Go-on #19 Mini Review (SPOILERS)

Saki’s ‘Hiiii Miu’ might be the cutest thing in the world but I really don’t know if that’s enough to save this. I want to like it but it’s sooo ham-fisted…and not in a good way — AND NOTHING EVER HAPPENS. I understand the limitations/traditions of the genre and that, to a certain degree, each character has to conform to an archetype but the characters of Go-onger seem to be made up of nothing but the suggestions of ‘what a Red/Blue/Yellow character should do’ etc. without the writers ever showing that there’s something to them as people.

Why did this episode not feature more of bandaged!Saki? She didn’t even get a close up! I feel cheated! Don’t make me be writing the hurt/comfort fic, Go-on staff!

For me, I find that it’s always a bad sign if Hant speaks more than one or two lines in an episode…this was one of those occasions.

Also: I think Gunpei has high blood pressure. He should watch his temper.

I really wish the Gaiark generals would come out and fight a bit more often, they really don’t seem overly concerned with giving their all to this whole villain lark.

OH WAIT! What’s that? Is there actually a *GOOD* action theme in this series? OMG! IS THAT KAGEYAMA SINGING! OR IS IT TAKATORI’S BEST IMPRESSION!

SOMEONE TELL ME THAT IS NOT PSYCHIC LOVER DOING A KAGEYAMA IMPRESSION AND I CAN HAVE FAITH IN AT LEAST ONE ASPECT OF THIS SERIES!

That’s about it…that’s the only highlight.

All in all, this whole episode came across as recycled Dekaranger, something I really could have done without.

V for Verdict: Guardian Sentai RoboMan #34 (SPOILERS)

http://www.night-jaeger.net/fiction/roboman/roboman-34.htm

Roll on three weeks and the beginning of Operation: Guardian, I say.

A solid issue with countless points of character development. Every time I think I’m familiar with the style and genre of Roboman, Mister Watts seems to change tact.

This issue is decidedly more complex in its portrayal of characters than preceding stories and, despite featuring a very traditional robot-villain-of-the-week and a storyline that compliments the genre well, there’s a sense of greater depth to the way the characters are responded to the situations they’re in.

That isn’t to discount the earlier episodes, rather to once more underline the point of how far this series has developed and how frustrating it is that the title isn’t more widely supported.

But that’s a whole different issue…

What does matter is the solid development of the cast in this issue, particularly Sei and Ikku.

Sei, who it would have been easy to write off in terms of development after the revelation of his robotic nature, appears to have aspirations of a greater humanity than he currently possesses – even if he is, as yet, unaware of the fact that he is a robot.

Ikku is still making a stand by himself and I was surprised to see him turn up in the Flame Tank for the final fight. I really did expect him to stay away and for Kageki and Senshi’s robo vehicles to make their debut during this story.

So, once again, a solid issue…can’t wait for those future episodes!

V for Verdict: Guardian Sentai RoboMan #33 (SPOILERS)

http://www.night-jaeger.net/fiction/roboman/roboman-33.htm

*must not assume that Senshi and Kiko are about to embark on a giant, pre-ROTJ Luke/Leia style relationship*

Amy’s up to no good. This is now canon…or not.

Actually, I can think of a thousand reasons why Amy would pretend Ikku wasn’t with her and she hadn’t seen him whilst in conversation with Kiko but I just don’t believe any of them.

And speaking of Ikku, the following has been noted:

“Everything about Sei was symmetrical, and clean, and smooth and perfect. Just like when she stared at Senshi – But not Ikku, she remembered suddenly – she could make out clear, defined muscles beneath the tight fabric of the robosuit. Both her brother and her friend had bodies that showed signs of great care being taken to ensure health and fitness.”

Is this a confirmation of yesterday’s Guess #4 about Ikku being a robot?

Only time will tell on that front, I guess.

Senshi’s not at his best during this issue – whatever it is between him and his younger sister seems to bring out the worst him, almost as if he’s trying to prove himself…although, in all honest, considering his past encounter with the team I can’t blame him for being on the defensive during their ‘team meeting’.

Speaking of which, the entire scene featuring the rooftop meeting was uncomfortable. Aside from being valuable in reminding us of and outlining the use of the eternity shards, the atmosphere of the team was so negative as to almost make the scene oppressive.

If I wasn’t so wary, I’d almost think that Mister Watts was setting up the Robo team as the bad guys…or, at the very least, pointing towards Sei becoming a future antagonist.

Hopefully I’m wrong in even thinking this.

V for Verdict: Guardian Sentai RoboMan #31 – 32 (SPOILERS)

I get the distinct feeling that these are the issues Mister Watts has been keen to unveil – and if it’s not these specific issues, then surely this is the start of that arc.

First up, I’m going to place my bets on the table:

1.) Doctor Brachis will become a bad guy.
2.) Guardian will definitely be the extra senshi.
3.) Kiko’s employer, Amy is a potential villain…or extra senshi.
4.) Ikku’s original surname is Jameson *OR* Ikku is a robot too.

One of my big obsessions is character-divergence and reflecting on the idea of what certain characters could become if their reactions diverged from what we see in established canon. In Roboman #31 and #32, it’s possible to see the shadow of another Ikku – an Ikku who, feeling betrayed, begins to use increasingly more dangerous methods to justify ‘the right thing’…an Ikku who could become, in a word, a villain.

Ikku’s reflection and his memories of events prior to our introduction to him are really striking – they certainly undermine the warm, fuzzy memories of pre-implant Doctor Nagura. This really does change the perspective on who Nagura was and how much he really valued his adopted son.

Speaking of which, the information that the implant is no longer in Nagura’s head and all of the recent events have been part of his insanity is a brilliant development. His inability to remove the metal components of his robosuit makes me wonder if Nagura ever understood the technology that Project: Roboman was based on and if, in some way, the technology he stole is now taking him over.

In other news: I don’t like Amy. She’s too keen and eager to be honest. Obviously there’s also the Miko connection. I think she’s bad news. She does however facilitate one of the most interestings twists in the title thus far: Battle Fever Ikku.

The idea of Ikku striking it out alone and the change in his costume is great…I just don’t think I’m happy that Amy is the instigator of these events.

I will take the author to task for the fact that issue #31’s blink-and-you’ll-miss-it Chojin Robo cameo was great…but not long enough!

Other than that complaint, both these issues are solid releases, representing the increasing complexity of Roboman’s storylines.

Looks like Robo-week is off to a great start!

V for Verdict: Guardian Sentai RoboMan #30 (SPOILERS)

This issue is too short, Mister Watts!!

So, the new heroes are at last revealed – and I was right on one count but not the other. This of course, makes me more expectant about the author’s plans for Trick Star and about the promised ’special’ explaining how he crossed over into the Roboverse.

The bleak underpinnings that have been a staple of Roboman for several issues remain, with the possible loss of innocent life due to the actions of our new heroes being a most prominent cliff-hanger.

At the risk of sounding morbid, I hope that the threat of this destruction is followed through. In many ways, the situation with the new heroes is like the situation our central heroes are in. Green and Black have brought danger to the neighbourhood surrounding Hey, Pizza! – with possibly fatal results, whilst Sei, Kiko and Ikku, have brought danger to the city of New Orleans over and over again and now, in the face of the insane Doctor Nagura’s definitive robot of destruction, it looks as if the city is about to wiped off the map.

Like the smaller situation, I think it would be fascinating to explore the results of what might happen if this situation was followed through.

Also, I would be remiss if I also didn’t mention my obsession with robot formations.

So for the record – I can’t wait to see the new Robo Vehicles!!

Keep up the good work, Mister Watts.

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V for Verdict: Guardian Sentai RoboMan #29 (SPOILERS)

http://www.night-jaeger.net/fiction/roboman/roboman-29.htm

The good ship Miko/Senshi has set sail!

Things are really on course now it seems – and also, it seems that my best guesses might have been off on at least one count. I’m still holding out for Kageki as Green, but I was surprised to see Trick avoid the scenario.

In fact Trick Star is the big problem for me. I understand where he’s coming from in trying to prevent Kageki from becoming a Roboman in order to ensure his safety but, if I were Senshi, I might have been inclined to punch him in the face over the little lecture he delivers.

Seriously.

This is undoubtedly because I’m biased in Senshi’s favour but none the less, IMHO, Trick Star needs to look at his own attitude towards other people before he starts pointing the finger at Senshi.

One of the great things about the current format of Roboman is that, due to the formula of three issues equals one component, both the author and the readers are afforded these issues of exploration where the peripheral and supporting cast are explored and further depth is added to the world. These are scenes that, had this story taken place completely over one issue, would have been considerably shorter or perhaps not appeared at all.

Guiltily, I will confess that, despite my love of the action involving the central cast in the previous issue, I really do think I love these ‘odd’ issues more – even if I don’t agree with *anything* Trick says.

So that wraps that up.

I really have completely run out of things to say other than that I can’t wait for the next issue!

Ohranger the Movie and Go-on #18 Mini Reviews

Choriki Sentai Ohranger: The Movie

Amongst the many reasons why Ohranger is great are the awesome monster designs and fantastic instrumental music. The Ohren film is one of those great run-throughs of all the things that make the series so endearing – nothing amazingly outstanding and a decided lack of anything more than a cameo from the Big One Captain Miura, but still a fun 40 minutes none the less.

The storyline, like much of the series, manages to walk the line between absurdity and genuine emotional impact. The concept of the Baranoia populating a ‘film’ with actual human combatants geared up with plastic masques in a struggle against their own machine footsoldiers is oddly effective and moving at times. The scenes involving the death of these soldiers and the reaction of the Ohren-tachi is very powerful – as are the sequences in the prison camp and the execution of masqued human soldiers by machines.

I seem to have completely negated my earlier statement of this just being an average Ohren story…perhaps that’s because the topics for this series were always this well done and this moving. That’s right, kids, there was a time when Toei could balance its humour with an actual progressive storyline and character development.

Bonus points for the last minute Sailor Moon references as well.

In other news, one of these days I will write my thoughts/feelings on Keitai Sousakan 7 — either that or I’ll simply write fic for sentai_ai/kissearly’s Summer or Rock Encore.

But first…

Engine Sentai Go-onger #18

Go-onLegs still isn’t a patch on Saki, not that a pairing couldn’t work between them (if there was any kind of chemistry between the two, which the story thus far hasn’t presented) but Saki remains the premier Go-on girl…at least in my humble opinion.

This episode sees Go-onGold take a further step towards becoming Guile from Street Fighter II, we can but hope that his hair will get bigger as the series progresses.

Also: muuuuuh, Go-onSilver has a ‘gold card’ (yes, I am childish enough to find this funny). It’s interesting that, only one episode after her introduction, Miu is devalued into being the helpless captive of the monster-of-the-week. I can’t imagine this ever having happened with an extra Senshi before therefore, there’s only two possible options:

1.) the extra Senshi concept is not what it was and, mostly as a result of the president set by Dekaranger, the additional heroes are now indistinguishable from the five standard heroes.

or

2.) Miu is a girl and therefore the writers/developers don’t want to afford her with the prestige often given to the extra Senshi.

Personally, I think it’s a combination of both scenarios.

And Miu doesn’t even get crucified like any other self-respecting hero! Shame on you, Toei! (Although her legs are quite wide apart when she’s chained to that post…I’m sure there’s a whole realm of possibility there that no one wants to see explored)

Other things to file under Do-Not-Want during the course of this episode: Miu/Sosuke – you’re not even trying, Toei. Talk about your arbitrary possible love interest set ups. Give me a break.

The new Engine-o mech formation looks like the messiest clusterfuck since, well, the Carrygator formation.

So…the shine of Go-onWings lasted less than two episodes. That’s got to warrant some kind of all time low record, I’m sure.

V for Verdict: Guardian Sentai RoboMan #28 (SPOILERS)

Roboman #28, guest staring….GALVATRON!

This reader has also noted that whilst Ikku is happy to eat fish and chips, we still haven’t seen any jellied eels.

The latest issue goes above and beyond previous instalments. The tone of this issue is considerably more serious than in previous ones and the focus here is on the fight sequences – four scenes divided between the three Robomen and Senshi and Miko, all against unique robots sent out by former Roboman mentor Doctor Nagura.

Each sequence is dynamic and well paced, particularly the action involving the Robomen. Nagura’s robots are a lot more complex and sinister than anything seen thus far in the series, as is befitting a storyline that is, itself, the eve of the addition of two extra Robomen.

Somewhat more reservedly than when I first made my guess, my money remains on Kageki and Trick becoming GreenRobo and BlackRobo respectively. Over the past few issues, my resolve has been shaken a bit by the presence of Rose Brachis and her connection with Nagura and the extra Robosuits, but I think we’re on target again for Kageki and Trick joining the team.

I’m still not sure how the rest of the cast fit into the situation, the matter of the extra Senshi (pun intended) is slightly more complicated as, at this point, I’m thinking he serves the storyline better without becoming a Roboman.

What I am very happy about is Senshi/Miko and there’s a considerable amount of pandering to that pairing in this issue.

All in all this is the most solid issue of Roboman thus far.

My only complaint – we haven’t seen Chojin Robo for a while!

Keep up the good work, sir!

V for Verdict: Guardian Sentai RoboMan #26 -27 (SPOILERS)

So far, the current component of Roboman is like having my cake and eating it. All my favourite (human) characters turn up over these two issues, most significantly in the case of Guardian, who is truly awesome in his cameo during issue #26. After this, I am officially shipping Guardian/Rose Brachis.

Miko has a significant role in #27 in the set up for a possible connection with Kiko’s employer, Amy and, much more significantly, IMHO, in a scene with Senshi (for the record Miko/Senshi also works ~ today really is the day of angsty-snark-het-ships, it seems).

For me, these two episodes really go a long way to highlighting what a rich universe Roboman is set in. The central cast hardly appear in #27 and don’t feature at all in #26. Trick and Kageki go one better and remain completely absent from proceedings – and yet still the story is as compelling and interesting despite lacking what some might think of as its main selling points.

I honestly don’t think I can say more about this other to emphasise how much I’m enjoying the current arc and how I can’t wait for the next instalment.

Keep up the good work, sir!