There’s no doubt that New York City can count on John Bellotti and the Kaiju Brooklyn team to fill the gap in kaiju themed events for the city that never sleeps. First with their debut convention in 2023 and followed by Kaiju Brooklyn 2 this past June, Kaiju Brooklyn has since expanded with smaller events – an Ultraman event during New York Comic Con, and now a celebration for Godzilla’s 70th birthday. Like the aforementioned, this birthday bash was hosted at Industry City in Brooklyn drawing in hundreds of fans with a vendor mini-market, cosplay guests, a screening of the original Gojira, a birthday cake, and a special announcement for future Kaiju Brooklyn conventions.
The event was held at The Gameroom arcade in Building 6 of Industry City, with the main draw being the screening of Gojira at 8pm. Before the movie, attendees could browse the vendors section with a wide selection from Kaiju Brooklyn vendor regulars including Seismic Toys, Muteki Sales, and Agintoys.
A Kaiju Brooklyn event wouldn’t be complete without a lineup of artists, and this one was no exception. In attendance was comic book art legend Jeff Zornow, who was a major contributor on the beloved Godzilla: Rulers of Earth comic series as well as various other IDW Publishing Godzilla titles. Seated right next to Jeff was fellow IDW alumni Ulises Farinas who fans know as the co-writer and cover artist of such titles as Godzilla: Rage Across Time and Godzilla in Hell.
DopePope was there selling prints of his amazing 3D art featuring Godzilla and his foes from both Toho and the MonsterVerse. The Big G has gone through many changes since 1954 and Gino Patti honored them with sketches and stickers showcasing the evolution of Godzilla’s looks over the decades.
Aside from selling prints, Nick Shev had Godzilla & Minilla Father’s Day cards for sale and stickers including a Hedorah one that glows in the dark. As a dog lover, my favorite items were probably the Dogzilla tote bags that Boogs & Boop had for sale which can also be purchased on their website alongside their massive selection of dog toys and accessories.
And last but certainly not least, John Bellotti himself was set up with his signature Godzilla prints and shirts.
There were artists, there were vendors, and there were also cosplayers. Most notably was Hailey Newton-Smith (aka @Mewlingtea) wearing her iconic Evolved Godzilla cosplay, with everyone swarming around to get a picture.
Fans could also meet and take pictures with actor and guest of honor, Keone Young, who (among many other acting credits) voiced Dr. Onda in Ultraman: Rising and Director Yamamoto in the English dub of Godzilla: Singular Point.
Then it was time for the screening of Gojira – which was introduced by Keone Young and New York filmmaker and Shin Godzilla PA, Yoko Higuchi. Both individuals talked about how the original Godzilla helped influence their film careers and its significance on cinema.
After the movie concluded, John took the mic and announced the dates for Kaiju Brooklyn’s 2025 convention, with promises to be bigger and better than the previous ones. The third and highly anticipated convention will be extended to two days and feature a larger space, more vendors and the opportunity for attendees to submit panel ideas that they will be able to host. Kaiju Brooklyn 2025 will be held from May 31st – June 1st, more info can be found on Kaiju Brooklyn’s website. Finally, the night ended with not one, but two birthday cakes and everyone singing happy birthday to Godzilla.
John Bellotti and company have done it once again with another successful sold out event. Like the ones that came before it, KB’s Godzilla Birthday Celebration captured the heart and spirit of the kaiju fandom, offering yet another unforgettable experience which was evident by attendees staying well after the movie ended to take pictures at the photo station, talk kaiju, and make more purchases from the
vendors. It’s clear that Kaiju Brooklyn and Industry City have become a mecca for New York-based kaiju fans and a significant part of the city’s pop culture scene.
