In the early eighties, Go Nagai's engaging and beautifully crafted space puppet opera X-Bomber (as it was known in Japan) was the East's answer to Star Wars: featuring the exploits of a young naive space pilot and his band of trusty heroes in their fight to collapse an Evil Imperial Alliance.
Though the series wears its love for all things Lucas on its sleeve its is much more than a simple rehash of Star Wars' set pieces and characters. Its own Japanese cultural origins offer originality where most Star Wars clones have failed. Expect men in large mech suits laying waste to model cities, monster movie style. Slick anime styled puppets and sets. A host of suped up space craft and weaponry with the ability to transform at the touch of a button. A planet populated by the cutest little furballs and the most evil pairing of dictators this side of Vader and Palpatine.
This is no 'no brainer' either. The series is brilliantly scripted and paced, developing its plot episodically to an incredible climax, rather than favouring unassociated stories which was more akin to the usual eighties kids shows fayre. Tight character development (including some key members meeting their demise), an intriguing mystery and wonderfully crafted cliff hangers also raise this way above the average kids show standard.
What more do you want me to say? ...Oh did I mention the bionic poison clawed assassin mantis? In Short...EXCELLENT and great to see it back on DVD in the UK.
Though the series wears its love for all things Lucas on its sleeve its is much more than a simple rehash of Star Wars' set pieces and characters. Its own Japanese cultural origins offer originality where most Star Wars clones have failed. Expect men in large mech suits laying waste to model cities, monster movie style. Slick anime styled puppets and sets. A host of suped up space craft and weaponry with the ability to transform at the touch of a button. A planet populated by the cutest little furballs and the most evil pairing of dictators this side of Vader and Palpatine.
This is no 'no brainer' either. The series is brilliantly scripted and paced, developing its plot episodically to an incredible climax, rather than favouring unassociated stories which was more akin to the usual eighties kids shows fayre. Tight character development (including some key members meeting their demise), an intriguing mystery and wonderfully crafted cliff hangers also raise this way above the average kids show standard.
What more do you want me to say? ...Oh did I mention the bionic poison clawed assassin mantis? In Short...EXCELLENT and great to see it back on DVD in the UK.