Monster Hunter SHM Mizutsune

 When it appears that Bandai had stopped working with Monster Hunter for their SHM lineup, they made another entry and this one is for Bubble Fox Mizutsune from Monster Hunter Generations! SHM Mizutsune is scheduled for February 2023 release with price tag of 13500 Yen, a significant increase from the previous entries probably due to weakening yen combined with the product size.

For the effect parts, SHM Mizutsune is more well equipped compared to SHM Mizutsune as it comes with its bubblefoam and waterjet part effect. In MHGens is one of the Elite 4 Wyverns representing water element possessing unusual agility due to the bubblefoams excreted from its body parts. This Fox wyvern prefers to trap its opponent with Bubblefoam first before delivering powerful blows with its tails. I suppose Bandai picked Mizutsune due to its close Japanese Aesthetics and a safer choice for Bandai to resume the lineup before continuing with the heavy duty characters like Deviljho or Rajang. Out of the Elite 4 wyverns, Glavenus had one of the best chance to be next compared to Astalos or Gammoth.

Nano Machine

 Another interesting Wuxia Manhwa though this one got several hiccups and also happened to be drawn by Redice studio. Nanomachine is another of those regenerator Manhwa where the weak protagonist become overpowered after certain fateful encounter. This time the main character is an illegitimate child of Demonic Cult leader who suffered constant assassination attempts until one day he was cornered and on the verge of death in which a mysterious figure claiming as his future descendants saved him and injected Nanomachines which grants him powerful ability. From this point on the protagonist will enter the demonic cult academy and rise through the ranks while settle for his revenge against his half siblings at the same time.

 As a Wuxia genre works, Nano Machine is a decent read though there is one thing that is handled rather poorly which is the main protagonist relation with his half siblings. While it is apparent from the onset that the relationship were hostile the showdowns were rather brutal without proper buildup as 6 of the Protagonist's half siblings ended up Dead, crippled or their arms torn off even in the school setting. Other than that Nano Machine is another enjoyable read if you like Volcanic Age despite this one had more brutal scenes compared to the latter.
 

Tomb Raider King

  Out of the Popular ongoing Manhwa i read recently, this gotta be the worst one so far. Tomb Raider King is a Tensei Manhwa where the protagonist is a Treasure Hunter given a second chance in life going back to the past after his party getting TPK in a Treasure Dungeon due to betrayal. In this second chance he will make sure to settle score with those people while gathering all treasures for himself. 

 In this Manhwa setting there are Sentient Treasure Objects called "Relic" which grant its owner abilities sometimes powerful one and the Main Protagonist was sent to the past with his memory intact by a very powerful relic. To cut it short the reason why Tomb Raider King is a bad manhwa for me, apart from bad writings is that the main protagonist is really unlikable. Seo Jooheon is pretty much a Massive asshole Mary-sue protagonist to the point of extremities. His morality standard is very low too the point that Naofumi from Tate Yuusha looks like a saint and the atrocities he commit makes him no better than the Villains that he want to settle revenge with. It feels like the author of Tomb Raider King have massive hate boner toward his former boss or something and poured out his sadistic tendency to vent out his frustration toward society. If it is a real life Seo Jooheon would have died a dog's death early on for the transgressions he commited and his villainy have crossed the acceptable limit for Anti Hero.

Tomb Raider King might be an enjoyable read if you are still a teen, but once you passed your emo phase this manhwa is quite bad. Let's see if there are worse Manhwa protagonist compared to Seo Jooheon because Tomb Raider King make it quite a low bar.

Dai no Daibouken Figma Sp-152 Flazzard

 With the Toei's huge backing for Dai no Daibouken in past few years that ensures the Anime reboot in 2020, it paves the way of merchandise of this Great classic JRPG to see some resurgence once again. Dai no Daibouken have been getting some good release in the Figma Department which Dai got really special treatment with the 500th release and Popp following up. But for Dai no Daiboken's s 3rd Figma, Freeing come up with something different and go for the Villain instead starting with one of the most memorable Hadlar's 6 General, Flazzard. Figma Flazzard will be sold for a whopping 15000 Yen with July 2023 release schedule. It must be the Sculpt material that made this Figma cost twice as much.

  With distinct design of Half Ice and Fire Body, Flazzard is how an evil midboss should look like. Irredeemably evil, Flazzard is completely loyal to Vearn's cause and will inflict destruction and misery toward Humanity without any remorse. At this rate if Flazzard could make it as Figma, I think Hadlar or Baran had a good chance too since they would make good opponent for Dai though I personally still wait for Hyunckel's Figma

Doom Breaker

 Another really good Fantasy manhwa i encountered recently and this one is basically Tsuyokute on Steroids! Doom Breaker is a story of Hero who was given a second chance and got transported into the past after surviving many ordeals from the cataclysms that fell upon his world only to be utterly defeated in a battle with Demon Lord . Gifted with the knowledge of his previous life and some blessing by the god, the Protagonist named Zephyr who looks like Genos expy tried do things right this time, gathering necessary power while saving people to matter to him in order to confront the Demon Lord properly once again.

 Just like Solo Levelling, Doom Breaker is packed with really good action sequence and for once i really respect these Manhwa illustrators to be able to put up a quality works on weekly basis in full color no less! Doom Breaker is definitely had really good potential and could last for 200+ chapters easily with its current material. While i don't know how the series will end up, the first 45 Chapters is pure awesome and unlike Solo Levelling, the Sidekicks are very competent on their own actually. I hope the Doom Breaker illustrator could keep watch his health in check because Popularity awaits this Manhwa in near future.
 

Solo Levelling

 A popular Korean manhwa during its serialization that gains even more fame with the recent passing of the illustrator and this one lives up to the reputation despite some glaring shortcomings. Solo Levelling begins with the typical Isekai trope where the weak protagonist suddenly gains overwhelming strength after being left for dead by his teammates. Think of the manhwa as something in between Arifureta and The Gamer, but Solo Levelling have none of the harem BS that the japanese counterpart usually have in the genre as extra baggage.

 Solo levelling starts like a typical Isekai but the story ends up like Diablo series, this is what separates this manhwa among its peers and secure the Manhwa's popularity. Solo levelling's strength lies in its superb action sequences and some interesting concepts that it tried to showcase through its 179 chapters but ultimately never fully manifest. The protagonist is basically a chosen candidate of Lucifer expy who was involved in an endless war between Chaos and Order represented by Monarchs and Rulers. Using the power inherited by its predecessor, the protagonist ultimately try to save his world ravaged by the endless war of the two otherworldly factions.

The most glaring flaw of Solo Levelling is that the human characters aside from the main protagonist are rendered irrelevant by the 100th chapter as Sung Jinwoo is overpowered complete with his own army. But i don't think this is the main reason why Solo Levelling stops its serialization way too early because it could have gone for 200-300 Chapters especially the Monarch War and Time Travel arc is way too short. To be honest Solo levelling concept is quite universal and the upcoming anime adaptation could have just use full Japanese setting and the story would work out quite fine. I hope that  anime adaptation could be better than the previous Korean Manhwa adaptation which didn't do enough justice for the original work.

Shovel Knight Nendoroid 1929 Shovel Knight

 

 From one of the widely acclaimed Indie Metroidvania, GSC at last managed to release Nendoroid Shovel Knight! Nendoroid Shovel Knight is scheduled for February 2023 release schedule with 8000 Yen which is slightly pricy maybe due to higher licensing cost demanded from Yacht Club publisher.

 Shovel Knight is a big deal in Indie scene because it is a homage to a classic retro platformer in particular Megaman and Duck Tales and it is one of the few that succeed to surpass the classic titles. As the titular Hero, Shovel Knight went against hordes of Witch's minions and her 8 Knights in order to save his companion and lover, Shield Knight. Shovel Knight incorporated plenty of mechanics from the classic Old school games which make the fans of genre felt right at home including hellish platformer at some segments of the game. But the greatest strength of this Indie gem is the soundtrack list which will make you feel nostalgic if you was a kid in 16-bit era. If you haven't play Shovel Knight, do yourself a favor and play this gem of Indie game, the best value would be the Treasure Trove version as you get to play some of the 8 Knights which had their own powerup.

Personally i wish Hollow Knight will follow up since its odds are quite good with Shovel Knight making appearance but i think Shovel Knight's Rival Black Knight had a good shot too even some of the 8 Knights like Specter Knight