“I’d come to know the horrors of man and his capacity for destruction. I’d stared that destruction in the eye, felt its claws rip at my flesh and tear away at my very soul. On that day, I knew what it meant – how it felt – to behold a monster…”
Hello there, readers. Welcome to 2024!
It’s high time for a new short story, and this one has been a long time coming.
Back in the summer of 2023 (which I’m still getting used to referring to as “last year”), I began writing a story that had randomly popped into my mind and taken hold of my creative attention. I hit a few roadblocks (some involving the story itself, and others involving some personal things that needed tending to), and ultimately shelved the project for a few months. I picked it up again in November, but still couldn’t quite crack the approach I wanted to take for telling the tale. But finally, as 2023 wrapped up, I was able to nail down the final details and complete the story in the way I wanted to. And dare I say, I think the final result was worth the wait!
With that said, the Godzilla Novelization Project is proud to present “A Prayer for Peace,” a new short story inspired by Godzilla (1954).
The tale follows a young Japanese soldier who dreams of peace amidst the horrors and bloodshed of WWII. A decade later, when the shadow of a nuclear titan falls over his country, the soldier – motivated to fight for Japan once more – finally finds his opportunity to achieve the peace he so desperately wants, but in a way he never imagined…
The story takes the form of a first-person memoir crafted by the soldier during the events of the 1954 film, acting as an alternate perspective to the story that puts a unique spin on multiple elements fans will know all too well from the film itself. Part diary, part remembrance, and part warning for the future.
(Also – in a first for the GNP – this story has spoilers, so if you give it a read and want to share your thoughts, please do so without spoiling anything for those who haven’t read it yet!)
Thank you all for your continuing support, and – as always – for taking the time to read this new story. (Also, a HUGE thank you to each and every one of you for making 2023 the best-performing year for the GNP! I’ll be sharing some pretty incredible stats and numbers in a future post, but to say I was blown away would be an understatement. You’re all amazing, and your excitement for this project never ceases to leave me speechless.)
Happy reading, and happy New Year to you all! I hope 2024 brings you success, fulfillment, and happiness.
G-Fest time has come and gone once again. How does it always go so fast?
Greetings and salutations, GNP readers! I hope you’re all doing exceptionally well!
As of last week, another G-Fest is officially in the books. This year’s con (number XXVIII, to be specific) flew by in a blur of panels, purchases, and wonderful people; it might be the fastest G-Fest I’ve ever attended. But WOW, what a great weekend it was.
As is tradition, I’d like to take a few paragraphs to reflect on my time at this year’s convention and share just how grateful I am to everyone who’s paths I crossed between Thursday and Monday.
Let’s dive in!
As always, my G-Fest weekend kicked off with a trip to the beautiful Pickwick Theater for a lineup of kaiju movies. I was only able to attend the first double-bill, but there was no way I was gonna miss Destroy All Monsters and Godzilla 1998 on the big screen! The latter was a surprise on multiple levels; not only was I not expecting G-Fest to acknowledge the film’s 25th anniversary, but the genuine enthusiasm from the crowd was a treat. After a quarter of a century, seeing the film (as controversial snd flawed as it is) get a warm reception was genuinely nice to see.
The remainder of my weekend was split between hosting and attending panels, doing some shopping in the dealers room, meeting the special guests, and – most importantly – connecting with friends and readers. As always, G-Fest is all about the wonderful people – old friends and new. The camaraderie and kindness I was shown from online pals, fans of the GNP, and random attendees who complimented my panels was tremendous. “Grateful” doesn’t begin to describe how it all made me feel.
Cower in fear at the sight of my shoddy handwriting!
As always, the special guests were an absolute highlight of the weekend. It always means so much to see these incredible individuals, many of whom literally travel around the world just to see us. While my crazy schedule prohibited me from meeting every guest (I was particularly bummed about not meeting MonsterVerse Godzilla no-cap actor T.J. Storm), but the guests I did get to spend time with were incredible.
Kiyotaka Taguchi, an incredibly talented tokusatsu director who got his start on fan films and is currently directing Ultraman episodes for Tsuburaya Productions, was a last-minute addition to the guest roster. After introducing the screening of his new movie Daikaiju Bugon, I managed to sneak in an autograph between two panels I was hosting. It was a thrill to meet him!
Meeting one of my heroes!
Another surprise guest was Eiji Kaminaga, President of the legendary Marusan toy company. Marusan was actually tabling in the dealers room this year, and I couldn’t pass up the chance to buy a unique original kaiju sofubi direct from the company that literally invented the art form. Kaminaga-san was kind enough to sign the figure’s foot for me. How cool is that?
A rare thrill to meet the man behind Marusan!
Last but not least, it was a surreal honor to meet the one and only Yumiko Shaku, A.K.A. Akane Yashiro from Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla. It’s no secret that Akane is one of my all-time favorite characters in the entire franchise, and the opportunity to meet Shaku-san – who rarely makes public appearances – was a chance I simply couldn’t miss. Getting that chance required jumping through some unconventional hoops; Shaku-san was only signing autographs for a few hours on two days of the three-day convention, and the lines just to purchase her ticket were insanely long. Thankfully, with a little patience, I was able to secure one and – after waiting in another line – got my autograph and photo. I’m still pinching myself.
No, seriously, still can’t believe this happened!
Of course, no G-Fest is complete without a trip (or 20) to the dealers room! I was on a tight budget this year but managed to snag some amazing new additions to my collection. This year’s haul included a handful of new VHS tapes and Bandai vinyls, a handful of curios (including program books, pins, DVDs, and posters), and some new nerdy apparel! (One of the absolute highlights of the weekend was finally finding a classic Bandai Megalon figure for a reasonable price, courtesy of my bud Jay Key at Toku Toy Town. It’s a figure I’d been trying to get without breaking the bank for years, and not only was Jay offering it for cheap, but he still gave me a substantial discount! Thank you so much, Jay. Your generosity touched a lot of hearts this last weekend.)
GO ON, MEGALON!
And then, of course, there were the panels! I’ve been so grateful to co-host these wonderful and informative discussions at the con these last few years, and this year, I appeared on six. Between Friday and Sunday, you could hear me chatting with my awesome co-panelists about:
– The 30th anniversary of Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II (which can be viewed on YouTube here!)
(HUGE thanks to Kaiju Kim, her awesome husband Roy, and Greg Noneman for filming and sharing these! Please subscribe to their channels and check out the other cool stuff they do!)
Pontification abounds as I wax philosophical on the kaiju writing panel!
Chillin’ with Bob Eggleton and Kevin Horn to nerd out on Kong!
And speaking of Kim, I’d be remiss if I didn’t talk a bit about the big announcement she made after her Mechagodzilla II panel…
Kim is directing a brand-new animated short film focusing on the character of Erika Shiragami from Godzilla vs. Biollante, and I’m on board to write it!!
Tanner Wright’s epic poster art for Kim’s upcoming film Erika!
As cool as the panels, guests, movies and toys of G-Fest are, the most humbling aspect of the con was the kindness I was shown by way too many wonderful human beings to list here. I lost count of how many people stopped me to say how much they enjoy my writing, the panels I appeared on, my podcast appearances, and the writing advice I gave during the annual G-Fest writers panel. I even received fan art from my good bud Brendan Morley from Autistic Lizard Productions!
Words can’t describe how much every interaction, every kind word, and every moment of support meant to me this past weekend. If you’re among the G-fans who chatted with me, the readers who supported me, and the dear friends (many of whom are seen below) who showed me so much love, please know how deeply grateful I am for your kindness. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you all.
My dear friends (from left to right): “Daikaiju” Danielle Fey, Kaiju Kim, Adrian “Monsters With Attitude” Settle, Michael “The Handsome One” Hamilton, Brendan Morley, Nate Marchand, Jarod Marchand, and Elijah “King of the Korean Kaiju” Thomas
Wonderful fan art gifted to me by Brendan Morley. I can’t get over how awesome this is! Thank you, Brendan!
Brendan totally pranks me, yo.
And amigos forever we’ll beeeee!
To wrap up this lengthy post, this year’s G-Fest left me both fulfilled and exhausted (in a good way!) It’s always sad to see G-Fest end, but as with every year, I left fulfilled, rejuvenated, and feeling truly blessed. From seeing friends and shopping to paneling, meeting guests and readers, and co-announcing Kim’s short film, this was a con I’ll never forget.
So… G-Fest 2024, anyone?
Farewell for another year, G-Fest. Maybe I’ll bring more than one hat next year…
July has rolled around once again, and that means one thing: it’s G-Fest time once again! At the time of this writing, I’m one sleep away from embarking on my drive to Chicago, and I couldn’t be more excited!
Once again, I’m thrilled to not only be attending G-Fest, but participating in it as a panelist. I’ll be on a total of six panels this year, and here’s a nifty rundown of each of them:
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First up on Friday at 2:00 PM, I’ll be joining the wonderful Kaiju Kim and my fellow Kaiju Ramen compatriots Nate Marchand, Michael Hamilton, and Elijah Thomas to celebrate 30 years of Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II!
On Friday at 3:00 PM, I’ll be joining Bob Eggleton and Kevin Horn to celebrate 90 years of 1933’s King Kong! We’ll be discussing the artistic genius, historical significance, and immortal legacy behind the greatest monster masterpiece of them all.
On Saturday at 11:00, I’ll be joining my fellow kaiju wordsmiths Nate Marchand, Timothy Price, and Robert Monsarrat for G-Fest’s annual Kaiju Writers panel! We’ll be answering questions and offering advice for aspiring writers, so come curious!
On Saturday at 1:00, mushrooms and madness will reign supreme in Ballroom C as Nate Marchand, Kevin Horn, Elijah Thomas, and I celebrate 60 years of 1963’s Matango. We’ll be talking J-horror, metaphors, and all things frighteningly fungal!
On Sunday at 1:00, I’ll be joining Nate Marchand again, this time for an in-depth (and not just because of the submarines) discussion about the theme of nationalism vs patriotism in 1963’s Atragon. If you enjoy history and political intrigue, you’ll dig this panel!
And last but certainly not least, on Sunday at 3:00, I’ll be joining forces with Elijah Thomas to discuss the weird and wonderful world of Korean kaiju cinema! From Yongary and Pulgasari to Tyrano’s Claw and Dinosaur Zzu Zzu, we’ll cover it all and give context to this fascinating corner of the genre.
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That should just about do it! As always, it means the world to me that I’m able to participate in this convention to such a wonderful extent. Being invited to join panels is still a surreal thrill for me, and I’m excited to nerd out with all of you this weekend.
As always, if you spot me at the con, feel free to stop me and say hi! I’m always happy to chat about the GNP, my other work in the fandom, your awesome dealers room haul, or pretty much anything involving the Big G.
Thank you all for continuing to be such awesome readers, and I’ll see you in Chicago!
I’m sure most of you don’t need to be told, but yep, yesterday’s post about AI book covers was, obviously, the GNP’s annual April Fools prank!
I say “obviously,” but I felt the need to make doubly sure that everyone knew this was all fake. After I shared the fake covers to social media yesterday, a few people did reach out to tell me to consider hiring real artists, or to voice their disappointment and let me know they were unfollowing me!
Rest assured, dear readers, that I would NEVER use harmful AI “art” for the GNP in ANY capacity. 🤮
The renders are hilariously awful (and intentionally so, since this was supposed to be a joke), but AI generators are getting better and smarter. Some of them can produce art much better than this, and some can write flawless marketing copy or original stories. Their rise is threatening the lives and careers of creators everywhere, including myself, as writing is both my hobby AND (outside of the GNP) my livelihood.
The Godzilla/kaiju community is bursting with some of the most talented ACTUAL HUMAN artists you’ll ever meet. Please pay and support them. They deserve it. This AI crap can pound sand.
That said, I hope the post gave you a laugh! Some of these images are truly hysterical (I think the Steve Martin Report cover is the winner), and I had way too much fun coming up with super-serious descriptions for each. I also left in typos intentionally, and threw in a few subtle “mistakes” just for fun (like including Terror of Mechagodzilla, even though its GNP Novelization hasn’t been started yet).
As with every GNP April Fools Day prank, I’ll leave the post below archived for posterity. Just don’t expect those horrible covers to show up as actual covers on the GNP website anytime soon. 😉
Take care, everyone! And, at long last, happy April 2nd! Whew!
Happy Saturday, readers! Strap in, because I have a big announcement to make!
For the last five years, the Godzilla Novelization Project has lacked one crucial ingredient that any good book needs: actual book covers.
Well, that’s finally about to change!
Thanks to the magic of AI, I’m thrilled to announce that every GNP novel now has gorgeous, hi-res cover art, rendered with stunning accuracy and mind-blowing visual fidelity. (Plus, I didn’t have to pay real human artists a lick o’ money! What fun!)
Take a look through the gallery below and feast your eyes on these true artistic wonders!
The process was simple: I just typed the name of each movie along with the words “book cover” into the prompt and voila! Free masterpieces. I think the remarkable work seen on this new cover for my Godzilla (1954) novelization says it all.
This is the new GNP cover for King Kong vs. Godzilla. Which one is Godzilla? Which one is Kong? Only you can decide!
Mothra vs. Godzilla is undoubtedly a masterpiece, and it’s clear that AI generators are aware of this. Otherwise, how could the free one I Googled capture the essence of the film with such stunning accuracy?
Truly a book cover worthy of the legacy of Ishiro Honda.
Ah, All Monsters Attack. The often maligned story of a young child fleeing his unhappy world to befriend the son of Godzilla and learn valuable life lessons.
But did Ichiro have tails growing out of his legs and sword?
I think we all know the answer.
The ideal book cover should be able to communicate something profound about what the reader can expect from the story and the characters behind it.
This breathtaking cover for my Godzilla vs. Hedorah novelization accomplishes that goal in spades.
I’m a big Gigan fan. Not just of the movie, but also of the character. The design has always fascinated me; I mean, who among us DOESN’T love the full silver armor plating, lack of chest saw, red face, and upsetting number of teeth that Gigan has to offer? I know I sure do.
Art is open to interpretation. I mean, if AI wants to interpret the name “Megalon” as “Jason Momoa in Yoga Pants,” then who are we to judge?
It’s art like this that reminds me of just how much I love Godzilla vs. Megalon. Happy 50th. I hope this cover does you justice.
The swan song of Ishiro Honda. The final film of the Showa era. A timeless tale of star-crossed lovers. A fantastic film with epic action and tender emotion in equal measure.
And somehow, this cover conveys it all without words. Art is truly powerful.
One of my favorite aspects of Godzilla vs. Spacegodzilla was the confusion the characters feel about which of the two titular monsters is which. Remember the part where everyone thought Godzilla was Spacegodzilla and Spacegodzilla was Godzilla? Good times.
I’ll be honest with you guys: up to this point, and despite the stunning results, I wasn’t ENTIRELY sold on the whole AI thing.
But then I saw this image.
The sheer artistic magnitude, the accuracy to the film, the unexpected number of finger tentacles… it brought a tear to my eye. And then another. Before I knew it, I was openly weeping over my smartphone.
Truly, this is art.
I love me some Kiryu, and seeing how AI rendered the Millennium Mechagodzilla was a true treat. The app truly nailed it with this one, right down to the giant orange organic eyes that Kiryu is known for. They even put Godzilla’s head on backwards, just like in the movie!
But wait… it doesn’t stop there!
I figured I’d also generate some soulless cover art for some of the short stories I’ve written, and where better to start than the tale of a cyborg who dreamed of being loved as a human.
I present to you the new cover for “Katsura’s Story.”
In 1956, one man watched as a city burned and the shadow of a prehistoric beast fell upon a terrified nation. He witnessed death and tragedy on an unprecedented scale, and lived through it all to tell his story.
I present to you the new book cover for “The Steve Martin Report.”
One man.
One island.
One insatiable hunger for the forbidden fungi of a cursed hell in the Pacific.
Behold the new cover for the GNP’s novella “Casefile: Matango.”
And last but not least, witness the terrifying backwards wings and footless horror of “Sora no Daikaiju,” a retelling of 1956’s Rodan.
Finally, a cover worthy of one of the GNP’s most popular short stories!
Expect these breathtaking examples of artistic brilliance to find a home on each novel’s main page soon!
As yet another year draws to a close (and the GODZILLA NOVELIZATION PROJECT nears its 5th anniversary), I wanted to take a minute to express some gratitude, and – if you’ll indulge me – to get a bit personal.
To put it bluntly, 2022 was full of personal struggle for me, with loss and life upheavals piling up and making it difficult to be as creative as I’d wanted to be. I won’t dwell on the specifics, but between December of last year and today, I’ve had to say goodbye to four friends/family members who’ve passed away, nearly lost three other friends (all of whom are okay now, but damn was it scary), and dealt with the ramifications of some past trauma that seriously impaired my focus, among other things too personal to get into here. A lot of my time this year was spent caring for (and grieving with) family and friends, navigating some tough emotional moments, and reflecting on how beautiful yet fleeting life can be.
I don’t say any of this to complain or to elicit sympathy or pity. Far from it. I like to keep things positive and uplifting within the realm of the GNP, and I certainly don’t want to “harsh anyone’s buzz” or make anyone worry.
I also want it known that, despite all the stuff I mentioned above, I’m doing okay. I’m not ill or depressed, and this year has also given me countless blessings, some of the greatest of my entire life, in fact.
But yeah, if you noticed a sharp decline in the amount of content produced by the GNP this year (from new chapters and short stories to blogs, timeline updates, site updates, and Monster Musings podcast episodes), this is why.
I wanted to acknowledge this for two reasons. Firstly, because – as an audience with a vested interest in my work – I believe you’re owed an explanation for why the content you (hopefully) enjoy has been slow this year.
And secondly, because – despite this slowness and long periods between updates – you’re still here.
In this fast-paced world of content overload, it’s easy for projects and creators to slip out of mind and get buried by content that’s more consistent. But that hasn’t been the case for the GNP. And that absolutely blows my mind.
Despite the infrequency of updates, 2022 saw nearly 5,000 visitors to the website, and an amazing 18,194 page views. The first chapter for the novelization of 1954’s Godzilla alone was read 268 times over the last 12 months, and the project’s newest tale, “Katsura’s Story,” is nearing 100 reads after only a week of publication.
After the sad year I’ve had, you have no idea how much that means to me.
I don’t typically check or share the GNP’s metrics (clicks aren’t nearly as important to me as knowing I’ve entertained people, however few). But seeing those numbers really put into perspective just how much people genuinely care about this project. Whether they’re longtime readers or curious newcomers, they continue to read. Even with the scarcity of content this year, they still showed up. YOU still showed up.
And so, as we move on to a new year and new possibilities, I wanted to say thank you. Thank you all for being such wonderful readers. Thank you for sticking by me during one of the hardest years of my life, even if you didn’t know the impact you were having. And thank you for being supportive, enthusiastic, patient, and kind. You’ve given me a tremendous gift, and I hope to continue being worthy of the support you’ve shown me.
Onward to 2023, to better days, and to a return to form for the GNP! I promise, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet… 😉
“What could I ever hope to inspire beyond hatred, death, and destruction? How could something – no longer a someone – as loathsome as I ever dare to want anything more? And yet, I did…”
Ho ho hi there, GNP readers! Merry Christmas to you!
I think we can all agree that it’s been way, way too long since the last update. This year has been full of personal struggle for me, and I’ll have more to say about how it’s affected the project in a future update.
However, for now, I want to keep things positive. It’s Christmas, after all! And to celebrate, I think it’s high time for some new content…
Back in November, I teased that a brand-new short story was coming (and even previewed it audiobook-style for my Patrons), but this story goes back even farther than that. I began writing it a year ago, and was making good progress, until a series of life upheavals and struggles forced me to shelve it. Unfortunately, much of the GNP had to take a back seat as I navigated some incredibly testing times.
But now, and just in time for Christmas, the story is finally done, and I hope it will be worth the wait for all of you.
It’s a story you’re likely all familiar with, but told through the perspective of the one who lived it. It’s the tale of a cyborg who dreamt of being human, and of a human girl – trapped and manipulated by forces beyond her control – who dreamed of being loved.
Thank you all for being such wonderful readers, and for sticking by me during one of the hardest years of my life. I hope this holiday season brings you all the love, joy, and peace you deserve.
Yes, I really did this in my work calendar. I was a bit excited.
Happy August, GNP readers!
Well, it took me long enough, but I’m finally carrying on a GNP tradition: the G-Fest Post Mortem write up! Three weeks might’ve passed since the con wrapped up its four days of festivities, but the memories of a weekend well spent are still rattling around in my brain, and I think they’re more than worthy of sharing.
Simply put, this year’s G-Fest was truly incredible, both as an attendee and a participant.
For those who might be unaware, G-Fest – the largest gathering of Godzilla fans in the world – has been held annually since 1993. Unfortunately (but understandably), the con – like so many other things – had to be put on the back burner during the tumultuous years of 2020 and 2021. For fans like myself, it was a particularly big blow in a duo of years already filled with sadness, isolation, and fear. G-Fest has always been my place to recharge and re-center among like-minded people (and blow money on expensive toys, of course). I knew that canceling the con was necessary, but I missed it terribly.
The three-year wait for the return of G-Fest was a tense “will it or won’t it?” waiting game. But fortunately, by the time 2022 rolled around, the world had gotten a bit safer. More and more cons began responsibly returning after multi-year hiatuses, and G-Fest XXVII was officially locked in for its usual mid-July slot.
And despite the craziness of the economy and the tightness of my finances, I knew I wasn’t gonna miss it.
In so many ways, this year felt like a new start for the con. A kind of “soft reboot” full of both familiar and new elements. It was the first G-Fest in three years, and the first to be held at their new digs in the Hyatt Regency. A lot of the “old guard” of organizers didn’t attend, and things like the Artist Alley and the Kaiju Konfessions wrap-up party didn’t make it to this year’s event.
But in most ways, it was business as usual. There were panels, art and model rooms, and celebrity guests. The beloved in-house channel (despite being glitchy the whole weekend) made its return, as did movie screenings at the Pickwick and the always amazing costume parade.
However, the pervading conceit behind this year’s con wasn’t the movies, the panels, the parade or whatever the heck happens at those crazy after-hours parties (which I’ve never attended). It was the anticipation. It was the built-up excitement and hope to finally return to a bubble of like-minds and a common interest. It was a desperate need for us to reconnect with each other.
This year’s G-Fest (more so than any other G-Fest I’ve attended) was all about the people.
And thereby hangeth a tale to tell.
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On July 14th, I braved the insane gas prices of mid-2022 and hit the road for a solo five-hour drive to Chicago. I arrived just in time to meet up with a group of friends for the first of the Pickwick’s Double-Double Bill screenings of the day, which included Godzilla vs. Hedorah and Godzilla vs. Megalon (both staring one of the con’s special guests, Hiroyuki Kawase). My group included Robert Monsarrat (my “brother in kaiju” and collaborator on “Project: Kayama”), Daikaiju Danielle Fey and her mom Allison (two of my favorite people on the planet and extended family to me), Nate Marchand (the purveyor of The Monster Island Film Vault and about 47 other podcasts), and Elijah Thomas (podcaster, researcher, non-sleeper, good friend, and one of many awesome people I’ve gotten to know over the last three years, but had never met in person).
Oh, how I missed thee.
After the movies, I checked into my hotel room (which wasn’t the room I’d reserved, but I did get a balcony out of the deal!). The Hyatt Regency was an experience all on its own; the place was opulent as all get out, and featured massive ceilings, long walkways, cylindrical glass elevators that ascended on pillars, and probably 14 restaurants. It felt like walking into a sci-fi movie; I spent the entire weekend comparing it to the underground Krell civilization from the 1956 classic Forbidden Planet, and I still stand by the accuracy of that comparison.
After settling into my room, I experienced a major high point of Thursday: getting to walk into the dealers room early and meet a few awesome friends that I’d been dying to see. First up was finally getting to meet the amazing Alyssa Charpentier (author, musician, poet, YouTuber, and all-around creative powerhouse) in person for the first time. She was there to sell her debut novel “Daughter Darkness” and an assortment of other written works (all of which she’d sold by Saturday!) Getting to talk, laugh, and even sing with her in person was a highlight of the whole con.
Next was meeting up with my bud Chris Oglio at Seismic Toys. Chris remains one of the kindest people I’ve ever encountered within this fandom, and he was generous enough to let me reserve a toy a whole day before the room officially opened. How cool is that?
Before I knew it, Friday had dawned and it was time to prepare for another big part of the weekend: hosting panels! As I mentioned in my previous update (and multiple times on social media), I ended up on EIGHT panels at this year’s G-Fest, and the first two – anniversary celebrations for Godzilla vs. Hedorah and Godzilla vs. Gigan – were actually two of the first panels held at the con. I thoroughly enjoyed being on both, and multiple people stopped me after each panel (and at various other points during the weekend) to tell me how much they’d enjoyed what I had to say. Talk about humbling!
The rest of my Friday was spent blowing wads of cash in the dealers room, attending panels (including the opening ceremonies, which reduced me to tears during the “in memoriam” video), and talking with people. So, so many people. I got to finally meet up with the wonderful Kaiju Kim and the super-talented Neil Riebe, chat with a lot of the dealers, and have conversations with random people who I was standing next to in lines or who sought me out to ask questions.
On Saturday, I joined the Terror of Mechagodzilla retrospective panel and the Kaiju Writers panel, both of which went great! It was during this time that I finally put on my GNP tee shirt to wear around the con, and this was when the truly incredible part of the weekend began.
After putting the shirt on, I started getting stopped by people. Every five minutes or so for the next few hours, someone would walk up, tell me they were a big fan of what I did, and thank me. It was… well, to be honest, I’m not quite sure how to adequately describe how it made me feel. It was amazing. Beyond amazing, in fact. And it just kept happening, over and over again.
One fan shook my hand for a solid 30 seconds as he explained how he was so excited to meet me, and how he listened to every podcast I’d been on. Another stopped me to ask questions about upcoming projects and told me how much he enjoyed and respected my work. Yet another pulled me aside after a panel, told me it was “an honor” to meet me, and asked for a picture with me.
Needless to say, it left me speechless, humbled, and emotional. I still lack the words to describe how much it all meant to me.
At a certain point during the weekend, I lost count of all the people who shared their kindness. The sheer number of fans who wanted to chat, asked me questions, and clapped for me when I introduced myself on my panels was beyond anything I could’ve expected.
If you’re among them, please know how deeply appreciated you are.
The rest of Saturday passed in a blur of dealers room visits, amazing panels (with Matt Burkett and Norman England’s “Behind the Kaiju Curtain” panel being a huge highlight), amazing conversations, cheap cheeseburgers, and amazing costumes. One of the best moments of the weekend came when I finally got to meet the one and only Monster Island Buddies (YouTuber extraordinaire and one of the most painfully funny guys in the fandom) and – get this – he saw my GNP shirt, recognized me, and gave me a hug! I certainly wasn’t expecting that!
Sunday is always a melancholy day at G-Fest; while the con wasn’t over yet, a feeling of impending closure hung over the whole day like a cloud. But I didn’t have time to be sad, mostly because four of my eight panels were spread out over that last wonderful day. The King Kong vs. Godzilla 60th Anniversary panel (viewable on YouTube at the link) was great fun (I even brought my copy of the dinosaur picture book Dr. Johnson uses in the American version to set on the table), and the Akira Takarada fan tribute panel was an emotional but healing hour of personal stories, remembrance, and celebration.
Between trips to the dealers room, I connected with even more fans and friends: Matt Burkett of Monstrosities, Jay Key from TokuToyTown, my pals Benny and Max (who accompanied me on G-Tour in 2016), Greg Noneman, Brenden Morley, Kevin Horn, Avery Guerra, Matt Walsh… just so many amazing people.
Sunday was also the day I finally got to reconnect with the fine fellows at Aardvark Tees, and to finally meet people like Ron Bonk (the mastermind behind SRS Cinema) and kaiju toy maker Fumiaki Kawakami (the creator of the Y-MSF toy line). It was also autograph day, and getting to see Tomoko Ai again, meet Kawase-san, and speak with Akira Takarada’s son and daughter-in-law was beyond special.
My last two panels – a script doctor session with Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah and the Kaiju Podcasters and YouTubers panel – went amazing, and my final adventure for the weekend was to join Kaiju Kim for a fun and emotional post-convention livestream. By this time, I’d long since checked out of my room and beginning my inevitable five-hour drive home was becoming more and more necessary. I simply didn’t want to leave, and by the time I’d finally said my goodbyes and given my final hugs, it was nearly 9:00 PM.
I rolled into my little corner of Ohio at 2:00 AM, and five hours later, I was getting ready for work. After three years of anticipation and four days of soul-affirming camaraderie, it was back to the grind.
But (and this is gonna sound cheesy, so bear with me) my heart was so full, that I couldn’t be too sad.
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At the end of the day, being back at G-Fest after so many years was beyond cathartic. The genuine love and support I got from friends and readers was tremendous and emotional, and the many kind words I got from fans of the GNP, my academic writing, and my podcast appearences were, to put it mildly, remarkably humbling.
Like I said before, this G-Fest was all about the people. And if you were one of those people – whether you were a friend, a supporter, or both – I want you to know that you enriched my weekend experience and warmed my heart in equal measure. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you all.
And I don’t know about you guys, but I’m already planning for next year. G-Fest might’ve just ended, but the next one can’t come soon enough.
Thank you all for reading, and for being the best fans a writer could ask for. More GNP content is coming your way soon, so stay tuned, and remember: live every day like it’s G-Fest!
It’s true: the real G-Fest WAS the friends I made, the cool people I met, and the like minds I bonded with along the way.
Happy July, GNP readers! Welcome to Upd-eighty-nine! (Don’t look at me like that. It was the last time I could use that joke.)
Anyway, corny gags aside, it’s time to talk conventions. Specifically, one very special convention that I’ve been missing desperately for the last three years…
That’s right: July is finally upon us, and I’m thrilled to announce that the GODZILLA NOVELIZATION PROJECT will be descending on G-Fest XXVII in a big way. Not only will I be at the con all four days to meet readers and promote the project, but I’ll also be participating in not one… not two… but EIGHT panels!
Yep, you read that right. I can’t believe it either!
Between Friday, July 14th and Sunday, July 17th, I’ll be running around like crazy to nerd out on a kaiju-sized collection of panels (including anniversary panels for Godzilla vs. Hedorah, Godzilla vs. Gigan, and King Kong vs. Godzilla, discussions about Terror of Mechagodzilla and the legacy of Akira Takarada, the kaiju writers panel, a kaiju podcasting panel, and a special deep-dive into the time-travel of Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah)!
It’ll be a busy weekend, for sure, but I couldn’t be more thrilled to be going, seeing old friends, and making new ones. It’s because of the support I get from readers like you that I’m able to participate in events like this, and I’m so grateful to you all.
Check out the descriptions below (copied from the G-Fest website) for details, dates, and locations for all eight panels:
Godzilla vs. Hedorah: A Belated 50th Birthday
(12:00 PM, Grand Ballroom B/C) – Godzilla vs. Hedorah is unquestionably one of the most unusual Godzilla films. Almost universally panned when it first came out, the film has enjoyed a reappraisal and renewed interest in recent years. It’s a year late, but we’re here to celebrate Hedorah’s 50th birthday! Come join us! (Alyssa Charpentier, Nick Crispino, Danny DiManna, Darin Read, Dennis Roth, Brian Scherschel)
Godzilla vs. Gigan 50th Anniversary
(1:00 PM, Grand Ballroom B/C) – In 1972, Godzilla vs. Gigan was released as part of the Toho Champion Festival. To keep the kids in their seats, the filmmakers filled the screen with classic monsters (Godzilla, King Ghidorah, Anguirus), a new creation (Gigan), manga, and lots of on-screen action. An accomplished group of panelists discusses this bizarre yet enjoyable entry in the G-series. (Kevin Horn, Daniel DiManna, Brian Scherschel, Danny Tokarz)
End of an Era: Terror of Mechagodzilla
(10:00 AM, Grand Ballroom A) – In 1975, the release of Terror of Mechagodzilla marked the end of the Showa Era of G-films. It features Godzilla, Mechagodzilla, Titanosaurus, and a romance between a man and a cyborg, played by Tomoko Ai. This panel discussion sets the stage for Ms. Ai’s interview! (Nick Crispino, Daniel DiManna, Billy DuBose, Nathan Marchand, Dennis Roth)
Kaiju Writers Unite!
(2:00 PM, Grand Ballroom A) – G-FEST isn’t complete without a little love and help for the monster-loving wordsmiths. Author/Podcaster Nathan Marchand (host of The Monster Island Film Vault, author of Destroyer) presides over a panel of kaiju writers, consisting of Daniel DiManna (creator/author of the Godzilla Novelization Project), Alyssa Charpentier (AlyssaGojiGeek on YouTube, author of Daughter Darkness), Ryan Collins (The Omni Viewer on YouTube, author of Operation: Red Dragon), and Christopher Nigro (founder and editor-in-chief of Wild Hunt Press). They are ready, willing, and able to answer all your questions about the craft and business of writing. Come curious and inquisitive!
King Kong vs. Godzilla 60th Anniversary
(10:00 AM, Grand Ballroom B/C) – King Kong vs. Godzilla was a special entry in the Godzilla franchise. It revived the series after a seven year hiatus. It holds the record for the highest attendance of any film in the series. And for many fans, through movie houses, drive-ins, and TV screens, it was the film that launched their obsession with the kaiju film genre. The panelists will discuss the history and impact of this classic film. (Danny DiManna, Kevin Horn, Nathan Marchand, Dennis Roth)
A Fan Tribute to Akira Takarada
(11:00 AM, Grand Ballroom B/C) – Akira Takarada had a special relationship with G-FEST, attending multiple times over the years to interact with his fans. This panel of fans will pay tribute to Takarada-san and discuss their interactions with him over the years. (Daniel DiManna, Billy DuBose, Bob Eggleton, Nathan Marchand)
Untying Godzilla’s Gordian Knot: Can Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah Be Fixed?
(2:00 PM, Grand Ballroom A) – Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah is one of the most popular entries in the Heisei Godzilla series, but it also has one of the most confusing and convoluted scripts of the franchise. Why did the Futurians stop in 1992 to pick up the main cast? How did everyone remember Godzilla when he was supposedly erased from history? Why did Emi decide to turn on her comrades? Such are just a few of the questions fans have asked. Writer/Podcaster Nathan Marchand (The Monster Island Film Vault, Henshin Men, The Power Trip) and Author Daniel DiManna (Godzilla Novelization Project) try to answer in this “script doctor” session. (Nathan Marchand, Daniel DiManna)
Talkustasu: Kaiju and Tokusatsu YouTubers/Podcasters Roundtable
(4:00 PM, Grand Ballroom B/C) – The kaiju and tokusatsu YouTube and podcasting communities have exploded over the last few years, with shows ranging from collectibles to academic film appreciation to audio dramas. Several of the creators come together to discuss the art and craft of content creation (it’s more than talking into a mic, people!) and take questions from fans and listeners in the audience. (Michael Callari, Jake DeNunzio, Daniel DiManna, Kaiju Kim, Nathan Marchand, Elijah Thomas)
Whew, now that’s what I call a busy weekend!
If you’re going to G-Fest this year, be sure to pop by one (or all) of these panels, or stop me when you see me! I’m excited to chat with readers face to face, and you might even get a shiny new business card out of the interaction! All kidding aside, I can’t wait to see those of you who are making the trek to Chicago. (And for those of you who aren’t attending, no worries! I might do a post-G-Fest livestream when I get home, so we can chat then!)
Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for more G-Fest (and other GNP) updates coming soon!
Man on man, it feels great to be posting an update about a new chapter again! It’s been too long, and I’ve missed it terribly.
A week ago, I posted a “joke” chapter for the GNP’s adaptation of the original Godzilla. Maybe it was inspiration from reading through that first chapter of the book again, maybe guilt over tricking people into thinking there was a new chapter to read, or possibly a combination of both… but whatever the reason, it wasn’t too long after posting the prank chapter that I decided it was high time to give this particular book a real new chapter…
To that end, I’m happy to announce that as of right now, the third chapter of the GNP’s ongoing adaptation of 1954’s Godzilla has been published for the world to read! It’s been a long time since I’ve returned to this most significant of films for the project, but for various reasons, I felt like it was finally time to get back into writing Chapter 3. And I’m so glad I did. I know people have been asking for this book to continue for a while now, and it felt great to finally finish the next installment.
(Oh, and if you thought I’d forget that this is ”Updeighty-Eight” posted on the 8th, then you’d be mistaken! C’mon, I only have one more update where I can use that joke, and I have to squeeze it in where I can…)
The Godzilla Novelization Project 