Imperial Godzilla

[ODBJBG]

Our look at classic Japanese Monsters continues with Godzilla himself, but this isn't just any Godzilla it's the 1985 Imperial Godzilla! This is a classic toy at it's finest. He even appeared in nearly every episode of a TV show.



Check out the full review and be sure to come back all week for more Kaiju goodness.

Infinite Hollywood: Japanese Monster Week

Thanks for reading.

[cjefferys]

I could never bring myself to buy one of these, even in the dark days back in the 80's when the far superior Japanese Godzilla toys weren't as easy to find stateside as they are now. I think it's because of the goofy eyes and "lipstick".

[kennermike]

yeah that godzilla is funny looking!

[toys2cool]

My brother would love that

[ODBJBG]

Surprised there isn't more love for this guy out there.

[thunderbolt]

He is pretty cool, but the face does look like a Godzilla blow up love doll.

[Mikey]

I used to have one.

Man that thing was big and heavy.

The only thing I didn't like about it was the mouth ...

[palitoy]

I have (still have) the smaller one, I can still remember the big drugstore display box of them alongside the less impressive Uni Monster figures they made. It's been in every apartment I've ever had.

Imperial Toys rule, I just got their '78 sales brochure in.

[Orion]

I have (still have) the smaller one, I can still remember the big drugstore display box of them alongside the less impressive Uni Monster figures they made. It's been in every apartment I've ever had.

Imperial Toys rule, I just got their '78 sales brochure in.

It does look a step above the Universal Monsters that Imperial put out. The best thing about the Uni Monsters was the card art in my opinion. You get spoiled by some of the fantastic Godzilla figures that are readily available today, especially some of the imports from Bandai. But this guy looks ok - especially considering your options in getting a good Godzilla figure at the time.

[palitoy]

The best thing about the Uni Monsters was the card art in my opinion.

I can't even stand the site of those figures and I'm a ravenous fan of classic monsters, something about them just screams "I don't care". It may have to do with the fact that I had stare at them for eight hours a day at a crap job for a while.

[Orion]

I don't think you are alone in your dislike for the figures. They were almost a mockery of the classic Uni Monsters and I don't personally desire to pick any of them up. I don't know what the designers were thinking when they put that line together - - - seemed like a "what the heck attitude, these will do." My only thought was that a sharper figure might have looked better on the card art they employed on the card backs.

[palitoy]

My only thought was that a sharper figure might have looked better on the card art they employed on the card backs.

Heh, it wouldn't have to go far to impress me, I kind of like my monsters "Dime store". I think the proportions bother me mostly on the Imperials, I would love to own a display box however....

[cjefferys]

Well at least the Imperial Godzilla is better than the Ben Cooper jiggler one, I'll give it that. Wow, we really got screwed on Godzilla toys here in North America. I have a lot of Godzilla toys, but the only US one I can tolerate having in my collection is the Shogun Warriors one.

[ODBJBG]

It does look a step above the Universal Monsters that Imperial put out. The best thing about the Uni Monsters was the card art in my opinion. You get spoiled by some of the fantastic Godzilla figures that are readily available today, especially some of the imports from Bandai. But this guy looks ok - especially considering your options in getting a good Godzilla figure at the time.

Exactly. This guy isn't near as good as some of the Bandai's, but he was far superior to the other options we had back in the day.

If I had any painting skills at all, I guarntee I could repaint this Imperial Godzilla to look so awesome it's not even funny.

[Orion]

Well at least the Imperial Godzilla is better than the Ben Cooper jiggler one, I'll give it that. Wow, we really got screwed on Godzilla toys here in North America. I have a lot of Godzilla toys, but the only US one I can tolerate having in my collection is the Shogun Warriors one.

While I love the Ben Cooper Universal Monsters (unlicensed though, right?), I have to agree that I'm not a big fan of the Godzilla - lacked charm. He kind of just looked like a regular dinosaur.