The Strongest Female Teachers

 

Another amusing fantasy manga with an absurdly long title; The Strongest Female Teachers Who Are Trying to Make Me Succeed, which I’ll shorten to The Strongest Female Teachers (Saikyou Onna Shishou). The series blends a variety of familiar tropes, echoing elements of The Tale of Genji, DanMachi and History’s Strongest Disciple Kenichi into a comedic fantasy setting built around “raising” rather than “finding” strength.

The premise follows three S-rank adventurers: a fighter, a mage, and a dark priestess. All three are frustrated by their inability to find a male partner who meets their standards. Instead of continuing to search, they decide to raise one themselves. They discover a 14-year-old boy who initially appears weak, but is revealed to have exceptional latent potential. They take him in and begin training him to become the strongest adventurer.

What follows is a series of comedic and adventurous situations, where the three women act as teachers while also becoming rivals in their own subtle ways. At the same time, various outside competitors are drawn to the boy’s untapped potential, creating additional tension and romantic comedy dynamics that drive the story forward.

Saikyou Onna Shishou had a somewhat rocky start, but it improves in its later arcs. In particular, the confrontation involving the so-called “fourth thief teacher” stands out as one of the more entertaining highlights. The manga is currently ongoing on a monthly release schedule. As long as it maintains a consistent balance of fantasy and romcom, it has the potential to run for quite a while.

B-daman Treasure Pack B-Daman Lucky Bag 27

Apart from the announcement of the Toyrise Saint Blaster release, Takara Tomy had another product prepared for the B-Daman series. It is one of the Treasure Pack releases, simply called Lucky Bag 27, which re-releases classic B-Daman products as a set. This particular release caught my attention because it serves as a decent starter pack. Scheduled for December 2026 release, this B-Daman Treasure Pack will be sold for 5,000 yen.

The playset contains two B-Damans, two target dummies, and two accessories. The item that caught my attention the most is a repainted version of Fighting Phoenix included as one of the B-Daman variants. It immediately reminded me of the Fighting Phoenix that I owned in the past, which, if my memory serves me correctly, was Battle Phoenix.

While I am not particularly interested in this specific B-Daman series, it brought back memories of my impression of the B-Daman era represented by Fighting Phoenix. During that period, B-Daman evolved from a simple marble-shooting toy into something closer to an elaborate competitive sport. The small glimpse provided by this Takara Tomy Lucky Bag release is only a fraction of how over-the-top and ambitious that particular era of B-Daman became.

Bandai Namco Chinese Horse Zodiac 2026 Toy Review

 I don't deliberately collect designer toys very often, but according to Chinese astrology, 2026 is expected to be a particularly challenging year for those born under the Horse zodiac, myself included. With that in mind, I decided to embrace the once-every-twelve-years occasion and pick up a small lucky charm in the hope that it might help me get through my Tai Sui year.

That eventually led me to the large version of the 2026 Chinese Zodiac Gundam, a Horse-themed designer figure. Although it was released under the Bandai Namco label, I suspect it was actually manufactured by a Chinese company, especially since the smaller blind box versions were produced by QMSV.

Since I'm not really a designer toy collector, I don't have much of an emotional attachment to this piece beyond keeping it as a symbolic good-luck charm. Part of the reason is that its color scheme feels a little contradictory. The figure is predominantly dark brown, which doesn't quite match my expectations for the Fire Horse year, where brighter reds or warmer tones would have felt more appropriate. If I ever come across one, I might instead try my luck with the QMSV Horse Zodiac version, which I might obtain thematically more suitable variant.

Gundam 00 Mechatalk: Esoteric Interpretation of 00 Movie

 

It has been quite some time since I last wrote a Mechatalk article on the Gundam series, and it is perhaps fitting that I return with Mobile Suit Gundam 00: Awakening of the Trailblazer. Having recently revisited the movie with a broader understanding of mythology, symbolism, and philosophy than when I first watched them, I wanted to revisit the movie from a different perspective.

Upon my second viewing, I was reminded that Awakening of the Trailblazer is an unusually narrative-driven Gundam film. Nearly seventy percent of its runtime is devoted to philosophical and thematic exploration rather than mobile suit combat. Considering Bandai's commercial interests, it is remarkable that such an introspective project was ever greenlit. This led me to wonder whether the film carries a deeper symbolic message beyond its explicit theme of mutual understanding.

Therefore, I began to wonder whether there is something more unfolding beneath the surface that allowed such a narrative-heavy Gundam film to be produced. Perhaps Awakening of the Trailblazer serves as an encapsulated message that extends beyond its explicit theme of mutual understanding and peace. One possible key to navigating its deeper symbolic layer is the concept of the Aion of Aquarius, or the Aquarian Age.

B-Daman Bakugaiden Toyrise Saint Blaster

After releasing White Bros, Blue Braver, and Yellow Crasher separately, Takara Tomy decided to release Saint Blaster as a Toyrise complete set, bringing with it several new refinements. Scheduled for release in January 2027, Toyrise Saint Blaster will be sold for 30,000 yen.

One of the most notable refinements in Toyrise Saint Blaster is the inclusion of a B-Daman unit set that can shoot marbles, unlike the previous releases. However, for some reason, Takara Tomy chose to use plastic marbles instead of the original type of marble. For those who already own the Saint Blaster set, the new B-Daman unit will also be available separately for 6,000 yen.

Had I known that Toyrise Saint Blaster would eventually be released as a complete set, I probably would have chosen this version instead of giving in to FOMO and purchase the separate variants. In total, I spent around 45,000 yen for the set.

It is not exactly a major regret, though. At times, I am still amazed that I spent that much money on a new version of something I originally obtained for around 2 USD. But nostalgia is a powerful factor, especially for millennials like myself. Sometimes, collecting is not simply about the object itself, but also about reconnecting with a memory from the past.

Girls Frontline 2 VKEND 1/6 Qiongjiu figure

 

One of the Girls’ Frontline 2 T-Dolls with a standout skin has finally received a long-awaited PVC figure announcement. Qiongjiu, also known as QBZ-191, is getting a 1/6 scale figure produced by a manufacturer called Vkend. This release is especially notable because it is based on her premium skin version, “Heaven Transcending Justice.” Scheduled for release in February 2027, the Qiongjiu “Heaven Transcending Justice” 1/6 figure will be sold for 1186 RMB.

This rendition of Qiongjiu immediately caught my attention because it features my favorite skin in Girls’ Frontline 2 for my mainstay T-Doll, whom I had raised to T6. While Girls’ Frontline 2 offers no shortage of fanservice skins for players to purchase, my preference has always leaned toward more tacticool designs. Qiongjiu’s “Heaven Transcending Justice” stands out as one of the best in that category, blending a Dynasty Warriors-inspired aesthetic with imperial Chinese motifs. In-game, it was an instant purchase for me, especially as it also includes an additional wholesome dorm interaction.

If this figure had been released in 1/7 scale, I would have been very likely to pick it up. However, as a relatively new manufacturer, Vkend has opted for a 1/6 scale release, which is a somewhat unusual decision for anime scale figure. Hopefully, this rendition of Qiongjiu will be successful enough to lead to more her related merchandise releases in the future for collectors like myself to consider.

Space King: The Board Game

 

After a very successful run over the past few years, Flashgitz’s Warhammer 40K-inspired animated series, Space King, has reached another major milestone. Announced alongside the release of its fifth episode, Space King is now getting its own board game. The game is being launched as a Kickstarter campaign running through the end of September, with pledges starting at $99.

For its initial board game launch, Space King follows the typical Kickstarter board game formula: it is heavily focused on miniatures and appears to be firmly in the American-style board game genre. If the project proves successful, I could see a more retail-friendly version following in the near future, which is something I would be particularly interested in, since I have never been particularly into miniature-heavy games.

Having followed Flashgitz since their Space Hulk animation days, I am not particularly surprised that the Space King series has reached this level of success. The series has managed to tap into the Warhammer 40K market by offering a very well-made parody that can stand on its own. As long as Flashgitz maintains this level of animation quality in the foreseeable future, I think Space King has the potential to grow into a successful multimedia franchise, with video games being an obvious product that could follow in the future.

Arknights x Persona 3 Collab Event

 

With Arknights having run for more than seven years on the CN server and six years globally, the game continues to go strong with a steady stream of content. That kind of longevity is a rarity in the gacha game scene, where many titles struggle to maintain momentum for even a few years. For its latest anniversary cycle, Hypergryph has something particularly special in store: collaboration events.

Not only are they continuing with the second Monster Hunter collaboration, but Hypergryph has followed it up with an even more unexpected crossover: Persona 3. The collaboration is set to begin on the CN server in early September 2026.

Persona 3 Reload APEX Limepie P3 Protagonist Makoto Yuki

 

Atlus and Sega continue their active push of the Persona IP through merchandise releases, and this time Makoto Yuki receives a particularly interesting figure. Among manufacturers, Apex-Toys is handling the release as part of their new Limepie series lineup. After establishing a reputation with premium PVC figures, Apex is now expanding into a more budget-friendly range, with Makoto Yuki chosen to spearhead this new direction. The figure is scheduled for release in April 2027 with a price tag of 6,800 yen.

Rendered in his Persona 3 Reload design, Makoto Yuki is posed holding an Arcana card, ready for combat. For a figure at this price point assuming a standard 1/8 scale this release appears to be a strong value proposition. It potentially surpasses previous budget-range PVC figures in both sculpt quality and design freshness, compared to lines such as Alter or Figuarts Zero.

And given the current trajectory of Persona merchandise marketing and the buildup toward Persona 6, I won’t be surprised that characters such as Joker and Yu Narukami will eventually receive figures in this same lineup.

Iron Toys 1/100 Star Eternal Review

 

One of the oldest Chinese model kits that had been sitting dormant in my backlog until I finally built it a few months ago is the Star Eternal by the Chinese manufacturer Iron Toys. While it falls short in the originality department, it more than makes up for it with its excellent price-to-value ratio. I picked up my copy for around USD 30, which was an absolute bargain for a model kit featuring a die-cast inner frame and such an imposing size.

The Star Eternal feels like a cross between the Nu Gundam and the 00 Raiser, combining design elements from both into a heavily armed ranged-focused mobile suit. One interesting feature of the kit is that it includes two color options for the armor parts—red or dark grey. For my straight build, I went with the dark grey version, though I'd probably choose the red color scheme if I ever decide to repaint the kit.

The Iron Toys Star Eternal was released at the perfect time, when the Chinese yuan was still relatively weak, allowing it to offer exceptional value for the money. Had it been released at today's exchange rates and production costs, it would likely retail for around USD 45, a price that would even make me think twice before picking one up.

Pacific Rim Infinity Studio Heavy Mecha Striker Eureka

The premium diecast action figure line from Infinity Studio’s Pacific Rim collection has finally come full circle. After several years of releases beginning with Crimson Typhoon, the final entry in the lineup Striker Eureka is now scheduled for release. Set for Q4 2026, the Heavy Mecha Striker Eureka will be sold at 1380 RMB.

Sayonara Odaiba Unicorn

 

After standing tall for more than a decade, yesterday, 31 August 2026, marked the final day of the 1/1-scale Unicorn Gundam statue at Odaiba DiverCity, where it had served as a beacon for Gundam fans from around the world to flock to. While it is certainly a sad turn of events, I think it is better to send off this iconic statue with a joyous swan song and remain optimistic that Bandai has its own plans for what comes next.

Personally, I am very grateful that I had the opportunity three years ago to visit the Odaiba Unicorn Gundam. It was the final stop in what became a Gundam statue hat-trick during my 2023 Japan trip, when I managed to visit all three life-size Gundam statues across Japan in a single journey.

Although the Unicorn Gundam is personally my least favorite of Japan’s three life-size Gundam statues, I was still very happy to have made it there before the statue was eventually taken down. At the very least, it enjoyed a considerably longer run than the life-size walking RX-78-2, which remains, in my view, the crown jewel of Japan’s Gundam statues.

I still believe Bandai would be prudent enough to prepare a replacement for the dismantled Unicorn Gundam. The question is what form that replacement might take—and whether it will even return to Odaiba DiverCity. Whatever Bandai has planned, I will certainly be curious to see what comes next.

June - August 2026 Loot

 
 Another sumptuous collection of loot accumulated over the course of the past three months. While this may look like a massive amount of loot, the overall cost of this batch is actually lower than some of my previous hauls, without being any less valuable when it comes to the core value of the collection. Pound for pound, the quantity in this three-month batch is actually relatively modest, but it truly shines in terms of variety, as I managed to bring home an assortment of model kits, action figures, and brick models.

As always, the most expensive pieces in the haul are not necessarily the biggest ones. Takara Tomy’s Basara Prime takes the crown as the most expensive item in the lot, with figma Senshi and Cangdao Kainar following closely behind. The figma lineup in this collection is particularly interesting, as I managed to complete several sets by reuniting Raphtalia with her beloved master and assembling the full Dungeon Meshi figma party.

I also finally managed to score the Bebe Brick Model Magic Academy at a much cheaper price than I had originally expected. Considering how much I had prepared myself to spend on it, getting it for significantly less was definitely a pleasant surprise.

Along the way, I also managed to secure some older pieces that I had failed to obtain during my previous haul, including the NXEDGE Gundam Mk-V and the Galahad Mecha Musume model kit, as well as several vintage SD Gundam kits.

But the most peculiar piece in this haul has to be the Getter Robo box. It is part of a merchandise set featuring artwork from local illustrator Subjekt Zero, whose art style is simply too awesome to pass up. It may not be the most conventional addition to my collection, but that is exactly what makes it stand out among the rest of the loot.

All in all, this is yet another sumptuous banquet of collectibles that I probably won't be able to consume anytime soon, even if I try my best. Looking at the size and variety of this haul, I think it may finally be time for me to cut down on my model kit preorders.

Gundam Fix Figuration Metal Composite Zaku Desert Type

 

A rather interesting new entry in the Gundam Fix Figuration Metal Composite lineup. While the series has already featured several Zaku variants in the past, this release stands out for spotlighting a less commonly represented unit: the Desert Zaku. Of all possible variants, Bandai’s choice is quite fascinating. Scheduled for release in December 2026 as a P-Bandai exclusive, the GFF Metal Composite Desert Zaku is sold at 30,000 Yen Price tag.

Among the many Zaku variants, the Desert Zaku has a notably interesting history in Gihren’s Greed. In that context, it goes beyond its intended role as a desert specialist unit, proving itself as a reliable all-round grunt mobile suit for Zeon’s Earth campaign against the Earth Federation Forces. It serves as a strong early game alternative to the standard Zaku II, and when paired with the Zaku Cannon, it becomes part of a highly effective frontline composition.

At 30,000 Yen. GFF Desert Zaku sits well outside my budget for a Zaku figure, so this will likely be a skip for me. That said, I wouldn’t mind seeing a newer model kit rendition of both this unit and the Zaku Cannon in the future.

Arknights Myethos 1/7 Kaltsit Esperanta

 

With the release of Kal'tsit Alter in Arknights CN—one of the main figures in the story—it was expected that she would quickly receive a high-end PVC figure from Myethos. This rendition of Kal'tsit comes as a highly detailed diorama-style 1/7 scale figure, scheduled for release in May 2027 at a price of 42,500 Yen.

This is undoubtedly positioned in the premium tier of PVC figures, largely due to its elaborate diorama base, similar in spirit to previous high-end releases like Skadi Alter’s premium version. In this figure, Kal'tsit is accompanied by a new incarnation of her guardian sentinel following Mon3tr’s given autonomy from Kaltsit. The design appears to blend elements reminiscent of Hitekai Ikaruga and Matrix Sentinels, featuring a more diversified range of offensive capabilities compared to Mon3tr.

Since Kal'tsit Alter has not yet reached the global server, it is still somewhat difficult to fully grasp her character on a more personal or intimate level. However, it is clear that she returns with even greater power and a renewed commitment to Rhodes Island and the Doctor following her banishment by the Priestess in Chapter 15. It will be interesting to see whether this figure line eventually extends to a Nendoroid release as well, especially with Mon3tr already confirmed to receive one in the near future.