Thermae Romae Redux

 Never expect this Great Historical Fiction Manga series to see some continuation, but Thermae Romae really do get a sequel! Simply Dubbed Thermae Romae Redux, this surprising sequel takes place 20 years after Thermae Romae ended where the Main protagonist, Lucius Modestus successfully finished his Great Roman Bathhouse Project for Emperor Hadrian and found the love of his life from Modern Japan. This time during the Reign Transition between Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurellius, after the mysterious disappearance of his wife, Lucius Modestus and his Son took yet another great adventure to create great Wonders for Roman Bathhouse Culture from their experience of being spirited away to Modern Japan.

As expected by Mari Yamazaki sensei who is probably one of the more well versed Mangaka with Ancient Rome History, Thermae Romae Redux is a great read just like the first series. As the balance between Drama and Humor remains great as usual and at the same time we will get another glimpse of Rome during the last stretch of Five Good Emperors period. Despite the theme used for Thermae Romae is rather narrow compared to typical Historical Manga, the Thermae Romae Redux experience is still fresh which is testament of the mangaka's storytelling capability. So far this Thermae Romae Sequel only made it around 1-2 Volumes considering the series started on early 2024, but I will believe the story quality can still remain consistent for 4-5 Volumes worth. While waiting for the Redux get its story continuation, I can still stick with Thermae Romae or Kentou Shitouden Cestus to get my Roman historical drama fix.

Nikke Hyper Body Red Hood

  Nikke is very quick on their Merchandising lately! Around the same time Rapi got her SSR version, one of the more popular Nikke who is closely related to the main heroine, Red Hood gets an action figure. Just like Modernia, She got a Hyper Body Treatment because GSC felt it is more suitable compared to Figma. Scheduled for December 2025 release, Hyperbody Red Hood will be sold for 15800 Yen.

 Red Hood is one of the legendary Nikke in the series being part of the Legendary Goddess Squad but at some point she fell in combat in the combat against Rapture. However Red Hood managed to live on somehow in a fateful encounter with Rapi when she still was a Mass produced Nikke and her soul lays dormant until Rapi needs her power. In Combat, Red Hood is armed with oversized Sniper Rifle and apparently she was a Meta S1&S3 Unit. When I still played Nikke, I managed to get her anniv Dress Costume which put her perfect body into good display even I never managed to get her by the time I quitted Nikke. Red Hood's caught my attention due to her close resemblance with Surtr from Arknights and would pass as her if the former decided to have goofier personality and picked oversized Rifle as her weapon. While Red Hood is still a skip for me, I would likely consider if D: Killer Wife ever gets an action figure.

Tsukihime Max Factory 1/8 Arcueid Brunestud - Piece of Blue Glass Moon

 
 Not sure what kind of special Occassion that Tsukihime had, but the Moon Princess Arcueid Brunestud got yet another Luxurious PVC Figure treatment by Max Factory! Perhaps it is in the anticipation of Tsukihime 25th Anniversary, but this is the second time in a year that Arcueid in her True Ancestor princess getup got a PVC Figure treatment! Scheduled for January 2026 release, this particular version of Arcueid will be released in 1/8 Scale and sold for 34800 Yen.

If this particular figure for Arcueid was made in 1/7 Scale for 35k Yen which was very possible in 10 years ago, It would have given the Aniplex version that was announced in Early 2024 a run for their money. But as the product ends up as 1/8 Scale, it is just a viable substitute.

Compared to the Aniplex version, this version of Arcueid got more color warmth with her and evoked more emotion compared to the former even if the pose simply a mirror job. For some reason, this version of Arcueid reminds me of Jalter Dress version and perhaps the Sculptor is still the same person which means the Hair part will be very heavy. In any case we could probably expect more Tsukihime merchandise within 2025 if Aniplex is somewhat competent in milking Typemoon's IP and perhaps we could even see Ciel and Akiha's PVC figure popping out.

Super Robot Heroes Orange Cat 1/100 Estailev Neamhain

  Without a doubt Estailev is one of the better looking Original mecha design that oozes Protagonist Mecha aura in past few years and Orange Cat Industry are making good use of capitalizing the design to make several iterations. After the Red Cassowary, Orange Cat moves onto the Black color scheme for Estailev dubbed Estaliev Neamhain. Scheduled for Q1 2025, Estailev Neamhain will be sold for 158 RMB Price tag.

Given the namesake after Irish Myth Goddess of War, Estailev Neamhain is a melee monster equipped with a pair of Heat Katanas as its main armaments. I suppose Orange Cat decided to refrain giving this particular variant of Estailev a Japanese namesake due to the oversaturation of this particular niche in Chinese Mecha Toys market. Considering Orange Cat could release Neamhain in the timing that I will be getting my copy of Cassowary, I am quite sure that Orange Cat could release another Estailev varient soon. If the next Estailev comes in Green color scheme, it will be highly likely a heavy support variant.

Warhammer 40k Joytoy 1/18 Constantin Valdor

  Trying to catch up the slack with my inactivity last week and for the First Post of 2025 and lets start with something Gold! As a parting gift to conclude their 40k Lineup run in 2024 which is absolutely solid, Joytoy gave us the Captain General of Legio Custodes, Constantin Valdor! Scheduled for June 2025 release, Joytoy Constantin Valdor will be sold for 140 USD Price tag.

The price tag of a 40k Joytoy Products already indicate the character's Importance and Constantin Valdor does not deviate from this rule. Constantin Valdor is the first Leader of Adeptus Custodes faction, easily being the best of the best of Imperium's Cream of the crop apart from Primarchs. Constantin is one of the Emperor of Mankind's closest Confidant apart from Malcador which speaks through what he is capable of. Constantin is armed with powerful relic called Apollonian Spear. In 40k Settings, Constantin didn't play much role as the Captain General position is relegated to Trajan Valoris and he mysteriously disappears just like many Primarchs. Regardless he will still have a significant role to play if GW wills it.

Realm of Darkness 2024 Wrap Up

 

 It has been about a week since this Blog posted anything which may appear unusual considering Realm of Darkness recent pace, and it has to do with me returning to my Hometown for end year family gathering. 

Anyway in this post I would like to do some wrap up for Realm of Darkness in 2024 just like what I did several times before. For those who kept visiting this blog, I would like to thank you as this blog will not flourish without the visitors support. 2024 is quite a big deal for me as I found some semblance of stability in my job thus It also reflects with this Blog's productivity as well. 

Took me around 13 years to surpass my highest Blog Posts yearly record back in 2011 when I was still doing my College degree at Sydney and overall I am quite satisfied with the quality of my Blog posts this year which tend to have more short posts but 2024 probably saw some of the most extensive articles that Realm of Darkness ever brought up.

My proudest achievement for Realm of Darkness in 2024 would be settling some of my old debts as well as completing some of my personal projects from finishing my Final Gear, Sakura Taisen 2 and Kannazuki no Mechatalk then completing my Lufia series journey and making Lufia 2 Full Article. Lastly I am also happy that Realm of Darkness Review section getting some revival even though I don't really have enough time for a Full Fledged reviews that I used to do.

Realm of Darkness has existed for more than a decade as a repository for my pop culture passion which are always been Mecha and High Fantasy with many things in between. I never care about this Blog's monetization since it is never the purpose but If anyone could found something worthwhile to read at this blog, It will be my pleasure. As for 2025, I will try keep this Blog's productivity around the same level with this year as well as completing some more Mechatalk projects starting with Super Mecha Champion and hopefully some of ther Sakura Taisen 4 main heroines articles could be finished in near future.

Considering Blogger's chat system are rather antiquated , I never expect the blog will have many interactions. But if anyone have particular request for Blog Posts or any feedbacks, feel free to leave a reply in this post.

Genshin Impact Nendoroid Doll Venti Song of the Wind

 Just as Genshin slowly pick up the slack from their hubris over past 3 years, Of all things we got ourselves a Nendoroid Doll for Anemo Archon, Venti! Dubbed under Song of the Wind title, Nendoroid Venti is scheduled for October 2025 release with 11500 Yen Price Tag.

 A rather peculiar choice by Mihoyo to decide for new Genshin Impact Product which feature Venti in his casual outfit. Considering Genshin Impact is still in intense drought merchandise phase due to mismanagement by the Genshin team for quite some time. And of all characters, Mihoyo decide to pick Mondstadt character that is not particularly the most popular anymore given the current size of the roster of Genshin Impact. Nevertheless the outfit design that Mihoyo decide to give upon Venti is intricate which will certainly attract female demographics of Genshin Fanbase which serve as the majority of Nendoroid Doll lineup anyway. Hopefully this random GSC Genshin merchandise do show Mihoyo's intention to pick up the slack and release more Genshin merchandise in faster pace especially the figma lineup.

SRW OG Super Minipla Astranagant

 Never thought Bandai is so invested toward SRW OG series as the Super Minipla are kept coming! Of all SRW Mecha, Bandai decided to throw a whopping surprise P-Bandai stuff for the keeper of Void, Astranagant! Considering this guy is one of this blog's mascot, I am not going to overlook this guy and make a featured article for him. Scheduled for May 2025 Release, Super Minipla Astranagant will be sold for 22000 Yen Price Tag

Not exactly SRWOG this time considering Astranagant only ever make proper appearance in SRW Alpha, but Who cares with this very cool sinister looking mecha getting a proper physical product! As expected with P-Bandai SRW Minipla, just like Banpreios, Bandai did a very impressive job in replicating Astranagant's gimmick that Kotobukiya even unable to reach a decade ago, Ranging from tons of effect parts for Astranagant's signature attack from the Gun Slave to its iconic Ain Soph Aur finisher. Truly Astranagant is one of the underused cool looking mecha which perhaps future SRW OG remake could address this issue. I will still patiently wait a finished product action figure and hopefully the candidate like Sentinel didn't charge a Kidney for it. Lastly Bandai actually go completionist route for Ingram as R-Gun Rivale and Wildschwein was available as P-Bandai Minipla which could be featured some other day.

Early December 2024 Loot

  A rather modest Acquisitions compared to the usual time since this one arrived around early this month while the bulk of the Hauls will be coming in few days. Overall Pretty solid hauls which remained aligned with this Blog's interest in Mechas. Got myself couple of SMC Qbricks since I am considering additional review material when the Game inevitably closes down which is within 4 weeks of time.

The best of the haul are no doubt the Pumpkin Princess Mecha Musume which I will look forward to Unbox and couple of 52 Toys and 30 MF which my local distributor had trouble securing the products lately. I also finally got my copy of Hexagear Bui Tohru which definitely will take some time to be assembled given my current backlog. For the rest of the hauls, I will probably assign it in January loot post.

Warhammer 40k Space Marine Secret Level

 
 Short Animation videos are not something that I usually discuss but given this one's special circumstances, this will be an exception. It has been 5 years since Astartes Fan Video came out which is a literal touch of magic that brings forth 40k Universe into full life and we haven't got anything ever since as the Animator was brought into the fray by Games Workshop themselves.

Fast Forward to end of 2024, we got ourselves a Short animation video of Warhammer 40k featuring Ultramarines as part of Amazon Prime Secret Level series. For those 40k Fans who loved Astartes video will be on a whole lot of a treat because the Astartes animator contribute to this series where you get to see a full glimpse what a 40k Space Marine is capable of.

Separated into two parts, Space Marine Secret Level features an animation narrating a particular mission that Captain Titus takes which requires him escort a psyker and accompanied by 3 Battle Brothers. The viewers will get to see Captain Titus and his squads pitted against Chaos Cultists in the first part and Chaos Sorcerer in the second one. These Two parts video served a good contrast to showcase what a Space Marine is capable of possessing a power akin to Demigods yet show their limitations at the same time against the horrors that lurk in 40k Universe. This Space Marine Secret level is a good signal that Games Workshop are planning something very big in store in near future and Top Tier animation featuring Astartes animation is just part of it. As much as western pop culture are in decline, Warhammer 40k is still shining brightly as the ultimate male power fantasy and the fanbase will do play a part to prevent this series to be corrupted by Slaanesh worshippers.