G-Fan

[g2kmaster]

One of the more successful fanzines in general out there, G-Fan, "is a quarterly fanzine (fan magazine) devoted to coverage of Godzilla and other Japanese monsters. Issues range in size from 68 to 116 pages, and typically contain movie reviews and retrospectives, new and collectible product information, news of conventions, coverage of exhibitions and events in both Japan and North America, interviews with personalities involved in the production of kaiju eiga (Japanese monster movies), fan art, fan fiction and more. G-FAN has reached issue #92 since publishing began in 1993, making it one of the most successful fanzines in the history of the world!" That's off of the official site. Upon checking this morning, here are the stats of the newest issue - issue 92:

http://www.g-fan.com/images/indexissues/gfan92.jpg

Contents
The Informational Sessions of G-FEST 17
Beta Capsule Review – Mega Monster Battle
Interview with actor, Dennis Falt
Remembering Ultraman: The Ultimate Hero
Why the Americanization of Godzilla Movies was a Good Thing
Godzilla – The French Disconnection
Battle on Fire! – A Look Back at Giant Monsters All-Out Attack
The Monsters of Ultraman
Interview with actor, Troy Slaten
Oh Gamera! Why We Love Our Favorite Giant, Flying Turtle Monster
Dinosaurs vs. Aliens: Take One!
Book Review – Six Cult Films From the Sixties
Living the Dream… In Technicolor!
Mecha-Streisand Returned
Book Review – Killer Kaiju Monsters: Strange Beasts of Japanese Film
Kaiju: Beasts From the East
Monsterpalooza 2010 Report
Taylor’s Take
Book Review – Prehistoric Monsters

Seems good. Me personaly, I own four issues of G-FAN - issues 53, 56, 89, and 91. All of them pretty good issues, with my newest catches (53 and 59) being especialy interesting especialy when it comes to issue 53. Really liked how much 9/11 effected Godzilla both in the fandom and on different tv networks that were to show some Goji flicks but took them down to be sensitive.

So, who reads G-Fan? Who has subscribed? For those who haven't read G-FAN, feel good that you can read some of the material from the earlier issues:

http://www.historyvortex.org/KaijuFan.html

Also has stuff from G-FAN's sister publication, Ultra-Fan (called Kaiju Fan later down the line)

[Legion1979]

I read G-Fan up until about 4 years ago when I just got sick of it. There's nothing the magazine offers that I can't find online.

[leunames]

I read G-Fan up until about 4 years ago when I just got sick of it. There's nothing the magazine offers that I can't find online.

same with me...though i started subscribing at issue #8 and quit around the time i graduated high school in 2000. By that point i could find the same information online as you said. I wouldn't mind getting it in the mail again but the news-if any-is quite old by the time it hits your mailbox, esp. since they have gone from a bi-monthly to quarterly format. The whole tenure i susbcribed it was bi-monthly and even then i thought even a monthly schedule was too slow...guess I just wanted my godzilla fix that bad back in the day.

[g2kmaster]

G-Fan may have new life breathed into it. All it takes is someone learning Japanese and start translating books and writing articles/essays with information not avaliable in the english language. But I do not see that happening - ever.

[Legion1979]

What is there to translate really? All the best stuff was discovered and published in fanzines like G-Fan years ago. It isn't as simple as "just learning Japanese and translating books". Besides, G-Fan is a dinosaur. The magazine really only seems to exist to promote G-Fest now. Besides Brett interviewing people no one cares about and the Godzilla-related articles running through the same territory they've traveled before, what else is the magazine really doing?

And I'm not fond of the agendas.

[g2kmaster]

What is there to translate really? All the best stuff was discovered and published in fanzines like G-Fan years ago. It isn't as simple as "just learning Japanese and translating books". Besides, G-Fan is a dinosaur. The magazine really only seems to exist to promote G-Fest now. Besides Brett interviewing people no one cares about and the Godzilla-related articles running through the same territory they've traveled before, what else is the magazine really doing?

And I'm not fond of the agendas.

It's not as easy as that, one would also need to be able to know Japanese culture to be able to take everything into the proper context. And while they are running the same territory, I think if enough people took the time, new stuff can be uncovered, written about and such. As for G-FAN's purpose, well, I do not care about the agendas and other unfortunate things that have happened in the magazine's history.

[zilla103192]

i actually love G-fan... i love the feeling when i get the call from my local comic shop and they tell me its in... Im in a good mood for the rest of that day.

and G-fan has given me one of my favorite moments with my Girlfriend.

I was laying on the couch reading the new issue (#92) when my GF walked over and cuddled up with me and began looking at it with me. asking me "who's that?" and... "Are they good monsters or Bad monsters?". she even stopped me while i was flipping a page and asked me to tell her about mothra... she really likes her. She liked reading it so much that she asked if i could bring more issues to show her...

I will never forget that moment. Me and my GF are now in a commited relationship... i gave her a ring on her birthday.

[EleKaiju]

I like G-Fan. The last few issues have been very nice, and Gamera and Ultraman finally seem to be getting more attention in it. And yes, while they do promote G-Fest a lot, I still find a lot of the interviews and articles interesting. (Although that long GMK reprint article was unnecessary.)

[wataru]

Stopped reading shortly after GINO came out. That was 3 hardcore years of reading.

Honestly, the articles dried up and I found it more boring then entertaining. I dont care much about BACKGROUND of filmmaking, but interviews with writers and directors are fun.

Id sooner pick up a copy of Fangoria with a kaiju blurp once in a while then subscribe to G-Fan.

[JVM]

There's an article on Mecha-Streisand? The South Park nerd in me, more so than the Godzilla one, really wants to read that.

I considered subscribing but ultimately decided it isn't worth it right now.

But I think people above are beating up on G-Fan a bit too much - it's not THAT bad. A magazine does not exist solely for news purposes - it's also there for opinion articles, which is what I crave in magazines and why I'm interested. I also think G-Fan would be helped if Toho let them bring back the Fanfic/Fan Art stuff I used to hear about, especially the latter.

[Hellspawn28]

I used to get G-Fan in the mail as a kid, and I stop getting them in the mail sometime back in the late 90's, or early 2000's.

[Gorosaurus Rex]

I still read G-fan. Honestly, why would you not if your a member of the fandom. It may be slow, but really its a reasonably priced quarterly magazine that contains well written and fun articles about kaiju. I admit that I dont read it as much as I used to, but I still love getting it in the mail.

[Hellspawn28]

but I still love getting it in the mail.

Which Mall sells it since the last time I see a issue of G-Fan was back in 2004 at my local borders?

Edit: Never mind. I missread your post. I thought you said Mall for a second lol.

[August]

What is there to translate really? All the best stuff was discovered and published in fanzines like G-Fan years ago.

So, not true... American fans and authors have only scratched the surface. There was a ton of information in my book, for example, which had never been published, in any language, outside of Japan before.

There's tons of information out there, but because of the lack of Japanese speakers involved in this genre — ironically — most of these facts still remain unknown outside of Japan.

Listen to my Audio Commentaries for the first two Gamera films, for another example — there's little to none on the making of the original Gamera films published in English. All original research permeates both Commentaries on these films — check them out!

As for G-Fan being relevant... that's up to the individual.

[JVM]

^ August is right, relevance is something involving opinion, and there don't seem to be very strong opinions on either side in this case.

I don't subscribe to G-Fan because when I still held interest I was unable to find out how, and I blow my money too easily now to subscribe for myself.

[kkawachi]

I miss Skip Peel's fan fiction...since that stopped that has definitely lessened the impact of G-Fan for me. Im not aware of all the drama behind it, but for the small price I like to keep my subscription to the magazine. Wish it went back to bi-monthly...oh well maybe when JD retires.

[JVM]

I miss Skip Peel's fan fiction...since that stopped that has definitely lessened the impact of G-Fan for me. Im not aware of all the drama behind it, but for the small price I like to keep my subscription to the magazine. Wish it went back to bi-monthly...oh well maybe when JD retires.

It's simple copyright, IIRC - Toho decided if you're going to have fanfiction and fan art involving their monsters, you either have to pay them for the rights, or you can't charge for their magazine. G-Fan opted for the best option business-wise, and simply cut the section.

Personally I think cutting Fan Art was a bit much, but Fanfiction I suppose I understand.

[Hellblaze]

I have a few issues from way back. Since then I haven't gotten any new issues recently since my comic shop closed years ago where I bought all my Godzilla stuff at. I'll subscribe whenever I get the chance right now I'm saving up money for Halo Reach and Kiryu.

[gilamonster]

Anyone have any idea if there will be a special issue for 100? It should be coming out in about two years around this time of year, assuming they stick to the four issues per year format.

[EleKaiju]

2012 is in two years. LP's Godzilla is in 2012. Do the math!