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Robotech #1
Robotech: Countdown
The world-famous, fan-favorite animated epic returns to comics with a classic transforming-jetfighters-versus-giant-aliens adventure!
Return to the fan-favorite Macross Saga that began the classic Robotech franchise, as hotshot Veritech pilot Roy Fokker and skilled rookie Rick Hunter are pulled into an intergalactic war when the Earth is invaded by the insidious Zentraedi!
Whether you've seen the classic cartoon to the point you can quote every episode, or whether you've never experienced Robotech before, this graphic novel collection is for you!
Return to the fan-favorite Macross Saga that began the classic Robotech franchise, as hotshot Veritech pilot Roy Fokker and skilled rookie Rick Hunter are pulled into an intergalactic war when the Earth is invaded by the insidious Zentraedi!
Whether you've seen the classic cartoon to the point you can quote every episode, or whether you've never experienced Robotech before, this graphic novel collection is for you!
112 pages, Paperback
First published November 14, 2017
40 people are currently reading
590 people want to read
About the author
Brian Wood
1,173 books961 followersBrian Wood's history of published work includes over fifty volumes of genre-spanning original material.
From the 1500-page future war epic DMZ, the ecological disaster series The Massive, the American crime drama Briggs Land, and the groundbreaking lo-fi dystopia Channel Zero he has a 20-year track record of marrying thoughtful world-building and political commentary with compelling and diverse characters.
His YA novels - Demo, Local, The New York Four, and Mara - have made YALSA and New York Public Library best-of lists. His historical fiction - the viking series Northlanders, the American Revolution-centered Rebels, and the norse-samurai mashup Sword Daughter - are benchmarks in the comic book industry.
He's written some of the biggest franchises in pop culture, including Star Wars, Terminator, RoboCop, Conan The Barbarian, Robotech, and Planet Of The Apes. He’s written number-one-selling series for Marvel Comics. And he’s created and written multiple canonical stories for the Aliens universe, including the Zula Hendricks character.
From the 1500-page future war epic DMZ, the ecological disaster series The Massive, the American crime drama Briggs Land, and the groundbreaking lo-fi dystopia Channel Zero he has a 20-year track record of marrying thoughtful world-building and political commentary with compelling and diverse characters.
His YA novels - Demo, Local, The New York Four, and Mara - have made YALSA and New York Public Library best-of lists. His historical fiction - the viking series Northlanders, the American Revolution-centered Rebels, and the norse-samurai mashup Sword Daughter - are benchmarks in the comic book industry.
He's written some of the biggest franchises in pop culture, including Star Wars, Terminator, RoboCop, Conan The Barbarian, Robotech, and Planet Of The Apes. He’s written number-one-selling series for Marvel Comics. And he’s created and written multiple canonical stories for the Aliens universe, including the Zula Hendricks character.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
April 29, 2018
Vote: 3,5
A good first volume of Brian Wood's Robotech comic adaption with all the trademark elements of the series (intense emotionale situations, well fleshed characters, emotionally intense human relationships and action packed mecha battles), sometimes you can almost hear Harmony Gold's classic soundtrack theme playing in the background while reading.
Marco Turini's artworks are excellent ones but sometimes action sequences seem too much static.
The main storyline is the one everybody knows and love, but that shocking ending turns for good this adaption in a radical reboot that not all diehard Robotech fans are going to love.
A daring and brave move, throwing the series towards a totally new and unexpected direction.
Not bad at all.
October 12, 2018
Titan reboots Robotech in an OK series ending with a change meant to show that this is not just a retelling of the series. The collection is too short at only 4 issues. We're just getting introduced to the characters when it ends. Marco Turini's art makes Robotech look great.
June 26, 2019
So, Robotech was popular with a certain crowd back in the proverbial day. I could understand the appeal, but I never had access to the VHS cassettes or such so believe it or not at my tender 39 years this is the first time I'd ever consumed any of the content, so no nostalgia factor at play for me.
Enjoyable? Sure. Clearly and suitably ironically a throwback (check out Captain Gloval and his Charlie's Angels-esque Bridge Crew, complete with miniskirts and heels)? OK, fine. But on the whole the story just steamrolled ahead without really establishing much in the way of character or stakes. Besides, you know, Alien Invasion!!! and so on.
Enjoyable? Sure. Clearly and suitably ironically a throwback (check out Captain Gloval and his Charlie's Angels-esque Bridge Crew, complete with miniskirts and heels)? OK, fine. But on the whole the story just steamrolled ahead without really establishing much in the way of character or stakes. Besides, you know, Alien Invasion!!! and so on.
February 13, 2018
I had high hopes for this new Robotech comic by Brian Wood, but it's shockingly dull.
It's in large-part a retelling of the Macross part of the Robotech saga. And it's been decades since I saw or read these stories, but they're still too familiar to be particularly interesting on a reread.
Meanwhile, Titan has inexplicably been given the OK to make this retelling a reboot. But it's not used to any good effect. I mean, reboots rarely are: 4 times out of 5 they're a poor storyteller's last resort. But Robotech is worse than most, at least so far. It doesn't make any attempt to address the fact that the tropes and tech of the series have been passed by by the rest of the world. However it does offer a "shocking" and pointless death just to show that it's not beholden to the original story.
Overall, Wood's Robotech feels like the worst of both worlds, and it's definitely not for classic fans of the series.
It's in large-part a retelling of the Macross part of the Robotech saga. And it's been decades since I saw or read these stories, but they're still too familiar to be particularly interesting on a reread.
Meanwhile, Titan has inexplicably been given the OK to make this retelling a reboot. But it's not used to any good effect. I mean, reboots rarely are: 4 times out of 5 they're a poor storyteller's last resort. But Robotech is worse than most, at least so far. It doesn't make any attempt to address the fact that the tropes and tech of the series have been passed by by the rest of the world. However it does offer a "shocking" and pointless death just to show that it's not beholden to the original story.
Overall, Wood's Robotech feels like the worst of both worlds, and it's definitely not for classic fans of the series.
February 6, 2022
Robotech was an anime that made huge waves in America during the 1980s. This version is a reboot of the series. For the most part it's good. Brian Wood has turned Rick Hunter into something of a putz, Minmei has gotten a "gurrl-power" makeover and is an obnoxious git, but the the rest of the story and characters are fairly close to the original.
A brief summation of the story for those who are unaware- the Earth was involv ed in the middle of a Third World War when an alien spacecraft crashes onto the planet. This elads humanity to band together to study the technology. In time, they learn quite a bit by reverse engineering.
Rick Hunter is visiting his older brother, Roy Fokker, who is a pilot with the Robotech Defense forces. During his visit, the spacecraft comes under attack from an alien spacecraft. The SDF-1 (the human's ship) must try to leave the Earth and flee the attackers.
This first volume covers the events up to the SDF-1 changing for the first time and with Macross island already having been transplanted into space.
Good art, close enough to the original story to be enjoyable, but I really had to use for the "gurrl-power" Minmei, it's a bit too forced. I mean during the alien invasion of 50 foot tall attackers, Rick finds her "guurll powering" around with a baseball bat. A baseball bat. Seriously?
I enjoyed the original series and will likely check out the rest of this new version, though at some point I'll have to read the originals as well.
A brief summation of the story for those who are unaware- the Earth was involv ed in the middle of a Third World War when an alien spacecraft crashes onto the planet. This elads humanity to band together to study the technology. In time, they learn quite a bit by reverse engineering.
Rick Hunter is visiting his older brother, Roy Fokker, who is a pilot with the Robotech Defense forces. During his visit, the spacecraft comes under attack from an alien spacecraft. The SDF-1 (the human's ship) must try to leave the Earth and flee the attackers.
This first volume covers the events up to the SDF-1 changing for the first time and with Macross island already having been transplanted into space.
Good art, close enough to the original story to be enjoyable, but I really had to use for the "gurrl-power" Minmei, it's a bit too forced. I mean during the alien invasion of 50 foot tall attackers, Rick finds her "guurll powering" around with a baseball bat. A baseball bat. Seriously?
I enjoyed the original series and will likely check out the rest of this new version, though at some point I'll have to read the originals as well.
June 24, 2019
I grew up with Robotech and didn't know if I needed another re-telling of this story. Thankfully, at least for me, by the ending of this first volume, it's clear that this isn't just the same old Macross storyline, rather a re-imagining. As I was reading I was thinking that I might not carry on with any of the other volumes - but the way things end off...well now I gotta find out what's gonna happen.
Well played Brian Wood.
Well played Brian Wood.
November 15, 2020
I know very little about robotech but I enjoyed this title. I understand this is a reboot of sorts so its a good place to start. The story was good, I liked the idea of alien tech introduced to earth but we dont fully understand it. The characters had a good presence, maybe a little cheesy but that's fine. The art was middle of the road, it wasn't bad or amazing. I actually want to read some more so I recommend it for now.
May 11, 2024
Its good enough to get my interest
...but I've been a Robotech fan for the better part of 4 decades. The art's good and I know they're hamstrung by the reboot nature of the story but the hint dropped about a time paradox...I don't care for it at all. That story element has been played out in sci fi.
...but I've been a Robotech fan for the better part of 4 decades. The art's good and I know they're hamstrung by the reboot nature of the story but the hint dropped about a time paradox...I don't care for it at all. That story element has been played out in sci fi.
September 1, 2019
I fell in love with Robotech through cartoon series by Harmony Gold back in 1980's. Visuals, action, everything was (and still is imho) top-notch.
Later I watched the original Macross anime and spin offs and enjoyed them too. But nevertheless Robotech was still the series that held special place in my heart whenever I think about the giant robots piloted by humans and fighting alien invaders.
So I was thrilled to jump into this comic adaptation.
First thing - art style is not manga style at all. I guess some people wont like it but I found it interesting and enjoyed it a lot. Unlike in the manga drawings veritech fighters are shown as rather slim, no organic touch to them with almost knightly armor touch to them. They are and remain sleek killing machines. Zentraedi battlepods on the other hand are just as depicted in the original stories.
Story wise volume 1 covers initial contact with the Zentraedi and desperate jump of SDF1 to the outer edge of the Solar system.
Authors managed to capture the spirit of the cartoon and I hope they keep up with the same quality in follow up volumes (which I am looking for right now :))
Recommended to all fans of giant battle machines, transforming space craft and action SF in general.
Later I watched the original Macross anime and spin offs and enjoyed them too. But nevertheless Robotech was still the series that held special place in my heart whenever I think about the giant robots piloted by humans and fighting alien invaders.
So I was thrilled to jump into this comic adaptation.
First thing - art style is not manga style at all. I guess some people wont like it but I found it interesting and enjoyed it a lot. Unlike in the manga drawings veritech fighters are shown as rather slim, no organic touch to them with almost knightly armor touch to them. They are and remain sleek killing machines. Zentraedi battlepods on the other hand are just as depicted in the original stories.
Story wise volume 1 covers initial contact with the Zentraedi and desperate jump of SDF1 to the outer edge of the Solar system.
Authors managed to capture the spirit of the cartoon and I hope they keep up with the same quality in follow up volumes (which I am looking for right now :))
Recommended to all fans of giant battle machines, transforming space craft and action SF in general.
April 8, 2019
It's a bit strange to read a Robotech story without the Japanese style artwork, but it somehow works. It's too bad that the reboot mostly fails in what it attempts to do, storywise.
I mean, it's cool that it tries to add some info and include some twists for those familiar with the original, but it also needlessly fucks things up by doing stuff like making Minmei even more of an annoying brat that she was in at the start of the Macross saga, and adding some twists like killing off Captain Gloval and making Lisa the new Captain of the SDF-1 early on, which seems all kinds of stupid, not because I'm against having Lisa be the boss since she was second in command anyway in the original, but because it makes it seem like most of the bad stuff that happens later is in part due to her inexperience as Captain, plus she looks goofy as shit in her version of Gloval's uniform. But that's not the only "shocking" twist.
Roy is also, in stark contrast to his personality in the cartoon, a bit of an asshole to Rick most of the time. And Khyron looks like Justin Bieber, which is dumb as fuck. Ah, and Rick has mutating eyes and Minmei has the power to fascinate people with her voice because "protoculture" and there's some dumfuckery with clones of Roy Fokker and Captain Gloval. No joke.
It's okay in general, but sometimes the changes don't add much to the story and seem to be either fan-service-ish or lame attempts at Shamalyan-esque mindfuckery.
I mean, it's cool that it tries to add some info and include some twists for those familiar with the original, but it also needlessly fucks things up by doing stuff like making Minmei even more of an annoying brat that she was in at the start of the Macross saga, and adding some twists like killing off Captain Gloval and making Lisa the new Captain of the SDF-1 early on, which seems all kinds of stupid, not because I'm against having Lisa be the boss since she was second in command anyway in the original, but because it makes it seem like most of the bad stuff that happens later is in part due to her inexperience as Captain, plus she looks goofy as shit in her version of Gloval's uniform. But that's not the only "shocking" twist.
Roy is also, in stark contrast to his personality in the cartoon, a bit of an asshole to Rick most of the time. And Khyron looks like Justin Bieber, which is dumb as fuck. Ah, and Rick has mutating eyes and Minmei has the power to fascinate people with her voice because "protoculture" and there's some dumfuckery with clones of Roy Fokker and Captain Gloval. No joke.
It's okay in general, but sometimes the changes don't add much to the story and seem to be either fan-service-ish or lame attempts at Shamalyan-esque mindfuckery.
July 19, 2018
This hits my nostalgia buttons, having read all the Robotech books as a teen, but once I started assessing it as someone without so much foreknowledge it's a little undercooked. Turini can draw, but telling stories is a different thing. Sometimes he doesn't get the right facial expression, and a lot of the battle sequences feel stiff. He needs more practice at suggesting motion. This book also needs better editing. Some of the dialogue could've been cleaned up in editing, but sometimes even punctuation is wrong, or word balloon tails point in the wrong direction (one panel hilariously makes it look like an exploding jet is screaming "ARGH!"). Since it's an ensemble cast the characters are only barely established at the moment. And this is only the opening arc...
February 15, 2018
The artwork, writing, coloring and lettering are all superb. The book is disappointing in its length, however, since only 89 of the 112 pages are devoted to the story at all. The rest is filler, pointless whole-page graphic separators unconnected to the story, sketches, process, and bios. Paid a lot for this, but there are already 26 used copies for less available on Amazon, as of the day of its first release. The storyline is too short. Bad value for the bucks. Too quickly read and discarded. it will take dozens of these to ever get into the story far enough to make interesting reading, but this is last one I buy, if it's meant to be a series.
December 17, 2019
Decided to give this retelling ago in preparation for diving into Robotech Remix (which I'm really excited about). Knowing what I do about that book, I enjoyed the changes to the story which I assume are foreshadowing the big twist to come. The art is good though jarringly different from what you expect from Robotech. My only criticism is that the characters don't get a lot of time to develop in the first four issues forcing you to rely on your pre-conceived notions of them (which assumes you're a longtime fan like me). That said, some characters are definitely headed in new (better) directions like Minmei. Looking forward to reading the next volume.
August 18, 2024
A Robotech reboot that starts the story over so that a new generation can engage with the world. The story is set on a future Earth that has a huge alien ship crash on an island. The world pulls together to understand the technology. Ten years later the aliens arrive to reclaim their lost ship, which is hinted at being something special. The ship’s crew barely understand what they’re doing and it’s a scramble to stay alive.
The art is excellent, the writing is okay, and the characters are okay. This first volume is burdened by a lot of scene-setting, character introductions, and exposition. I wanted more mecha action than I got. I assume volume 2 should really take off.
The art is excellent, the writing is okay, and the characters are okay. This first volume is burdened by a lot of scene-setting, character introductions, and exposition. I wanted more mecha action than I got. I assume volume 2 should really take off.
October 11, 2018
It's the Robotech story we all know and love, but being retold with new art, and some changes here and there that may be mostly cosmetic, or may hint at bigger changes to come. The art is not manga/anime style, so it's weird/interesting to meet the familiar characters with new looks, but I like it. I'm intrigued, especially if some of what they're hinting at turns out to be a much larger deviation of the original story.
June 20, 2019
I loved the unusual creation that is Robotech as it's actually different Japanese shows merged into a single continuity for American audiences. These comics are pretty fun adaptations of the original series with some effort to further flesh out the story and give us more insight into the different characters. This book is still the big warm-up before things really kick into high gear, but I'll never fully get over that moment when the SDF-1 first jumps. Still an amazing plot twist.
July 24, 2025
It’s fine. Very little brevity and the characters are drawn scowling all the time. The art goes for a more Western comic art style instead of the anime look of the original animated series. It makes sense for the more serious take on the material, but there’s very little fun to be had here. Even Minmei comes across as miserable which doesn’t really endear me to her character in the same way as the original series. Didn’t hate it but didn’t love it.
December 28, 2019
This is a great retelling of the Robotech story. I like the artwork here. The only questionable character that I don't like too much is Breetai.
You can tell that something is different from these first few issues. The intro exploration of the wreck shows micronians, and Gloval seems to know more than he is telling.
Great story, great art, and great legacy to work with.
You can tell that something is different from these first few issues. The intro exploration of the wreck shows micronians, and Gloval seems to know more than he is telling.
Great story, great art, and great legacy to work with.
January 29, 2022
An ok book that took elements of the series and gave it a spin. It is just the first four issues, and it feels like left on a cliffhanger that maybe die hard fans may want to follow.
Aside from that, it was a different rendition looking good in most of the panels, but visibly inconsistent in many others (Lisa and Minmei renders looked different on each panel, it took me from the story).
Aside from that, it was a different rendition looking good in most of the panels, but visibly inconsistent in many others (Lisa and Minmei renders looked different on each panel, it took me from the story).
August 5, 2023
I really want to like this. Brian Wood is one of my favorite comic writers, but there isn’t much to work with here. I loved Robotech as a kid, but even back then, Rick Hunter and Minmei annoyed the hell out of me. Maybe we’ll see what direction he takes this story? Can’t change too much though without fanboys going into a rage.
Character art is not good, but the rest of it is great!
Character art is not good, but the rest of it is great!
May 3, 2018
It was ok. The art is great, each page full of amazing drawings and colors. But the problem comes from the story. It wasn't very good. They didn't put much into the graphic novel and it ends after just four issues. It felt unfinished, like they wanted to get it out as soon as they could.
February 3, 2019
The gorgeous cover drawn by Artgerm had me so excited for this book...let's just say this would have a higher rating had they hired Artgerm to draw the whole thing. The writing is fine, though, and this new development of Minmei's character was pretty cool.
February 19, 2018
Love the Different way how they made this ,but also have the same story at the same time.
August 21, 2018
Pretty much just like the anime, except Minmei gets a backbone.
April 29, 2019
5 stars for the cover. Too bad the same art is not reflected consistently inside. As an old Robotech fan I still found myself enjoying the story, just to see the familiar faces.
June 17, 2019
Bad Cliff Notes of the tv series.
December 16, 2019
The art is horrid and the characters are not relatable. The covers look nothing like the interiors. Just watch the cartoon on Netflix--don't bother with these comics.
November 6, 2021
Cultural vandalism
Incoherent writing, mediocre art. Probably only exists so that certain companies can pretend to care about the property. Don't waste your time with it.
Incoherent writing, mediocre art. Probably only exists so that certain companies can pretend to care about the property. Don't waste your time with it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews