Illustrated Encyclopedia of Godzilla

G2KMaster · #1 February 4th, 2009, 07:48 PM

I just got this legendary book which is EXCRUCIATINGLY HARD to get for free by a friend of mine, Packmule. Anyone else have this book. IT IS THE BEST BOOK SINCE "A CRITICAL HISTORY AND FILMOGRAPHY OF TOHO'S GODZILLA SERIES"!!!!!

Morgoth · #2 February 4th, 2009, 08:16 PM

I do and it kicks some serious arse.

G2KMaster · #3 February 4th, 2009, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Morgoth

I do and it kicks some serious arse.

Could not agree with you more. Especialy pages 77-258... Ed really out did himself. Now all I need to get is Steve Ryfle's book, which has EVEN RARER photos from American stuff like a photo from the Radio City premire of Godzilla vs. The Thing and other rare Japanese photos.

I just can't belive how rare TIEOG is though...

Morgoth · #4 February 4th, 2009, 09:35 PM

That is because it was offered for sale only to G-Fan subscribers.

G2KMaster · #5 February 4th, 2009, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Morgoth

That is because it was offered for sale only to G-Fan subscribers.

Is that right? I have never even owned a G-FAN. Wow...

Anything else which adds to the rarity of this text?

Morgoth · #6 February 4th, 2009, 11:32 PM

No, that's about it. The book was never licensed for 'public' distribution - Toho allowed it only on the understanding it would not be solicited to bookstores, amazon, etc. Direct sales only.

G2KMaster · #7 February 4th, 2009, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Morgoth

No, that's about it. The book was never licensed for 'public' distribution - Toho allowed it only on the understanding it would not be solicited to bookstores, amazon, etc. Direct sales only.

No wonder why it is so friggin hard to find...

kpa · #8 February 5th, 2009, 12:46 AM

Toho didn't allow the book at all, and they went after it as soon as it was published. Ed and/or JD was required to hand over the remaining copies and promise not to do another unauthorized book. It had a small print run in the first place, and then having many of the books pulled from circulation made it that much harder to come by.

Toho didn't hold a grudge since they later approved Ed to work on the BFI's GODZILLA DVD, the Classic Media DVDs, and the documentary BRINGING GODZILLA DOWN TO SIZE.

Morgoth · #9 February 5th, 2009, 01:46 AM

I knew they had cracked down on the Marero book but was unaware they did the same to this one.

kpa · #10 February 5th, 2009, 05:48 AM

Toho's very touchy about unauthorized publications, particularly those that use their copyrighted photos and art. Steve Ryfle's book was also unauthorized, but Toho didn't stop it's release because Steve didn't use any Toho photos and "Godzilla" was not named in the book's title.

Even in authorized products like the Eiji Tsuburaya book or the Classic Media DVDs, Toho is very particular about what can and can't be used. G-Fan is considered a fanzine, but even there I've heard (but can't say for sure) that Toho has limited the number of copyrighted images that can be used per issue.

G2KMaster · #11 February 5th, 2009, 03:47 PM

Why didn't Ed G. get the rights in the first place or try to find a company with enough money to buy the rights?

kpa · #12 February 5th, 2009, 06:19 PM

I think Ed explains that in the book's intro. A publisher had contacted him about doing a Godzilla book, so Ed started working while the publisher tried to get the rights. The deal fell through but Ed had already done so much work that JD offered to publish it.

Toho also tends to work with companies for licensing rather than individuals or fans. JD reportedly was turned down when he tried to get the license to do Godzilla comics, so I doubt Ed could have gotten a book deal on his own.

G2KMaster · #13 February 5th, 2009, 07:43 PM

Then what was the deal with the reportedly inaccureate book: The Official Godzilla Compendium?

kpa · #14 February 6th, 2009, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G2KMaster

Then what was the deal with the reportedly inaccureate book: The Official Godzilla Compendium?

That was done by Random House, who is a major publisher. They had the license from Toho to do Godzilla books so they published the Compendium and the Godzilla paperback novels.

G2KMaster · #15 February 6th, 2009, 08:33 PM

What made it do easy to find a publisher for the OGC when they didn't do the same with TIEOG...

kpa · #16 February 6th, 2009, 11:04 PM

I think you're looking at it backwards. Like I said, Toho prefers business dealings with companies rather than individuals or fan groups. They've licensed Godzilla movies and product rights to companies for decades... Sony, Marvel, Nike, AIP, Bandai, Clasic Media, Dr Pepper, Rialto, Trendmasters, UPA, Dark Horse, and so on. Random House falls into that category... they are a major publishing company who bought a license from Toho to produce Godzilla books. Once Random House paid for the rights they were allowed to hire writers and make those books.

No one had to find a publisher for the Compendium because Random House commissioned it. Since it was licensed product from the start, Toho had already given their permission and also had approval of what photos, artwork, and text went into the book.

That's a completely different situation than with the Illustrated Encyclopedia. JD Lees offered to publish Ed's book after a deal with another publisher fell through, but JD is not a major publisher like Random House or a corporation like Sony... he's a Canadian high school teacher who makes his own fanzine and did not have a license from Toho to create and sell Godzilla books. Therefore Toho went after the book because it used photos and images that JD did not have a legal right to publish.

G2KMaster · #17 February 6th, 2009, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kpa

Random House commissioned it.

So, Random House commisions books and you can't ask them to publish a book?

As far as I see it, JD could have taken it to Random House.

kpa · #18 February 7th, 2009, 03:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G2KMaster

So, Random House commisions books and you can't ask them to publish a book?

Sure, any author can offer a book to Random House (or any publisher)-- doesn't mean they'll buy it-- but I was answering your last question, which was "What made it do easy to find a publisher for the OGC". And the answer to that question is they didn't have to find a publisher from the Compendium because the publisher commissioned the book in the first place.

Quote:

As far as I see it, JD could have taken it to Random House

All the writing, research, image selection, and page layout for the Illustrated Encyclopedia was done by Ed. JD only offered to publish it after it was done... and if he hadn't done that, JD wasn't in a position to offer it to Random House or anyone else because it's not his book.

Even if JD or Ed could/did approach Random House, the book was written in 1994 and published in 1995 before RH had the Godzilla license so they probably would have passed. Without the license, any publisher would run into Toho's control over the character, photos, etc.

And even if Ed had found a publisher, there would be many other issues. Remember, Steve Ryfle did find a publisher for his book, and Japan's Favorite Mon-Star was available for purchase from amazon and in book stores. Steve was able to write what he wanted but he couldn't use Godzilla's name in the title or any Toho photos.

The Illustrated Encyclopedia is so popular because it presents a lot of previously unheard info, rare photos and art, and critical analysis of the films. The reason for this was the Ed was passing along material he thought other fans would enjoy, without worrying about what Toho or anyone else might approve.

On the other hand, the Compendium is not that highly thought of because it had mostly basic info, photos that were commonly available elsewhere, and no in-depth reporting or critical analysis... it's basically an okay fluff book for beginners (the Arthur Adams artwork is the highlight of the book). And that was because everything had to be approved by Random House (who probably wanted a book kids could easily read) and Toho (who have strict controls over what photos and images they'll allow). Since Random House commissioned the Compendium, hired the writers, packaged it, and sold it to retailers, that should give a clear idea of what kind of Godzilla book they wanted to make... and it was clearly not an authoritive book on the subjective like Ed's or Steve Ryfle's.

From working on licensed comics, cartoons, and DVDs of Toho (and other companies) characters, I've seen first-hand that things that seem obvious or simple are actually much more complicated than expected. I know you like to post about all the extra features that should be on DVDs and things like that, but you have no idea of all the legalities and approvals a company has to go through for that to happen.

In America, when even the biggest actors do a film they agree that the studio can use their image and likeness for advertising, publicity, commercials, trailers, DVDs, etc. That's all part of the contracts.

It's different in Japan... management firms for performers control how their clients are used so a studio may only be allowed very specific usage of photos, video etc. They may be able to have trailers but no online usage, or print but not DVD, and so on. I think it's a goofy way to do things but that's how they do it.

Ed has literally thousands of stills and behind the scenes photos from Toho that 99% of fandom have never seen. He offered all of them to Classic Media, but Toho would only approve certian ones. For the others, Toho said they would only consider it if CM would pay for each image used, track down everyone in the photos (or their agents or heirs), get written permission to use their likenesses, and pay each of them if they asked.

Now imagine doing that for every photo, video clip, piece of advertising art, etc you'd like to use. Think of how much time and money that would cost, and now think if any kaiju DVD will sell enough to make it worthwhile for companies to do. In a perfect worold it would be great; in reality a company would go bankrupt doing that.

G2KMaster · #19 February 7th, 2009, 10:32 AM

Now I see.

I also see more of why buying bootlegs may be benefitial, even though I hate it...

But man, after what you said, I wish I could meet Ed G. and atleast photograph his collection, and make copies of some of his material...

Has anyone tried to change this system in Japan? It would be interesting to see how that would go...