorate the packaging, demonstrating the full range of poseability the figure offers. 

Check back next week for another item from my Creature collection!

Godzilla (38/54) - Bandai Spirits Ichibansho Godzilla vs. Destoroyah 1995 Hong Kong Landing Version (2023)

When it comes to Godzilla designs, you may have noticed that the variations on the burning/meltdown Godzilla from 1995's Godzilla vs. Destoroyah is high on my list. This particular statue, sculpted by famed monster prototype sculptor Yuji Sakai, is one of my favorites. 

He stands about 9" tall, and almost twice that long, what it lacks in articulation is more than made up for in the sculpt, right down to the tongue!

Be here next week for another item from my Godzilla collection!

I Am Legend (39/54) - Je Suis Une Legende 1st French Hardcover(s) (1973)

While regular readers of this blog are already aware that the French were the first to issue a foreign translation of Matheson's novel in 1955, It would be almost 20 years before Denoël would release the book in hardcover. 

The book was illustrated by Jean Martin Bontoux (1927-2002), and in addition to the novel included three of Matheson's short stories: "The Children of Noah," "The Last Day," and "Shipshape Home."

What's interesting is the book exists in two distinct bindings, each using identical book blocks. The first features the simplicity of the original Présence du Futur releases (and a belly band trumpeting the original Bontoux illustrations). According to Robert Massin, the designer who came up with the look of the Presence du Futur line in 1954, "What we took for a rocket was only the shadow cast by a tennis ball photographed by François Molinard." 

The other edition has a black cover featuring one of the illustrations and a wraparound clear plastic jacket, and no external reference to Denoël. The spine of this edition states "CAL," which stands for Culture, Arts, Loisir (Culture, Arts, Leisure), which was a collection of 'Masterpieces of Science Fiction and Fantasy' published between 1973-1975 under the direction of Louis Pauwels. I Am Legend was one of the first three titles alongside Ray Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles and Fredric Brown's Martians Go Home! Later volumes included two H.P. Lovecraft short story collections and Isaac Asmiov's Foundation trilogy. The collection was comprised of a grand total of 11 titles, all featuring a similar trade dress. 

The last time I saw Richard Matheson was in 2007, at a signing he did promoting the Will Smith film adaptation (and tie-in release) of I Am Legend. In addition to getting the movie tie-in signed, I hand-picked a few items from the archive to bring to get signed, including my advance proof of Bloodlines (since I played a small role in the creation of that book), and this illustrated CAL French edition of the novel. 

Bontoux provided the following two-page spreads, along with a few smaller spot illustrations. 

I've not been able to determine if one edition preceded the other; though I was glad to be able to determine the difference between the two publications.

 Check back next week for another item from the I Am Legend Archive!

Creature from the Black Lagoon (38/54) - Weird Worlds Issue #5 Poster (1980)

Children of the 70s may remember reading Scholastic magazines like Bananas and Dynamite. I have a lot of fond memories of those (particularly the Count Morbida features!), but my favorite such magazine debuted in 1978, and ran through 1981 (for me, that would be third through sixth grade): Weird Worlds!

The third issue featured this classic Creature pull-out poster by Alex Murawski. I've still got my copy, all these years later.

Be sure to check back next week for another item from my Creature collection!

Godzilla (37/54) - Godzilla -1.0 4k/Godzilla -1.0/-Color Blu Ray Japanese Box Set (2024)

I was so fond of last year's Godzilla -1.0 that I saw it three times in the theater, twice in color and once, as Godzilla -1.0/-C, in black & white. So as soon as it was announced for release in Japan on 4K UHD with Dolby Atmos audio, I pre-ordered it. This deluxe box set was the only way to get the -1.0/-C version, and as a Godzilla completist, that was the way I had to go. 

The four disc set includes the film on 4K UHD, the film on Blu Ray, the black & white version on Blu Ray (only), and a fourth disc of bonus materials. All content is Japanese-only, no English subtitles on the feature or special features. But being familiar with the narrative I was comfortable that I could enjoy the film without, as I have done in the past with other Japanese video releases.

Also included in the set is a full color booklet, with cast and visual effects photos.

This spread details the conversion from color to the monochrome version:

• Row A: Base color cut
• Row B: A monochrome cut with the color simply removed
• Row C: An original monochrome cut by ARTONE FILM
• Row D: Final cut with details adjusted

It's worth noting that an English-friendly version of the deluxe box set (offering English subtitles for the feature films only) was offered through the Official Godzilla store, but it sold out quickly. Prices surged on the secondary market, and a limited second edition has been announced, shipping in November. 

Check back next week for another item from my Godzilla collection!