Matthew Cruz's Godzilla Costume

On the days that I returned home to visit family, I’d dedicate a few days to working on the suit. And eventually, a year and a half later, the suit finally saw completion. And of course, once the date of the convention rolled around, the suit came stomping towards it in full glory.

I definitely learned a lot when making the suit. Some ideas for the suit definitely worked, while others didn’t. I cannot say this enough, but contact adhesive is an absolute godsend when making & repairing a suit of the magnitude. And the suit did in fact see some wear and tear, as some joints of the body (especially the arms) can only be stretched so much. Wearing the suit has also given me a deeper respect for the  actual suit actors. It gets terribly hot inside the suit, to the point where, if you got close enough, you could feel the warmth radiating from my body. It also does a number on my neck & shoulders, which remain in pain for a few days after wearing the suit for several hours.

In the end, its all worth it. To finally be able to wear the suit of my dreams, and be able to share that happiness with others who want pictures and to interact with Godzilla is worth every second and every pound I spent on the costume. I most definitely intend to continue wearing this suit to events, improve the suit, and perhaps even start a new one! But above all, I also really hope I inspire others to pursue their dream of making their own Godzilla suit, just as others have inspired me.