Loona & Helluva Boss

This summer is becoming a lot like the summer of 2020 for me, and the summer of 2012 before that.

What I mean is, it's a summer of infatuation in one particular piece of media that I will obsess over for the remainder of the season/year. In 2012, I was waist deep in the My Little Pony Friendship is Magic craze, which actually continued for quite some time and still, personally, does today. Following that was a reignition of my love for Scott Pilgrim in 2020; I was buying shirts, the movie, hyping up the re-release of the game. Even got an autographed photo of Mary Elizabeth Winstead.

Now THIS year, I saw myself returning to the Furry community once again after falling out with it in 2011/2012. The reason? I was lured back by a vicious, disgruntled Hellhound. 

The adopted daughter of Blitzo (the O is silent). She's angry. She's a goth. And she has an incredible design, but even with that praise it's not enough to describe how great this character is. She's complex, putting on a strong facade when around her father and their coworkers, but seemingly struggle when under the general public eye. She has a soft, sensitive side that seldom shows that adds some extra layers to her character as well. 

I haven't been this infatuated with a particular character or a media in a while, and so what did I do? I bought some merch. 

I'll only wear the shirt on special occasions. It's a limited run item and no more will be produced. The pin is staying in the packaging on the card, as I intend on it remaining pristine. The keychain is so that I can take the character everywhere with me, not only to just have the character there but also to show off my fandom to anyone that might recognize her. 

MONSTER SIGHTING #25: Godzilla Vs Destoroyah

I can only think of two pieces of media that struck an emotional chord with me as a kid, and that was Piccolo's death against Nappa and this movie here.

Was it the first time we had seen Godzilla die on screen? No way. He died in the very first movie afterall. But the difference is we didn't watch that Godzilla change across an entire series of films and then melt away in a gruesome manner. It was and still is a depressing sight to see. 

And then there's the final big bad of the Heisei era of films. Destoroyah. A crustacean mutated and fueled by the very weapon that killed Godzilla way back in the very beginning. I remember when I first saw images of this thing, thinking it was meant to be Bagan from Super Godzilla with some changes from his in-game design. But no, just a monster that is considerably less interesting. 

And that concludes the Heisei era of my Godzilla series rewatch. Next: Godzilla 1998!

MONSTER SIGHTING #24: Godzilla Vs. Space Godzilla

As of the time of this posting, this is the closest we've been to getting am actual Godzilla vs. Godzilla movie. 

I really, really like this movie. The score gives it a very different, almost haunting atmosphere. It's a bit long in the tooth, or feels that way at least, but the payoff is great with a big old kaiju three-way.

It took a good long while, but they finally made Moguera canon in the Godzilla films. Like most monsters in this era, the US got introduced to them via the Trendmasters toy line. I was surprised at how different the Moguera figure looked compared to how he looked as a boss monster in Godzilla Monster of Monsters. 

The big bad was Space Godzilla. And now I mean it when I say that his existence in the toy line confused me immensely as it had bared striking similarities to Godzilla's powered up 'Super Godzilla' form from the game of the same name. Around that same time, a friend of my father's had given me a newspaper clipping featuring a small snippet talking about the 1994 film, along with a picture of the three Godzilla creatures featured in the film. 

It wouldn't be until years later when I picked up the Official Godzilla Compendium that I would learn that Super Godzilla not only didn't exist in the films in any way, but neither did Bagan. 

Currently Reading: Bane County Book 1: Forgotten Moon

It seems I am not quite ready to end the streak of horror novels as I am just beginning to dive into the first book of J. R. Rice's 'Bane County' series. Seeing that there were five books in total really surprised me as horror books are typically one and done, yet here this with a whopping five! All about werewolves brutally slaughtering people in, you guessed it, Bane County.

Steam Deck & The Great Summer Sale 2023

 With the next big Steam summer sale set to begin tomorrow and taking my current money trends into account, I won't be buying a lot unless there are some truly remarkable price drops in the mix. I plan on buying mostly games I've played before and either really loved, or just didn't finish. 

The main one I want to get is Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling. I absolutely adored this game when I played through it on Switch a few years ago, and now I'm feeling up for a replay of it on my Steam Deck so that I can attempt to earn all of the achievements and fight the optional bosses—On hard mode of course.

The other game I want to pick up for sure is Bloodstained Ritual of the Night. I own it physically on the Switch, but I want to replay it on my Steam Deck now. I'm in a goth/demonic kick right now and this game, besides the Castlevania games, is perfectly up my alley right now. And luckily, it's already on sale for $12, so I'll definitely be picking it up tomorrow come the pay time. 

The other game I am hoping to see go on sale is the recently released Resident Evil 4 remake. It came out around the time I started work again this past March and so I couldn't really afford to pick it up at launch, but as time went on and I saw my funds slowly begin to replenish themselves, the closer we got to the beginning of the summer sale. I'm hoping to see it drop to $40, any more and I'll have to skip it again for the time being, because...

The Story of Seasons A Wonderful Life remake is now officially out! While it will absolutely NOT be a part of the sale this week, I still plan on buying it on the 3rd of July. I always play new games in the series with my friend, and since she's attending Anthrocon, she won't have the chance to start so I'll be waiting for her to get back before I pick the game up myself and play. That's another surefire $50 coming out, which is why RE4r is heavily dependent on hitting that $40 price mark.

MONSTER SIGHTING #23: Godzilla Vs MechaGodzilla 2

Funny enough, Godzilla vs MechaGodzilla 2 was the last Heisei film that I purchased, years after Space Godzilla and Destoroyah for reasons I don't remember. It was during the hype train leading to the release of Godzilla Destroy All Monsters Melle on the Gamecube in 2002 that I finally picked it up.

Continuing the trend started by the previous movie, GvMG2 saw the return of  yet another legacy character with added fire power, because everyone needed a beam weapon in the 90s. Fire Rodan appeared and fought Godzilla again for the first time in decades and promptly got his butt handed to him. Later returning to the final battle to aid in the fight against the new Mecha Godzilla. 

Phew... Okay they have been two really bad versions of this character; this one and the one that somewhat appeared in that highly forgettable anime movie. 

My first exposure to this version of the character was in the form of the Trendmasters figure line that launched in 1994. I remember I was going to buy a dog leash that night to attach to the back of my pants for pretend use as a tail, but promptly dropped it upon seeing the Trendmasters figures. Before that point in time, the only Godzilla figures we really had were the Imperial 6 and 12 inch figures. Seeing not only Godzilla but several of his friends and foes on shelves was HUGE. 

I was confused by the appearance of Mecha-Godzilla because it looked nothing like the Showa version we had only seen by that point, which honestly thinking about now was a weird decision on Trendmasters part. The movie from which this design originated from was only a few months old and not available in the states in any way. 

I remember my older brother telling me that this MG was good and that people piloted it like a Zord. I of course didn't want to believe him and still had him fight against the heroic Godzilla instead. 

But man, in movie? Like every other Heisei character, it was all about how many beams they could shoot. Gone were the days of tooth and claw fights. 

Rik's Garden Update - June 27th 2023 Edition

 

Everything is looking a tad bit cluttered right now due to the spacing and size of the plants, but beyond that and some minor browning on tomato plant leaves, the garden is doing great. The cucumbers(pictured above) have really taken off after this past week of rain and are already beginning to vine outside of the bed.

MONSTER SIGHTING #22: Godzilla and Mothra The Battle for Earth

As I mentioned in my entry for Godzilla vs King Ghidorah, that film and this one here were released at the same time on VHS in the states. I saw it advertised during a QVC presentation that I believe I still have on tape somewhere.

Easily my least liked film of the era, and probably the most forgettable all around. It's the first time we see Mothra with some more potent weaponry as most Heisei creatures had. And speaking of weaponry, I would really love to know what the decision behind changing the iconic sound effect of Godzilla's atomic breath was! An absolute oddity. 

And then there is the special foe! Like the majority of kids during the 90s, our first exposure to Battra was via the SNES game Super Godzilla. In that, he was the boss of level 4 and could only be damaged by Godzilla's most powerful atomic breath attack. There were Battra, the second one you could avoid fighting if you got to the other side of the city under a certain time limit. 

Battra is pretty cool overall and deserved a better film and a roar of his very own. I hope he gets a second chance in the Monsterverse someday. 

MONSTER SIGHTING #21: Godzilla Vs King Ghidorah

It wasn't until the Godzilla storm kicked up by the release of GODZILLA in 1998 that we would finally get the rest of the Heisei era films, three years after they had ended.

I first became aware of their existence during a Godzilla product presentation on QVC of all channels. They were selling this movie and the one that proceeded it, Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth. I remember begging my parents to order them for me, but it wasn't long after that that we came across them both at Walmart.

The suit used in this movie would pretty much go on to become the face of the entire franchise well into the 2010s, only to be replaced by Shin Godzilla in 2016.

Ghidorah got a fairly dull makeover, becoming a mutant himself rather than a monster from space. Gone was the hair on each head and the gnarly horned. They simplified the design too much for my liking, even taking away his chatter. 

It was this movie that finally gave me the origins of Mecha King Ghidorah after years of fighting him in Super Godzilla and owning Trendmasters figures.

Exponential by Adam Cesare

Finished Video Night in a few days and loved every minute of it. Then I had this book by the same author recommended to me, selling me with the premise is The Blob 1989 meets Tremors.

A janitor for a biological research firm "rescues" a lab mouse after witnessing the effects of the testing done on subjects prior. His good intentions end up costing him his life when the lab's experiment literally explodes out of the mouse he tried saving, leaving the white pelt of the mouse behind, but taking its innards with it, swirling it around in a small, gelatinous pile of gore with a appetite for flesh. Oh and meth dealers.

In just the first four chapters. I bought it without a second thought. 

MONSTER SIGHTING #20: Godzilla Vs Biollante

I have another cluster of memories revolving around this movie that have helped cement it as my favorite amongst the Heisei era of film. 

Let's start with my first introduction to the Biollante character:

It was in the Super Nintendo game "Super Godzilla". On the third level, you face off against Biollante in the middle of a huge lake. To the young Rick, Biollante appeared as a giant, aquatic fish-like monster with a glowing red belly and two toothy tentacles. 

As of the time of release in the states in 1994, only Godzilla 1985 was available so the lineup of Heisei villains was still largely unknown to the general populace, with the widespread advent of the internet still years off. Creatures like Biollante, Battra and Bagan were every bit as mystical as the likes of Varan and Baragon to a kid my age during the 90s.

It wasn't until sometime in 1995 that I finally was able to grab myself a copy of Godzilla Vs. Biollante along with the first VHS collecting two episodes of the Ruby-Spears Mega Man cartoon from some video place in the mall. 

It was a cozy feeling, yet chilly weekend when the order came in and we went to pick them up. I was playing Golden Axe II with my sister when we got the call. My mother was sick with either the cold or flu, I can't remember which. 

When we got home, I immediately popped the movie into my VCR and fast-forwarded through to all of the parts that had monsters in them, as any kid that age likely would have done. But was when Biollante finally made her appearance that I was confounded. 

This was NOT the monster that I fought in the game, nor did it look like the gigantic wall of flowers that Godzilla stood in front of on the cover art. Adding more to my confusion, the thing DIES. Godzilla sets it aflame and the movie just keeps on trekking along. 

I remember being distinctly confused by this odd turn of events, wondering just where that fish-like thing was. 

Before the recollection continues, I gotta talk about my favorite Heisei suit: BioGoji! It cuts such an impressive, menacing image with its thick thighs, extended tail and the return of its cat-like ears. How this didn't become the main face of the era I don't understand. It's such a  beautiful suit. 

As the movie went on and on, it was honestly looking like Biollante was done for and that the rest of the film was going to be a solo Godzilla versus the army romp. 

Until it no longer was! 

Enter Biollante, the huge creature from the game and one of the most impressive props in the Heisei era. Absolutely massive, intricate and beautiful. Biollante in her final form barely resembles the oceanic look of the in-game sprite, nor was she half submerged in water. But man did she ever put up an spectacular, explosive fight that she literally won. 

Because of Biollante's mournful howls, she actually creeped me out to the point that I seldom ever watched the movie at night. 

MONSTER SIGHTING #19: Godzilla 1985

While I own both the original Japanese version released in 1984 as Godzilla Returns, Godzilla 1985 was the film I grew up with and this will be the version that I watch.

The series went dormant for nearly a decade after Terror of Mecha-Godzilla, finally returning nine years later in 1984 with Godzilla Returns, the final film of the Showa period and the soft beginning of the Heisei period of Japan and the series of Godzilla films.

The budget was upped and the movie, like Terror of Mecha-Godzilla that proceeded and the film that follows it, has a legit theatrical vibe to it that went missing after Godzilla vs. Biollante. 

I definitely appreciate this movie more now as an adult than I did when watching it as a kid. The Russian conflict story at the films core being sparked by Godzilla's destruction of a soviet sub is actually pretty interesting, but rewatching the American 1985 cut of the film now after more than twenty years, I can definitely see how little me found it less than fun. 

For starters, Godzilla versus any sort of military was never all that interesting to me. I wanted brawling between two monsters. The heavier focus on story also had me constantly fast-forwarding through the "boring talking parts" just to get to the monster action. 

Godzilla's design in this highly reminiscent of how he was when we last saw him in 1975; with big, round eyes, a rounder head and bulbous dorsal fins. Things that would be sharpened to elongated as we move into the Heisei era of films. 

Another reason I will always prefer the 1985 version of the movie is the ending; Raymond Burr's speech following Godzilla's drop into the volcano (and that horrifying shriek of terror) has so much weight to it that I am not surprised that the current ongoing Reiwa era Monsterverse haven't used it in some way considering Godzilla is literally a force of nature in the continuity. 

Now if you will excuse me, I have a strange craving for a Dr. Pepper. 

MONSTER SIGHTING #18: Terror of Mecha-Godzilla

And thus here we are: The finale of the Showa era and hands down my favorite kaiju film of all time for reasons I will go into right... now!

First you have the GOAT Godzilla design that first appeared in Godzilla Vs. Megalon, now fine tuned to perfection. The rounded, soft features of the face had been tweaked just enough that he now has a good balance between fierceness thanks to the slanted bowline and a sense of friendly heroicness that the character took on throughout the 60s and 70s. 

The body was perfectly proportioned as well, with prominent puffy dorsal fins, a lengthy meat tail, a slender frame that simultaneously cut a great figure as well as making him quite agile. His atomic breath looks great as well. 

I love this design so, so much. For me, it's the image that appears in my head whenever I hear the word 'Godzilla'. It's who I imagine is doing the fighting whenever I think of What-If battles. 

In this movie, we also got treated to the last of the Showa creations: Titanosaurus. A peaceful, aquatic dinosaur that came under control of the alien invaders. It stood even taller than Godzilla himself and had a ferocious fighting spirit that when combined with the firepower of Mecha-Godzilla, nearly defeated Godzilla. 

MONSTER SIGHTING #17: Godzilla Vs. Mecha-Godzilla

I am only just now realizing that it's the 1972 Godzilla design featured here on the New World Cinema VHS release. Huh. 

Godzilla Vs. Mecha-Godzilla was a bit to an anomaly to me as a kid. I had owned Terror of Mecha-Godzilla for years and, besides Godzilla vs. Gigan it was my most watched Godzilla movie. When I happened across this particular movie one day in '96 or' 97 while browsing the movie selection at Blowout Video, situated within the local Super K-Mart. 

I looked at the VHS a few times, but never thought it to be anything other than yet another copy of Terror of Mecha-Godzilla with a different title and box; That was extremely common back in the day, and with my already owning two copies of Godzilla Vs. Monster Zero and Godzilla Vs. Mothra, my hesitancy was warranted. 

It finally took me physically picking up the box and looking at the back to finally convince me that this wasn't the same movie that I watched a dozen times a year. It was the appearance of King Caesar on the back of the box that finally sold me that it was a different movie. 

And once again, we were graced by the GOAT Godzilla suit, now with a slightly modified head to appear less friendly. A trend that would continue for one more film, taking the suit to absolute perfection. 

But we can't talk about Godzilla vs. Mecha-Godzilla and not talk about the titular adversary and easily by far and large, Godzilla's deadliest foe. 

His Showa incarnation waa the only truly evil incarnation of the character before Godzilla vs. Kong in 2021 and still remains the only one with alien Origins. 

Video Night

Immediately after finishing Sins of the Father, I picked up Video Night by Adam Cesare from the Kindle store and instantly, and I mean instantly, fell for the book. It's well written, fast-paced and has my favorite type of alien invaders!

I've already burned through the first 30% of the book just today alone. 

Why Emulation is Important

 

MONSTER SIGHTING #16: Godzilla Vs. Megalon

I still remember the day I was first introduced to this wonderful movie. It was a weekday, and my father - who was a mechanic - had come home for lunch and brought with him his toolbox. He set it down and then during lunch, asked me to go get something out of it for him. To my surprise, there was a copy of Godzilla vs. Megalon sitting there right on top for me. 

The cover art was and still is to this day quite an interesting one, but at least it accurately portrayed the monsters within. We got: Godzilla, returning favorite Gigan the giant space chicken and the newcomers Jet Jaguar and the titular Megalon, who would go in to be somewhat common when giant monsters were referenced in other media. Beetle Mania from King of the Monsters for example. 

I eventually want to start talking about specific monsters individually in later blog posts, so I will cease it there and move on to the main reason this and the two subsequent films remain my favorites throughout the entire franchise. 

The Godzilla design as MegaroGoji! 

When I hear the name "Godzilla", it isn't the 1991 BioGoji suit or the modern day Monsterverse or ShinGoji designs that come to mind, nor are they what I imagine when I picture fights in my head. It's this! THIS is MY Godzilla; The modified used in the next two films in particular, but this is where the suit got its start and is an absolute not to watch fight. 

MONSTER SIGHTING #15:Godzilla Vs Gigan

The memories I have involving this movie, man. Friday evenings, stopping by Little Ceasars to order a cheese and a supreme pizza, then visiting Movie Max, a mom-and-pop rental store along the same strip, and getting to rent a movie or game.

Getting back home one of those particular Friday evenings, I remember taking a few slices of pizza into the living room, plopping down in front of the old Zenith television and popping the Godzilla vs Gigan VHS in and just enjoying myself.

I love Gigan to death. Just an exquisite design all around that the Millennium version (and to a lesser extent, Gigan Rex) dumped all over. 

I remember having a stuffed dinosaur as a kid. Stood maybe around three feet tall. I would always pretend that it was Gigan and I'd just throw that thing all over the place, recreating the fight scene this movie. 

MONSTER SIGHTING #14:Godzilla Vs Hedorah

My earliest exposure to Hedorah was, once again, the NES game 'Godzilla Monster of Monsters' in which he appeared as a boss monster for Godzilla to fight.

Interestingly enough, his flying form also has a sprite that went unsued outside of the cast of characters roll during the credits. 

It was 1998 when I finally got see the movie. Tuesday, May 26th at 9pm to be totally precise. Godzilla fever was gripping the world with the advent of GODZILLA hitting theaters that month and so every channel that could play Godzilla movies, was. And I just happen to catch an ad for Hedorah while channel surfing one afternoon.

I got a blank VHS ready, wanting to record this event as it was a Godzilla movie I hadn't seen yet. I remember the day perfectly too; It was cloudy and humid out and rain was in the forecast for that evening. My parents wanted to go out and get something for dinner instead of cooking, and my anxious self thought, "I hope we get back in time" even though we left at 5pm and the movie didn't start until 9pm.

As we got ready to leave, a friend of my parents that looked alarmingly similar to George Clooney stopped us, holding us up even longer, and that was agitating. 

When we finally did get out, things moved quickly enough. We stopped at Super K-Mart and got some deli meat for sandwiches. Then Hollywood Video where I rented not one but two games! Reel Fishing and Ehrgeiz. Neither of which were any good.

It started to rain before we got home, adding further to the atmosphere of the day. The movie started and me and my sister watched. Sitting on the water bed that my parents had, the storm gently rumbling outside. I remember laughing at(in a good way) to the point that I had tears when Godzilla took to the air in chase of Hedorah. 

Just an absolute delightful movie that I wish could have gotten the followup that it deserves.