Otaku #06: Robotech

Posted on July 2, 2011 by Administrator

Mech drama in space brings back memories

Brandon Beatty, contributing editor

I decided to follow in my GI comrades’ footsteps and begin a new segment where I review animated properties, but with a little anime flavor. While I will continue to review great manga that reaches our shores, I hope that all of you will like this new addition to Otaku. For now, I give a big hearty welcome to Otaku Corner Theater where the motto is “reviewing great anime for, by, and worthy of the otaku.” (patent pending).

To celebrate OCT’s grand opening, I’m starting off with a legendary anime series that is undisputedly considered not only as essential to an otaku’s collection, but also a required piece to introduce those who are new to the wonderful world of anime. This series has not only launched the careers of well-known voice acting veterans in the anime industry, but also is well known among sci-fi anime series such as “Starblazers” and “Mobile Suit Gundam.” It’s none other than “Robotech” from ADV films.

For those who are unfamiliar with this series, a bit of background information is in order. “Robotech” is an 85-episode series produced in the 1980s by Harmony Gold USA and Tasunoko Productions, also known for Karas, G-Force, Tasunoko All-Stars vs. Capcom.

Consisting of a rich story that spans three generations, “Robotech” has mankind engaged in battle with alien space forces for control of the “Protoculture,” a mysterious and powerful energy source. The first chapter of the series focuses on the “Macross Saga,” in which Earth, recovering from a brutal global civil war finds in its possession a highly advanced warship called the SDF-I, sent from space. Upon finding the SDF-I, humanity must defend its self from the Zentradi, a warlike race whose main goal to reclaim said ship by using SDF-I’s advanced technology. In addition to this great space opera, you are introduced to the exploits of amateur pilot Rick Hunter and his mentor Roy Fokker as they and the rest of the SDF-I’s human crew battle the Zentradi through space to protect the restored battleship, but also its innocent inhabitants and Earth itself.

As an anime fan growing up in the ’80s, “Robotech” met my needs for any great space-based anime. It had heroic characters and cunning villains, and it was the first, in my opinion, to boldly fuse concept designs of vehicles and mecha. For instance, the SDF-I and Veritech fighter jets took on actual designs of a naval carrier and its fighter jets and combined them with the designs of a fighting mecha, resulting in futuristic war machines of which my favorite hero Juggie would give his “custom made” seal of approval. The Zentradi’s ship design, also impressive despite their cucumber-shaped look, displays incredible speed and firepower that is also reflected through their “battle pods” design, which consists of a cross between a metal ostrich and a gattling gun.

While ADV and Harmony Gold did do a outstanding job in remastering this series, they do deserve credit for retaining renowned voice actors. Tony Oliver and Dan Woren to reprise their original roles as Rick and Roy, respectively. I also give ADV and Harmony Gold credit for not only keeping the storyline intact, but also keeping the original music and sound effects refreshed using Dolby Digital. There’s also unseen bonus footage, ensuring that “Robotech” stands the test of time as an anime series. This means a lot to me because during my first time viewing Robotech when it was released on VHS, the tape cut off mid-play, leaving me with unanswered questions about the SDF-I and how Earth played a critical part in regard to Protoculture. However, watching Robotech Vol. 1 got me caught up, and I give ADV and Harmony Gold my highest praise for doing so. Although the “Shadow Chronicles” saga has revived “Robotech” for a new generation of otaku, the original will show its viewers how the saga started and, without fail, show the brilliance of a world-renowned animation studio.

If you would like more info on Robotech, visit the official website at www.robotech.com.

Brandon Beatty is the contributing editor of Gaming Insurrection. He can be reached by email at brandonb@gaminginsurrection.com

Posted in Otaku Corner | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Strip Talk #07: What makes up heroes or villains?

Posted on July 2, 2011 by Administrator

Lyndsey Mosley, editor-in-chief

I’ve often wondered what makes a character a hero or a villain in comics. What makes a character “good” and another “bad”? How does the writer who creates the characters sit down and decide “I’m going to make this person evil personified” and another “the greatest hero to have ever lived.”

I’ve always wondered about those who are obviously at the different ends of the spectrum, such as Superman or Apocalypse. Superman is the embodiment of all that is good and righteous in the world of comics. He has a sense of right and what is morally acceptable in the universe ascribed to him. He can do no wrong, and he is considered the paragon of what is “All-American” and apple pie. Then you have someone like Marvel’s Apocalypse, a 5,000 year-old-mutant who is hell bent on world domination and survival of the fittest. Who came up with the idea that these two characters are the stations of their particular ideologies?

And what about the middle men, as I like to call them? Those anti-heroes who follow a fine line between good and evil? Say what you will about Magneto or Batman, but they have their points to be made about what they’re trying to accomplish, and they will accomplish it through any means necessary.

The case of Magneto is especially complex. Here you have a character based on a real figure, Malcolm X. His nemesis, Charles Xavier, is based on also real Martin Luther King Jr. Who’s to say that Magneto is necessarily a villain?

Examining the character traits of comics’ heroes and villains is an interesting bit of research for those who want to dig deep into the minds of man. Sometimes, it seems, not every case can be made for strictly good and bad.

Lyndsey Mosley is editor-in-chief of Gaming Insurrection. She ponders the nature of heroes and villains at gicomics@gaminginsurrection.com

PlayPlay

Podcast: Download (Duration: 2:13:06 — 122.7MB)

Posted in Strip Talk | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Animated property review: X-Men The Animated Series

Posted on July 2, 2011 by Administrator

X-Men the Animated Series Vol. 1  |  Buena Vista Home Entertainment, 2009

X-Men origins told correctly

If there ever was a quintessential property in the 1990s of comic book origin, it’s X-Men the Animated Series. The Fox staple in the early part of the decade was a great excuse to get up on a Saturday morning to watch cartoons. It also was a great learning tool for those who didn’t know much about the X-Men and wanted an introductory course to the famous mutants.

What we love about the series is the fact that it takes itself seriously. It told stories just as the comic book version told them 10 years before, and it’s pretty close to the origin stories with only minor changes. Our only gripe with some of the episodes in the first volume is the brevity of the story arcs. Sagas such as Days of Future Past and The Cure are told in one or two episodes, something that isn’t normally be done in the comics. However, some are revisited in later seasons of the show, so that can be forgiven.

The production values of the Animated Series, for its time, were top-notch. The writing was superb, and the coloring and drawing were extraordinary for a cartoon production. Few series, with the exception of fellow Fox production Spider-Man, could match what the Animated Series brought to the table in terms of visuals and storytelling. The first volume sets the pace with Night of the Sentinels, and it’s obvious that care is taken with characters and their backgrounds. Most characters are true to their history and those who have been re-established for the Animated Series are well done and not out of place (i.e. Morph).

The voice acting is another standout established within the first volume. The characters all sound like they should, and it is this first set of episodes that established the standard for future X-Men voice acting projects for the next 17 years. The best example: All X-Men characters used in Capcom’s versus series through Marvel vs. Capcom 2 were voiced by their Animated Series actors.

The first volume of the Animated Series hit DVD in 2009, a welcome addition to any X-Men fan’s collection. The first 16 episodes encompass the two-disc set and were only $20 at the time of purchase. That’s a bargain for well-crafted X-Men stories in a series known for its technical prowess that seemed to take forever to come to DVD.

How we grade

We score the properties in three categories: Casting (or voice acting in cases of animated), plot and similarities to its source material. Each category receives points out of the maximum of 10 per category and 30 overall. The percentage is the final score.

Voice acting: 10/10

Plots: 8/10

Like the comics?: 8/10

Overall rating: 26/30 or 8.6

Posted in Property review | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Strip Talk #06: A few things I need from comic book flicks

Posted on April 2, 2011 by Administrator

Lyndsey Mosley, editor-in-chief

There are a few things I need from my comic book and cartoon-adapted movies. Without them, the movie’s not going to work and it won’t be worth the film it’s recorded on. These are my pet peeves when it comes to retelling the story of an established property. Producers, please take heed. If I can’t watch it, chances are the other average Jane Blows of the world can’t, either.

An undercooked plot: I’d love it if my characters have a purpose for what they’re doing. Give me a reason why the hero is doing what he’s doing and the villain’s main point early in the movie, hit plot points with decent pacing and wrap it up. Throw in special effects if you have to but make it secondary to the central plot.

Changed plot points: Writers need to read this bullet point, especially. The properties that were entrusted to you have been so for a reason. They were made famous enough to make a movie based on them for a reason. Let it be and work with what you’ve got. Do not change the reason for a villain’s established motive for revenge. It will not work. Very few comics have been able to do this and get away with it. If you can’t come up with a good reason to change the character’s purpose, don’t make the change.

Character appropriate actors: Casting is an important part of making a movie work. Do not choose an actor who has no resemblance to the established character. For instance, Thomas Jane was a poor choice for the Punisher but Ray Stevenson was excellent. Why? Because Stevenson looked like someone who would do the things Frank Castle was pushed to do. Tobey Maguire worked as Peter Parker/Spider-Man because he had the earnestness of Parker and the quick wit of Spider-Man down to a science. The actor or actress need to be believable in a movie that works on a property that requires you to suspend disbelief the entire time.

Tell the tale with enough villains: I can’t stress enough that villains need to be kept at a minimum to preserve story integrity. If they aren’t, you start running into the problem of too many villains, or what I like to refer to as “’Batman Returns syndrome.” Too many villains screw up the pacing of the film. Inevitably, there will be too many big names scratching for screen time and someone, probably the hero, will get the short end of the stick.

“Spider-Man 3” had this problem, and it’s one of the few times that I can’t say I enjoyed a film featuring my favorite villain: Venom. A flick that stands as a shining example of how to do multiple villains correctly is “Dark Knight.” The Joker and Harvey Dent/Two Face work well, and I loved how the pacing was handled. That’s how you introduce villains effectively and tell their stories.

If you’re going to make a successful film based off of established properties, at least take the time to care about the produced final product. It means the difference between a poor adaptation — “Elektra,” “Daredevil,” “Punisher” we’re looking at you — and something spectacular that stays at the forefront of the genre. “Dark Knight,” we salute you.

Lyndsey Mosley is editor of Gaming Insurrection. She can be reached at gicomics@gaminginsurrection.com

PlayPlay

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:29:59 — 62.3MB)

Posted in Strip Talk | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Marvel character highlight #06: Rogue

Posted on April 2, 2011 by Administrator

Name: Anna Marie

Affiliation: X-Men, Brotherhood of Evil Mutants

Special abilities: Absorbs — sometimes permanently — the life force and psyche of an individual that she touches with skin-to-skin contact. With absorption from mutants, Rogue can temporarily or permanently use the powers of the individual, depending on the length of time that she maintains contact.

Background: Rogue began life in the Mississippi bayou. At the age of 14, she began seeing a young man named Cody Robbins. When she kissed him for the first time, her mutant powers manifested and caused him to fall into a permanent coma. After she ran away from home, Rogue was taken in and raised by adoptive mother Mystique, leader of the Evil Brotherhood of Mutants. Within this home, Rogue committed crimes under the guise of Mystique and her brood. It was then that she encountered Carol Danvers, better known as the mutant Ms. Marvel. During a fight with Danvers, she permanently absorbed Marvel’s powers and gained super strength and flight. She also gained her psyche, which slowly took over Rogue’s body.

After several battles with the X-Men, allies of Ms. Marvel, Rogue joined the group to learn to better control her powers. She also had begun wearing a protective suit to avoid accidentally hurting others. Her admission to the group was rocky at first, but she soon was trusted enough to lead as a field commander and her own team. Rogue has been at times depowered and maintained a relationship with fellow X-Man Gambit. This relationship has proved to be a popular and frequent partnership among the group of mutants.

Relationships: Remy LeBeau (Gambit), lover; Erik Lesherr (Magneto), lover; Raven Darkholme et al (Mystique), adoptive mother; Kurt Wagner (Nightcrawler), adoptive brother; Graydon Creed, adoptive brother.

First versus game appearance: X-Men vs. Street Fighter

Appearances in other media: Marvel vs. Capcom (arcade), Marvel vs. Capcom 2 (arcade), X-Men vs. Street Fighter (arcade), X-Men (Genesis), X-Men: Mojo World (Game Gear), X-Men: Mutant Academy 2 (PlayStation), X-Men: Next Dimension (PlayStation 2, Gamecube), X2: Wolverine’s Revenge (multiplatform), Spider-Man 2: Enter Electro (PlayStation),  X-Men Legends (multiplatform), X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse (multiplatform), X-Men (film), X2: X-Men United (film), X-Men: The Last Stand (film), X-Men the Animated Series (television), X-Men Evolution (television), Wolverine and the X-Men (television).

Posted in Marvel character highlight | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Otaku #05: Death Note Vol. 3

Posted on April 2, 2011 by Administrator

‘Death Note Volume 3’ adds faces, intrigue to Light’s saga

Brandon Beatty, contributing editor

This quarter in the Otaku corner, I’m continuing the review of the biggest battle of good versus evil ever seen in Japanese animation in Volume 3 of “Death Note.”

A word of advice: Buckle your seat belts because new players arrive on the scene to shake things up and  set the foundation for more intense battles in the manga’s future.

A small recap: “Death Note” is the tale of Light Yagami, an ace high school student with great prospects who is completely bored with his life. That changes when he finds the “death note,” a notebook with the power to kill anyone whose name is written in it. Light, using the name Kira, vows to use the death note to rid the world of crime, resulting in criminals dropping dead. This leaves authorities no choice but to send in world-renowned detective L to solve the case.

photo courtesy of Amazon.com

In volume 3, Light has discovered that L has placed 64 surveillance cameras and microphones in his home. Once again, however,  Light/Kira manages to evade capture: He uses a bag of barbecue potato chips with a miniature TV inside and acts as though he is preparing for college entry exams as Ryuk, original owner of the death note and companion to Light, searches for the cameras and microphones. L, not completely fooled by Light’s tactics, decides to up the ante by enrolling at the same university that Light is attending using the name of Hideki Ryuga.

The mind games are temporarily stopped when Light’s father is sent to the hospital with the speculation that Kira caused his heart attack. At this point in the story, I consider both the mind games and Soichiro Yagami’s heart attack to be a filler break , leading readers to an action-packed stand off that results in the arrival of a “new” Kira as the femme fatale who, unknowingly to  Light and L, will have a major impact in upcoming chapters.

Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata continue to keep the perfect fusion of paranormal action and mystery through precise writing and energetic art in “Death Note,” refraining from the use of fan service elements usually found in anime and manga. While reading Death Note, you will be challenged to think more about their personal morals while at the same time evolving their appreciation for innovative storylines.

We’ll get further along with more Death Note action in future editions of Otaku, so keep an eye out for more commentary and analysis on the tale of Light, L and Ryuk. By the way if you rooting for “Team Light,” be like Kira and support your local shinigami by buying them apples. They’ll thank you for it.

Brandon Beatty is contributing editor for Gaming Insurrection. He can be reached by e-mail at gicomics@gaminginsurrection.com

Posted in Otaku Corner | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Top 5 list: Useless heroes edition

Posted on April 2, 2011 by Administrator

There are heroes out there. They’re good characters who work to keep evil at bay in the universe. However, just because you’re working for the good of man and creature alike, doesn’t mean you’re useful, unfortunately. Here are five that don’t exactly get the job for good done.

 

Yamcha from Dragonball Z

YAMCHA
This Z-fighter hanger-on from Dragon Ball admittedly gave up the heavy-duty work because he realized he wasn’t cutting it on the battlefield and the others in the group (namely Vegeta, Goku, Trunks and Gohan) were much better. But seriously, if you aren’t of the saiyan race in that series, you don’t stand a chance and Yamcha isn’t saiyan. Oh, and when your girlfriend at the time drops you for the vengeful anti-hero because he looks good in armor and pink shirts that say “Bad Man” on the back, you know you have problems.

 

Lifeline from G.I. Joe

LIFELINE
While being a medic and working to save people’s lives is extremely cool and an underappreciated career by the average Joe, Lifeline is not exactly the awesome representative that most medics are. He doesn’t do much except heal a few characters in the background. That’s about it. While we don’t expect him to perform frontline work, he’s a member of G.I. Joe! He should be doing more dangerous work and we don’t mean pulling out Band-Aids sometimes.

 

Wonder Twins

WONDER TWINS
Because they need both their powers to become their separate forms, they can’t work without being together. A symbiotic relationship that features some of the most useless transformations ever (animal, water), you’d almost be better off going with Aquaman. Almost.

 

Smurfs

SNORKS/SMURFS
What exactly do these creatures do? We still haven’t figured out how the Smurfs even survive the multiple attempts on their lives without Papa Smurf to lead them around by their noses, and the Snorks have got to be the goofiest group of animated dimwits ever made. We suffered through the Smurfs back in the day (thanks to the greatness that is Jokey Smurf) but the Snorks were utter and complete crap. There, we’ve said it.

 

 

Aquaman from DC comics

AQUAMAN
Most of the adventures involving the superhero who can speak to underwater creatures involve him being on land. We ask the all-important question again: How is he useful?

Posted in Top 5 list | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Comic property review: “The Spirit”

Posted on April 2, 2011 by Administrator

Photo courtesy of ComicBookMovie.com

‘The Spirit’ lacking in focus, execution

“The Spirit”
Lionsgate, 2008

Despite reviews to the contrary, “The Spirit” isn’t a bad movie. It is a mess in some spots and it requires multiple viewings to fully understand what’s going on but, overall, it’s not bad; it’s just that its attention span is all over the place and could benefit from a pacing specialist’s undivided time.

Visually, it’s gorgeous. If you fell in love with the look of “Sin City,” you will love “The Spirit.” It sings for its supper in its lush graphics, and the mix of comic style and computer generated work does it a world of good. The costume direction is also a winner, and most of the characters look awesome with a softened glow about them against a gritty backdrop of crime, death and resurrection. Of particular note are the costume changes of Samuel L. Jackson and Scarlett Johansson, both who steal the show with their chemistry and impeccable timing. Gabriel Macht and Eva Mendes do a fine job in their lead roles and inspire feelings of sympathy and understanding for their predicaments.

“The Spirit” isn’t without its flaws, however. First of all, it’s not particularly true to the comics. The Octopus never shows his face in the original property. However, we can let it slide because it’s Samuel L. Jackson. He’s allowed to ham it up, and he’s a marquee name. Another change is the fact that the Spirit didn’t originally have the healing factor power he’s given. Again, the addition is jarring but it’s needed to pull the movie closer to the sensational to lure audiences in. However, it didn’t work as the film has only grossed nearly $39 million.

Thirdly, the story jumps around quite a bit. It’s not told nearly as well as “Sin City” and it’s not paced particularly well, either. In some parts — mostly those featuring Jackson — it’s hilarious and dark. In others, it’s slow and tedious, and you wish it’d pick up the pace and stop dragging its heels toward the inevitable Octopus-Spirit showdown climax. And finally, the climax, while it seems to take forever to get to, isn’t all that great. It’s really anticlimactic. What we really wanted was more of an emotional payoff for the Spirit’s romantic entanglements. Otherwise, it’s got a twitch factor that either you’ll get or you won’t. Despite its weirdness, we got a decent comic book movie fleshed out with interesting characters. Color us happy.

How we grade
We score the properties in three categories: Casting (or voice acting in case of animated), plot and similarities to its source material. Each category receives points out of the maximum of 10 per category and 30 overall. The percentage is the final score.

Casting: 9.5/10
Plot: 6/10
Like the comics?: 4/10
Overall rating: 19.5/30 or 6.5


Posted in Property review | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Otaku #04: The All-New Tenchi Muyo

Posted on January 1, 2011 by Administrator

Tenchi Muyo’s habit of chasing love comes back in new manga

Brandon Beatty, contributing editor

I’m dusting off a legendary anime throwback. Doing this brings back memories of Cartoon Network’s hit show Toonami, which brought its viewers the best action shows around. Of course, great anime helped complement Toonami, along with its host Tom the Robot and the baddest ride around, the starship Absolution. However, one of its anime shows had a guy who was not only the standard of what heroes should be, but he was also popular with women from outer space. Yes, otaku, I’m talking about Tenchi Masaki, and he and his friends are back in volume one of The All New Tenchi Muyo published by Viz Media.

The All New Tenchi Muyo is part of the original Tenchi Muyo storyline from which the series itself spans and contains movies, TV series and spin-offs. It is considered among the greatest anime series of all time. The entire main

Photo courtesy of Amazon.com

cast is back in this series, starring in several adventures in the first volume, which is subtitled Alien Nation. Each of Tenchi’s lovely lady friends has their own story from Ryoko getting a job, Sasami baking a delicious cake that holds a special meaning to her and Ayeka (Sasami’s sister) to Tenchi and Ayeka going on a date. Also Mihoshi, the galactic police officer, crashes her spaceship in Masaki Lake, the super genius Washu stops a burglary attempt by two space thieves, and in the final chapter, Ryo-oh-ki transforms into a sexy and adult form of herself to go on a date with Tenchi as a reward for learning to walk in her adult form.

As a Tenchi Muyo fan, I was very pleased that Hitoshi Okuda kept the formula intact that made this series loved globally by anime fans from the beginning. Each page is guaranteed to bring back the great memories fans have of seeing Tenchi and company’s adventures on Toonami. All the characters and settings stayed true to the original storyline without any missing links. To be fair, I must also give Viz Media’s Fred Burke and Lillian Olsen credit for a flawless English adaptation and translation in this return of Tenchi and company to fans outside of Japan.

In short, The All New Tenchi Muyo: Alien Nation did not let me down as a Tenchi fan. Until Tenchi and crew return to U.S. airwaves for their second conquest via Ryo-oh-ki Airlines, this volume will please all Tenchi fans who believe that this series is not a fad but a true icon among anime. Tenchi now, Tenchi tomorrow, Tenchi forever!

Brandon Beatty contributes Otaku each quarter of Gaming Insurrection. He can be reached by e-mail at brandongi@gaminginsurrection.com.

Posted in Otaku Corner | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Marvel character highlight #05: Colossus

Posted on January 1, 2011 by Administrator

Name: Piotr Nikolaievitch Rasputin

Affiliation: X-Men, Excalibur, Acolytes

Special abilities: Covers his entire body in an organic metal outer shell that renders him impervious to most damage. While in his transformed state, he has superhuman strength and endurance.

Background: Piotr was born and raised in Communist Russia. He manifested his mutant powers during adolescence while saving his sister Ilyana from a runaway tractor. He used these powers to help his people on their collective farm. He was brought to the attention of Professor Charles Xavier during the attempt by the second genColossuseration of X-Men to rescue the first generation from the sentient island of Krakoa.

He remained with the team after the rescue and has been a member off and on ever since. Colossus briefly joined with the start-up British team of superheroes, Excalibur, and has even been a part of Magneto’s Acolytes. Rasputin was instrumental in the research and creation of the Legacy Virus cure that ravaged the mutant population. His “death,” along with the death of Ilyana, was the catalyst for the elimination of the mutant plague.

Relationships: Ilyana Rasputin (Magik/Darkchylde), sister; Mikhail Rasputin, brother; Kitty Pryde (Shadowcat), lover; Callisto, lover

First versus game appearance: X-Men: Children of the Atom

Appearances in other media: The Uncanny X-Men (NES), X-Men: Madness in the Murderworld (PC), X-Men (arcade), X-Men II: Fall of the Mutants (PC), X-Men: Children of the Atom (arcade), Marvel vs. Capcom (arcade), Marvel vs. Capcom 2 (arcade), X-Men: Reign of Apocalypse (GameBoy Advance), X2: Wolverine’s Revenge (multiplatform), X-Men Legends (multiplatform), X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse (multiplatform), X-Men: The Official Game (multiplatform), Marvel Ultimate Alliance (multiplatform), Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 (multiplatform), X-Men the Animated Series (television), X-Men: Evolution (television), Wolverine and the X-Men animated series (television), Pryde of the X-Men (television), Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends (television), X-Men (film), X-2 (film), X-Men: The Last Stand (film)

Posted in Marvel character highlight | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment