YHS on Monster Island - Godzilla, Kaiju, & Tokusatsu!

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!