Yuusha Shirei Dagwon Metamorforce Fire Dagwon

  Finally a proper Collectors Toy for Fire Dagwon but alas it is made by Sentinel so it is guaranteed to be pricey. Just like the King J-Der, Amakuni will be the one handling the distribution of the product for some reason. Scheduled for December 2023 release, Metamorforce Fire Dagwon will be sold for 42000 Yen, quite a commitment for the fans of this Yuusha series.

 For a Collectible of this price, Metamorforce obviously come with the perfect transformation gimmick though I feel its legs are rather too chunky probably because it doesn't use parts swap. Fire Dagwon held a special place in my heart because it is one of the Robot toys I remembered to possess when I was a kid vividly and which is why I am willing to compromise over the price tag. Apparently Sentinel will commit for Power Dagwon and Gunkid for the rest entry of this series but I will only be interested to get Fire Dagwon considering I think Dagwon's final form is one of the worst from Yuusha series.

John Wick Chapter 4

 It has been a while since I watched any movie and Keanu Reeves deliver yet again in John Wick 4th movie. I got into this series when I watched 2nd Movie and this series set itself apart with its amazing fight choreography. I haven't watched 3rd movie but John Wick make himself clear why he is called boogeyman in the world of assassins in the 2nd movie. I thought the body count couldn't be any higher but John Wick Chapter 4 will give the fans an entertainment befitting the legacy of John Wick series. Given how the ending of the movie goes, Keanu Reeves have relative freedom to continue the series or held his head high and wrap up John Wick series with a bang with the 4th Movie. Also Donnie Yen performance is surprisingly really good since i thought he really shine better in a kungfu movie.

 To put it simply, John Wick is definitely a man of Focus, Commitment and Sheer Will. If he is an RPG character, his Dexterity and Constitution stats would be off the charts. His inhuman endurance is what impresses me the most considering he still can keep going despite taking so much punishment that could kill easily 10 men already and able to keep going with his sheer willpower. While i can't say much about the storyline since I am out of loop with the series, you won't be disappointed if you go watch this movie for the action.
 

SRW OG Riobot G Compatible Kaiser

 Early 2023 has been a very good year for SRW OG fans or maybe a curse for the wallet since Hobby manufacturers in the industry are starting to make Toy Collectible for the series. After Yaldabaoth and Valefor, Sentinel released yet another Super Robot and G Compatible Kaiser is the lucky one. Sold as separate unit of Compatible Kaiser and G Thunder will be sold for 42000 and 10000 Yen respectively with subsequent release schedule of February and April 2024. So expect to fork out money almost as much as Riobot SRX with the combined price tag of 52000 Yen!

G Compatible Kaiser at this form makes its appearance in SRW OG Gaiden though you get to play a bit in OGs part 2 as Compatible Kaiser. Just like SRX, Sentinel's rendition of SRW's Sol Gravion will have partial diecast parts included. This super robot is a big deal in the realm of mecha design because it is the culmination of Masami Obari's craft in mecha industry and perfected version of Sol Gravion. And Obari chose this design to contribute to SRW series along with Shurouga for SRW Z. To be honest I am very tempted to get this version of G Compatible Kaiser since it would be a perfect representation for Gravion and at the same time my regret not getting the Kotobukiya model kit which only cost 8000 Yen back then. In any case I really look forward to new version of Wildwurger and Granveil someday

Legend of Galactic Heroes Die Neue These : Sakubou

  Took me couple of years to return back to Die Neue These, but i am very glad that I get to finish marathoning up to the latest cour of the legendary space opera remake in anticipation for the peak moment of LoGH due in next production season. Die Neue These: Sakubou is the 4th Cour of the LoGH remake which comparitively lack in the combat department when compared to previous seasons but in the political scenes, the balls are rolling for the epic showdown of Operation Ragnarok and the last episode really conclude the season with very high note. By the 3rd season, Studio IG really show attempts to try live up to the OVA legacy with expanding on certain scene down further in order which can be hit or miss. However the effort is evident enough to prove Studio IG Production team respect toward this legendary Space Opera despite DNT kinda lag 4 episodes behind the original OVA at this point. 

As someone who have watched the OVA several times before. Trust me you will not want to miss the 5th season because it will cover one of the highest peak moment of the series. I just hope the 5th season will cover the FPA preparation side properly because the Galactic Empire occupies most of the limelight of DNT 4th season.

Kenka Ramen

 Another good cooking manga from the Author of Shoku King, These two mangas are the definitive works of the genre by the Mangaka for sure. While Shoku King caters the readers with Japanese culinary world, Kenka Ramen is strictly Japanese Ramen only for the entirety of its 17 Volumes. The main protagonist of this series is a delinquent teenage boy turned into a passionate Ramen Chef who will undertook Journey from his hometown to Hakata in order to create his perfect ramen encountering varieties of Delicious Ramen.

For cooking manga, Kenka Ramen is as shonen as it gets and I will look forward to putthe knowledge imparted from this manga into good use when I travel to Japan someday. Interestingly some characters from this manga will make a cameo appearance in Goku Shoku King which is a nice touch for both readers for instance one of the Rival that the protagonist face will serve as main adversary for Kitakata later on. The mangaka for these series himself has passed on for quite some time but his work definitely worth to read.
 

Riki Oh

 

 80s era was graced with Hokuto no Ken which is an ultraviolent battle manga which paves the way for many mangaka to follow suit and Riki Oh is one that sits on the extreme end of the ultra-violence. When I was a kid, I watched a HK Movie with the same name and the impressions that lingered were the over the top violence and extreme gorefest for the medium. Turns out the original source material does not stray far from it. 

The main protagonist in this series is basically Kenshiro Clone fighting in pre-apocalypse modern era who lives a live of a vagrant and kept getting entangled with outlaws from underworld. Riki-Oh is basically Saitama's Uncle whose gore filter turned off and his strikes capable of dismembering or blowing off his opponents with ease. To put it simply, Riki-Oh tried to make itself a name by surpassing Hokuto no Ken in the gorefest department which it succeeds at considering the manga last for 12 Volumes. To be honest apart from the over the top Gorefest, Riki-oh doesn't have much to offer with barely coherent manga, Bleak atmosphere to the point of tryhard and lastly unmemorable characters, considering none of the villain are charismatic enough for readers to cheer on. In any case the mangaka of this series later will make a name for himself with Tough fighting manga.

SHF Devilman DC 50th Anniversary edition

 A rather unusual release by Bandai but SHF Devilman got released again as a part of 50th anniversary. I am not sure if this one is any different with the 2017 version but the Yen inflation is very apparent. Scheduled for July 2023 release, SHF Devilman will be sold for 11000 Yen.

 Apparently this version of Devilman have compatible parts for SOC Mazinger DC considering this version is from Devilman vs Mazinger Movie. To be honest this would be an instanty buy if Bandai released Amon Devilman Saga version which looks like a power armor version of Devilman. The series was rather difficult to get into for me at first, but Devilman is definitely an acquired taste which Go Nagai sensei shared his spiritual worldview through this work. After watching Devilman Crybaby, i went further buy reading Devilman Lady and Saga which is a must read if you wish to see the continuity of the series after the depressing end of first Devilman. I hope that the translation for Devilman Saga will be worked on consistent pace because it is supposed to be the penultimate conclusion of this Go Nagai's classic series.

Arknights Monster Hunter Collab event

 Since the Capcom collaboration announcement with Arknights last year, the Monster Hunter collaboration content have been revealed just now and the hype is real! Initially some people have been expecting Resident Evil or Devil May Cry collab but Monster Hunter the one that ended up chosen by Hypergryph. The MH Collab will be available in Arknights CN on March 7th and we will expect the collab will be available on Global around Late August-September. 

For this collab event Rhodes Island Operator Yato and Noir Corne will make appearance as 6* Specialist and 5* Guard Operator respectively complete with signature Kirin and Rathalos Monster Hunter Armor. After being stuck as 2* operator for so long it is time for these veteran Rhodes Island operator to show their worth. I Suppose the event will feature MH monsters as the enemies with some of the Wyverns will serve as Boss enemy which I look forward how Hypergryph will handle it.

This collab is boon for both series as MH is not as big anymore and Arknights could use very good collab to one up the competition while games like FGO and Genshin left falling behind with their recent blunders. Speaking of Arknights, I have been playing this game for 3 Years already and the gacha experience is very stable even if the gratification is not the best. For my part i will support this rare collab by buying monthly pass until the collab arrives at global server considering this years banner is very competitive with many Alter and meta Operator Banners lying around for next 6 months. Lastly I do hope the MH collab will not stop at this event because there are many more Monster Armors that deserve to make an appearance

February 2023 Loot

  I think this month is one of my most active period over past few years, and to close it off here is my haul for February 2023. Another big catch since my long due 52Toys and Goodsmile preorder finally arrived. Fistly got myself some Rozen Maiden Pop Up Parade as my way to get back in touch with this series and also some Genshin Acrylics which are quite cheap for the character rarity. Obviously the biggest catch of this loot is The Gattai Guren Lagann which is definitely the right choice for me over CCS Toys option. I am not really into FGO anymore since I am already very fed up with the game but i will still support the series a little bit even though i think Typemoon deserve to be bankrupt for making FGO so stagnant. Lastly I am happy that my Nendoroid Skadi finally arrive and I don't think even think that Slyhe soyboy is willing to buy this one.

Ragna Crimson

 

 An interesting fantasy manga that I read recently which have some potential yet glaring flaw at the same time. Ragna Crimson is a story of a Dragon Slayer who started as untalented individual who becomes suddenly powerful after his future self transfer his special power in order to prevent the same tragedy from happening again. In this setting the Dragons are actively destroying humanity but possess peculiar weakness against sunlight and Ice magic weapon. At the first glance, Ragna Crimson remind me of Ubel Blatt but in terms of presentation style it is inspired after the popular Chainsawman series.

 As an action manga, Ragna Crimson is quite good one but it appears lacking in proper direction after a good start evidently by mixing Sci-fi and High Fantasy genre. The manga tone also lacking in consistency by quickly shifting between grimdark and at times downright silly yet somehow didn't utilize the momentum to the fullest like Chainsawman did with the body counts. Ragna Crimson did have some good main characters especially the Silverware princess which hopefully have her ship sailing with the main protagonist. 

 So far Ragna Crimson manga ended in somewhat high note with the first arc, but the mangaka need to have a proper vision for the series or else it will just end up as wasted potential and remembered as discount Chainsawman. Perhaps the upcoming anime adaptation could bring the hype up for this series.

Bofuri

 I am not sure why Japanese have unhealthy obsession toward Fantasy series that have overpowered main protagonist, is it the life in their society make this kind of Garbage so appealing as coping mechanism or something else. Anyway this series called Bofuri is another of those hot garbage aggresively promoted by Kadokawa and my curiosity got the better out of me since this series happened to get tons of prize figures during my time in Hobby Toys industry. Bofuri is a Fantasy MMORPG themed anime where the Casual gamer high school girl protagonist heroine got ridiculously overpowered by maxing her defensive stats to the point of beating top players of her game with relatively minimum effort.

Ever since I got into anime more than a decade ago, I have always enjoyed a good high fantasy anime and Bofuri is the extreme polar opposite of this ideal. Bofuri essentially lack proper immersion and worldbuilding and the essence of the series is stripped to the core to cater for masses. This series is effectively a moeshit anime dressed in Fantasy series for maximum isekai appeal. As expected by Kadokawa, Bofuri got really pretty makeover treatment but it is fundamentally bad to have any staying power for long term even if the anime got second season. There is no enjoyment from a Fantasy where a clueless main protagonist get to be a munchkin without any effort and have OP stuff handed on a platter for her. Maybe I will give Log Horizon a try to wash this bad aftertaste

Jinrouki Winvurga

 One of the most R18 Mecha yet underrated manga that I have read so far but it is still a good read since the mangaka did something right. Jinrouki Winvurga is a mecha series that looks something from the union of Vandread and Cross Ange with slight influence of Zoids and Godannar then poured tons of X-Rated stuff mainly sex-related. Winvurga is a seinen manga for a good reason because it is flooded with tons of H-fanservice mainly Raep and Ryona related stuff which I won't disclose much in this post. The story is typical JRPG story where the protagonist rise against evil empire with their special power, For Winvurga the female heroine got Zoid Wolf mecha that can transform into humanoid form, but that doesn't prevent her to be stripped naked and humiliated from time to time.

Personally I find Winvurga would have fared just fine without the R-18 stuff but to be honest the artwork quality of this manga was cut above its peers because the mangaka, Shirou Tsunashima is the artist behind Baldr Sky and Jinki series thus have rare talent of drawing mecha and sexy girls. But be warned this manga does not hold back in its R18 stuff which have tons of female humiliation. In any case Jinrouki Winvurga is a proper mecha manga despite the R-18 baggage and I hope the manga could have some proper conclusion instead of hiatus. At some point probably I will visit Jinki:Extend and Baldr Sky to see the extent of Shirou Tsunashima works. By the way in Winvurga, there is one of the female supporting characters named Gloria Louise that bears close resemblance with Lancer Artoria.

Legend of Galactic Heroes - Die Neue These Interlude

 It has been 4 years since the last time I watched IG Production's take on Legend of Galactic Heroes dubbed Die Neue These or "The New Thesis". To be honest DNT had rather underwhelming beginning for the series fans who watched the OVA and doomed not to be able to surpass the former. However it is very commendable for IG Production to be undaunted by their shortcomings and keep continuing their effort and commitement for this Legendary series, in fact they have made it to the 4th season is a feat that is very praiseworthy in the present anime industry. In this Blog post I will discuss some of the reasons why Die Neue These doesn't seem appear to be capable of reaching the level of the OVA's Legacy 

Rozen Maiden Nendoroid 1788 Hina Ichigo

 The ball is started to get rolling for Rozen Maiden! Being forgotten for quite a long time, Hina Ichigo finally get her Nendoroid. Scheduled for August 2023 release, Nendoroid Hina Ichigo will be sold for 6800 yen.

Among her Rozen Maiden siblings, Hina Ichigo behaves the most childish and playful one. Being the second Rozen Maiden to make appearance in the anime, she unfortunately jobbing way too early being the first Rozen Maiden to be defeated in Alice game in Jun's era thus stuck into minor role throughout the series. It appeared to me that Peach Pit at the time had no idea what kind of ideal role to assign for Hina Ichigo thus she end up being sacrificial lamb for the series. With Kirakishou being announced for future Nendoroid release, Kanaria is the only one left to join Nendoroid series. But as always i will still wait for Nendoroid Dolls instead.

SRW OG Flame Toys [Kuro Karakuri] Alteisen

  A Surprise Toy for SRW OG but this one is too expensive... . A few days ago there are some teasers about Flame Toys making Alteisen Diecast Toy which soon revealed in Winter Wonderfest last weekend along with Weissritter Prototype. This version of Alteisen will be released in September 2023 with whopping 43780 Yen Price tag. For the price of 8 Pcs of Kotobukiya 1/100 Alteisen, you will get a 1/100 Diecast Alteisen that comes with Shishiou Blade and Autocannon Bandolier as accessories.

 The first time I knew Flame Toys is from its product for Transformers Drift which caught my attention with its very cool and heroic design. I don't know if hefty Price Tag is due to licensing cut but my thought of double dipping this version of Alteisen is instantly gone when I see it cost over 40k Yen. In the end i will stick with my Kotobukiya 1/100 Alteisen as I don't think the product will give much higher satisfaction compared to the former. I would imagine Flame Toys Weissritter will cost the same but I might still get one if it is able to be sold below 30k Yen. In the end due to the expensive price tag, I will skip this good looking version of Alteisen and wait for CCS Cybuster which hopefully more affordable.