Haul for Christmas 2017: Scarlett Johansson as Major, Netflix Daredevil and The Last Jedi book

Here's wishing everyone who's reading this a very Merry Christmas and glad tidings of great joy :)

Here's my haul for December 2017, just in time for the Christmas holidays. They include Cat Toys CT-006 1/6th scale Female Character set (essentially Scarlett Johansson as Major Mira Killian / Motoko Kusanagi from the 2017 American science fiction action film Ghost in the Shell based on the Japanese manga of the same name by Masamune Shirow), Hot Toys Television Masterpiece Series TMS003 Netflix Marvel's Daredevil portrayed by Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock / Daredevil, and Star Wars: The Last Jedi visual dictionary by DK (Dorling Kindersley) Publishing.

In 2017, we finally got to see a live action film of Masamune Shirow's Ghost in the Shell manga which was first serialized in 1989 and then animated in 1995. The film had its many critics but for me to be able to see the Major and Section 9 being acted out on the big screen is a dream come true. It was certainly a visual treat and the special effects were not a disappointment. Netflix Marvel's Daredevil web television series was highly successful and led the way for more Marvel superhero characters to debut on television. Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock / Daredevil plays a blind lawyer-by-day who fights crime at night. All episodes of the first season were released on Netflix on April 10, 2015, while the second season was released in its entirety on March 18, 2016. They were met with positive reviews. In July 2016, the series was renewed for a third season; filming for the season began in November 2017, and it is intended to release in 2018.

Scroll down to see all the pictures.
Click on them for bigger and better views.

CT-006 1/6th scale Female Character set comes with: Female head sculpt | Female articulated body, 2 pairs of interchangeable hands including: pair of palms for holding pistol, and pair of relaxed palms | Jumpsuit, Long gloves, Short gloves, Equipment belt, Boots (designed for bare feet), Body armor set, Body armor belt, Shoulder armor, Cod piece armor, Cod piece belt, Calf armor, Knee armor, Shin armor | Fantasy machine gun, Pistol, Pistol holster, Bullet clip x2, Bullet clip holder. You can check out the preview pics HERE.

Close-up picture of the 1/6th scale Scarlett Johansson as Major Mira Killian / Motoko Kusanagi head sculpt. Quite a good resemblance IMHO

Hot Toys TMS003 Marvel’s Daredevil 1:6 scale DAREDEVIL Collectible Figure finally arrived in Singapore. I was quite puzzled as to why this figure was released overseas about two months ago (I've seen pictures posted from countries like the United States etc) but only arrived in Singapore now, after the release of the Punisher which actually came after this figure's announcement. You can check out the Hot Toys TMS004 Marvel's Daredevil 1/6th scale Jon Bernthal as Punisher 12-inch Collectible Figure review posted on my toy blog HERE and HERE. Still, better late than never :)

Daredevil's red suit, introduced at the end of the first season, is intended to look like a Kevlar vest, and the black sections are an homage to comic panels where the artists highlighted certain areas with red, with "deeper portions" in shadow. The use of rivets and "architectural" shapes was meant to represent how New York was created as Daredevil is rooted in the authentically gritty New York City neighborhood, Hell's Kitchen where Matt Murdock grew up.

On the mask, Meinerding noted the difficulty in designing the entire top half of a face that is intended to match the bottom half of an actor's face, "because half of his face has to be covered and has its own expression and the actor's face is going to be doing something else".

Star Wars: The Last Jedi: Visual Dictionary is the definitive guide to Star Wars: The Last Jedi, revealing the characters, creatures, droids, locations, and technology from the new film. Packed with 100+ images and information as penned by Star Wars scribe Pablo Hidalgo, it's a must-have for all fans who want to go beyond the movie experience.

Star Wars The Force Awakens opened a whole new chapter to the universe we all have come to know and love. Star Wars The Last Jedi brings the new story up a notch and then some. The new heroes play key roles in the film and help to bring the saga to a whole new generation while still keeping the original believers connected to the old stories and continuity.

New characters are also introduced as part of efforts to grow the family and lead newer followers along a fresh path never before trodden.

Movie goers seem to have a love-hate relationship with Nazi Germany of World War II. We all love to hate them nasty Nazis and anyone who fights and defeats them are heroes in our books. Which is probably why the original Imperial Galactic army of episodes IV, V and VI as well as the armies of the new First Order are designed to resemble the old Nazi army of the second World War.

Related posts:
DK Star Wars The Force Awakens Visual Dictionary Review posted HERE
Review of "Star Wars: A Galactic Pop-up Adventure" book with light-up lightsaber posted on my toy blog HERE
"Star Wars: A Pop-up Guide to the Galaxy" book with dual light-up light sabers reviewed HERE

Other notable books I have covered in my toy blog include:
"The Dark Knight Manual: Tools, Weapons, Vehicles and Documents from the Batcave" - posted HERE

and

"X-Men: The Characters and Their Universe by Michael Mallory", a HUGE (28 cm or 11 inches wide x 36 cm or 14.25 inches high x 3 cm or 1.25 inches thick), heavy, hardcover bound and crammed full of interesting facts (288 pages in all) about the X-Men - posted HERE

plus Hobby Japan Mil-FIG Customized 12-inch Military Action Figures book shown HERE