Warhammer 40k Joytoy - 1/18 Allarus Custodian Osyr Archimaxes

I’m finally back to posting Joytoy Warhammer 40k reviews now that I’ve settled into my new place and I’m kicking things off with a figure from the Adeptus Custodes! I’ve never been a Custodes person, but I somehow keep accumulating them as part of my Joytoy 40k collection. The figure in this review is my first Custodes model from Joytoy: the Allarus Custodian.

Originally, I only planned to get one Custodes figure to represent Kitten from the Text-to-Speech 40k fan series. However, my first Custodian ended up being the Allarus Custodian with Power Axe. Instead of the iconic “banana-head” look, this model represents the Terminator Armor equivalent of the Adeptus Custodes, a tankier version of the Imperium’s most elite protectors.

As with many Joytoy Warhammer 40k figures, the sculpt on the Allarus Custodian is excellent, just as you’d expect. However, don’t expect great playability from this one. Like many of Joytoy’s bulkier figures, it suffers from limited articulation, which makes posing and dynamic display a bit more challenging.

Arknights Endfield Apex Toys 1/7 Chen Qianyu

Not long after Arknights: Endfield debuted, Apex Toys was quick to announce a PVC figure for the series  and the first character to receive the treatment is Chen Qianyu! Out of all the new characters, her being chosen first is actually quite understandable. Apex Toys 1/7 scale Chen Qianyu figure is scheduled for October 2026, and will be priced at 899 RMB.

With her bright personality and goofy charm, it’s no surprise Chen Qianyu became the first character to get a PVC figure even ahead of main heroine Perlica. Many fans also agree that Chen Qianyu is a distant descendant of Chen from Arknights. Personally, I like the popular headcanon among some of the fans that she might be the result of Chen’s union with Doktah, given her energetic and silly nature which contrasts sharply with her ancestor’s more serious demeanor.

If Endfield continues to do well, I wouldn’t be surprised to see an action figure of Chen Qianyu in the near future.

Dreamweave Pillars of Creation 1/12 Power Armor Kane

A rather interesting addition to China designer toy which comes in the form of Action figure. Presented by manufacturer called Dream Weave studio, this one is a stylish futuristic soldier called Kane as part of the lineup of Pillars of Creation released in 1/12 scale. Scheduled for Q2 2026, 1/12 Kane will be sold for 68 USD Price tag.

On the surface, 1/12 POC Kane value lies in its stylish design futuristic supersoldier with promising articulation. Howeve the main selling point for avid collectors got to be its aesthetics which is essentially hybrid between Doomslayer and Space Marine. Having a chainsword as main weapon certainly makes it feels closely associated with 40k series and the lean appearance makes it look like a Diet Space Marine or even scout version of it. From the concept art if POC Kane that caught my attention, it seems that it will have equally futuristic motorbike as part of its arsenal which could be released should this product performed well enough.

Fate/Grand Order 1/7 Archer Durga 2nd Ascension

Fate/Grand Order has now endured for nearly a decade, and its merchandising scene remains remarkably strong. At this point, one might expect the merchandise pipeline of a long-running gacha game to slow down or fade away, but not in FGO’s case. Among the latest additions to its PVC figure lineup, Durga finally makes her debut in 1/7 scale, courtesy of Kadokawa. Released in her Second Ascension form, the 1/7 Durga is scheduled for September 2026 with a price tag of 29,800 yen.

Judging from the prototype, Kadokawa’s 1/7 Durga perfectly captures the cold, indifferent visage of a goddess who deals in destruction, fitting for the alter ego of the goddess Parvati. The “Sakura-face” variants have enjoyed a long and successful run in FGO, and Durga stands out as one of the strongest renditions, rivaled only by Kama. Sharing the Archer class, 1/7 Durga also makes for an interesting contrast with previously released Ishtar PVC figure, representing the divine incarnations archetype of Fate’s Sakura and Rin respectively.

That said, despite her revealing outfit and striking divine beauty, one would be foolish to entertain any impure thoughts toward FGO’s Durga. After all, she remains the consort of Shiva, she had what it takes to swiftly destroy any mortal reckless enough to test their luck.

I might have considered picking up this version of Durga if I had money to spare, but for now, I’ll just patiently wait for a Nendoroid rendition instead.

Castlevania Belmont's Curse

With Igarashi’s departure from Konami back then, I thought the Castlevania series would fade into obscurity for good but Konami has surprised fans with a revival, even if it was unexpected. For over a decade, Konami earned criticism for letting its popular video game IPs languish, including Castlevania.

Despite the company’s outright hubris, recent years suggest that Konami now appear to has the talent competent enough to organize revival for some of its iconic series; Silent Hill, Suikoden, Metal Gear, and more. As part of its 40th anniversary celebrations, it’s now Castlevania’s turn to return with a new title: Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse!

This new entry is a collaboration between Konami and Motion Twin, the studio behind Dead Cells, a popular Metroidvania roguelite that previously featured a Castlevania DLC. Details remain scarce, but the game will feature a protagonist descended from Trevor Belmont, sporting a ponytail reminiscent of Sonia Belmont from the non-canon Castlevania Legends. The art style looks modern and promising, suggesting a revival worthy of the franchise.

It seems likely that the Dead Cells Castlevania DLC was a way for Motion Twin to demonstrate their capability to handle a larger project. Their experience with the genre along with apparent subject matter knowledge on the series makes it plausible that they can create a respectful and compelling new Castlevania title.

While I haven’t forgotten Konami’s past negligence toward Castlevania and other beloved IPs, I’m willing to give this revival a chance. Perhaps one day, if they create a proper adaptation for Demon Castle Wars, I might even forgive them but only time will tell. This development also signals a trend: major developers like Capcom and Square Enix may increasingly explore outsourcing models for reviving their own classic franchises.

Cang Toys War of the Gods 1/100 Nu Wa

One year after Cang Toys released their model kit representation of Fu Xi, the Chinese creator god, the female counterpart Nu Wa has now made her official debut. As with Fu Xi, Cang Toys has ensured that Nu Wa receives the same level of detail and features, making her a true counterpart in both design and presentation. Scheduled for Q2 2026, Cang Toys’ Nu Wa will be priced at 188 RMB. 

Hardcore Mecha

It took me seven years, but I finally settled my debt with a mecha game called Hardcore Mecha, developed by the Chinese studio Rocketpunch Games. Overall, the game has its share of optimization issues, but it’s still a well-made mecha title from a Chinese developer, one I’m glad I owned a physical copy of.

I first encountered Hardcore Mecha in the mid-2010s when it was still a Kickstarter project called Code Hardcore. I remember it took a long time before the game finally released. In hindsight, Hardcore Mecha feels like a modern rendition of 2D mecha shooters and serves as a spiritual successor to games like Assault Suit Valken and Leynos, which had their heyday during the 16-bit era.

Anko Miniblocks - Blue Racing Car Review

It has been more than a month since I moved into my new place, and I think the time is right to start a new review series in this setup! For this series, I want to begin with something simple, and Anko Miniblocks are a perfect choice. I’ve reviewed several Anko Miniblock sets in the past, and this time it’s the turn of one of their racing car models.

As of 2026, Anko Miniblocks offers several sports car models in their brick model lineup, and this one happens to be part of the seven 1:36 scale Racing Car series. I’m not an automotive expert, but this variant stands out as one of the strongest options in the series because it includes decals, which allow for greater variety and customization.

Anko Miniblocks are certainly one of the best value toy lines that Kmart offers. They provide a solid Lego-like building experience at a fraction of the cost, making them a great choice for budget-conscious builders. You can expect more Anko miniblocks review to come in Realm of Darkness. 

Guyver x Titanomachia Plamax Gale Hound 01 Guyver

Titanomachia series come with something very interesting! Usually running their original design of NAOKI, this time they are collaborating with Guyver series to give the classic Tokusatsu inspired series a new model kit. Released as Goodsmile Company Plamax model kit lineup, NAOKI’s version of Guyver will be sold for 9000 yen with December 2026 release date.

It is rather surprising that Titanomachia is not released by Kotobukiya this time, perhaps something to do with Guyver series licensing. Overall, this NAOKI’s version of Guyver 01 looks very promising with its new take on the classic series. While I do miss the bionic armor design of Guyver, this new design still looks good aligning more with modern tokusatsu aesthetics. The elbow blades has several new configurations that remind me of particular metal heroes series. Apparently from the product images, Guyver won’t be the last from this lineup.