WORLD'S GREATEST MONSTERS RODAN Instruction Manual (Mattel, 1979)

It's easy to refer to the incredible Mattel Rodan as being in the Shogun Warriors line, but it technically wasn't! Instead, Mattel gave it the category of "WORLD'S GREATEST MONSTERS," of which it is the sole member in the line.  Anyhow, he is at the very least an honorary part of Shogun Warriors, because we all know he is meant to be counterpart to their mighty Godzilla toy.

And here is ANOTHER missing rarity that we can now fill in.  The instructions for the Mattel Rodan toy are mega-rare. They came as a small trifold, measuring the unusual dimensions of  5 & 7/8 by 7 & 1/2 inches.  

Even though the folded panels of the pages are the same size, the individual sections of the instructions do not exactly correspond to this, which is why some of these scans are slightly smaller or even larger, as you will see:

(Steps 1-3) You will need lots of #27-sized rubber bands.  For starters, Rodan's claws are rubber-band powered.  This is both a blessing and a curse, because kids never understand that storing a toy with rubber bands leads to dry rot, which ultimate leads to goopy rubber bands bonding to the toy's plastic, and (depending on several factors) causing quite a mess! At least he doesn't have batteries.

(Step 4) How to remove the back plate (carefully, oh so carefully please).  Mattel included holes which gave the owner the ability to swoosh him around, or even hang him from the ceiling!

(Steps 5-8) This page shows you that Rodan's wings are also rubber-band-assisted, and how to hook them up.  It probably goes without saying, but the wings are the most fragile part of this toy, and they are very often found cracked. Entropy is hard on this toy.

(Steps 9-10) More wing assembly! Aren't we done yet?

(Steps 11-12) Replace the back panel, and take to the sky (avoid volcanoes)!  

I'm not sure about the "cry" part; there is sort of a ratchety friction thing that makes a noise when you open and close the mouth, but I wouldn't call it a "cry" exactly...I will have to look at mine again, but I'm sure this feature could wear out over time anyway.  I mean, points for trying, Mattel!

So there you have it--one of the rarest Godzilla-related paperwork items that's out there.  Prepare for these scans to inevitably show up in other places, or even be sold on Ebay as reproductions (not by me though)...I am just trying to make information available that otherwise wouldn't be out there, because that's what we do here! Enjoy!