1960s

The fearsome three-headed King Ghidorah towers over iconic rival Godzilla on this scarce and surprisingly charming B2 poster for the original release of the popular Japanese kaiju classic Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster.

Inspired by a successful 1952 re-release of 1933’s US monster breakthrough King Kong, the ongoing fallout from the atomic attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the anti-nuclear sentiment following the 1954 Lucky Dragon 5 fishing boat incident, Tokyo’s Toho Studios released Ishiro Honda’s Godzilla in late 1954 – the giant radioactive creature emerging from the depths of the ocean and rampaging through Tokyo serving as a harrowing metaphor for Japan’s post-war atomic anxiety and the destruction unleashed by man upon himself. Commonly regarded as the first kaiju (monster) film, the smash success of Godzilla would spawn a 32 film franchise, with the first fourteen sequels of the Showa era (1954-1975) introducing new adversaries for the iconic lizard such as Mothra (a giant moth), Rodan (a giant Pteranodon), King Kong and arch-nemesis King Ghidorah (a three headed dragon beast). Long before the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Toho were craftily interconnecting stories with standalone kaiju features, crossovers, team-ups and full-on monster mashes, with each kaiju either fighting with or against Godzilla.

The fifth film in Toho Studios’ Godzilla franchise, Ishiro Honda’s 1964 Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster, marked the debut appearance of Godzilla’s greatest foe, King Ghidorah, a rampaging three-headed dragon from outer space who would go on to fight Godzilla more than any other kaiju in the series. The film was a turning point in Godzilla’s transformation from fearsome villain to radioactive superhero, with the King of the Monsters joining forces with two of Toho’s most popular kaiju, Mothra and Rodan, to battle the three-headed alien beast threatening mankind.

Slant Magazine has stated that the film embodies much of what the popular monster films have come to be known for over the years: reptilian wrestling matches on a citywide scale, human drama paralleling the monster threat, rubbery creature effects, and the gleeful destruction of many a miniature architectural set piece.

Condition

Excellent (A-)

Not backed. Undulation to paper from being lightly and softly tri-folded with a stack of other posters at one time. A few minor nicks and creases to corners and edges. Image and colours excellent.