#frost-vark

[giantmonsterpolls]

Happy Ten Years Of The MonsterVerse!!!

I forgot to post this yesterday, my bad))

Behold, the surprise I was telling ya’ll about!!

Me posting my art?? On this account??

I’ve been working on this for a while and I’m really proud of it, and I do plan to start posting my own fanart here more often!!!

[endominator]

A new friend

[shin-thalia]

Legacy of Monsters has been amazing so far

[doctorkaiju]

Not perfect, but my attempt at a Frost Vark with the amount of time I gave myself for today's Monster March entry.

[godzilla-and-aang-monsters]

Frost Vark

Altura: 150 metros

Longitud: 660 metros

Peso: 40,000 toneladas

Primer Avistamiento: Anchorage [Tierra: Teratoverso]

Controles: Tierra Control [Excavación] Fuego Control [Rayo Incandescente y Erupción de lava] Agua Control [Glaciación] Aire Control [Ventiscas]

Guarida: Anchorage [Tierra:Teratoverso] Monte Makapu [Avatarverso]

Aspecto: Baragon GMK + Frost Vark + Topo nariz de estrella

Aliados:

Humanos: Aang, Katara, Soka, Iroh, Zuko, Toph

Kaijus y otras bestias: Godzilla, King Kong, Mothra, Rodan, Anguirus

Enemigos:

Humanos: Ozai y Azula

Kaijus y otras bestias: King Ghidorah

[pyrasterran]

It's ya boy Frost Vark from Monarch Legacy of Monsters

My fave new Titan from the show

[astoundingbeyondbelief]

Kaiju Week in Review (November 26-December 2, 2023)

I wasn't over the moon when Toho announced that Takashi Yamazaki's Blockbuster Monster Movie was in fact the next Godzilla film. I had seen a few of his works—none bad, but none spectacular either. Well, I've set my sights on watching the rest in the new year, because Godzilla Minus One is an unqualified masterpiece. A tagline from the original Godzilla, King of the Monsters! comes to mind (as it often does when you're me): "Mightiest melodrama of them all!" A lot of the post-Showa films suffer from an abundance of characters who just spout exposition and look at monitors; here, almost everyone in the small cast gets at least one close encounter with Godzilla, and the monster's backstory is conveyed with extreme efficiency. This tale of a war veteran trying to rebuild his life in the ruins of Tokyo, stumbling into a family, finding fulfillment in blowing up leftover mines, and haunted by what he perceives as his cowardice in combat, would have been plenty compelling without Godzilla.

Since it does have Godzilla, it's high on my list of the best movies of the year, and I only need one viewing to call it one of the best installments in the almost-70-year-old series. Yamazaki patiently waited some 15 years after Always: Sunset on Third Street 2 for his shot at a Godzilla feature. You certainly get the sense, watching one of the most brutal, pissed-off incarnations of the monster ever to grace the screen, that he spent every day of it in preparation. Watch it often while it's still in theaters, and watch it big.

Godzilla Minus One will gross about $10 million in its U.S. opening "weekend", a third-place finish that beat expectations. For context, Godzilla 2000, the last Toho Godzilla film to receive a wide release here, made about $10 million during its entire theatrical run here. Ticket prices were cheaper then, of course, and Minus One was helped along further by almost half of attendees going to premium-format screenings. Conversely, it had to overcome Americans' subtitle phobia, and the first weekend of December is usually a slow one. I was pessimistic at the outset, but now I expect larger theaters to carry the film into the new year, especially with near-universal raves from critics and audiences.

Yes, a third section for Godzilla Minus One; it's well-deserved, I promise. MyKaiju is risking life and limb by hosting an English translation of the film's novelization, written by Takashi Yamazaki himself. It appears to be at least partially machine-translated, but the Japanese text is included for comparison. Haven't read it yet, as I want to see the film a second time first, but quite a breakthrough given how mysterious this sort of thing usually is.

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters could never hope to compare with the opening of a stellar new Godzilla film; unfortunately, I also thought this week's episode was the weakest so far. It's bookended by Frost-Vark action, but the rest just drags. All's forgiven if the teacher and the hacker smooch though.

Toho and Legendary used to let each other's live-action Godzilla movies breathe; now the U.S. opening weekend of one is coinciding with the opening marketing push of the other. IGN released a trio of pics from Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, showing Kong with his axe; Dr. Andrews, Jia, and Trapper (Dan Stevens's character) in uniform; and Godzilla "evolving into a powerful new form." The same article included an interview with director Adam Wingard. Naturally, he didn't give away much... besides the return of Doug.

Earlier in the week, Legendary put out a trio of posters featuring Godzilla, Kong, and the film's antagonist, now christened Skar King. The taglines ("Unite" for our heroes, "Bow to Your King" for SK) sound like kaiju campaign slogans. Makes me wonder if, like Godzilla vs. Megalon before it, the movie will improbably capitalize on the presidential election next year. To steal a joke from Titanollante: Godzilla/Kong unity ticket? They'd have my vote.

Godzilla's new form, meanwhile, has already been spoiled by a T-shirt on Legendary's own site and some dire-looking Playmates figures. It makes sense that Wingard would want to have his own spin on the character after keeping the design from Godzilla: King of the Monsters for Godzilla vs. Kong. Hard to cast judgment without seeing the real design in full, but there's one particular detail I really like.

The film also has a booth at CCXP in Brazil, with a panel later today, so I think a trailer is incoming (the main reason I hammered out this whole post so quickly).

I missed this one last week: Tsuburaya announced an anime project called Ultraman: DARKNESS HEELS. The DARKNESS HEELS branding has been around for a while, spotlighting prominent evil Ultras—and, of course, Jugglus Juggler. No details on the anime yet, but if the Juggleman's there, so am I.

The big toy reveal this weekend was Super7's ULTIMATES! MaiGoji figure. Previous Godzilla figures from this line haven't lived up to the official photos, but hope springs eternal. It's $85 (much less than the MonsterArts); preorders started Friday. Other highlights: a Super7 ReAction figure of the original Godzilla's skeleton, which comes with a little Oxygen Destroyer, and a plush Mothra from Surreal Entertainment that can flip to imago form to a neck pillow-shaped larva.

[uhhhyaenbyjade]

Monsterverse Titan Phylogeny & Taxonomy

So, I was bored, and instead of studying for an upcoming test, I procrastinated and made a phylogenetic tree (a Tree of Life) and some proper scientific names for the Titans we have seen in the Monsterverse! The names in the official canon make no taxonomic sense. Titanus mosura and Titanus behemoth sound cool and all, but that implies that all the Titans are the same Genus, which.... no. Just, no.

I hope you guys enjoy it! I am always happy to answer any questions you have about it in the comments.

Scientific Names:

Shinomura - Parasitas collonium (parasitic colony)

Na Kika - Polypusoccult iridescentia (secret iridescent octopus)

Scylla - Lolligan testa (giant squid with legs)

Mothra - Vespulinea luxideu mosura (wasp light-god Mothra)

MUTO - Magnenator phagos (magnetic eater eater)

Amhuluk - Daemopampinus deceoculi (demon tendril with ten eyes)

Methuselah - Montivitae cornutum (living mountain with horns)

Skull Crawler - Reptant cranium (basic reptile skull)

Ion Dragon - Dracdum pisicut (fish-like ion dragon)

Tiamat - Serpensbellum tempestas (war serpent of storms)

Rodan - Pyranodon ventus (toothless winds of fire)

Doug - Deumigale optimum (best god gecko)

Shimo - Deureptilus glaciei (god reptile of the ice)

Godzilla - Deureptilia solis gojira (god reptile of the sun)

Behemoth - Dentesimia mehemot (tusked ape behemoth)

Frost Vark - Nasasidus fodiens (star nose digger)

Camazotz - Solhostis vespermortem (sun enemy death bat)

Skar King / Suko - Deupithepongo sapiens (wise god orangutan)

Kong - Deupithecus sapiens (wise god ape)

ALSO: Because Ghidorah is not of Earth, he wouldn't be ANYWHERE on a phylogenetic tree of Earth animals. Nowhere close at all. But his scientific name could be Interfectorum inanis (void killer).

[jasonheichel]

Monster March 9. Frost-Vark (Monstervere)

[gojirawave]

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, episode 3.

I've really been enjoying the show so far. The first two episodes were great. However, this one was definitely the weakest so far, which isn't a bad thing it's still a great episode I just liked episodes 1&2 more. Still enjoyed it a bunch and am excited to see where the show goes in the next seven episodes. I'd give it a 7 or 7.5 out of 10, so yeah it's not a bad piece of television by any means, and my rating will probably change upon rewatch

I'm a little disappointed we didn't get a follow-up on what happened with the Ion Dragon from the end of episode 2, but who knows, maybe we'll revisit it and the mutos babies from the end of episode 1. It would be a shame if the two things from the e d of episode 1&2 just don't get revisited, and we move on

Anyways onto the episode itself, the stuff happening in the 50s is definitely the strongest gest aspect of the show as of episode 3 imo. It's not that the 2015 story or cast is bad.

The 50s story feels like fun monster hunting, and that appeals to me. Like, I'd watch a whole X-Files monster hunting show with these three just running around during the 50's. They got good chemistry.

The highlight of the episode, however, is Godzilla himself, specifically the recreation and expansion of the Bikini Atoll opening credits of Godzilla 2014. It is really rewarding as someone who first saw Godzilla 2014 when I was 13.

Poor fella looked so confused and then got flashed banged. Keiko is definitely my favorite character so far, mostly cause I'm biased towards any characters who show a bit of empathy and curiosity towards kaijus and want to learn more about them and/or protect them because thst would probably be me. I'm honestly sad she presumably died thinking Godzilla was dead.

(I'm holding out hope she somehow miraculously survived the end of episode 1, and it's gonna be a twist.)

Anyways, as far as the 2015 stuff, it was good. I gotta admit I only really vibe with Cate Randa and Lee Shaw, both Kentaro and May aren't really that interesting to me yet. Hopefully, that changes in the 7 remaining episodes. However, I enjoyed everything with the Frost Vark, and I am excited to see how the four of them get out of this situation with no obvious immediate means of escape. Plus, it's just a cool ass design, I'm always happy to see good, original designs from Legendary for the Monsterverse, and this really works for me.

Like, look at it!!! It's a giant mole thing!!!

[randomly--accessed--memories]

Thinking about the changes Val and Vel would make to the tower over the years to keep Vox safe:

Completely clear the floor Vox lives on, along with the two adjacent floors. The tower is already sound-proofed, but it’s good to be safe. No one can access those floors without a key card.

All the windows in the tower were already shatter-proof and capable of being frosted, so that’s taken care of.

For the first couple years, completely shut off/take away all the electronics connected to the grid in Vox’s living space so he can’t zap through them and end up somewhere else. Eventually, they develop an insulation method and it becomes safe to let him around functional, non-battery operated tech again; he can go inside them, but he can’t pop out on another floor.

Figure out what type of furniture/items they can give him that will entertain him/make the room less bare, but that they won’t mind replacing constantly.

Put Vox’s important, irreplaceable personal belongings on one of the neighboring floors so they can easily get them on a good day, but he can’t accidentally destroy them on a bad one.

Teach Vark to guard the elevator whenever Vox doesn’t need him. Also, make sure that his and his siblings’ augmentations that make them resistant to electrocution are always up-to-date.

Try to figure out a way to help Vox tell that time is/days are passing. They might get too dejected to keep pursuing this one though.

Fireproof everything. Thank God the sharks are hellbeasts and can only be hurt by hellfire.

[zillavader]

Monster March 2024 Day 9: Frost Vark

[monsieurburning]

name: frost vark

title: mole-like titan

[pyrasterran]

Frost Vark (from Monarch: Legacy of Monsters) #monstermarch2024

[astoundingbeyondbelief]

Kaiju Week in Review (December 17-23, 2023)

Episode 7 of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters laid down significant Monsterverse lore, showing the moment Monarch finally revealed itself to the public (under hilarious circumstances) and how the organization's partnership with Apex Cybernetics began. I did not find May's long-awaited backstory super compelling, to be honest, I think because the proto-Apex company was so thinly sketched. And that Frost-Vark better not be dead. :(

An incredible three Godzilla comics released last week: DC/Legendary's Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong #3 and IDW's Godzilla: War for Humanity #3 and Godzilla Rivals: Jet Jaguar vs. Megalon. The crossover lit a certain section of the Internet on fire with the revelation that Godzilla did, in fact, kill Superman the previous issue. Writer Brian Buccellato chalked it up to Godzilla's atomic breath having "a radioactive signature similar to [K]ryptonite," which as handwaves go is pretty good. Behemoth and Scylla had moments to shine as well, and the issue ended with Lex Luthor discovering a Mechagodzilla eye. Glad Godzilla won't be the only Toho character in the comic; that would've been a bit lame.

Godzilla: War for Humanity remaining a thrilling read, and the Super MOGUERA debuting in this issue is not to be missed. Jet Jaguar vs. Megalon starts with a content warning for depiction and discussion of attempted suicide, which certainly surprised me. It's another strong issue, neither callous nor didactic, and told so efficiently there's plenty of room for the titular bout (which sometimes has felt like an afterthought in Rivals stories). Also, Jet Jaguar talks—something Toho forbade in a comic earlier this year, for whatever reason. Anyway, he's exactly the 'bot you would expect him to be. Hope IDW can keep him chattering in the future.

You've probably seen my flurry of posts already, but it bears repeating: The Boulet Brothers' Dragula, a drag reality competition found on Shudder, aired a kaiju episode. Reality TV isn't my bag, but I thoroughly enjoyed the competitors' kaiju-inspired costumes and performances. I also kept ping-ponging between awe that Americans are just expected to know what a kaiju is now and yelling at the hosts for, say, not naming any kaiju outside of Toho's Big Five.

Hot on the heels of the black-and-white re-release of Shin Godzilla comes Godzilla Minus One/Minus Color, which has to be the best title one of these things has gotten. As with Shin, this is no mere filter; each shot in the film was regraded, with director Takashi Yamazaki striving for "a style that looked like it was taken by masters of monochrome photography." It opens in Japan on January 12; no word yet on whether it will play in any other country.

Godzilla will follow in the steps of pop culture fixtures like The Lord of the Rings and Star Wars with Godzilla: The Official Cookbook by Kayce Baker, due from Titan Books on September 10. (You can tell it's official because he's actually on the cover.) 60 recipes lie within. It's a given that I'm going to buy something Godzilla-related that's this silly; I just have to pick up another cookbook first so it won't be the first one I ever own.

I was surprised to realize that McDonald's has never done anything Godzilla-related; far less prolific fast-food chains have worked with the monster, from White Castle to Carl's Jr. The first salvo in the campaign was pretty underwhelming—BE@ABRICK figures that can only be won via lottery, with an entirely plain Godzilla. That replica MogeGoji suit looked great in the ad, at least. Tokusatsu is being kept alive in the Godzilla franchise through some truly odd means. The follow-up ad/promo was a lot better, but that's a matter for next week's post.

This is at least kaiju-adjacent—James Wan's long-gestating The Call of Cthulhu movie seems to finally be going somewhere, as revealed in roundabout fashion by a Deadline article. I thought the 2005 silent version was just fine, but presumably this will be produced by his company Atomic Monster, which is long overdue for an actual giant monster movie.