just read newest hyper hobby 04 all the way up to s.88 and was pretty irritated -
if i got pics right - looks like hukkokudo is rereleasing ikb`s smogun and hedoran next.

hope i just mixed it all up - seems to be
pretty confusing to have 3 versions of "gargamel" figs.

Yeah, this was mentioned in another thread and it looks like that what it says on their website:http://navy.ap.teacup.com/hukkokudo/. It says brother #1. Seems like it more than a coincidence that they're releasing the same kaiju as gargamel 3 times in a row, but neither of them own the characters anyway. I do look forward to getting more accurate reissues.

just found it - thanks!

liked the first 2 hukkokudo zagora as the originla sculpt was pretty unknown but hukkokudo smogun & hedora looks weird when u know the original and gargamels interpretation of it:

I prefer the gargamel sculpts but I hafta admit that a full sized smogun would be really tempting

Hmmm?

A full-size Smogun sounds great, but some of these sculpts leave much to be desired. Kaiju copyright infringements in full effect.

Which Gargamel sculpts do you find wanting? Just curious.

Are you sure about copyright infringement? I know nothing about copyright law in Japan but wonder if it's possible that these designs are actually public domain (or whatever the equivalent is called in JP?) Alternately, they could be licensed to Gargamel and we just don't know.

I dunno.

Yea, I belive these are 'public domain' creatures. Anyone out there can do there own variation of them, which I think Is kick ass. But when a complany does the same 3 sculpts as another... Im just sayin people.

Love that Smogun - the Hedorahs head looks aliitle small or flat but I want to see better pics of them all.

so like.. they don't have to pay any licensing fee whatsoever?

Yep - Same way Kozik can make the Bigazzalon that looks surprizingly like a Zag.

How bout a RFSO Full size Smogun

You can find pics of the originals out there... they all kinda look like they are sculpted out of dog poop. I think the originals are cool 'cuz of being the first time the creatures were made, but I must say that I way prefer the Garg versions.

from Toybot blog.


can't remember where I got this pic... i think its an Original.... now I'm second guessing myself... errrr...


Snatched from DataDub

Heres a nice comparison of the vintage IKB to the Gargamel Hedoran (not my picture). The Gargamel sculpt is certainly better but the original is just so crude I need to have one.



And heres the vintage Smogun with a Bemon. They didnt seem to change the smogun sculpt much when they made the mini so Im not sure if we really need another one.



Maybe I can actually track down a Bemon by the time the smogun reissue comes out!

ok, where do I get an original smogun?

in the afterlife.

You have $5000 US to drop on one?

Purple Walrus, are those six Hedorans all vintage or new reissues from original molds? Holy crap!

Those are all originals belonging to the late Mr. Jim Chapin.

some one MUST make mini SMOGUn and mini GAS BOWER!!!!
gargamel!!! fig-lab!!!! someone???!!

.. d!

Mini GAS BOWER!!! thats the right idea - also like to see a mini Bemon - maybe clear?

...when going rate for ikb's hedoran is under 500 $
how would smogun be so much more?



guess copyrights are different with all 3 characters (hedorah, zagora, smogun).

from my understanding hedorah isnt "public domain" -
thats why ikb changed the looks a lot and made
these fantastic abstract hedoran figs
with strong impression of modern art.

for the new hukkokudo rerelease of ikb hedoran -
would u need a license to do a copy of a bootleg???

I know you're joking but it's not inconceivable that it could indeed be considered a "derivative likeness" or something like that. Even graffitti artists have succesffully claimed copyright on their public works despite the fact that the original work was technically illegal defacement. Kinda weird. Grey areas in copyright laws are often "clarified" by clever lawyers in test cases. Anyway, I can't imagine that you could get a legitimate license to copy an illegal work (although written permission might effectively serve that purpose in a court case) but ... the creator of the illegal work might be able to sue someone for copying their work without "license." I know this sounds crazy but I'm told by copyright attorneys that such cases have indeed been won in favor of what are basically bootleggers, vandals, and copy-cats.

I prefer Gargamel's Smogun to the original. It makes more sense to me with the hands extending outward. I do hope they issue a larger version some day. Who doesn't like Smogun?