In a world as vast as the kaiju genre, there needs to be a podcast that can tackle all things giant monster - from film to fandom, television to toys, Godzilla to Gamera. That podcast is YHS on Monster Island! From the world of Yes Have Some comes a new show dedicated to the spectacle and madness of the kaiju genre; one as fun as a trip to World Children's Land and as informative as a Dr. Yamane lecture. Piloting this ship will be "The Tattooed Titan of Tokusatsu" and YHS co-founder, Jacob Walsh, and the "Mayor of Toku Toy Town" and acclaimed sci-fi author, Jay Key.
The world of independent and original kaiju (and kaiju adjacent) toys is so vast - however, Jake and Jay provide five toys / toy lines / toymakers that are at the top of their lists currently. From Max Toy's Captain Maxx line to the cute Chilean kaiju, Gom, they cover some wild and wacky monsters from some of the most creative toy artists in the world!There was also a ton of toy news - including teases and reveals from Mondo, TYGToys, Planet-X Asia x Star Ace Toys, and more! And, oh yeah, Jake had a pretty "gigantic" pick-up this week!
Jake and Jay chat about the stage show that transitioned Ultra Q to Ultraman, The Birth of Ultraman! It really is a wacky story!Also, there's a ton of kaiju and Godzilla toy and sofubi news, with releases coming out of Hobby Round 32 and Super Festival 91. Marusan, Max Toy Japan, Enka Vinyl, Shima-X, M1, and more really had amazing showings at the events - but brands such as Acro and Prime 1 Studio showed that you didn't need to be at one of the big festivals to have a big toy release!And, as always...pickups!
"The Tattooed Titan of Tokusatsu" Jacob Walsh and Jay Key returned from Japan with cart loads of toys, collectibles, and sofubi, representing everything from Godzilla to Ultraman to Spectreman to Zone Fighter. Whether it was at Mandarake or the Godzilla Store in Tokyo or Hobby Jungle or Astro-Zombies in Osaka, they managed to pick up cool items from Marusan, Medicom Toy, Bandai, FrogTree, Fewture Models, US Toys, Marmit, and many more. Not only do they talk toys - they spend a few minutes chatting about the two big pieces of movie news: Sam Neill joining the MonsterVerse and Toho confirming that the Yamazaki Godzilla project will be a direct sequel to Godzilla -1.0.---YHS on Monster Island is the premier kaiju / tokusatsu / Godzilla podcast - YouTube show, covering everything throughout the giant monster landscape, from films to fandom, television to toys. The two daikaiju devotees review old monster movies, discuss weekly toy pickups, rank anything that can be ranked, and, generally, just have a grand ol' time. There's not another show like it!---FOLLOW OUR HOSTSJacob Walsh on Instagram: @jacobtherevengeJay Key on Instagram: @tokutoytownMONSTER ISLAND VISITORS CENTER FACEBOOK GROUPBe sure to go and join our Facebook Group - The Monster Island Visitors Center - at https://www.facebook.com/groups/yhsonmonsterisland.YES HAVE SOME NETWORKYHS ON MONSTER ISLAND is a proud member of the Yes Have Some Network, a premier collection of pop culture podcasts and YouTube shows tackling every franchise, from Ghostbusters to Star Wars, Godzilla to Jurassic Park. Don't forget to check out the other great shows from the Yes Have Some Network included TOY ANXIETY, live every Tuesday at 9:30pm EST at https://www.youtube.com/@YHSToyAnxiety , and the mothership, YES HAVE SOME, every Monday at https://www.youtube.com/@yhspodcast. PATREONDon't forget to join the YHS Patreon, supporting both YES HAVE SOME and TOY ANXIETY, at patreon.com/yeshavesome. For as little as $5/month, you can unlock a vault of content going back multiple years. SPONSORED BY TOKU TOY TOWNYHS on Monster Island is sponsored by Toku Toy Town, your go-to for kaiju collectibles, tokusatsu toys, and rare sofubi. Visit Toku Toy Town today at tokutoytown.com.THE GEOFFREYS TOY AWARDS SHOWYHS on Monster Island is proud to be part of the annual Geoffrey's Toy Awards, featuring the top brands and toys in the industry, including Hasbro, Mattel, NECA, Super7, Mondo, and more! YHS on Monster Island presents the KAIJU TOY/COLLECTIBLE OF THE YEAR and KAIJU TOYLINE OF THE YEAR awards. Check it out on the Toy Anxiety YouTube channel.KAIJU GO!YHS on Monster Island is a sponsor of the Dallas-based kaiju event, KAIJU GO! Check out details at KaijuGo.com.Special thanks to all previous guests of YHS on Monster Island, including Abigail Gardner (Yes Have Some, Toy Anxiety), Attack Peter (artist, Mondo Creative Director), Chas Foreman (Chazbro Toys, Kaiju Go!), John Yurcaba (IDW comic artist) and some of the top fans in the world of kaiju (Ryan Wilhelm, Andy Peters, Lou Munster, Michael Hamilton, Sweaty Vinyl) and many more!YHS on Monster Island (c) 2021-2025
#godzilla #kaiju #sofubiJake is on a plane heading to Japan - but Jay still has a little over a day before he leaves; so what better time to talk sofubi and kaiju toy news? Bullmark stuns everyone with releases coming to the My First Ultraman Exhibition in Fukuoka - but other toy makers are also making waves, including X-Plus, Enka Vinyl, SwimmyDesignLab, Marusan, and more!Plus, Jay has some killer pickups - including two off the Top 10 list and a very special custom resin toy! ---YHS on Monster Island is the premier kaiju / tokusatsu / Godzilla podcast - YouTube show, covering everything throughout the giant monster landscape, from films to fandom, television to toys. The two daikaiju devotees review old monster movies, discuss weekly toy pickups, rank anything that can be ranked, and, generally, just have a grand ol' time. There's not another show like it!---FOLLOW OUR HOSTSJacob Walsh on Instagram: @jacobtherevengeJay Key on Instagram: @tokutoytownMONSTER ISLAND VISITORS CENTER FACEBOOK GROUPBe sure to go and join our Facebook Group - The Monster Island Visitors Center - at https://www.facebook.com/groups/yhsonmonsterisland.YES HAVE SOME NETWORKYHS ON MONSTER ISLAND is a proud member of the Yes Have Some Network, a premier collection of pop culture podcasts and YouTube shows tackling every franchise, from Ghostbusters to Star Wars, Godzilla to Jurassic Park. Don't forget to check out the other great shows from the Yes Have Some Network included TOY ANXIETY, live every Tuesday at 9:30pm EST at https://www.youtube.com/@YHSToyAnxiety , and the mothership, YES HAVE SOME, every Monday at https://www.youtube.com/@yhspodcast. PATREONDon't forget to join the YHS Patreon, supporting both YES HAVE SOME and TOY ANXIETY, at patreon.com/yeshavesome. For as little as $5/month, you can unlock a vault of content going back multiple years. SPONSORED BY TOKU TOY TOWNYHS on Monster Island is sponsored by Toku Toy Town, your go-to for kaiju collectibles, tokusatsu toys, and rare sofubi. Visit Toku Toy Town today at tokutoytown.com.THE GEOFFREYS TOY AWARDS SHOWYHS on Monster Island is proud to be part of the annual Geoffrey's Toy Awards, featuring the top brands and toys in the industry, including Hasbro, Mattel, NECA, Super7, Mondo, and more! YHS on Monster Island presents the KAIJU TOY/COLLECTIBLE OF THE YEAR and KAIJU TOYLINE OF THE YEAR awards. Check it out on the Toy Anxiety YouTube channel.KAIJU GO!YHS on Monster Island is a sponsor of the Dallas-based kaiju event, KAIJU GO! Check out details at KaijuGo.com.Special thanks to all previous guests of YHS on Monster Island, including Abigail Gardner (Yes Have Some, Toy Anxiety), Attack Peter (artist, Mondo Creative Director), Chas Foreman (Chazbro Toys, Kaiju Go!), John Yurcaba (IDW comic artist) and some of the top fans in the world of kaiju (Ryan Wilhelm, Andy Peters, Lou Munster, Michael Hamilton, Sweaty Vinyl) and many more!YHS on Monster Island (c) 2021-2025
Jake and Jay preview their upcoming trips to Japan and what they're most excited for...plus, we get a ton of toy news from Medicom Toy, X-Plus, YMSF, and more!
Jake and Jay finally complete their review of the Rebirth of Mothra trilogy with 1998's, Rebirth of Mothra 3. Can a re-designed King Ghidorah save the trilogy? Or will puppet dinosaurs, bad CGI, and a deathmatch wrestling legend doom the big bug's big finale? In addition, there's a lot of Godzilla and kaiju toy and sofubi news from a host of makers - X-Plus, Marusan, Sunguts, etc. - and from a ton of upcoming events such as Siccaluna Fest, Treasure Festa Online, and more. What a great time to be a kaiju fan!Lastly, it's a historic week on the pickups front as both Jake and Jay have two of their greatest hauls to date - and make a big dent in their Top 10 wishlists!
Hey, it's Thursday, and you know what that means. It's timeto prime those mazer cannons, fill up the Moonlight SY-III, and take a big ol' swig of Soma Berry juice, because we're about to hop on over to that home away from home for all you devoted disciples of Daikaiju. Yes, YHS on Monster Island with Jacob and Jay is about to be underway.
Oh, they made Jay watch Rebirth of Mothra 2 again...damn the powers that be!In this episode, Jake and Jay discuss the second installment in the Rebirth of Mothra series, plus a ton of reveals from Wonder Festival 2025 Winter edition. But that's not all...we got toy pick ups, including a Top 10 list item!
It's an unplanned live episode of YHS on Monster Island! Jake and Jay tackle a ton - including talking Rebirth of Mothra, the latest releases from Marusan and X-Plus, sneak peeks at Wonder Fest exclusives from Max Toy Japan and Geek Life, and they announce the 2025 Geoffrey's Award nominees for Kaiju Toy and Kaiju Toy Line of the Year (for 2024)! Enjoy!
Varan is...well...a movie. Jay unpacks decades of thoughts on this film in an impromptu therapy session - while sharing some fun (not sure that's the "right" word) facts about both the film and the kaiju. Most importantly, Jake and Jay talk toys - from Super Festival 90 reveals to the Hakaba Gallery Mechagodzilla Pop-up to the Nigata Special Effects event, there were a ton of toys that hit the market from all of our favorites: Marusan, Bullmark, Anraku Ansaku, NeoPlayerOne, Banpresto, Yamomark, USToys, and many more! Wait, did we just say Banpresto? Enjoy your trip to Monster Island!
Jay finally gets Jake to enter a world where tokusatsu and kung fu are blended together in a lavish landscape of over-the-top action and kooky characters - the magnificent spectacle that is THE SUPER INFRAMAN! Does the "Tattooed Titan of Tokusatsu" love it? Hate it? Watch and find out!
It's that time again! The snow is falling, the smell of hot cocoa is in the air, and people are clamoring for one thing...the YHS on Monster Island Annual Holiday Wishlist episode! And now you have it! Our very own "Pagos in a Pear Tree", Jacob Walsh, and the "Yuletide Yonggary", Jay Key, unveil their top ten most sought after toys and collectibles, ranging from vintage Marmits to indie designer toy releases, from Toho monsters to Ultra kaiju - and everything in between! If you like Godzilla collectibles, Godzilla figures, vintage Godzilla figures, monster toys, Godzilla vinyl figures, sofubi, or anything in that realm - this episode is for you...nay, this podcast is for you!
There are few kaiju in the Godzilla franchise that capture the imagination quite like Gigan. Jake and Jay explore their personal connections to this unique creature and talk about many of his countless iterations across film, television, games, and books/comics/manga. In addition, the duo share a few pick-ups and discuss the latest toy releases from X-Plus, Anraku Ansaku, and Marusan.
Jake and Jay roadtripped it to Las Vegas for DesignerCon 2024 - and it was an epic trek! Our two daikaiju devotees share their favorite parts of the experience as well as an impressive roster of pickups from Marusan, Marmit, Bullmark, Mondo, Draculazer, Ressinblood, Sad Salesman, Creature Bazaar, and more!
Jake and Jay recap an eventful GODZILLA DAY 2024 that gave us huge news, amazing toy releases, another impressive short film (can you say "G-Claw"?), and much more! But it's not just Godzilla Day, as we saw more exclusives from Hobby Round 31, Hakaba Gallery, and the Tsuburaya Store. Plus, we have pickups! Have fun on Monster Island!
Jake returns! On top of that, we're big-time overachievers getting this episode out a few days early! Don't you love us? Okay, don't answer that! This episode covers Jake's visit to New York Comic-Con and all of the kaiju sightings in the Big Apple; but that's not all...our hosts chat about a bevy of new releases from X-Plus/Star Ace, Marusan, Max Toy Japan, Bandai, and more. But...again...that's not all! One of the best moments of any year is Godzilla Day - and doubly so since Toho has been releasing shorts every year, both CGI/animated and suitmation. The trailer for the "person in suit" short - a continuation of last year's Godzilla vs. Jet Jaguar - was released...and wow, does it look good! And, of course, we have a few toy pickups!
With Jake traveling to New York Comic-Con, toy designer and artist, Chas Foreman (Chazbro Toys, Kaiju Go!) joins Jay to not just talk kaiju and Godzilla toy pick-ups and recent tokusatsu viewing - but to engage in two awesome new segments: Questions by Chas and the first-ever game of Collect...Customize...or Cash Out!
You crazy kaiju kids and henshin heroes and heroines, it's time for another YHS on Monster Island - and this was is jam-packed with toys, news, and bouncy surf beats! Jay is joined by "Everyone's Favorite Kaiju Collector" Ryan Wilhelm (Collect All Monsters) and toy designer / artist Chas Foreman (Chazbro Toys, Kaiju Go!) to review the 1967 kaiju flick, Gappa: The Triphibian Monster, discuss a bevy of kaiju toy and sofubi releases from Marusan, X-Plus, M1, and more, go over the big reveals from Super Festival 89 in Japan, and lastly - but most importantly - unveil some exciting developments with Chazbro Toy's latest release, StarMonkeyGo! It's a fun one - so enjoy your time on the island!
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!!!
YHS on Monster Island loves toys. Like really loves them. And we spend the entire episode talking about the toy reveals and exclusives from Super Festival 88 and NeoPlayerOne's gallery show, My First One. In addition, Jake and Jay preview Hobby Round 30 and discuss a litany of recent toy drops and upcoming pre-orders from Medicom Toy, Anraku Ansaku, Marmit, Bandai, M1, and many more! It's sofubi time on YHS on Monster Island!
You heard it right, folks. Our beloved "Tattooed Titan of Tokusatsu" Jacob Walsh is the first person to take the YHS on Monster Island "Kaiju Personality" Quiz. Will this new test deliver palatable results...or is this just a waste of time? Tune in to find out! Also, our hosts chat Monarch: Legacy of Monsters' Season 2 renewal, the GXK box office success, and a few recent toy releases making waves within the fandom!
#godzillaxkongthenewempire #godzilla #monsterverse Can something heading towards half a billion in global revenue be bad for the franchise? Are long-time Godzilla fans being too harsh on the MonsterVerse? And where can the MonsterVerse go from here?All of these questions and more are answered by our two hosts as they review GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE (2024). Also, Jay introduces a new segment: What I Think Jake Would Buy at the Thai Toy Expo; it's sofubi and vinyl designer toy madness like you've never seen!
We are mere hours away from GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE hitting theaters across the nation and Jake and Jay share their thoughts, hopes, and predictions on the latest installment of the MonsterVerse madness! Also, the duo discuss a ton of news items, including a lot of toy reveals and exclusives from Mondo, Medicom Toy x Anraku Ansaku, Marusan, Seismic Toys, and more! And when it comes to pickups, this is a week you don't want to miss! Jake gets another item off his Top 10 list...and Jay brings home a wacky assortment of toys, ranging from pachi blow molds to Sunguts Factory to a vintage beach ball. Oh yeah, and something to do with the number 89...
From the premier kaiju and tokusatsu podcast/YouTube show, YHS ON MONSTER ISLAND, comes this definitive ranking of the TOP 10 MOST UNDERRATED PERFORMANCES IN THE GODZILLA FRANCHISE. All kaiju fans know Dr. Serizawa and Miss Namakawa and Lt. Akane Yashiro - but what about those characters, unheralded by the masses, that bring substance and texture to these monster-filled narratives? This list takes a look at some of the most under-appreciated acting jobs from the Showa, Heisei, and Millennium eras - and remember, this ranking is to start the debate, not end it! Enjoy!
Ninjas. Wizards. Giant Frogs. Yes, 1966's The Magic Serpent from Toei has them all - and a lot more! This film is said to have inspired George Lucas' Star Wars - and you actually can see why - but at the end up the day, it's just bonkers. Aside from this fun romp of a film, Jake and Jay have a litany of fun pick-ups, including items from Bandai, Yamakichi, Marmit, Max Toy, and more! Oh yeah, Jay also gets a "collection-defining" item...tune in to see!
Jake and Jay take a look at the amazing kaiju toy releases from Wonder Festival 2024 Winter edition, including new releases from X-Plus, M1, Sunguts Factory, Max Toy Company, PassionTank, One Up, Spiral Studio, and many more! On top of this, it's been a great week of pickups as Jay knocked two off his Top 10 Wishlist and Jake grabbed one of his new favorite toys!
In one of the most fun episodes to date, Jake and Jay share their top 10 Godzilla scenes of all-time...did yours make the cut?
Kurt Russell, Apple, and Godzilla are an unlikely trio - but can they work together to produce a compelling MonsterVerse entry? Jake and Jay go through their overall thoughts on the series - was it necessary? Did the kaiju deliver? Would they watch a second season? In addition, the big news in G-dom is that Godzilla is up for an Oscar!!! It only took 70 years - but Toho's money-making monster has a chance to bring home the gold (and totally should!). But, was he snubbed for other major awards? Jake has a few pickup and the duo go over some funky new releases and news from Anraku Ansaku, Titan Publishing, and Titanic Creations. **apologies for some audio issues**
Happy 2024! Jake and Jay are back reviewing Daiei's 1962 film, THE WHALE GOD, which was brought to North America for the first time (this year, by the way!) by SRS Cinema. We all know that the "Tattooed Titan of Tokusatsu" is an expert on "killer animal" films - but where does this Kojiro Hongo and Takashi Shimura-led entry land on his spectrum: is it more Jaws? Or more Orca? Also, M1, Marusan, and U.S.Toys were active at Super Festival 87 in Japan - what gems did they unveil to the sofubi-crazed collecting community? And did Jake already knock off something from his Top 10 Wishlist? And did Jay have his best single pick-up of the 2023 right before the holidays? Enjoy this episode of YHS on Monster Island!
It's a YHS on Monster Island tradition – the Holiday Wishlist! “The Tattooed Titan of Tokusatsu” Jacob Walsh and “The Mayor of Toku Toy Town” Jay Key run down their top 10 kaiju collectibles they want to obtain for their personal stashes; and we get everything from vintage tin toys to rare sofubi. On top of the lists, they spend some time catching up on some of the big reveals and exclusives at DesignerCon from Mondo, Marusan, and Max Toy plus their own recent kaiju toy pickups! Enjoy!
It's a surprise YHS on Monster Island drop - and a very special presentation, at that! "Everyone's Favorite Kaiju Collector" Ryan Wilhelm joins Jay Key as they review Hideaki Anno's SHIN KAMEN RIDER! Does it deliver a compelling cinematic experience and respectfully pay homage to the source material...or is it a fan service-laden train wreck that destroys the legacy of everyone's favorite grasshopper hero? And where does this entry rank in the Shin Japan Heroes Universe? Besides the analysis of Shin Kamen Rider, special guest Ryan Wilhelm shows off his recent toy pickups, discuss what it's like to be a kaiju fan right now, and much, much more! Enjoy this bonus episode of YHS on Monster Island!
Is Godzilla Minus One / Godzilla -1.0 the greatest Godzilla film ever made? One thing is for sure, the kaiju fandom and film critics alike are going crazy for this new Toho release – and its winning over fans and smashing records like no other film in the franchise. But – is it a perfect film? Our beloved hosts – “The Tattooed Titan of Tokusatsu” Jacob Walsh and the “Mayor of Toku Toy Town” Jay Key share their thoughts on what they loved about it and what may have missed the mark; and where does it rank in their personal pantheons of Big G flicks? But that's not all? Godzilla fans were also treated to a new trailer for the MonsterVerse's next installment, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire…and, wow, could anything be further from the tones of Godzilla Minus One? And if that wasn't enough, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is still plugging away; the hosts talk briefly about episode 4. Lastly, it can't be an episode of YHS on Monster Island without some toy pickups? This week brings us a Shin-tastic X-Plus and a special ToygrapH piece that is sure to impress!
Happy Thanksgiving! What a time to be a kaiju fan? Not only do we get a show on Apple TV+ featuring A-listers like Kurt Russell and John Goodman, we also live in a world where companies like U.S. Toys, Marusan, One Up, and many more are releasing amazing sofubi and collectibles on a near weekly basis! In this installment of YHS on Monster Island, Jacob Walsh and Jay Key talk give their thoughts on the first three episodes of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters and if the more grounded approach that we saw in Godzilla (2014) is effective after so many of the subsequent issues went in a different direction? Which of the timelines has been most compelling? And what about those new kaiju? However, beyond the media, fans in Japan are getting ready for Tsuburaya Con 2023 at the Tokyo Dome this weekend - and all of the heavy hitters in the world of vinyl toys and other kaiju goodies will be there. Jay showcases some of the most anticipated drops from the world of ultra kaiju! And we have pick ups- oh, do we have pick ups?!?! From vintage Popy to gigantic Spiral Studios statues to Marmit Parababy purchases, the hosts highlight some heavy hitting sofubi! Also, has Jake seen Shin Kamen Rider yet?
Godzilla Day 2023 has come and gone - but there's still so much to talk about! Our devoted daikaiju duo will attempt to go through an endless laundry list of topics from the two short films (Godzilla vs. Megalon 2023 and Fes Godzilla 4: Operation Jet Jaguar), the litany of toy releases from Bandai, Marusan, X-Plus, Titanic Creations, Mondo, and more, the opening scene from Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, and Godzilla Minus One news. And coupled with all of the movie, show, toy, and sofubi news is an epic toy haul week featuring items from our favorite manufacturers like Marmit, Max Toy Co., Medicom Toy, plus indie toymakers Kaiju.Toyz, Creature Preature, Spumoni Toys, and more. It's a jam-packed episode for the ages for YHS on Monster Island!
YHS on Monster Island returns with the "Tattooed Titan of Tokusatsu" Jacob Walsh back at the helm - and its a jam-packed episode covering recent trailers, teasers, and toy releases! The boys review the full Monarch: Legacy of Monsters trailer - discuss some new possible titans - as well as the short teaser for the Gemstone short, Godzilla vs. Megalon (2023)! But that's not all...the kaiju and tokusatsu world recently got a first look at the newly named Ultraman Rising (2024) and will be getting the independent, crowdfunded film, Hoshi 35, in theaters this week! But we also have toys (and books)! From Marusan to X-Plus to NeoPlayerOne, Jake and Jay go over some big time toy drops that are sure to get collectors in a craze! Hope you have a great vacation to Monster Island with the YHS crew!
Join Jay Key as he discussed some kaiju toy highlights from the recent Super Festival 86, Hobby Round 29, and Taipei Toy Fest events! There are some really cool releases from major players like Marusan, Sunguts Factory, OneUp, Sarujirushi, and more! In addition, Jay makes a pitch for an unusual "kaiju toy of the year" possibility!
In this very special edition of YHS on Monster Island, famed artist and Senior Creative Director at Mondo, Attack Peter, joins Jay to talk about his recent Mechagodzilla sofubi release for Mondo that uses his trademark LinoPrint look to creative something totally new in the space!Also, Attack Peter and Jay talk about recent toy pick-ups, what they've been watching, and so much more!
After a long slumber, Gamera is back in the all-new Netflix anime series, GAMERA: REBIRTH. Our beloved hosts, Jacob Walsh and Jay Key, break down the series and grade some of the major components of the show - visuals/animation, kaiju design, characters, etc. It's more art than science - but the big question is: did they like it? In addition to Rebirth, Jake and Jay both weigh in on the trailers for Monarch: Legacy of Monsters and (a bit belated) Godzilla: Minus One. Also, they highlight some recent and upcoming toy drops from Anraku Ansaku, Marusan, and X-Plus. And it wouldn't be a YHS on Monster Island without some kaiju toy pick-ups - this time including a few botantical beasties, a small Spectreman surprise, and wave one from Super7. Have fun on the island!
With "The Tattooed Titan of Tokusatsu" Jacob Walsh at DragonCon, Jay mans the island by himself this week to recap a successful Kaiju Go! event in Fort Worth this past weekend, discuss the launch of the US Godzilla Store site, share his excitement over the return of Jet Jaguar, and admit to corrupting IDW cover artist John Yurcaba's mind with Spectreman! On top of this, Jay has a ton of fun pick-ups ranging from vintage to X-Plus, designer vinyl to signed prints! Enjoy YHS on Monster Island!
In this episode of YHS on Monster Island, Jake and Jay highlight some of their favorite toys that would fall into the zany category, leaving us asking the same question over and over - "Why'd they make this?". But it's not all silly toys, as our favorite tandem of tokusatsu talkers dish out some recent toy news from Marusan and Medicom/Anraku Ansaku, discuss Jake's budding author career, and debate if Mondo's SpaceGodzilla ("Trendy" variant) is worthy of "Kaiju Toy of the Year" consideration. All this and a whole lot more on YHS on Monster Island!
In this episode of YHS on Monster Island, "The Tattooed Titan of Tokusatsu" Jacob Walsh and Toku Toy Town's Jay Key provide insight and commentary on the kaiju happenings at San Diego Comic-Con and Wonder Festival 2023 Summer, plus provide their thoughts on the Godzilla: Minus One teaser. In addition to these topics, they also review other toy reveals that happened outside the big events - including X-Plus, Marusan, and Super7 - and go through one of their biggest toy hauls since the show began! It's a can't miss episode!
It's a special Friday edition of YHS on Monster Island: Monster Island Live! Jay is joined by "Everyone's Favorite Kaiju Collector" Ryan Wilhelm - toy guru, Collect All Monsters and YHS on Monster Island contributor, and proud owner of a Turtle Bazooka tattoo! Oh yeah, and this was his FIRST G-FEST!!! We are going to recap the amazing weekend in beautiful Rosemont, IL - did Ryan have a good time? Does he have any money left? What are some of his favorite memories? Don't worry, we won't get into any news or discussions on "Minus One"...it's all about G-Fest!