Q: What’s eight inches tall, looks like Godzilla along with an Alien were mashed up inside a blender and smells like a toxic waste dump?
A: XENOZILLA! That’s what. Well, at least that’s what I’m calling this thing. It’s either receiving that moniker or it’s getting labeled “Mr. Smelly”. Actually, yeah. Mr. Smelly is good too. I’ll use that.

Firstly, this bootleg hybrid item hails from Mexico. That’s almost enough of an explanation right there as many bootleg items coming from Mexico can be outlandish in the extreme – and this personality rich item certainly delivers in this regard. The Mexican reputation is strongly evident in this piece. It’s a great item and it’s important to note any shortcomings present on this er …toy… also add to its merits. The only real issue I have with Mr. Smelly is simple: I’m just not sure you would want your child to handle it.

Unashamedly blending features of both Godzilla and a Xenomorph, this toy displays characteristics of both. It is imbued with the general morphology of the classic Kaiju beast but adorned with a quasi biomechanical integument of a Xenomorph. Essentially making this thing Godzilla wearing an Alien suit. It’s a pretty neat sculpt, too actually. The eyeless face down to the barbed tail delivers a consistency throughout easily supporting the notion this is a “Godzilla Alien”.

How an Alien is supposed to adopt the characteristics of the oversized reptile is a matter of unresolvable debate. Maybe Godzilla was host to one of Kenner’s over-sized Queen facehuggers? It’s anyone’s guess. Just roll with the absolutely ludicrous synthesis of both creatures and enjoy the lurid splendor of this curiosity.

Cast in a soft vinyl like material, this toy comprises multiple body segments of the head, upper torso half, lower torso half and tail all joined together. While none of these areas have any articulation per se, the toy does boast five points of articulation on its limbs. Super7, eat your heart out! Movement is present at the hips and shoulders allowing the legs and arms basic rotation. A fifth and final point of movement is present on the hinged jaw. Open the mandible and inside can be found the Alien’s signature toothed tongue. It’s not particularly well detailed but it’s there despite being serviceable only at the most rudimentary.Oddly enough, the tongue itself – along with the interior of the mouth – is completely raw and devoid of coatings, revealing the white, translucent material this figure is made from. The entirety of Mr. Smelly is cast in such plastic and painted sparingly over the entire body in black and brushed over with silver highlights.

This is just one of several color patterns available I’ve seen for this item. I’ve also seen a more brushed bronze finish, another finished in blue and orange – an absolutely ghastly contrasting color scheme albeit extremely appropriate for this toy – and no doubt there are other finishes. Who knows how many color variations exist? For all I know each one could be unique or they’re simply painted in small batches, with each batch painted differently.

The only truly remarkable downside to this extraordinary item is the odor it exudes. It has a malodorous quality akin to a back lane way access to some seedy garage that always smells of old oil and unidentified toxic chemicals. I’m not sure if the odor emanates from the paint that coats it or from the base plastic from which it is made. It reeks to the point that I would be very wary of allowing a child to handle this item. God knows what it’s actually made from.

To further explain why this is a concern, my understanding of these bootleg/knock off toys is they DO NOT conform to any production or safety standards. Indeed, I’ve handled other items from Mexico that also have this smell and no doubt they share the same origin of manufacture. There’s no packaging, manufacturer’s details stamped on the toy or any way to identify who made this thing. From my experience with similar items, the odor will eventually disipate and diminish but it will never truly be gone. The fact Mr. Smelly is made of translucent material with light coatings of paint brings us to the final feature he has to offer. Inside the base of the head is a set of red, green and blue LEDs. These lights can be switched on by firmly squeezing the figure’s neck on either side thereby activating one of three cycling light patterns with three successive pressings: very fast, medium and slow. A fourth press will switch it off.

Typically this feature also exists on some other bootleg ALIEN toys from Mexico I own and this figure also shares this magnificent light show. It lends a completely independent life all of its own in the darkness and truly is the detail that totally makes this item worth having. Especially if you’re into weird Alien (or Godzilla) stuff. Or maybe you might simply want to replace that star on the top of your Christmas tree this year with something truly attention grabbing and head scratching, then the Mexican bootleg Godzilla Alien is a perfect choice.

Along with this unconventional Godzilla Alien, there’s also a matching – and equally unconventional – Predakong figure available. That is, a garish bootleg version of King Kong that mashes up the famous giant ape with a Predator head; basically, a simian body adorned with tribal accoutrements along with wristblades and topped with a “pussy-face” countenance. Oh, I really am tempted to acquire one of those just so I can display these things together and stage my very own XENOZILLA vs PREDAKONG! diorama. Brilliant! …and then of course there’s the inevitable sequel, BIO-MECHAGODZILLA vs Son of PREDAKONG!

Lordy. What kind of weird alternate dimension have I fallen into?

Score: 8/10 (or maybe 2/10 – depending on your inclination towards this kind of thing.)

Appalling and appealing. A travesty and a treasure. Outlandish and ostentatious. Awful and wonderful. Creative and strangely bereft of any logic or rationale. Surreal or simply just stupid. Take your pick from this list or accept the fact opposing descriptions are appropriate here. If Godzilla is considered to be truly the “King of Monsters”; then this item is definitely the King of Xenomorphs you need in your life. I think. Sort of. Maybe. Well, I’m not exactly sure but I’ll roll with that notion.

Nonetheless, I bet the acid atomic breath of this beast is super spicy.

-Windebieste.