Collecting Godzilla: Has this gotten easier or harder?

[Stoopid_Sandwich]

Hey all. So I've just been musing to myself that it feels like we are in this weird transitory period of Godzilla collecting that is not too dissimilar from where we were in the late 90's/early 00's and I'm wondering if we can collectively speculate as to why its become this way. On the surface, it feels like Godzilla is more popular than ever. Particularly in the states. We have the Monsterverse movies still going strong, collectibles are as popular as they have ever been and there's definitely a hunger for more Godzilla content that is being somewhat fullfilled thanks to comic publishing, television shows, movies and even short films. But beneath the surface it feels like something is not the same as it used to be. Just ten short years ago, collectors had a robust retail backbone that supported not just a large import market that was allowed to come into the states and sell merch to places like comic shops, collector shops, Barnes and Noble and not to mention online retail. But there were also plenty of american made figures offered here thanks to Neca, and eventually Playmates, Mezco and Super7.

It seems like most of those outlets are gone now. Since 2020 I have personally had a hell of a time tracking down imported action figures. American offered figures have all but been wiped off the map outside of the odd figures produced by McFarlane Toys, and it honestly feels like collectors really have to be plugged into the overseas market (or even in some cases have to move to Japan) just to have a shot at reporting or collecting the current crop of whatever is out there. We can still buy X-Plus, SHMA, Hiya and even statues, vinyl figures and even things like posters, prints, art books and vinyl records. But it only comes and goes in these tiny little pockets. Even finding Godzilla movies on Blu-Ray has been limited to only being accessible thanks to smaller distributors and limited production runs. Am I loosing my mind or are we in a collecting famine?

[Creature22]

It’s definitely much easier to get merchandise today than it was in the past, but I think external factors like the increase in demand and cost, paired with distribution issues and things like scalpers has made it seem more difficult at times. When the Monsterverse started Godzilla did not have a very reignited fan base in the US, particularly with children. It has snowballed so with that comes the increased awareness and demand.

It’s definitely not the wasteland that it was when I was a kid in the 2000s though (and that was WITH Internet access! ) If I was a kid today I would at least have access to stuff. Heck, I remember finding a VHS at the mall for a Heisei movie I had not yet seen- and not having enough money for it. I never saw another copy available again. That’s the type of frustration and scarcity I remember dealing with that I’d hope no kid ever has to go through today.

[o.supreme]

If you lived in the United States, and didn't live close to, or regularly visit large cities that may have had Asian districts (China Town, Japan Town etc...). Here were your options:

Aurora Godzilla Model Kit: 1964 (re-released every decade or so)
Mattel Shogun Godzilla: 1978, available on store shelves until around 1981 *I was alive and this was my #1 toy wish for a long time along with Rodan, sadly I never got them
Imperial Godzilla 1985 - Came in 2 sizes, large (12 inch and 6 inch). It was rereleased in the early 90's. Also countless bootlegs were made from this sculpt. I got the smaller version from an amusement park near my home in 1986
Trendmasters Godzilla Line 1994-1998. -I was able to get all the first year toys. Year 2 (Monster Wars), I only got the large Gigan and Space Godzilla, Year 3 (Doom Island) only came out in international markets as far as I am aware. Then they had no product for a couple years before launching a full years worth of product for the 1998 American Godzilla Film

Since that time there have been more product in both the Japanese and North American Markets. We are truly living in a Golden Age, despite prices being unfortunately what they are.

I was fortunate enough to go to conventions in the early 90's, thats how I started getting into Bandai figures. Of course this was all phone or letter writing correspondence and asking for catalogues of what was available. Writing checks and waiting weeks for stuff to show up. Fortunately I was never scammed, but that defnitely was a different time.

[Creature22]

Of course this was all phone or letter writing correspondence and asking for catalogues of what was available. Writing checks and waiting weeks for stuff to show up. Fortunately I was never scammed, but that defnitely was a different time.

This hits home

My parents did NOT trust eBay for this reason. For my early 2000s childhood a lot of us were just getting into having home computers (with those colorful iMac monitors ) but online shopping was still super taboo and it took retailers having verified phone numbers and physical storefronts for my parents to trust them. Our choice was Toys From the Outer Limits, but even then you still had to call/email them, mail the check, and wait a very long time for everything to process. I had far less Godzilla merchandise back then, but whenever something arrived it was an event.

Trendmasters Godzilla Line 1994-1998. -I was able to get all the first year toys. Year 2 (Monster Wars), I only got the large Gigan and Space Godzilla, Year 3 (Doom Island) only came out in international markets as far as I am aware. Then they had no product for a couple years before launching a full years worth of product for the 1998 American Godzilla Film

Thanks for this, because I think it helps highlight the fact that the Trendmasters stuff definitely wasn't as abundant as people would imagine. Obviously when they were new and hot they were available, but for the most part if you missed the 1994-1995 window you had to find them on clearance. That was the only reason I happened to acquire any of mine during childhood, and once clearance cleared up, they were gone for good. I remember the 1998 stuff being available but once the movie tanked it all disappeared as well, like retailers wanted NO part of it. My memory of Trendmasters, especially if you got into Godzilla during the tail-end, was that they blew up and burned out rather quickly.