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Godzilla Complete Works Set

Longtime reader Brandon writes in with a new review of the Godzilla Complete Works Set - take it away, Brandon!

I want to thank Michael so much for letting Me guest review on his great web site. It is one site that I visit all the time! I will be reviewing the Godzilla Complete Works Set made by Bandai. Yes, your Majesty is the talk tonight! For starters these figures are mini dioramas and are very unique. These are imported from Japan. They are difficult to obtain and to get the 95 Burning Godzilla is like getting a Marvel Legend chase figure and finding the translucent 95 Burning Godzilla is nearly impossible. I have always loved Godzilla and just about any monster movie. In fact, I often watch Godzilla, Gamera and other monster flicks today. Bandai did a really incredible job on these miniature figures and they really know how to make monster figures. They have been making Godzilla figures since the early 80's.








This set was expensive but well worth the price and I thank the Almighty Lord that I was able to get it. It has always been one of my dreams to have these very versions of Godzilla and Bandai made it possible! 

The set consists of the 1962 Godzilla, 1964 Godzilla, 1974 Godzilla, 1984 Godzilla, 1995 Burning Godzilla, 2001 GMK Godzilla, & 2003 Godzilla. First of all, the figures of Godzilla in the box set are from seven incredible films. The versions that are from the movies are as follows: Godzilla 62 from King Kong vs. Godzilla, Godzilla 64 from Godzilla vs. Mothra, Godzilla 74 from Godzilla vs. Gigan, Godzilla 84/85 from The Return of Godzilla AKA Godzilla 1985, Godzilla 95 from Godzilla vs. Destroyah, Godzilla 2001 from Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack and Godzilla 2003 from Godzilla, Mothra, Mechagodzilla: Tokyo S.O.S.  That's the list of films theses versions of Godzilla were seen in and here is how I review the figures! I hope you enjoy it!

Packaging - ***1/2
The figures come in little packages inside a box. Every box is identical with each other and you 'ed have to open the box to find out which version you have. These boxes are inside a larger box much like a case but there are pictures of the figures and photos from the films. There's also a photo on the side of the sculptor Yugi Sakai. It also gives the company information and other info but most of it is in Japanese. Inside each box it a tiny pamphlet of info in Japanese of the figure and a photo from the film the figure presents. I really like this style as is it more convenient than just the usual plastic bags.

Sculpting - ****
I am so dang impressed by the sculpting Yugi Sakai did here! Its just flawless! You can see the villainous look 62 Godzilla has when he was the ultimate bad guy! The eyebrows of 64 Godzilla are just so good and 74 Godzilla looks just so fabulous! Godzilla 1985 is so wonderful looking. Godzilla 1985 is my favorite Godzilla film and this was such treat to have! The buildings and train tracks all look so beautiful and Godzilla's eyes looks just so neat.

Burning Godzilla 95 is really extraordinary. The buildings here are really great looking and I love the fact that part of the one building is almost torn apart at the top by the hand of big-G! Great touch! GMK Godzilla 2001 is really evil looking as the look of the deity is pulled off perfectly! The water is clear which is marvelous and the boat accessory is really cool. 2003 big-G is superb! The spines are accurate and the face is just awesome. The bases are great and the 2001 Godzilla's translucent water base is outstanding! Everything looks realistic! All of these figures have such incredible detail and I don't think there is anything else to say other than WOW!!!

Paint - ****
The paint here is just fascinating to Me because the paint on My set is nearly flawless. One cool touch is on the 74 Godzilla is that he has blood all over his chest! Another in the burning color of the 95 Godzilla! The spines, plates, nails, and eyes are all wonderful and the same goes for the paint on the buildings too! There is only about one or two tiny spots of paint that I see that blotched here and there and since these figures are only about two inches tall I give Bandai huge credit!

Accessories - ****
Each Godzilla figure comes with a detailed base. 74 Godzilla includes the generating power towers and by the way they are translucent! They attach to his chest via a peg. 84 Godzilla and 95 Godzilla includes many buildings and 2001 Big-G includes the helpless boat and they all have pegs that fit in the bases rather well. 

Fun Factor - ****
Even though these are just tiny dioramas like-statues and no articulation these babies are tremendous to look at on the shelf. They are great to think about and big time Godzilla fans will appreciate these in my opinion.

Value - ***1/2
The value is great but since the 95 Burning Godzilla is arguably worse than finding a Marvel Legend chase figure and that the chase 95 Translucent Burning Godzilla is almost an impossibility to get a hold of it sets it down a notch because there are people out there like Me who are completists and must have the whole set and since a couple figures are hard to get it makes the value go down due to various price points. For this set I paid $57.99 at Extreme Collectables which in My book this was a very good buy indeed. I have bought from them before so I thought hey, they specialize in Godzilla items. I e-mailed them and sure enough they got in some and Chip, the owner of the store held them for Me so I was quite pleased with the service. These are really a great value but if you do not get the regular 95 Burning Godzilla then take another half of a star off. Sure the six regulars is a great purchase by their selves and will of course be easier to buy but your really not getting the whole greatness of this set without the regular 95 Burning Godzilla but if you get the whole set minus the chase version and around the price I paid then go ahead and put four stars in the books!

Overall - ****
Overall these figures are totally awesome because of several reasons. Their made very well, painted greatly, sculpted superbly, and their Godzilla! The selection of the Godzilla versions were wise choices and the scenes they are depicted from couldn't have been better! If you are a huge Godzilla fan like I am and are a collector or want the ultimate Godzilla collection that looks exactly like their counterparts in the films that is affordable then this is the set to get! No question about it! 

Things to watch out for -
Careful with the small buildings and other accessories because they are tiny but other than that issue everything is excellent quality!

SCORE RECAP:
Packaging - ***1/2
Sculpt - ****
Paint - ****
Articulation - N/A
Accessories - ****
Fun Factor - ****
Value - ***1/2
Overall - ****

Where to Buy - 
Action-HQ  - They have the set listed including the secret figure which is the translucent 95 Burning Godzilla but the set is listed for $94.95 plus shipping and they are in stock.

EDITOR'S NOTE:
One reader writes in to let us know that some Asian grocery/specialty stores have these as cheap as $5 each.


Figure from the collection of Brandon Miller.

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