Another impressive mecha musume model kit emerges from China’s growing hobby industry: Kaitian Jichuang presents Black Swan Alicia, a sleek black mecha musume exuding strong main-heroine vibes. Scheduled for a Q2 2026 release, this kit will sold for for 238 RMB.
It has been almost a year and a half since Lostbelt 7: Nahui Mictlan was released, and I have finally cleared it. It took me about the same level of procrastination as I had with finishing LB6. Surprisingly, I was able to complete this singularity over a weekend, despite being at a low point in my frustration with FGO’s absurd gacha systems. Nevertheless, I am genuinely impressed by what LB7 had to offer. I initially assumed LB6 would remain the peak of the Lostbelt arc in terms of Nasu’s writing, despite its flaws and structural baggage. However, LB7 ultimately feels like the stronger of the two, delivering comparable writing quality in a leaner and more efficient narrative structure.
After many manufacturers have taken a shot at this legendary series, Tamashii Nations has finally joined the world of Fist of the North Star. As expected, the first release is none other than the invincible successor of Hokuto Shinken himself, Kenshiro, arriving as an SHF action figure. Scheduled for release in November 2026, SHF Kenshiro will retail for 9,500 yen.
SHF Kenshiro comes with accessories similar to previous Kenshiro figures. Since he is primarily a martial artist character, the essentials are expressive faceplates and multiple hand variants. However, this version seems to lean more heavily into fierce and aggressive facial expressions, helping it stand apart from earlier releases. For collectors who missed previous Kenshiro figures, this SHF release looks like an excellent alternative. While it may not necessarily become the definitive rendition of Kenshiro, the SHF line remains a dependable middle-ground option in terms of quality, articulation, and affordability.
Given the enduring popularity of Fist of the North Star, it would not be surprising to see other iconic characters especially Raoh receive their own SHF releases in the future.
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Another action figure from my JoyToy 40k collection makes its way to the review table, and this time it’s the Assault Intercessor Sergeant, squad leader of a Space Marine unit. I might not have made it obvious before, but Salamanders are actually one of my favorite Space Marine chapters. Their reputation for being among the most humane of the Imperium’s superhuman warriors really stands out. In the grimdark darkness of the far future, having even a shred of decency and compassion toward humanity is a rare and underappreciated trait.
The Salamanders Assault Intercessor comes with relatively basic accessories, featuring a Thunder Hammer and a mini-flamer as its main armament. For a Space Marine sergeant especially an assault variant, I would have expected additional survivability options, such as a storm shield, which feels like a missed opportunity by JoyToy. That said, Salamanders are one of those chapters I’m always willing to invest a bit more in for my collection, so it would have been nice to see a “tankier” weapon loadout included
Into the fire, Unto the anvil!
The ultimate Arm-Slave from Full Metal Panic! returns through a collaboration between Chinese model kit maker Orange Cat and Wave. This time, they are delivering a luxurious 1/35 scale Laevatein model kit that blends the engineering of a Perfect Grade kit with the premium feel of a Metal Build die-cast figure. Scheduled for release in Q3 2026, the Orange Cat 1/35 Laevatein will be sold for 458 RMB.
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Final Fight finally gets some long-overdue love from the premium action figure market, and leading the charge is none other than Metro City’s strongest mayor himself. Mike Haggar joins the lineup from Storm Collectibles, bringing his classic arcade presence into roughly 1/12 scale form. Scheduled for Q4 2026, this figure is priced at around 75 USD.
Haggar is one of the core playable characters in the Final Fight series, appearing throughout its main entries as the towering former pro wrestler turned mayor of Metro City. When the Mad Gear Gang kidnaps his daughter Jessica, he takes the law into his own hands, beating the criminal organization down personally. In gameplay terms, Haggar is the archetypal power character: slow, heavy, and brutally effective, built around grapples, throws, and pure physical dominance. Even if you usually gravitate toward faster characters like Guy or Cody, Haggar remains one of the most satisfying picks simply because nothing beats piling-driving gang members across the screen.
As expected from Storm Collectibles, this Mike Haggar figure delivers strong sculpt work and articulation, staying faithful to his arcade-era design. The package also includes a solid range of accessories that go beyond standard figure releases, including props that let you recreate key in-game moments such as the time bomb game-over scenario.
Overall, this is shaping up to be one of the strongest pieces of Final Fight merchandise to date. If Storm Collectibles continues this line properly, a follow-up with Cody seems almost inevitable, and a Guy release preferably based on his Alpha 3 design at some point and would complete the core trio in a very satisfying way.
After Yasha-O Gai, Yolopark returns once again to the Shurato series, this time bringing the Hachibushu Karura-O Reiga into its AMK Pro lineup. With this release, Yolopark moves one step closer to completing a full lineup from Tenku Senki Shurato. The AMK Pro Karura-O Reiga is scheduled for a Q3 2026 release and will retail at approximately 65 USD.
In the Shurato series, Reiga is one of the more flamboyant members of the Hachibushu, a group of devoted warriors empowered by Shakti to protect Lady Vishnu and Tenkūkai. Despite his playful and lighthearted demeanor, Reiga is still a fully capable warrior who fights with seriousness when the situation demands it. He wields the Shakti known as Karura-O, derived from the mythological Garuda, the divine mount of Lord Vishnu in Hindu mythology. Compared to other Hachibushu members, Karura-O Reiga stands out for his wider range of techniques, particularly through his twin-ring chakram weapons.
As with previous releases, I expect Yolopark to deliver strong quality with Karura-O Reiga, continuing the solid work seen in earlier Shurato figures. I’m also looking forward to Ten-O Hyuga, my personal favorite among the Hachibushu, even though he appears to be the last releases for Shurato protagonist lineup.
The last classic Ys title I completed before resuming my journey into the series' modern iterations. Ys V: Lost Kefin is often regarded as the black sheep of Falcom's flagship franchise, and for good reason. Even in the PS2 remake, many of its flaws remain apparent in 2026. Poor execution and conflicting design ideas prevent Lost Kefin from fully living up to the standards associated with the Ys name.
Yet despite these shortcomings, I do not believe Ys V deserves to be dismissed outright. Those willing to look beyond its rough exterior will discover that the essence of Ys remains unmistakably present beneath its imperfections. While Lost Kefin falls short in execution, its underlying themes, worldbuilding, and narrative foundations reveal a game that still belongs within the greater legacy of the series. This blog post aims to explore that side of Ys V and show why it remains worthy of attention despite its reputation.
Genshin Impact fans have waited a long time for this moment, but one of the game’s most popular Archons has finally received the premium scale figure treatment she deserves. Raiden Shogun arrives in full glory with a brand-new 1/7 scale figure from APEX-TOYS, featuring her iconic “Plane of Euthymia” pose as she draws the legendary Musou Isshin blade from her chest.
Personally, Raiden Shogun was one of the biggest reasons I started playing Genshin Impact in the first place, so seeing her receive such a high-quality figure release is genuinely exciting. Scheduled for January 2027, the APEX-TOYS 1/7 Raiden Shogun – Plane of Euthymia Ver. will be sold for 1499 RMB.
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After sitting in storage for a few years, I finally got to open one of my rarer collectibles: Bandai’s Proplica for the iconic weapon from Psycho-Pass—the Dominator. While it isn’t originally an extremely expensive item, it has become quite rare these days, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that my unit still works perfectly despite years of relative neglect.
Bandai’s Proplica line focuses on detailed replicas of anime props, often including electronic features for added interactivity. It sits between their DX and CSM-style collectible lines in terms of complexity and presentation. The Proplica Dominator in particular feels closer to a high-end “CSM-like” prop replica in spirit, given its focus on functionality and voice integration.
t has been several years since Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon was released, and surprisingly, Bandai continues to show strong support for this underrated flagship franchise from FromSoftware. Following a series of model kit releases, AC6 is now getting its own candy toy line under the Assemble Collection series. Scheduled for release in September 2026, Armored Core 6 Assemble Collection Vol. 1 will retail for 1,500 yen each, with four figures per box.
Overall, the lineup feels quite similar to the FW Gundam Converge series, albeit with extra twist to justify its retail price which is roughly three times more. What makes this particular AC6 lineup stand out is its modularity, mirroring the customization mechanics from the game itself and allowing for extensive mix-and-match possibilities between parts.
The first volume features four notable ACs: Loader 4, Nightfall, Steel Haze, and Milk Tooth, a strong starting roster for the series. Given the sheer number of memorable designs in the game, there is plenty of room for future waves especially popular AC6 design like Ayre haven't made it yet. Even Super Robot Wars Original Generation candy toy lines managed to last for three volumes.
Since I have never played Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon myself, this is an easy pass for me. Still, I would not mind seeing a similar candy toy lineup based on the franchise’s 3rd- or 4th-generation titles someday.
A low-fantasy manga I started a few years ago and only recently managed to finish, Alexis Empire Chronicle ultimately turned out to be a relatively weak entry in the genre, unfortunately one that was also cut short before it could fully develop, in a manner similar to Hinowa ga Crush!.
The story follows a fairly standard premise: a young noble rises through the ranks of an empire through virtue, skill, and determination. As the narrative progresses, he begins to carve out his own domain, ultimately seeking to reclaim the lands once held by his mentor and establish a dominion of his own.
Much of the manga revolves around low-fantasy political and military conflicts between noble houses within the empire. This culminates in a confrontation with the protagonist’s estranged half-sibling, who becomes corrupted by jealousy and unchecked ambition.
Unfortunately, the series was ultimately discontinued, and its narrative shortcomings likely contributed to that outcome. The story feels underdeveloped and somewhat conflicted in its genre direction, resulting in a half-baked execution that weakens its identity as a fantasy work. While the artwork remains consistently strong and is arguably the series’ main highlight, it is ultimately not enough to compensate for the lack of narrative depth.
The character writing is especially lacking. Most of the cast is forgettable, and the heroine’s design feels overly reliant on generic fanservice tropes commonly seen in other fantasy manga. The antagonists are similarly one-dimensional, which is a significant weakness for a story that attempts to build itself around political and noble conflicts.
Overall, Alexis Empire Chronicle feels like a simplified version of series such as Suikoden or Fire Emblem, but without the narrative depth or character complexity that makes those works memorable. Even compared to stronger entries in the genre, such as Realist Hero.
Ultimately, the series demonstrates that high-quality illustration alone is not enough to sustain a compelling long-running fantasy narrative. While it is based on a light novel that continued slightly longer than the manga adaptation, it is difficult to imagine the source material delivering a significantly more satisfying conclusion.
