Greetings and salutations, audio listeners! It is I, William Horatio George III, your new and vastly superior host for the new and vastly superior podcast, The Monster Island Gatekeepers, which will be replacing the previous show to which you were listening. In this inaugural episode, I am joined by my Board-mandated…co-host, Dr. Dante Dourif, Monster Island’s resident Matango expert and, apparently, the head of special projects. (Although, I don’t know what that entails because he rarely comes out of his smelly basement). We discuss subjects of the greatest importance, such as what one must do to be a true kaiju fan. Yes, and this includes loving Shin Godzilla and the Godzilla Anime Trilogy as well as purchasing a six-inch vinyl figurine of a certain popular beetle god here on the Island for $300. This plus the latest news from our prestigious benefactors, the Monster Island Board of Directors, and Dr. Dourif’s supposed…I supposed you could call it his origin story.
May you find a better way forward.
This episode is approved by the Monster Island Board of Directors.
Follow the Monster Island Board of Directors on Twitter: @MonsterIslaBOD
Hi, kaiju lovers. This is MIFV’s intrepid producer, Jimmy From NASA. You might be wondering why I’m writing the shownotes for this episode. I had to prep it for the podcast feed instead of Nate, because…well, Nate’s not terrestrial anymore. He had a great discussion with MIFV MAX member Damon Noyes, who sponsored this episode on the 1966 Toei tokusatsu fantasy film, The Magic Serpent. Hell, even I liked the film because, as they pointed out, it’s basically Star Wars. It’s based on a Japanese folk tale and features characters—like Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru—that Naruto fans would be familiar with. Not to mention kaiju fans would love the weirdo giant toad and the dragon the hero and villain transform into during the climax. The broadcast was riddled with MST3K-style riffs that compared the film to Lord of the Rings, a classic Budweiser commercial, and a game show (because Jiraiya fights killer doors).
Before the broadcast, Miss Perkins—better known as Galaxy Pink Ranger Karone Khaymanlee—visited the KIJU studio to tell Nate she’d broken the Board’s influence on her. Then at end, Nate had to read some Board propaganda pertaining to the late Gary…and he just couldn’t do it….
Hello, kaiju lovers! Though still grieving the loss of Gary, Nate soldiers on—without his intrepid producer, Jimmy From NASA, as mandated by the Board—because he’s finally made it to the good part of “The Year of Gamera”! He’s joined by three of the original MIFV Tourists, Nick Hayden, Timothy Deal, and Joe Metter, to discuss Gamera: Guardian of the Universe, the first of the famed Heisei Trilogy directed by Shusuke Kaneko. While the Tourists have never seen it, they have a deep appreciation of storytelling, drama, and anime, so Nate was certain they would enjoy it. Did they? Listen to find out! The Toku Topic is the legend of Atlantis since it factors heavily into this film and the rest of the trilogy.
During the broadcast, Nate finally conducts his overdue interview with Spacewoman Kilara, who is much nicer about the whole thing than Nate expects. Unlike Miss Perkins, about whom Nate and Jimmy were messaged about by Jessica before the show with a bombshell revelation. Then after the broadcast, he visits the Board’s executive assistant at her office to confront her—with electrifying results.
This episode’s prologue and epilogue, “Revelation of Power,” was written by Nathan Marchand. “An Interview with Spacewoman Kilara” was written by Nathan Marchand.
England, Norman. “Inside the Heisei Trilogy: The Guardian of the Universe.” (Arrow Video Gamera: The Complete Collection; originally published in Fangoria #173, June 1998).
Flower, James. “A Guide to English Language Gamera.” (Arrow Video Gamera: The Complete Collection).
Hello, kaiju lovers! What you’re about to hear is an excerpt from the most recent MIFV MAX livestream on YouTube. Normally, these are reserved for MIFV’s Patrons on Patreon, but this included such a HUGE announcement, I wanted to make it available for everyone. In case you missed it, I, Nathan, and my friend Danny DiManna announced what movie will be covered on MIFV’s 50th episode/2nd anniversary, how the storyline leading up to it relates to Mystery Science Theater 3000, and how you, my wonderful listeners, can help make this special episode possible.
Hello, kaiju lovers! “Godzilla Redux” continues with Godzilla, King of the Monsters! (the original and not the 2019 film covered on MIFV a few months ago). Elijah Thomas (aka “The Littlest Gatekeeper”) from the Kaiju Conversation podcast joins Nate to discuss this Americanized version of the original 1954 kaiju classic. While it’s often been derided by both fans and critics alike, Nate and Elijah argue that it’s not only an important time capsule commenting on American-Japanese relations in the mid-1950s, but it just might be more culturally significant than Ishiro Honda’s original film! You read that right! If it wasn’t for Raymond Burr playing reporter (not comedian) Steve Martin in this version, the Godzilla franchise may have stalled and faded into the arthouse ether. That’s just a taste of these boys’ defense of the film!
Before the broadcast, Nate gets a call from Legal Action Team paralegal Gary, who says he’s meeting with a private investigator concerning their case against the Board—just when William H. George III, the Board’s special envoy, pays Nate a visit to make some veiled threats. After the broadcast, which includes several reports about an escaped Gyaos, Raymund Martin comes demanding to know if Nate has seen Gary that day—and tells Nate and Jimmy about a tragedy on the Island.
We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons Travis Alexander and Michael Hamilton (co-hosts of Kaiju Weekly); Danny DiManna (author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project); Eli Harris (elizilla13); Chris Cooke (host of One Cross Radio); Bex from Redeemed Otaku; Damon Noyes, The Cel Cast, TofuFury, and today’s guest host, Elijah Thomas! Thanks for your support!
You, too, can join MIFV MAX on Patreon to get this and other perks starting at only $3 a month!
Check out MIFV MAX #4 to learn how you can help make Episode 50—MIFV’s second anniversary special—possible!
Brothers, Peter H. Mushroom Clouds and Mushroom Men: The Fantastic Cinema of Ishiro Honda.
Galbraith IV, Stuart. Japanese Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films: A Critical Analysis and Filmography of 103 Features Released in the United States 1950-1992.
Glownia, Dawid. “Socio-Political Aspects of Kaijū Eiga Genre: A Case Study of the Original Godzilla.” Silva Iaponicarum, vol. 37.
Godzilla, King of the Monsters! Commentary by Steve Ryfle and Ed Godziszewski (Classic Media DVD)..
Godzilla, King of the Monsters! Commentary by David Kalat (Criterion Blu-Ray).
Rhodes, Sean, and Brooke McCorkle. “Chapter 3: Godzilla, Nature and Nuclear Revenge.” Japan’s Green Monsters: Environmental Commentary in Kaiju Cinema.
Ryfle, Steve. “Godzilla’s Footprint” (Classic Media DVD booklet).
Ryfle, Steve, and Ed Godziszewski. Ishiro Honda: A Life in Film, from Godzilla to Kurosawa.
Hello…kaiju…lovers…. The only reason this episode is long as it is because Nate’s guest, Daniel DiManna (creator/author of the Godzilla Novelization Project) is the most talkative introvert ever of all time. But even if “Danny Boy” was Superman with a Beta Capsule, he couldn’t save this week’s Year of Gamera movie, the infamous Gamera: Super Monster. This 1980 cash-grab from a barely-alive Daiei Film is easily the Guardian of the Universe’s lowest point. On paper, Nate should love this movie because it has three of his favorite things—spaceships, superheroes, and kaiju—but he doesn’t. From public access channel special effects to a nonsensical plot with everything but the kitchen sink to the truckloads of stock footage—this must’ve been a plot by the Board of Directors to break Nate. Meanwhile, Danny keeps MIFV’s intrepid producer, Jimmy From NASA, quiet by getting him to bet his Pteranodon-bot that he can’t interrupt them during the broadcast. The Toku Topic, fittingly, is the rise and fall of Daiei Film, the studio that introduced the world to Akira Kurosawa and Gamera but dug itself into a financial hole it couldn’t escape. It’s a crazy story, to say the least.
Before the broadcast, Nate and Jimmy are visited by the Board’s executive assistant, Ms. Perkins. She tells Nate that she made arrangements for him to interview Spacewoman Kilara from Gamera: Super Monster on MIFV, much to his chagrin, and then fangirls over her. But the more Nate asks Ms. Perkins questions about her past, the stranger she acts.
Flower, James. “A Guide to English Language Gamera” (Arrow Video Gamera: The Complete Collection).
Galbraith IV, Stuart. Japanese Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films: A Critical Analysis and Filmography of 103 Features Released in the United States 1950-1992.
Gamera: The Complete Collection, Disc Four Special Features.
Gamera: Super Monster Commentary by Richard Pusateri (Arrow Video’s Gamera: The Complete Collection).
Hello, kaiju lovers! Welcome to MIFV’s first Patreon-sponsored episode and TV talk! MIFV MAX member Eli Harris visits Monster Island to discuss three episodes of the criminally underappreciated Godzilla: The Series, the vastly superior Saturday morning cartoon sequel to Godzilla (1998). Their discussion includes the show’s the two-part premiere, “New Family,” which picks up where the movie left off, and Eli’s favorite episode, “DeadLoch” (ba-dum-tssh), where Zilla Jr. meets the Loch Ness Monster. You’ll hear some great facts about Nessie, too. All the while, Eli stings MIFV’s intrepid producer, Jimmy From NASA, with the best zingers this side of “the Pond.” Afterward, Nate visits the office of the Monster Island Legal Action Team to meet with Gary and see what the paralegal has uncovered about the Board of Directors—after Gary goes dumpster diving.
I (Nathan) am the “kaiju guy” now, but I used to be the “superhero guy.” Now thanks to Travis from Kaiju Weekly, I’ve combined both! This is a promo for our new spinoff podcast, The Henshin Men, a tokusatsu superhero appreciation podcast dedicated to high-flying and high-kicking adventures of Japan’s transforming, kaiju-fighting heroes!
Hello, kaiju lovers! After calling in a favor at the last second to get a replacement guest, Nate sits down with Kaiju Weekly’s Travis Alexander and kaiju author Neil Riebe to discuss one of Gamera’s lowest points: Gamera vs. Zigra. Yes, before Jaws, the Friend to All Children battled a giant alien shark who couldn’t decide if he wanted to enslave humanity or eat them. Ziggy also has a bad habit of recruiting beautiful ladies as hench-people (your new PC term of the day), but they forget everything they knew before being mind-controlled—like that parading around in nothing but a bikini might not be the most inconspicuous disguise unless you’re in an exploitation film for kids. Let’s just say, Nate almost loses his mind in this episode. The Toku Topic is Kamogawa Sea World, because this movie is a terrible, overgrown commercial for the resort.
Afterward, Nate has to pull some Board-mandated overtime and is contacted in secret by Gary, Raymund Martin’s paralegal. Nate thinks he’s found a new friend in Gary in his quest to out the Board.
Flower, James. “A Guide to English Language Gamera” (Arrow Video Gamera: The Complete Collection).
Galbraith IV, Stuart. Japanese Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films: A Critical Analysis and Filmography of 103 Features Released in the United States 1950-1992.
Gamera: The Complete Collection, Disc Four Special Features.
Gamera vs. Zigra Commentary by Sean Rhodes and Brooke McCorkle (Arrow Video’s Gamera: The Complete Collection).
LeMay, John. The Big Book of Japanese Giant Monster Movies Volume 1: 1954-1982.
Macias, Patrick. “A History of Gamera: Gamera vs. Zigra” (Arrow Video’s Gamera: The Complete Collection).
Milner, David. “Interview with Noriaki Yuasa” (Arrow Video’s Gamera: The Complete Collection).
Rhodes, Sean, and Brooke McCorkle. “Chapter 9: Gamera vs. Zigra: A Tale of Space Invaders and the Sea.” Japan’s Green Monsters: Environmental Commentary in Kaiju Cinema.
