V for Verdict: Guardian Sentai RoboMan #39 – 40 (SPOILERS)

Sammy the Snake deserves to be voted into some kind of Hall of Awesome Monsters-of-the-Week.

One of the things that really pleased me about #39 is its long overdue focus on Guardian. It’s been far too long since we last saw him in action.

What surprises me about the way the story is unfolding is that Jinsei is seeming less and less like a villain and more and more like a potential ally for the Robo-team – if they could only settle their differences and come to a compromise. Another unexpected turn of events is the possibilty of Guardian/Miko, obviously not in this issue as she’s catatonic but maybe at an earlier or later point?

In other news, is Doctor Nagura about to become the extra senshi? Who knows…but it’s an entertaining train of thought to consider that, now he’s considerably younger and wearing a Robosuit there is the possibility that, should he regain control of his faculties, he might turn up as Silver Robo (or Red-and-Black Robo at the very least)…or not.

(remind me never to begin speculating on possible plot points, dear reader, when only half way through a paragraph).

Which leaves #39 being wholely focused on Guardian. This in itself is a good enough recommendation for you to read it. Issue #40 on the other hand kicks off with what may possibly have been an Ikku/Kageki scene in another life.

Yet whilst Ikku and Kageki are failing to make good on their tension, Kiko and Trick are going for it as if their lives depended on it. Really Kiko, Amy would be proud…

I still don’t trust Trick at all. If I were Mister Watts, I’d be setting up Trick as the ‘final boss’ of the series right about now…but I don’t want to suggest that as it really is exactly what I would do if I were writing this…

Issue #40 then goes on to become one of the most emotional traumatic and tense issues in the series thus far. I don’t think I fully understand the situation yet but I understand enough to hope Sei at least managed to slap Kageki’s dad during the time the final scenes are occupied with explaining Kageki’s situation.

Personally, #39 is my favourite of the two issues…but I think that #40 is the more powerful and the one that will have the most impact on the series and the reader.

And, dare I say it, with change in the air this might be a good time for new readers to discover the series.

Thus, if you haven’t read the series yet then #40 serves as a really good character study of four of the five Robomen.

Consider this my note of recommendation.

V for Verdict: Guardian Sentai RoboMan #38 (SPOILERS)

http://www.night-jaeger.net/fiction/roboman/roboman-38.htm

#38 is short but sweet. Obviously I’m cherishing this because this is the first new Robo material we’ve seen in a while.

Because of the length, there’s not much to say save for how easily the story resumes despite its prolonged absence from my friends page. From the opening word to the last, the characters are instantly recognisable and even though not much happens in this issue, save for the ending, it is a joy to read about these guys again.

Speaking of the end, I was a little surprised by how quick Trick Star is to acquiesce with a certain character we have yet to meet but already have a bad opinion of. It’s obvious that Trick knows a lot more than he’s saying but sometimes I wish he’d be a bit more honest rather than remaining silent.

This in itself is kind of interesting because one of the main conditions of Ikku’s return to the team is that there be no more secrets, a jibe aimed squarely at Sei, yet it seems to me that out of all them Trick has been keeping the most secrets.

We’ll see how things pan out in future issues, I guess.

So, in conclusion: a short issue that bridges what we’re read and what I suspect is to come.

Can’t wait for the continuation.

Jungle Fury #1 – 2 Mini Review (SPOILER-ish)

OMG!!

Adrian, it would appear that not only are Toei stalking you but Disney are in on the game too.

How’s this for a set up? The Rangers are sent to the Jungle Karma Pizza restaurant where they meet their new ally until the city is attacked by evil henchmen, at which point their best customer is forced to man the tills in an emergency situation.

You’ve got some Big Name Fans apparently, sir.

Having watched the first two episodes, I think it could have been a lot worse than it actually was. The three Rangers are fairly likeable and the storyline isn’t bad at all. There’s also a nice little Godzilla sound effect homage when the monster-of-the-week goes stomping through New Orleans the city.

My only real dissapointment with the show were the characters corresponding to Mele and Rio. ‘Mele’ in particular was a bit saddening as it appears the actress Disney chose to play her was a big fan of Frozen-era Madonna. They really should have cast Brenda Song as that character, then this series would have my undying love.

Bae, however, is awesome. I wasn’t convinced seeing as he doesn’t shut up through the entire mech fight sequence (which really did look high quality, props to Gekiranger for that) but, somewhere along the way, his constant commentary managed to win me over.

Mister Kev – I still have this on disc for you. If I post this tomorrow do you think it will reach you before you head out to Korea? Please tell me it will!

Ryuu – …sorry. (^_^);

V for Verdict: Guardian Sentai RoboMan #37 (SPOILERS)

http://www.night-jaeger.net/fiction/roboman/roboman-37.htm

Well, there goes the potential for my OTP. Just when Mister Watts was blurring the lines as to villains and heroes, it seems that Jinsei has subverted him and decided that Miko definitely belongs in the villain camp.

Things are going to get bad, is the underlying message of issues #35 – 37. Whilst Ikku might have returned to the team, nothing changes the fact that a lot of his argument *against* rejoining still stands regardless of his decision.

Sei is still withholding information, Amy Seaward is still devious and manipulative (and if she goes after Sei as the end of #37 suggests then, should they ever get romantic, I’m sure their babies would be the most devious and manipulative babies known to man), Miko is on the verge of becoming a villain again and Senshi is possibly turning into a werewolf due to her ‘quick fix’ cure…either that or Warwolf really is the extra team member we’ve been waiting for.

Which leaves us in the unenviable position of being on the precipice of a weekend and knowing Mister Watts is indulged in a ‘day off’. Oh, the indignity.

On a more serious note, whilst the Adapt or Die arc has been a storyline with a very distinct style but with the unfortunate task of walking the line directly between where the series has been and where its going. This concerns me slightly in regard to the collections as I now have a terrible fear that Roboman Volume I will end on a cliff-hanger and, whilst I feel that’s a good marketing point for a series in the public eye, I worry that it might not work so well for a series that cutting its teeth such as Roboman does.

Of course, I have no real idea as to what’s really going on with the collected material and even if there are plans for collections beyond Volume I.

But I digress, so, in order to keep this short, I will sum up: #35 – 37 is a difficult arc to enjoy because of the contrast in style and the tension of the atmosphere. It is, however, masterfully constructed but, on one level, it’s somewhat inaccessible.

What concerns me, now more than ever, is the future of the storyline and what events are about to happen to some of the central cast. Until I know that it’s hard to look at these issues as an individual story.

Consider this a mark of my anxiety!

V for Verdict: Guardian Sentai RoboMan #36 (SPOILERS)

The Big Easy’s adopted guardians really aren’t having it easy lately.

*ba-ba-boom*

Ladies and gentlemen, I think we’ve just met our first extra senshi…well, maybe not but the appearance of Warwolf, who possesses a name very reminiscent of Claremont/Davis era Excalibur, reminds me of our first meeting with GaoSilver in the awesome HyakuuJuu Sentai Gaoranger (which in turn leads me to a meandering sidenote about what Gao would have been like had Claremont/Davis took over creative control).

But I digress…

In other news: Amy is bad news. Still.

But now we have a specific reason to believe so! Or rather, now we have the assumption of specific reason, which isn’t really much further on from where we were a couple of issues ago but it’s amazing what a single gesture and a nonchalant line can do when you’re *looking* for a reason to accuse a character of being evil.

I’m really interested in Ikku’s solo career and his attempts to strike out on his own in spite of his former teammates. My only complaint is that Warwolf turns up somewhat unexpectedly and departs in much the same way. I fully understand that the actual reality of the sequence is open to interpretation but it did make me wonder if a bit more of a lead in to his appearance wouldn’t have gone amiss.

Of course, it’s also possible that this event may have been subtly foreshadowed and I’ve completely missed it due to my constant focus on when Guardian and Chojin Robo are going to turn up again.

Ho hum.

All in all a solid issue. Looking forwards to the next one.

V for Verdict: Guardian Sentai RoboMan #35 (SPOILERS)

Robo #35 focuses almost exclusively on the character of Sato Senshi and the budding Senshi/Miko relationship to which I give my complete support.

This is one of those issues that sadly suffers from the extended format of Mister Watts’ series – because each ‘component’ of Roboman is divided into three issues, as the stories themselves have become more complex the opening issues sometimes have a tendency to be less ‘filling’ than the following two. I guess this is because the opening issue has to set up the story and the premise whereas the issues that come after can be devoted entirely either to action or character interaction, both of which are often abundant.

Which isn’t to say that #35 doesn’t feature development because it does – it’s just that because the focus is solely on Miko and Senshi, it’s easy for the mind to start wondering what the rest of the characters are doing.

This is a supreme example of my impatience whilst reading ongoing stories, I fear.

I’m arguing this point like I feel I have to come up with ‘x’ amount of bad points to try and prove that I’m not, by this point, hideously biased, when in fact I am.

This is, in itself, a recommendation. By now I am emotionally engaged and very attached to the characters and that is one of the most striking things about this series. For a title featuring no connection, save for its genre, with an established canon that I have read as an online serial, Roboman is unique amongst its peers in that it stands alone with no shared universe, no cadre of fellow writers to back it up and still manages to make such a significant impact on me.

So I don’t feel as bad as I may have made out that this issue is entirely set up…and neither should you.

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.