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Battle Of The Planets Volume 1: Trial By Fire
Sandy Frank Productions, Top Cow Productions and Alex Ross proudly present: Battle of the Planets! Join Mark, Jason, Tiny, Keyop, and Princess on their adventures to save the earth from the evil Zoltar and the forces of Spectra! The attack on Earth has begun, and only the super-team known as G-Force stands between the forces of evil and our planet's utter destruction. Can Mark, Jason, Keyop, Tiny and Princess defeat Zoltar and the soldiers of Spectra? Earth had better hope so, because time is running out! Collects Battle of the Planets #1-3!
80 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 15, 2017
It’s transmutation time!
I bought this in its single comic book issues, but I chosen this TPB edition to make a better overal review.
This TPB edition collects “Battle of the Planets” #1-3.
Creative Team:
Writer: Munier Sharrieff
Illustrator: Wilson Tortosa
Colors: UDON Studios
Covers & Art Direction: Alex Ross
FAITH & PATIENCE
Thanks to the priceless help of a very dear friend of mine, I was able to get this series on its single comic book issues (even having the #1 in its rare holo-foil cover), and I was quite happy with it, but sadly back then I had to tell her to cut the run (like in #8) due means for getting lower my expenses in comics, however if I’d know then that this won’t be an ongoing title but a maxi-series (12 issues) certainly I’d the effort to keep it until finished it.
I was sad since I thought then that I wouldn’t be able to complete this run, since back then (2002) it was quite difficult to get American comic books here (Costa Rica), without the help of my friend, I wouldn’t be able to get any of the run.
But, as I already mentioned in other review, faith and patience are the best tools for a comic book collector, since some years later, I was able to get two more issues when a comic book store (that it’s not in business now) brought a batch of back issues of several houses (including Indy comics), still I was short of two more issues to complete, but my current local comic book store was able to track down my missing two issues, and finally I completed the run.
Faith and Patience, people.
FIVE DIFFERENT NAMES, ACTING AS ONE!
Maybe some of you don’t have a clue of what the heck is Battle of the Planets at all, but maybe some of you know this through other names…
…Science Ninja Team Gatchaman, it was the original Japanese title of this anime series developed by the legendary company of Tatsunoko (responsible of several popular anime series such as Speed Racer, Teknoman & Robotech) but you even could know this as…
…G-Force, Guardians of Space or Eagle Riders…
…but for me it always will be…
…Battle of the Planets!!!
Mark (G-1), Jason (G-2), Princess (G-3), Keyop (G-4) and Tiny (G-5)!
The Eagle, the Condor, the Swan, the Swallow and the Owl!
The Leader, the Hot-shot, the Girl, the Kid and the Chubby One!
Five warriors acting as one!!!
So, it was awesome to know about this comic book maxi-series using its first title chosen to be used in America, Battle of the Planets, and using the characters’ names that I am more familiarized with (since on each “reboot” of the series, they don’t only change the series’ title but the names of the characters too, while using the same footage!).
Ah! And nope, those dang hamsters aren’t any related to this great Anime series, they just stole the name for that dreadful movie. Geez!
FLARED PANTS & LONG HAIR
This maxi-series of Battle of the Planets is a reboot of the original series, keeping the core of the storylines changes done for its American screening (with only the odd major lack of 7-Zark-7, that while indeed the robot didn’t exist in its original Japanese format, it was indeed one of the main distinctive features of its Battle of the Planets edited way), but also adding a deeper and more intricated plot to the series.
The version of Earth in this series is far more advanced to ours, where now fossil fuels aren’t the key way to vehicles and machinery, but cold fusion nuclear energy, but this advanced technology didn’t keep them to be still in use the flared pants and long hair (thank Goodness since without that, you woulnd’t have the same feeling for the G-Force team while in their civilian personas).
Spectra, the alien invading empire, has been working for several years but in so secretive way, that the United Global Alliance doesn’t know of its existence and the idea of aliens invading Earth is considered a wacko idea (not matter that Spectra is using a dang giant metal mecha turtle!!!)…
…but Dr. Anderson has been exposed of this threat, several year ago, and he started to develop a response team able to deal with this major alien menace…
Enter: Science Ninja Team Gatchaman!
Five teenagers, trained since early childhood in all kind of hand-to-hand combat techniques, having extended medical procedures to enhance their skills and speed to levels way above of any other human, and with access to state-of-the-art technology (weapons and vehicles).
But the team hasn’t been tested in the field yet, and the United Global Alliance isn’t so sure to send a rookie team against the most dangerous menace that humankind has faced so far…
…but they were (literally) transmutated for this.
Spectra is the threat that G-Force was trained to deal with.
However, this baptism of (literal) fire will put them to the limits of their amazing abilities, along with their attitude to really work as a single team…
…and Spectra is only getting started!
I bought this in its single comic book issues, but I chosen this TPB edition to make a better overal review.
This TPB edition collects “Battle of the Planets” #1-3.
Creative Team:
Writer: Munier Sharrieff
Illustrator: Wilson Tortosa
Colors: UDON Studios
Covers & Art Direction: Alex Ross
FAITH & PATIENCE
Thanks to the priceless help of a very dear friend of mine, I was able to get this series on its single comic book issues (even having the #1 in its rare holo-foil cover), and I was quite happy with it, but sadly back then I had to tell her to cut the run (like in #8) due means for getting lower my expenses in comics, however if I’d know then that this won’t be an ongoing title but a maxi-series (12 issues) certainly I’d the effort to keep it until finished it.
I was sad since I thought then that I wouldn’t be able to complete this run, since back then (2002) it was quite difficult to get American comic books here (Costa Rica), without the help of my friend, I wouldn’t be able to get any of the run.
But, as I already mentioned in other review, faith and patience are the best tools for a comic book collector, since some years later, I was able to get two more issues when a comic book store (that it’s not in business now) brought a batch of back issues of several houses (including Indy comics), still I was short of two more issues to complete, but my current local comic book store was able to track down my missing two issues, and finally I completed the run.
Faith and Patience, people.
FIVE DIFFERENT NAMES, ACTING AS ONE!
Maybe some of you don’t have a clue of what the heck is Battle of the Planets at all, but maybe some of you know this through other names…
…Science Ninja Team Gatchaman, it was the original Japanese title of this anime series developed by the legendary company of Tatsunoko (responsible of several popular anime series such as Speed Racer, Teknoman & Robotech) but you even could know this as…
…G-Force, Guardians of Space or Eagle Riders…
…but for me it always will be…
…Battle of the Planets!!!
Mark (G-1), Jason (G-2), Princess (G-3), Keyop (G-4) and Tiny (G-5)!
The Eagle, the Condor, the Swan, the Swallow and the Owl!
The Leader, the Hot-shot, the Girl, the Kid and the Chubby One!
Five warriors acting as one!!!
So, it was awesome to know about this comic book maxi-series using its first title chosen to be used in America, Battle of the Planets, and using the characters’ names that I am more familiarized with (since on each “reboot” of the series, they don’t only change the series’ title but the names of the characters too, while using the same footage!).
Ah! And nope, those dang hamsters aren’t any related to this great Anime series, they just stole the name for that dreadful movie. Geez!
FLARED PANTS & LONG HAIR
This maxi-series of Battle of the Planets is a reboot of the original series, keeping the core of the storylines changes done for its American screening (with only the odd major lack of 7-Zark-7, that while indeed the robot didn’t exist in its original Japanese format, it was indeed one of the main distinctive features of its Battle of the Planets edited way), but also adding a deeper and more intricated plot to the series.
The version of Earth in this series is far more advanced to ours, where now fossil fuels aren’t the key way to vehicles and machinery, but cold fusion nuclear energy, but this advanced technology didn’t keep them to be still in use the flared pants and long hair (thank Goodness since without that, you woulnd’t have the same feeling for the G-Force team while in their civilian personas).
Spectra, the alien invading empire, has been working for several years but in so secretive way, that the United Global Alliance doesn’t know of its existence and the idea of aliens invading Earth is considered a wacko idea (not matter that Spectra is using a dang giant metal mecha turtle!!!)…
…but Dr. Anderson has been exposed of this threat, several year ago, and he started to develop a response team able to deal with this major alien menace…
Enter: Science Ninja Team Gatchaman!
Five teenagers, trained since early childhood in all kind of hand-to-hand combat techniques, having extended medical procedures to enhance their skills and speed to levels way above of any other human, and with access to state-of-the-art technology (weapons and vehicles).
But the team hasn’t been tested in the field yet, and the United Global Alliance isn’t so sure to send a rookie team against the most dangerous menace that humankind has faced so far…
…but they were (literally) transmutated for this.
Spectra is the threat that G-Force was trained to deal with.
However, this baptism of (literal) fire will put them to the limits of their amazing abilities, along with their attitude to really work as a single team…
…and Spectra is only getting started!
December 21, 2012
Way back when I was a wee little one, I had a favourite show, which featured my first crush.
This most awesome show ever made, to my six year old mind, was called Battle Of The Planets, and the lovely lady whom I fell for was named Princess.
For those of you of a certain age, Battle Of The Planets will instantly bring to mind not only the show, but also that thumping orchestral theme song. That tune is now jumping around your eardrums right now. Admit it.
BOTP, as the true fans know it, was originally a 1970’s Japanese cartoon series called Space Ninja Gatchaman. When it was brought over to North America, and slightly re-edited to delete some violence and sexuality, it was rechristened Battle Of The Planets. And it took the schoolyards like mine by storm.
The basic premise was that alien invaders called Spectra attacked Earth with giant metal monsters all the time. Four teens and one genetically grown youth, all decked out in 1970’s leisure suits, have been trained and made cybernetic in order to fight this menace. When duty calls, they wave their watches, causing funky disco lights to transmute their clothes into specialized bird based armour and weapons. And they are called G-Force!
Mark is the steadfast leader flying the jet. Jason is the jerk sharpshooter driving a racecar. Princess is the calm gentle lady whipping about on a motorcycle. Keyop is the cute trickster who has a bubble thingee full of gadgets. And Tiny is the one whose heart is as big as his size, and he flies the group’s main vehicle The Phoenix.
Extra characters are along for the ride. One is Chief Anderson, their leader slash creator. Another is the villain Zoltar, who harbours a shocking secret for 1970’s television. To make the show more palpable to us little kids, they plopped in new animation with the robot 7-Zark-7 to explain away parts of the story. None of us in the schoolyard liked that yakking twerp.
The series had thrills, chills, romance, pulse pounding adventures, and one two-parter that totally blew my young mind. The bad guys had found out where Center Neptune, the hidden underwater headquarters of our heroes was, and mercilessly attacked it. Best. Episodes. Ever. The fact that Center Neptune was rebuilt right away like nothing had occurred ticked off my fanboy sensibilities.
Princess became a mayor preoccupation of young love for me. I knew right then that someday, somehow, I would marry Princess and help her fight the good fight and save the Earth. This was just fate and destiny obvious to all. The fact she was a cartoon character never seemed to enter my logic. Unrequited love hurts so much.
Keyop was the one character I disliked. He was the scrawny little one, much younger than the rest, and because I was undersized for my age, many in the playground automatically labeled me Keyop. Adding to my woes was that Keyop spoke with a stutter and other speech impediments, a trait I happened to have as well, did not help. Against my wishes many a time, I was forced to play Keyop whenever BOTP was enacted by my peers. Grew to really hate that. Never got to play Mark, Princess’s quasi-love interest. Darnit.
For the longest time after the series ended, it simply vanished. About a decade ago, they finally started releasing dvd’s for the masses, which I have some of thanks to my brothers. The coolness factor of seeing these old favourites still give me goosebumps. Unfortunately, those two exciting episodes with Center Neptune getting demolished is not included.
This remembrance was prompted by an acquisition I made at FanExpo this year. After many years of hemming and hawing, I finally took the plunge and picked up the Battle Of The Planets comic series from 2002. These twelve issues were critical and commercial successes, and apparently redefined the BOTP universe for all time.
To say the least, this series does all that. And does it magnificently.
Battle Of The Planets dwells into the characters, their histories, and distinct personalities. Mark’s insecurities as leader is contrasted with how hotheaded Jason blows off steam. Princess exhibits her natural nurturing with the haunted Keyop. Tiny shows love through strength while Chief Anderson maneuvers through political minefields with expert aplomb. Thankfully 7-Zark-7 makes no appearances here.
All sorts of little nitpicks and inconsistencies that fans have been obsessing about for years are addressed here. And so many finer points of logic and storytelling never mentioned or thought of in BOTP is dealt as well. Would the military accept G-Force? Where did those giant mechanical monsters come from? And would anyone else try to take advantage of the chaos these attacks would create?
All this is wrapped up very nicely is an action packed exciting adventure story. The start of issue five contains a rescue sequence with the cool factor turned up to eleven. Appropriate breaks in the main narrative happen later in the series in order to accommodate a few spinoffs thrown in along the way. These are next on my to get list.
While the series ends with a SHOCKING twist, unseen and unheard of in the history of Battle Of The Planets, there was never any conclusion. The license expired, which causes much consternation for me and my five year old self. What will happen next? Will our heroes overcome and ultimately defeat the threat of Spectra? My goosebumps have goosebumps awaiting this resolution.
This series that I have finally read after ten years of dithering is well worth it. A modern update that maintains the flavor of the original Battle Of The Planets, leisure suits and all.
And I still have a crush on Princess, my favourite cartoon princess ever.
This most awesome show ever made, to my six year old mind, was called Battle Of The Planets, and the lovely lady whom I fell for was named Princess.
For those of you of a certain age, Battle Of The Planets will instantly bring to mind not only the show, but also that thumping orchestral theme song. That tune is now jumping around your eardrums right now. Admit it.
BOTP, as the true fans know it, was originally a 1970’s Japanese cartoon series called Space Ninja Gatchaman. When it was brought over to North America, and slightly re-edited to delete some violence and sexuality, it was rechristened Battle Of The Planets. And it took the schoolyards like mine by storm.
The basic premise was that alien invaders called Spectra attacked Earth with giant metal monsters all the time. Four teens and one genetically grown youth, all decked out in 1970’s leisure suits, have been trained and made cybernetic in order to fight this menace. When duty calls, they wave their watches, causing funky disco lights to transmute their clothes into specialized bird based armour and weapons. And they are called G-Force!
Mark is the steadfast leader flying the jet. Jason is the jerk sharpshooter driving a racecar. Princess is the calm gentle lady whipping about on a motorcycle. Keyop is the cute trickster who has a bubble thingee full of gadgets. And Tiny is the one whose heart is as big as his size, and he flies the group’s main vehicle The Phoenix.
Extra characters are along for the ride. One is Chief Anderson, their leader slash creator. Another is the villain Zoltar, who harbours a shocking secret for 1970’s television. To make the show more palpable to us little kids, they plopped in new animation with the robot 7-Zark-7 to explain away parts of the story. None of us in the schoolyard liked that yakking twerp.
The series had thrills, chills, romance, pulse pounding adventures, and one two-parter that totally blew my young mind. The bad guys had found out where Center Neptune, the hidden underwater headquarters of our heroes was, and mercilessly attacked it. Best. Episodes. Ever. The fact that Center Neptune was rebuilt right away like nothing had occurred ticked off my fanboy sensibilities.
Princess became a mayor preoccupation of young love for me. I knew right then that someday, somehow, I would marry Princess and help her fight the good fight and save the Earth. This was just fate and destiny obvious to all. The fact she was a cartoon character never seemed to enter my logic. Unrequited love hurts so much.
Keyop was the one character I disliked. He was the scrawny little one, much younger than the rest, and because I was undersized for my age, many in the playground automatically labeled me Keyop. Adding to my woes was that Keyop spoke with a stutter and other speech impediments, a trait I happened to have as well, did not help. Against my wishes many a time, I was forced to play Keyop whenever BOTP was enacted by my peers. Grew to really hate that. Never got to play Mark, Princess’s quasi-love interest. Darnit.
For the longest time after the series ended, it simply vanished. About a decade ago, they finally started releasing dvd’s for the masses, which I have some of thanks to my brothers. The coolness factor of seeing these old favourites still give me goosebumps. Unfortunately, those two exciting episodes with Center Neptune getting demolished is not included.
This remembrance was prompted by an acquisition I made at FanExpo this year. After many years of hemming and hawing, I finally took the plunge and picked up the Battle Of The Planets comic series from 2002. These twelve issues were critical and commercial successes, and apparently redefined the BOTP universe for all time.
To say the least, this series does all that. And does it magnificently.
Battle Of The Planets dwells into the characters, their histories, and distinct personalities. Mark’s insecurities as leader is contrasted with how hotheaded Jason blows off steam. Princess exhibits her natural nurturing with the haunted Keyop. Tiny shows love through strength while Chief Anderson maneuvers through political minefields with expert aplomb. Thankfully 7-Zark-7 makes no appearances here.
All sorts of little nitpicks and inconsistencies that fans have been obsessing about for years are addressed here. And so many finer points of logic and storytelling never mentioned or thought of in BOTP is dealt as well. Would the military accept G-Force? Where did those giant mechanical monsters come from? And would anyone else try to take advantage of the chaos these attacks would create?
All this is wrapped up very nicely is an action packed exciting adventure story. The start of issue five contains a rescue sequence with the cool factor turned up to eleven. Appropriate breaks in the main narrative happen later in the series in order to accommodate a few spinoffs thrown in along the way. These are next on my to get list.
While the series ends with a SHOCKING twist, unseen and unheard of in the history of Battle Of The Planets, there was never any conclusion. The license expired, which causes much consternation for me and my five year old self. What will happen next? Will our heroes overcome and ultimately defeat the threat of Spectra? My goosebumps have goosebumps awaiting this resolution.
This series that I have finally read after ten years of dithering is well worth it. A modern update that maintains the flavor of the original Battle Of The Planets, leisure suits and all.
And I still have a crush on Princess, my favourite cartoon princess ever.
May 26, 2008
It says a lot about this book that while the artists of each poster page and alternative cover are carefully noted, nowhere is anyone credited as the writer. Five names are listed on the cover, including Alex Ross (only credited for covers inside), Munier Sharrieff and Dreamer Design (neither credited at all inside). Inside each issue is credited to Wilson Tortosa, Rhyse Yorke & Shane Law, with Edwin David also credited for issue one, though there's no sign what precise role any of them played.
Basically, it's a bit of a pudding.
To be honest, I only started to read this because it was hanging around the house and I was trying to whip through a few books quickly to get my number of unread books down a bit. But within a few short pages I was forcefully reminded just how much I loved this cartoon when it was first on. I don't think we ever got Speed Racer in the UK, or Robotech, or Astro Boy, but we got Battle of the Planets, and it was the most exciting thing I'd ever seen. Even now I find the concept of the fiery Phoenix illogically thrilling.
This was an reasonably enjoyable start to a series. Three-issue trade paperbacks are so short as to be rather pointless, but it got things off to a decent start. The figure work isn't always perfect, but the unnamed writers seem to have a good handle on the characters. No sign of 7-Zark-7 yet, though I'm sure he'll turn up eventually.
Basically, it's a bit of a pudding.
To be honest, I only started to read this because it was hanging around the house and I was trying to whip through a few books quickly to get my number of unread books down a bit. But within a few short pages I was forcefully reminded just how much I loved this cartoon when it was first on. I don't think we ever got Speed Racer in the UK, or Robotech, or Astro Boy, but we got Battle of the Planets, and it was the most exciting thing I'd ever seen. Even now I find the concept of the fiery Phoenix illogically thrilling.
This was an reasonably enjoyable start to a series. Three-issue trade paperbacks are so short as to be rather pointless, but it got things off to a decent start. The figure work isn't always perfect, but the unnamed writers seem to have a good handle on the characters. No sign of 7-Zark-7 yet, though I'm sure he'll turn up eventually.
July 30, 2015
Sharrieff tells an engaging and well-paced story in this adaptation of Battle of the Planets. The art is appropriate for this story, and the covers by Michael Turner, Marc Silvestri and Alex Ross are a really nice addition.
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