S.H.MonsterArts Godzilla X Kong 2024 Exclusive First Look

00:00 - Godzilla 2024 Unboxing
02:13 - Kong 2024 Unboxing
04:20 - Kong 2024 Ax
04:40 - Godzilla 2024 Articulation Demonstration
06:35 - Kong 2024 Articulation Demonstration
06:57 - Kong 2024 Gallery
07:47 - Godzilla 2024 Gallery

Here's your first look of Godzilla & Kong (2024) from Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire!

Firstly, let's talk about who this figure is for. To capitalize on the film's release Tamashii Nations reintroduces the previous sculpt with new paint applications. This is not aimed so much toward the core collector as much as it is at people being introduced to Godzilla or the line for the first time. In Japan, both the Godzilla versus Kong figures have been long sold out, so this is a great entry point for their domestic consumers. By not releasing newer figures like Evolved Godzilla & BEAST glove Kong to tie into the movie release day is an indication that they're waiting to use finalized CGI files, or at least taking their time to get them right. We hope. That said, onto the impressions!

There are no changes between the sculpt of the 2021 figure compared to the 2024 version. Upon unboxing it The Joint tolerance was fairly tight throughout. The right arm feels a lot looser than the rest but it didn't fall off while moving it. As far as range goes it's pretty much the same however I did note that the neck and head area has way more movement than the 2021 figure when it comes to looking downward. When it comes to painting application it looks much better in hand versus what you might see in photos. This is because the dorsals are highly reflective and depending on your light source and Camera settings it can look Overexposed. For example, in these photos, the tips look white but they're silver. The darker coloration is nice but there isn't any other shading throughout. The 2021 figure had some dry brushing on the chest and abdomen areas for some variety. The paint in the mouth looks better but is still far from perfect. As you can guess it's more desirable than the 2021 figures toothpaste mouth.

The heat ray effect part is the same one that has been around since the Godzilla 2014 Spitfire version. Every variation of this beam has always had a different coloration so at least it's not the same thing every time, so I can appreciate that. Still, now I have five legendary beams and if I'm honest I'd rather have a different mold for each release instead of a paint variation. The jaw piece is quite snug compared to the 2019 mold which tended to droop significantly when the beam was placed in it. The head can rear 90° and hold the beam just like the original mold. The beam itself is translucent and features more of a lighter blue coloration compared to past beams. The paint for the teeth on the lower jaw doesn't look the best compared to the previous versions of it.

Just like Godzilla, Kong doesn't get any sculpt updates from the 2021 figure. That said the joint tolerance out of the box is on par with the SDCC Kong figure. My copy has no loose joints or parts that pop off easily. The paint application has entirely changed from the previous figures with a darker tone with gray blending throughout. The additional scars on the chest have been painted onto it versus being sculpted. Something different is that they also added a scar on Kong's back. This is accurate and from the encounter with Scar King. I'll be honest, based on the promo images and some of the samples that were at exhibitions it wasn't looking good, however, having it in hand it looks so much better than what we've seen before in my opinion. The gray blending isn't as aggressive and the matte finish makes this figure more photogenic.

The ax looks good and is more of a faded coloration whereas the previous axes were more vibrant and color. What makes this piece stand out is that the blade is translucent. This is something that I've always wanted with the battle ax so this is a great change. The parts that come with this figure are the same as the original Kong 2021 figure. If you're wondering why none of the accessories from the event exclusive Kong are not included it is because those pieces are exclusive to that specific release. It's unfortunate, but this is how Tamashii Nations handles exclusives. Cross your fingers for Beast Glove Kong to come with some neat stuff.

These figures have their place in the market, especially for first-time collectors. As for veteran collectors, it's really up to you if you feel that these pieces are necessary for your collection. I favor the paint application on this Kong figure over the past two and for Godzilla, I'm still content with the 2019 version. While joint tolerance fares well on my figures it could vary across the board, time will tell as more people get these in hand. If you are a veteran collector and not keen on the pricing wait for a sale for either of these. Keep an eye on the market though as new fans will discover this line and these could sell out quicker than you think