Godzilla (28/54) - Bandai Mechagodzilla (Black) Theater Exclusive (2003)

During the Millennium era, Mechagodzilla got a revised design for his appearance in Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla (2002). The design is a reversion from the smoother, rounded Heisei version from 1993's Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla II, back towards the Showa-era angular version from 1974-5.

This design is my favorite version of the character, and so an all-black variant was a must have for the collection.

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

 

I Am Legend (29/54) - Promotional items for the IDW reissue of the comic adaptation (2003)

I came across this oversized sign on eBay, which I assume was dispalyed in the IDW booth at ComicCons throughout 2003. The artwork is on two sheets pasted down on black cardstock (with an IDW label on the reverse). 

While the title is easily readable, Matheson, adapter Niles and artist Brown's names don't really stand out, particularly from a distance. An issue that was addressed both by increasing the font size, and running a dark banner behind them, as on this postcard (this example signed by Steve Niles). 

IDW's release was the first time the books were collected into a single volume (initially in hardcover, and subsequently in trade paperback). 

It's interesting to note that the artwork used on these promotional pieces was not actually used on the hardcover or softcover releases from IDW. 

Check back next week for more items from the I Am Legend Archive!

Creature from the Black Lagoon (28/54) - Super7 AHI-inspired Creature from the Black Lagoon ReAction figures (2021-2022)

I've shared a couple of my AHI bendy and jiggler Creatures in the blog, but there are two AHI figures that I doubt I will ever have. In the mid 70s, AHI produced a line of 8" World Famous Super Monsters, which included the Creature. For some reason, for the Creature there were two unique sculpts — described as wide and narrow body for obvious reasons. 

So when Super7 released their own take on the AHI figures in facsimile packaging as part of their 3-3/4" ReAction line, I was already sold. Both variations of the Creature were offered, first on cardbacks...

You may noticed the cardback is a knock-off of James Bama's artwork from the Aurora model kit.

...and then subsequently in AHI-style boxes.

And then there was the inevitable Glow-in-the-Dark ComicCon exclusive... of the wide sculpt variant. I ordered two, and was pleasantly surprised to receive one each of the wide and narrow sculpt glow creatures. It turns out that the narrow sculpt was a retailer exclusive limited to 1000 pieces. 

Because these AHI style figures fill a hole in my collection that would otherwise never be filled, I think they are my favorite of Super7's ReAction Creatures.

Check back next week for more from my Creature collection! 

Godzilla (27/54) - The Art of Godzilla and The Art of Godzilla vs Mothra signed by Shinji Nishikawa (1991, 1992)

I have a lot of Japanese Godzilla related books in my library. Even in the days before the internet made such international purchases a lot easier, I would shop at our local Kinokuniya bookstore with an eye out for pretty much any profusely illustrated Godzilla related books. 

One of my favorite pickups in the early 90s was The Art of Godzilla, featuring work from Godzilla vs King Ghidorah. The book included some amazing work by Shinji Nishikawa, who I had sign it when attending Monsterpalooza in 2014.

You can't really tell from the picture below, but the filmstrip on the right is reproduced on clear acetate through which you can see the title page. I had Nishikawa sign my book on the title page so it would show up beneath the blows up image from the film.

The book has some great illustrations of Mecha-King Ghidorah, as well the Junior version of Godzilla (designed to fall halfway between a dinosaur and the Godzilla we know and love. 

When planning for my Monsterpalooza trip, I decided to research whether they did similar volumes for the other Heisei era film. Unfortunately, the only other volume appeared to be The Art of Godzilla vs Mothra. I had to have one, and was able to find one for sale on Amazon Japan. As the convention was about a week away, I had resigned myself to the fact that I wouldn't have it in time to get it autographed. Much to my surprise the book that I had ordered from Japan on a Friday afternoon was in my hands the following Monday, allowing me to bring it to the show to get signed as well.

Unfortunately, they didn't follow the prior volume's acetate in front of the title page, but I was glad not only to find a reasonably priced copy, but to be able to get it signed by Shinji Nishikawa as well!

Be sure to check back next week for something else from my Godzilla collection!

I Am Legend (28/54) - Ridley Scott Warner Brothers Crew Parking Pass (1997)

In 1997, Ridley Scott was attached to direct the Warner Brothers remake of I Am Legend (well, technically The Omega Man, but don't get me started) starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. I previously showcased a piece of production art from that adaptation, and today I showcase another artifact from the production.

This parking pass would be distributed to crew members to allow them access to park on the lot (or set, during production); placed on the dashboard of their car. 

What makes this example particularly cool is that it doesn't just feature the title of the production (which was common practice), but also includes the star and director — notable in that the film never made it past the pre-production stage, and clearly distinguishing it from the Francis Lawrence/Will Smith adaptation 10 years later.

Be here next week for another item from the I Am Legend Archive!

 

Creature from the Black Lagoon (27/54) - Super7 Revenge of the Creature ReAction Figures (2019)

Lest you think Super 7 created a single Creature sculpt and re-issued that over and over again... they also created a Revenge of the Creature (1955) sculpt, in chains, which has only been re-issued a comparatively few times...

First, the classic paint job...

Next came the con-exclusive obligatory Glow-in-the-Dark variant — however I give Super7 credit for at least giving us a newly designed cardback this time around (it too saw several variations before they did that with the classic Creature). 

And last — to date — but not least, Super7 released a boxed Jolly Rancher version (okay, I kid). Actually, this variant was inspired by a line of Monogram reissues of classic Aurora monster model kits in 1991 called Luminators — which were molded in different neon colored plastic, designed to shine brightly under black lights. And they do! Yes, I've still got my full set of built-up Luminators monster kits (including Frankenstein, Dracula, The Wolfman, The Mummy, The Phantom of the Opera, and King Kong — and inexplicably — NOT the Creature, or you would have already seen him here!). 

 

Return next week for more from my Creature collection!

Godzilla (26/54) - Takara Microman Costume Series Godzilla - First Version (2004)

Growing up on the 1970s, the Micronauts were one of the coolest toys available prior to the arrival of Star Wars merchandise. Though I didn't know it at the time, they were actually based on a Japanese toy line, Microman. They were highly posable, and often featured interchangeable parts.

When I encountered these 2004 Microman with Godzilla suit figures, I had to pick at least one up.

Released to coincide with the 2004 Godzilla Final Wars film, there was a version with the new Godzilla suit, one with the original 1954 suit, and one with the 1964 suit, as well as versions with King Ghidorah, Jet Jaguar and Megalon suits. I felt the iconic 1954 design suit was the way to go.

In the image below, where they show the Microman body being inserted in the Godzilla suit, the translated text reads:

"What is Kigurumi Microman series?

This is a real action monster figure series created by wearing a soft material monster costume on Microman, who can move in 30 parts of his body."

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

I Am Legend (27/54) - Murray Tinkelman's original Berkley paperback cover illustration (1979)

I acquired the original art to my first I Am Legend cover in 1995. I had the opportunity to purchase one of the early Corgi UK paintings a few years later, and deeply regret not taking advantage of it. After I discovered that I had missed out on the Stanley Meltzoff painting auction, I created a want list on the Heritage auction site, should any other original I Am Legend covers come up for sale. And much to my surprise, in 2017, one did!

In 1979, artist Murray Tinkelman (1933-2016) created a series of eight Matheson covers for Berkley books, including I Am Legend. Tinkelman had an interesting, cross-hatch style, which had famously been used on many genre paperbacks including a series of H.P. Lovecraft collections.

Determined to acquire my second original I Am Legend cover, I calculated just how much I could bid, when factoring in the not-insignificant 25% buyer's premium and shipping costs. There were actually three of Tinkelman's Matheson covers in the auction, including The Shores of Space and A Stir of Echoes. I didn't expect either of those to have the same demand as Legend, but since Legend was the second of the three lots, I knew I'd at least have an idea going in if I had a shot at it. If someone were to bid more on The Shores of Space than I was prepared to pay for Legend, it would have been pretty clear I would be coming away empty-handed. So when Shores sold for a mere $550 (before BP), I at least knew I had a chance. (And while I wouldn't have minded having three Tinkelman Matheson's at that price, I couldn't risk expending any of my limited budget on a 'nice-to-have' piece until I had secured my 'must-have' piece.

Before the auction had started, I had already placed my high bid. For the first few seconds, it looked like it might top out at a similar price as Shores. But my thoughts of winning the auction at a fraction of my budget were short-lived, as the price slowly crept up, going back and forth between my proxy bid and another bidder. I resigned myself to the possibility that it was going to go to someone with deeper pockets than I, and tried to appreciate that I had at least maintained the high bid for a while. And then an amazing thing happened. The increases stopped. And frankly, they stopped when I was still 25% shy of my limit. When the auctioneer declared my bid the winning bid, I was ecstatic. 

Even though I won the Legend piece for less than I was prepared to pay, I decided not to bid on the Stir of Echoes cover (which also sold for $550 before BP). I figured it was best to let that go to someone else, and be thankful I won the piece I was most interested in. 

As is often the case, the printed reproduction doesn't do the original art justice. You can see how big the original is compared to the paperback below.

Tinkelman's signature and date were either scrubbed from the art on the book cover, which is not uncommon, or added after Berkley had returned it. 

It's worth noting that just two years later, in 2019, Tinkelman's Shores of Space painting sold at auction for $2100 (before BP). I think it's safe to assume the Legend painting has appreciated in value at least as much (nearly 4x) if not more than what I paid for it. Of course, I have no plans of ever selling it. 

Be sure to check back next week for another item from the I Am Legend Archive!