Club Tokyo

Collectible Reviews

M1 MechaGodzilla 2 (Covertible Model)

by Bob Schneider - (5/6/2002)

We collectors occasionally forget that the vinyl figures we consider works of art are first and foremost toys designed to be played with. Our hobby purchases lead the pampered lives of museum exhibits, cherished and admired as they sit on our display shelves. But many action figures are destined for a very different fate: a few years of rigorous play and rough handling until a child either outgrows the toy or successfully dismantles it. One way manufacturers can simultaneously appeal to both markets is by designing figures with removable or interchangeable parts and similar extras. Little bonuses like these please the kiddies by holding their interest a few more minutes and increasing the play value of the toy, while collectors get the welcome opportunity to periodically alter their displays by changing the appearance of the figure. The venerable Japanese manufacturer M1 was apparently thinking along these lines when it reissued its MechaGodzilla 2 figure last year with a novel new twist: two additional pieces that enable the sculpt to be displayed either in its original, standard configuration or with its internal computer brain revealed, as the robot appeared at the end of Terror of MechaGodzilla (1974).

You might guess the conversion process is a simple matter of removing one head from the figure and installing another, but it gets a bit more complex than that. The figure actually comes with three heads: the original one, as seen on the earlier 1999 release of the figure; the robot's internal computer brain, which inserts in the neck socket of the figure in place of the original head; and a second head molding that slips over the brain. I must admit I was initially perplexed by this design. Being able to remove the Mecha's head to reveal the sinister computer inside is a cool feature fans are sure to love. But why bother including the original head, which is almost exactly the same in appearance as the new slip-on piece, right down to the tiniest detail? True, both the original head and the new computer brain molding were designed to snap into the neck socket very tightly, amounting to what would be considered a permanent installation on most vinyl figures. But the slip-on head fits snugly enough over the brain there's certainly no risk of the piece falling off, even during a fairly rough play session. In fact, the figure comes from the factory with the computer brain installed on the figure and the slip-on head resting on top, while the original head is tucked away in a separate little plastic bag. For the life of me, I can't think of any good reason to even unpack the second head, since it's hardly distinguishable from the other one anyway. Apparently, M1 felt that collectors who are diehard completists -- and aren't we all? -- might not be satisfied knowing that a previous release of essentially the same figure featured a slightly different head molding. By including the original style head with the new slip over one, M1 is giving its customers the best of both worlds. Kudos to any manufacturer that tries so hard to please everybody.

From the neck down, M1's Convertible MechaGodzilla 2 sculpt is identical to the earlier version of the figure released in 1999. In case you're not familiar with the model, it stands just under nine inches in height, features movable head, arms, and legs, and like all of M1's products, feels hefty and solid because of the thick, hard vinyl the manufacturer uses. As most collectors know, M1 has become equally legendary for its own new sculpts as well as gorgeous reissues of classic Bullmark favorites that often rival the originals in quality. The MechaGodzilla 2 model falls somewhere between those two product categories. The design is clearly based on Bullmark's 1974 MechaGodzilla toy, a fact humbly acknowledged by the vintage manufacturer's trademark stamped on the bottom of the figure's foot. But the Bullmark original was a rendering of the character as it debuted in Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (1974), while the M1 release depicts the slightly revamped styling the robot sported for its encore performance in Terror of Mechagodzilla the following year. M1 did a superb job of modifying the sculpt just enough to capture the minor changes in the robot's appearance, such as a different arrangement of plating and rivets on the chest and the "MG2" insignias on the upper arms, while still retaining the classic charm of Bullmark's design. Though unmistakably a vintage style figure, this MechaGodzilla is proportioned and detailed accurately enough to attract fans of Bandais, Kaiyodos, and other realistic renderings. Of course the addition of the removable head and concealed computer brain on this latest release makes an already impressive figure a true knock out.

Aside from the extra pieces, there is one other difference between the Convertible MechaGodzilla 2 and the earlier 1999 model. Though both versions were molded in light gray, the previous release featured sprayed highlights in subtle shades of light metallic blue and dark gray, which blended beautifully with the vinyl tint. In contrast, this newer version practically screams to be noticed with its combination of bright yellow, deep maroon, and teal green shading. The wild color scheme was probably meant to target vintage fanatics, who are accustomed to such chromatic oddities as pink Hedorahs, blue Mothras, and rainbow Ghidorahs. If you're one of those folks who expect figures to look as much like the characters they represent as possible, though, you may find M1's choice of color schemes rather frustrating, especially since the sculpt itself is so well detailed for a vintage styled piece. In light of the tremendous collectibility and resale value of M1 products, I suppose it's heresy to even dare suggest repainting one of these babies. But I can't help thinking how great the figure would look in hand painted silver, perhaps with some dark gray or black shading for emphasis. Priced at around sixty bucks each from most American dealers, the figures are just inexpensive enough that some handy collectors may want to pick up two, one to customize freely and the other to tuck away and preserve in mint condition.

In spite of my reservations about the unorthodox paint job, the Convertible MechaGodzilla is one cool product. As a collector, I admire M1's innovation and attention to detail, and as a kid at heart, I can easily imagine how much fun I would have had playing with this toy when I was a child. Ultimately, that's the highest praise any vinyl figure can earn.