On Monster Island - Godzilla, Kaiju, & Tokusatsu!

Hey there, listener...question...how come no one talks about Neo Ultra Q? We need to fix that.

Jake and Jay breakdown the 12-episode sequel to the groundbreaking Ultra Q (1966) - released 47 years later after the original - but capturing the vibe better than it had any right to; but what did our hosts think?

Also, it may be after the convention season but that's not stopping sofubi powerhouses like Marusan, Bullmark, and USToys from releasing amazing items!

Enjoy another episode of YHS on Monster Island!

Jake and Jay sit down to review what kaiju toy companies are trending up vs. down in 2024 - and what are some of the biggest toy trends. Be it Mondo or Max Toy, Marusan or Sarujirushi, the duo of daikaiju devotees have it covered in this episode!Also, a huge week of pickups...and they answer the question: what ever happened to the 2023 Kaiju Toy of the Year Award?

Jake and Jay survived Kaiju Go! 2024! And they came out of it with tons of new toys from amazing artists like Mark and Max Nagata, Ressinblood, Michael Morse - and big name sofubi players like Marusan, Marmit, and M1. The duo recap the weekend's festivities which included a trip to the sofubi/kaiju/horror hot spot, Leviathan Collectibles, and the flagship store for Half Price Books.

Tons of toys. Tons of kaiju. Tons of fun.

Let's Kaiju Go already!

Its a few days away from Kaiju Go! 2024...Jake is on an airplane heading to Dallas...Ryan Wilhelm is out sick...so what does Jay do? He just stares at a camera and talks about his recent pickups for 30 minutes. Is it riveting? No, not really. But it exists anyways.

Jake and Jay compare all of the toy releases and reveals from the two super shows over the last few weeks - San Diego Comic-Con and Wonder Festival - Summer.

Also, do we have two "Top 10" pick-ups this week? I think we do!

It's a wrap on another G-Fest - and this one was the biggest yet! Listen to Jay and Ryan chat about their experience - their second year of working the dealers room as Toku Toy Town - and review all of the great pick-ups from sellers like M1, U.S. Toys, Marusan, Tolzar Toy Co., Chibi Goji Toys, Last Bastion Studios, and more!

Netflix's Ultraman: Rising (2024) - a partnership between the studio and Tsuburaya Productions, with animation from ILM - is making some waves with its heart-first approach, and excellent animation as it tries to finally get Ultraman to be a viable property with the American audience. But - as YHS on Monster Island host, Jacob Walsh, asks: is it even Ultraman?

Our two hosts debate the merits of the film through the lens of a tokusatsu-loving adult, a child, and a Tsuburaya/Netflix decision-maker; and its a rare opportunity to see the duo of daikaiju devotees, Jacob and Jay, disagree on a movie.

Other than Ultraman: Rising, the team briefly speaks about two other films the recently watched - The Great Buddha Arrival (2018) and The Primevals (2023).

Oh yeah, there's also lots of toy pick-ups - including a Top 10 Wishlist get from Jay and the world's smallest Godzilla collectible (not really...but maybe).

Enjoy!

This is the second half of Jay's "Pair o' Parodies" and we finish it off with Nikkatsu's 2010 film, DEATH KAPPA! The Tomoo Haraguchi brain child is unique - even for low-budget kaiju parody films - but does it deliver? Bigger question: why aren't there any Hangylos toys?

But Jake and Jay do more than talk about Death Kappa...they have a YHS on Monster Island exclusive toy reveal for Max Toy's Kaiju Go! event exclusive release! You don't want to miss this!

And that's not all, folks! We get kaiju news (the MonsterVerse has a new director, right?), toy pick-ups, and 10 things you need to know about kappa!

Enjoy your visit to YHS on Monster Island!

In this very special episode - Part I of a Pair o' Parodies - Jay is joined by "Everyone's Favorite Kaiju Collector" Ryan Wilhelm to discuss many things - but most of all the merits of the Minoru Kawasaki film, MONSTER SEAFOOD WARS (2020) and if Jumbo Cook is the greatest thing...in...ever. In ever.

But the duo also talk about big events in the kaiju community that are fast approaching - like G-Fest, Kaiju Go!, and the release of Ultraman: Rising on Netflix. Ryan and Jay discuss what it's like to vend at G-Fest, what they're looking forward to this year, the excitement level for Kaiju Go! and what it means to the the indie/designer vinyl toy scene in Dallas-Fort Worth, and initial anticipation levels for Ultraman: Rising.

And, of course, there's going to be toy pick ups! Ryan has a litanry of treasures including a new favorite and an all-time signature piece!

Next week - in Part 2 of the Pair o' Parodies double shot, Jake returns to chat DEATH KAPPA with Jay!

Wait, were we wrong about the Godzilla anime trilogy?

"The Tattooed Titan of Tokusatsu" Jacob Walsh and Jay Key, of Toku Toy Town, discuss the much maligned anime trilogy - and if this most recent viewing changed their opinions. So join our daikaiju duo as they chat all things Haruo, Exif, Godzilla Earth, and a bunch of missed opportunities!

In addition, the hosts go over a ton of news items, ranging from MonsterVerse updates to X-Plus North America to Marusan - and much, much more!

Plus, toy pick ups!!!