Killer Kaiju Monsters: Strange Beasts of Japanese Film [Hardcover]

Ivan Vartanian (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2010

Graphic full-color illustrations of the most notable Kaiju are featured in this beautifully designed book, along with descriptions of their strengths, weaknesses and special powers. Also featured are the heroes and heroines who prevented Kaiju attacks, the creators who designed these breathtaking beasts, and a breakdown of the central, defining plot and story structures of Kaiju dramas and battle sequences. A Kaiju research section that assembles data, charts, and figures—valuable scientific findings that will aid in the battle to save humankind is also included, and artist Mark Nagata will render cross-sections of a Kaiju to show the skeletal and muscular construction of these monsters.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Ivan Vartanian is an author, editor and the founder of Goliga Books, Inc., a book-packaging company specializing in art, photography, and design. His publications on art include: Full Vinyl: The Subversive Art of Designer Toys, an overview of hundreds of the world's most popular miniature collectible figures and the inspired creators behind them, Andy Warhol: Drawings and Illustrations of the 1950s, which traces the artist's ten years of work as a commercial illustrator before his re-invention as a pop artist and impresario, Egon Schiele: Drawings and Watercolors, a comprehensive chronology of the artist's rapid development as a master of human expression before his death at the age of 28, and Drop Dead Cute: The New Generation of Women Artists in Japan, a survey of contemporary drawing in Japan. His design books include: Now Loading . . . : The Aesthetics of Web Graphics, a survey of cutting-edge web design, Graphiscape: New York City and Graphiscape: Tokyo, a series of books about “found graphics“ that define the graphic sense of major cities, and TypoGraphics, a look at the overlap between graphics and type. His photography books include the monographs Studio Portrait: A Documentary of Yoshitomo Nara, Kamaitachi: Photographs by Eikoh Hosoe, and the anthology Setting Sun: Writings by Japanese Photographers. Ivan Vartanian lives in Tokyo, Japan.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Harper Design (June 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061655791
• ISBN-13: 978-0061655791
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #888,355 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Ivan Vartanian (b. 1972) is native of New York, where he attended New York University, majoring in Biochemistry. After working for Aperture in the mid-1990s, he moved to Tokyo, Japan, where he has been living ever since. We writes, edits, and produces books on art, photography, and design. For additional web-only content on Ivan's books, visit his company's website at www.goliga.com

Currently, he is reading David Foster Wallace's "Infinite Jest" in tandem with Will Self's "How the Dead Live" and Carl Sagan's "The Varieties of Scientific Experience".

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars So Much Wasted Potential, June 8, 2010

By 

Timothy D. Gallagher "Pulp Monkey" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Killer Kaiju Monsters: Strange Beasts of Japanese Film (Hardcover)

One would think that a book with the subtitle "Strange Beasts of Japanese Film" would actually focus on these critters, but sadly this is not the case. There are dozens - if not hundreds - of various kaiju inhabiting Japanese films and television shows. However, this volume showcases only ten of them, and nine of those are from the Godzilla series of films, which have seen plenty of exposure elsewhere. There are brief biographies of each of the beasts, as well some cut-away portraits, but half of the "origin" tabs at the bottom of these bios are incorrect. The bulk of the book is reserved for photos of vinyl toys, or kaiju artwork, almost none of which have anything to do with the film monsters (except maybe for being inspired by them).

Where are the rest of the inhabitants of Monster Island? What about the various members of Gamera's rogues gallery? The water-spitting dragon and fire-breathing giant frog from "The Magic Serpent?" Daimaijin, the stone god of vengeance? The too-numerous-to-name monsters from the various "Ultraman" series? I could go on and on, but the answer is simple: they aren't here.

The book is a big disappointment. I can't even recommend it as a primer for someone who wants to learn about the rich history of Japanese film kaiju. For them, I would heartily suggest they seek out Stuart Galbraith's excellent "Monsters are Attacking Tokyo." Just save your money and steer clear of "Killer Kaiju Monsters: Strange Beasts of Japanese Film."

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars not as advertised, June 13, 2010

By 

Donald - See all my reviews

This review is from: Killer Kaiju Monsters: Strange Beasts of Japanese Film (Hardcover)

I have to agree with Mr Gallagher's review. The information on actual movie monsters is sparse and done by someone who doesn't seem very interested in the subject matter. The last third of the book is useless, fairly amateur popart paintings of original monsters that add nothing to the book. The book was originally solicited under the title 'GODZILLA & FRIENDS ART OF JAPANESE MONSTER", they must have changed it when they realized how little it has to do with the subject.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not what I had hoped for reading the product description........, June 16, 2010

By 

Dustin Abell (Sothern Cali) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Killer Kaiju Monsters: Strange Beasts of Japanese Film (Hardcover)

After I ordered this book but before it arrived I happened to read Mr. Gallaghers review of it, and it really had me second guessing my purchase. Well, it arrived the next day and was exactly as he described. A real letdown. I took him up on his suggestion to order "Monsters are attacking Tokyo" instead, three days later that book arrived and I couldn't have been any happier. I have to go leave a nice review over for that book now! Amazon rocks as they made returning the Killer Kaiju book for a full refund as easy as could be. I love this website!