Optimus Prime Type MFS-3 MechaGodzilla [Synergenex]

It was starting to feel like this toy would never come. I had pre-ordered it with the Godzilla Type Megatron we looked at a little while back. For whatever reason, it was a month a half before this one shipped. That was weird. Regardless, today, we'll be looking at the second half of the Transformers X Godzilla toys from Takara Tomy's Synergenex line. Optimus Prime has followed Megatron to Earth through the Space Bride. Megatron had scanned Godzilla, resulting in one pretty big threat.

To confront this, Optimus used the power of the Matrix to scan MechaGodzilla Kiryu and incorporated his technology into his body. Now teamed with the Japan Self-Defense Forces, Optimus Prime Type MFS-3 MechaGodzilla prepares to face The Emperor of Destruction. One thing certainly on the J.S.D.F's mind must be, is Optimus Prime now haunted by the spirit of the original Godzilla as Kiryu was?

Like Godzilla Type Megatron, Optimus is a repaint of a prior toy. This is a straight repaint of the Legacy Laser Optimus Prime that just looks outstanding. In truck mode his cab is a mix of Kiryu's colors and the trailer in a military green. The trailer converts into a battle station that I can see the J.S.D.F utilizing in the field. The battle platform has a robotic arm and laser cannon that I imagine utilizes the Twin Maser Cannon's abilities. The Laser Optimus Prime mold is a good base for a version of Optimus equipped with Kiryu's technology.

His laser sword and energy axe make for a good use of the Maser Blade abilities. The Maser Blade could deliver a strong electrical surge into Godzilla's body when stabbed. Kiryu's Back Unit is clearly represented by shoulder missile launchers. Like many Optimus Prime toys, Laser Optimus Prime has an opening chest with a removable Matrix of Autobot Leadership. This makes a good placement for Kiryu's Absolute Zero Cannon. While many were turned off by this toy when it was revealed, I think it really is a good fit for the concept.

I'm very fond of Optimus in this deco. The silver, gray, and blue look really great and the green trailer contrasts nicely. The sword, axe, and Matrix are cast in a very nice translucent yellow that matches the electrical energy output from Kiryu's weaponry. The MFS-3 (Multipurpose Fighting System Type-3) markings look sharp and the MechaGodzilla badge on his chest is awesome. My favorite bit is the red interior of Optimus's helmet, which matches Kiryu's 'blood tears' facial detail. A more cynical person may see this as a cheap repaint, but they really knocked the concept out of the park. A lot of complaints towards this set have been that they wished Takara Tomy would have done more, but I'm really happy with what they did.

MechaGodzilla 1974 [ReAction/Godzilla Monster Island]

I've made my fondness for the Showa MechaGodzilla known several times on the site. It's hard not to love those classic old school sci fi looks combined with the characters savagery. Today I want to specifically take a look and appreciate this ReAction figure of him I got recently in a blind box. I've been a fan of Super7 and their ReAction figures since they were introduced. That old Kenner Star Wars figure design is a form factor I'll always love. When applied to the Godzilla characters, they come out as really well done kaiju figures that are fun to collect.

I know certain folks take issue with ReAction. They either don't like the price (understandable), somehow magically take issue with anything popular (cringe), or it might just not be their thing (fair enough). I buy a good deal of designer toys, so something like a $20 blind box doesn't phase me. Sure, I'd love a lower price, but there's an old saying. If you want to play, you've got to pay. I just try to make good decisions so the occasional splurge doesn't hurt too much. Not to mention, not many designer toys are available at places like Target or Walmart. So the selection Super7 has at local retail is appreciated. The selection of designer gatcha at more boutique stores will can make that $15 I paid for this box feel a lot more reasonable. Super7 has a lot more expensive items out there to be sure.

Hopefully my tangent didn't come off pretentious or assholish, but maybe I should talk about the figure now. If this was a Facebook post, I would have followed that with a 'lol'. This is the same MechaGodzilla mold Super7 has used a few times already in various ReAction series. It's a great sculpt, so I don't mind. Each edition has it's differences to make them all cool and unique. For this pretty great Godzilla Monster Island blind box series they've made him look pretty good. I know I say this often, but I always mean it. This feels like a more premium figure than it is. The paint applications look great. My wife has called MechaGodzilla 'tin foil guy' in the past, and in a lot of those cases it's a fair description.

I may love them, but the silver on some of the toys does lack a little in visual pop. Not here, Mecha G looks sharp in a very chrome color with nicely done dark greys. The blood red details and yellow eyes contrast very well against it. The sculpt is very detailed giving these fantastic colors a nice base to show off. A lot of kaiju toys don't feature a ton of articulation (some do, I know) and these ReAction ones are pretty similar to the Bandai sofubi ones I generally buy. Mecha G's head turns, arms move at the shoulders, and legs swivel at the thigh. It's just enough for a toy this size. This is a fantastic little figure and I plan to pick up a few more from this series when I see them. Nice things are nice.

MechaGodzilla [Monster Egg Series Godzilla]

There's something magical about classic MechaGodzilla. Sure, more modern takes are extra awesome looking and super badass... but there's no denying the classic sci fi charm and style of his era. You can laugh at his rainbow colored beams all you want... but he did draw blood. Those fights with Godzilla were specifically gory and it was this version that did the damage. While we're talking about his far out looks and hardcore fighting... let's look at his egg monsters toy. Like any Bandai transforming egg, he's well done.

Minimal articulation, but that's common for this type of toy. He looks pretty great in both modes. Robot mode looks pretty spot on, maybe a little extra round, but that's another side effect of this type of toy. You expect it. Egg form looks like some sort of crazy bomb G-Force devised to stop these monsters and run off the evil space aliens. Or since this MechaGodzilla is from space and working for those evil space aliens... maybe it's something they made for us! I haven't mention yet that this series is a reissue set and they were originally released in 2014. It's super cool Bandai did this and had it at Target. The Mrs saw them and knew they'd make perfect stocking stuffers because of that. So many  people are complaining about the price of eggs these days, but these ones are priceless to me.

Mechagodzilla 1974 [Godzilla Monster Series 5"]

It has been too long since I've taken a look at Bandai's fun 5" soft vinyl figures from their Godzilla Monster Series line. I get these from my local Target (because some of us live in a society) and had been on the look out for more as the lines stocked in the 'collectors' section can be short stocked at times. Unless it's those Parks and Rec ReAction figures that'll be there after the nuclear apocalypse. My wife had pointed out that they had the 'tin foil guy' leading to the happy discovery of a Mechagodzilla sitting on the shelf waiting for my purchase. This is a great little toy of the 1974 version of Mechagodzilla as he appeared in Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla. This 5" series is a less expensive set of figures that are perfectly adequate, but don't have the number of paint apps as larger, pricier figures.

This works out ok for the Showa Mechagodzilla as thanks to his design... he doesn't need a lot of colors to be accurate. Articulation is pretty limited on this one compared to a regular Godzilla. Arms move at the shoulders, and swivel at the waist. I have other sofubi with this amount of movement so it's not a negative for me. I can see others taking issue however. His sculpt is really great and pretty screen accurate. I've always liked Mechagodzilla quite a bit and the original incarnation is a ton of fun. He's from that same era that gave us Henshin Cyborg and Microman so there's a similar aesthetic. For the low cost ($10 at Target) this is a solid figure and man I just love anything Bandai makes. The smaller size is welcome as it can be stored easy or have plenty of room on a busy kaiju toy shelf. Just great all the way around.

Giant MechaGodzilla (Godzilla vs Kong)

 

I feel like I've been championing the Playmates Godzilla toys since they've been released. To be fair, I was initially critical like others. Some of those early photos weren't promising. I acknowledged the lines faults and have watched it improve as time went along. That's how toy lines work, the initial figures are usually a little rough and things get smoother out as the team finds it's groove. This is the Giant sized MechaGodzilla from their Godzilla vs Kong line. It was one of the Christmas gifts from the Mrs. and I'm quite fond of it.

While Kiryu is my favorite version of MechaGodzilla, this newer Monsterverse version sure is neat. I like how it looks like a robot skeleton. Kiryu is made from skeletal remains of the original Godzilla who's ghost is in there, while this Mechagodzilla is initially controlled by the skull of Ghidorah before being possessed by Ghidorah's consciousness. Mechagodzilla's can be pretty spooky. Good.

This is the giant version of Mechagodzilla. It stands 11" tall, while the standard one is 6". I wished I would have measured it from nose to tail, because that seems a little longer. Like most kaiju toys, he doesn't have a lot of articulation. Head, shoulders, legs, hands, feet, and some tail swivel. Most is pretty standard stuff for a sofubi or these sofubi inspired action figures. The hands though are pretty neat, they swivel at the wrists as well as open and close. This allows him to pick up a bus and throw it back down as well.

Godzilla vs Kong

After waiting an eternity, Godzilla vs Kong was finally released last Wednesday. Thanks to covid-19 adding a few more delays, the movie was released to theaters and streaming via HBO Max. That's how I watched it, at home with some takeout from a steakhouse Saturday night. I'd love to have watched it on release day, but as I've said before here- my work schedule makes watching movies hard during the week. Not to mention I had just got my internet back after a EF-4 tornado went through my town last week. After all the delays, a few more days didn't seem that bad.

I loved this movie. Which you probably guessed already. I've been very happy with the Monsterverse's use of Kong and Godzilla and the world they gave them to play in. Ultimately this movie was the planned culmination of the series. So depending on how the pendulum swings it could be the last movie or the start of a new phase. Considering how successful it's been so far, hopefully they'll let them fight for a few more movies.

Speaking of success, the movie is pulling the kind of box office you'd expect in a big budget Hollywood blockbuster before covid-19 changed everything. That's pretty amazing. While the toys have been selling steadily at my local Walmarts, they were completely cleared out Saturday morning. Considering the extra stock they put out a few days more and that's awesome. Finding a Mechagodzilla might prove to be a challenge. If that's due to a successful movie making people want monsters toys, then I'm happy to share in the selection.

Godzilla's Ghost

Godzilla is a giant fire breathing monster that will destroy your city. Even if he's the good guy in the scenario, he's going to destroy the city. What I'm saying is, he's a giant threat. That's why they killed him with the Oxygen Destroyer. Thing is, he's not the only Godzilla. Depending on the continuity represented, there's been maybe two or three of the giant monsters.

That's where Ghost Godzilla comes in. For a time, Toho planned on bringing back the original Godzilla as a ghost to fight the then current Godzilla. To end the Heisei series, Toho planned on the two Godzilla monsters to fight it out. One of the ideas for this was to have the ghost of the original Godzilla posses Little Godzilla, and grow into a frightening giant new Godzilla (see the above picture). Ultimately the idea was dropped as the past two movies had alternate versions of Godzilla starring (Mechagodzilla, Space Godzilla). Though I don't think the idea went away.

In 2001, Toho released Godzilla, Mothra, and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack (GMK). What does this have to do with Ghost Godzilla? Look at the picture above of the GMK Godzilla, which is not your average Godzilla. GMK Godzilla is the result of those who died in the Pacific Theater during World War II taking revenge on Japan for forgetting it's past. In so many ways, he's a giant hell spawn brought into existence by the souls of the dead. Lot's of Ghosts Godzilla.

Hey, think that's all the spooky shit Toho did with Godzilla? In 2002 Toho revealed the coolest incarnation of Mechagodzilla- Kiryu! What's so spooky about a robot Godzilla? Remember that whole 'original Godzilla' from 1954 I was talking about? In this movies continuity where that Godzilla died and the current Godzilla terrorized Japan so much that they used the skeleton of the original Godzilla to create Kiryu. A skeleton? You know the almost universal symbol of spookiness? Yes, The original Godzilla's skeleton is inside this thing leading to it being possessed by it's ghost.

So basically Mechagodzilla is Ghost Godzilla finally realized. Which isn't too bad as Kiryu rights his former life's wrongs and becomes a hero. That's the opposite of the original intent of Ghost Godzilla, but still pretty creepy to think inside that is a skeleton in possesion of it. I'd love a ghost story of one of JXSDF inside the mech haunted by Godzilla's ghost. A giant haunted house robot. To add to his inert yurei nature, those red lines running down from his eyes? They light up red and are intended to simulate bloody tears. Damn Toho, that's dark!

Godzilla: The City Mechanized for Battle

Man this one looks like the action gets dialed up a few levels, but as much as I dig the new Mecha Godzilla, I feel like this one should be Zone Fighter or something else. Either way I'm looking forward to this one popping up on Netflix.

Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla trailer