Robotech Archives: The Macross Saga Vol. 1

Robotech Archives #1

by Carl Macek, Jack Herman, Syea Stauch (Artist)

The Robotech animated series is legendary, and now you can immerse yourself in the classic comics featuring those legends.

A new series of books collecting classic Robotech comic material, most of which are out of print or have never been previously collected. Featuring classic Robotech fan-favorite creators such as Carl Macek, Jack Herman, Mike Leeke and Neil Vokes.

For the first time ever, all of the classic comics from Robotech’s rich comics history printed together across 20 volumes! Collected across five series: The Macross Saga, Masters, New Generation, Sentinels and The Complete Robotech Volumes (a nine-volume series).

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Science Fiction

362 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 14, 2018

Reviews

[Sud666 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a blast. It collects the first 11 issues of the original series. Robotech did a lot to introduce anime into the United States and I recall, as a child, watching this series on WGN in Chicago. It was something completely different than the usual G.I. Joe and Transformers cartoons of the time. For the first thing-characters would actually die (eventually even claiming some important characters).

This excellent volume fills in some blanks about Zor Prime that were never made into cartoons and then picks up where the first episode starts. While the art style and coloring are old, the style seems to have aged incredibly well. I would even say I rather appreciated the art style.

The writing is very close to the actual anime series without any noticeable changes. If you are not familiar with this series, here is a brief synposis:

Earth has an alien spaceship crash land. It brings together the governments of the world as they seek to understand this new threat. Fast forward a decade or so and the humans have not only banded together but they have begun to apply the technology found and call it Robotechnology.

But the original owners of the ship, the Robotech Masters, send their giant sized alien shock troops-the Zentradei to recover the ship. It is the cast and characters of the ship(the SDF-1) and their Zentradei foes that make this such a great story. From Rick Hunter and Lisa Hayes to Bretai and Commander Dolza, they make this story.

If you are looking for the original story that became a hit, then this volume is for you. I will certainly be grabbing the 2nd Volume for my collection.

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was introduced to anime through Pokémon; before those pocket monsters came to American shores, I used to laugh at my friends for watching the Toonami programming block on Cartoon Network. Later on, I discovered Yu-Gi-Oh!, which I still watch to this day. Some Japanese animation I haven't been very impressed with; a few years ago, I bought a box set of videos--that is, VHS tapes; not DVDs!--of Dragon Ball Z, and would watch one every Saturday night while my parents were at an auction...only to be so annoyed at how inane it was, I gave it to a friend of mine to sell on eBay.

Still, anime has had a big influence on the United States, especially when it comes to our cartoons. When done right, it can be rather fun. A few months ago, I purchased a DVD of the original Robotech cartoon at a thrift store...only to discover that it was the second volume. Since I'm a stickler about watching shows in order, I made a special request at my local library to get the first volume on DVD. As soon as I got it, I watched one episode a day...and I had a blast with it. It's been said that you can't beat the classics; apparently, that's true of anime as well.

While looking for the series on DVD, I noticed my local 'berry had three Robotech graphic novels subtitled The Macross Saga; after enjoying the show, I thought: Why not check out the comics? The artist did a great job of bringing the action and dialogue to the page; plus, there was a prologue that showed what led up to the events of the first episode. Better yet, the content is rather clean-cut; the only content concerns were occasional mild profanity, a few "PG"-level sexual quips, and some immodestly dressed female characters, the latter of which was made less sultry due to the cartoon style. So, if you're looking for a new manga to try out, this would make a good one.

[Mark · Rating 1 out of 5]

Robotech Archives: The Macross Saga, Volume 1
Author: Mike Baron, Jack Herman, Carl Macek, Neil D Vokes, Sven Stauch, Reggie Byers, Dave Johnson
Publisher: Titan Comics
Publishing Date: 2023
Pgs: 371
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REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS
Summary:
When an alien vessel crashes into the Earth in the late twentieth century, carrying with it the advanced technology called Robotech, humans learn that they are not alone in the universe, and Earth governments respond.
_________________________________________
Genre:
Action
Adventure
Science Fiction
Graphic Novel
Mech
Aliens
Militaria
Space Opera


Why this book:
I've loved manga and anime since I first saw the English language Starblazers.
_________________________________________
The Page 100 Test:
Ω ◄ - struggle to finish this.
❌ ◄ - this needs a stop sign instead of a big red x.
(≖_≖ ) ◄ - side eyeing this
(‿|‿) ◄ - ass
( • )( • ) ◄ - this brings no honor to the empire
❚█══█❚ ◄ - this requires heavy lifting
¶ ◄ - the monolith disapproves of this
✈ - - - - ✈ ◄ - shot down in flames
~~*\o/~~~/\*~~ ◄ - better to be eaten by a shark or finish this
<>_<> ◄ - my disapproval is legendary
^ↀᴥↀ^ ◄ - the cat is debating whether to push this off the ledge or not

Plot Holes/Out of Character:
I'm sure now he'll have to try extra hard to impress his new commanding officer, and his girlfriend will misunderstand, even though she's partially to blame for his being where he was when his new superior officer saw him in his compromising position in the lingerie shop. Rations are tight and they're beyond Saturn's orbit, but yeah, sure lingerie shop.


Squadron names, call signs, and base designations aren't consistent issue to issue, even when events take place within a single day.


Cover and Interior Art:
The image of SDF-1 blazing thru the atmosphere over the Golden Gate is pretty cool.

Tropes:
Murphy walked right up to the crashed alien spaceship. Yep. He's gone. Yeah it only killed 7 out of 12 people who walked into it. What could possibly go wrong? We should totally move in and start using the machine that we don’t understand. We should rebuild it without understanding the science behind it. Sure, what could go wrong?

Caveman finds a gun with the cylinder open, clicks it shut, and shoots another member of the tribe while the one who gave him the gun watches from nearby. He offers the caveman more bullets.

Uhm Moments:
Find one grain of sand among all the grains of sand, not just in an hourglass, or on a beach, but on the entire planet. That's the task the Robotech Masters gave their commander.

Are the Invid and Robotech Masters in cahoots? I'm sure that's just a misinterpretation of dialogue, but still. The whole plant the protoculture, run away, and let the Invid attack it is a bit odd as a strategy.

Calling the Ball:
The plot isn't tight. And you can almost see that there is another story beneath the pastiche built atop it.

WTF Moments/RUFKM Moments:
And the whole Minmei subplot completely falls off the rails at her birthday party. Of course, it was staggering pretty well after the "I must visit the lingerie store while on a date and disappear on you, so that you can be embarrassed in front of your commander again who is shopping in the same store" episode. Not to mention the beauty pageant…don’t ever mention the beauty pageant. And the aliens watching its broadcast…and thinking it’s some kind of secret code. Brrphaaahh.

So a central precept of the Zentradi are that girls have cooties. Sigh. Even 70s/80s/90s bad translation doesn't excuse that.

Meh / PFFT Moments:
Hope it doesn't lean too much into the Johnny loves Carol and Carol loves Bill and Bill loves only himself aspect of too much of this stuff. I prefer it when things blow up. Shrug.

Wait...What?:
Zentradi war council, "We have strange reactions when we watch the humans kiss." ...sigh, I bet you do.

The Sigh:
I had high hopes for this and that I would be going great guns into the further Robotech books and other media, but I'm struggling to finish this. Sigh. Double sigh.


A Path I Can’t Follow:
I'm giving this a lot of slack because of my love of Gatchaman and Space Battleship Yamato, but damn...probably my last foray into Robotech. An editor could've done this a world of good.

Turd in the Punchbowl:
Internal continuity is shit. The Invitation number when little brother flies up to visit is different 6 pages apart.

And by kissing and letting Dolza and the Zentradi watch, the enemy was defeated. ...God, no.

Surely if they interact with the humans, they will get space cooties. I had high expectations for this.

Confirmation Bias:
Hey...let's stop the action of aliens trying to destroy the only Earth space super-fortress to have a Miss Macross contest where Minmei can treat Rick like crap again.

Juxtaposition:
Could you pull off a hoax big enough to unite the world? And what if in the middle of your hoax, the real thing showed up? And what if while the real thing was bearing down on you, the hoax was revealed? You'd be in the shit.

Strikeout:
The character interactions are very, much high school. Too much high school. Strike One
________________________________________
Last Page Sound:
I don't know about reading the next volume. Taking it under advisement, leaning no.


Questions I’m Left With:
I wonder if this is better in Japanese or if the inanity is translating correctly. Based on a Japanese anime from decades ago, trying really hard to cut this some slack. But it is so infantile in its translation. I wonder if the Japanese version is better. Or if I'm caught in a loop of Japanese trying to act American, and American trying to act Japanese, and each iteration gets further from reality and more silly in its presentation.

Conclusions I’ve Drawn:
This has made me gun-shy about reading Space Battleship Yamato/Starblazers. And I love me some Starblazers. Bastards.
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[Fizzgig76 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reprints Robotech: The Graphic Novel and Robotech: The Macross Saga #1-11 (December 1984-August 1986). When a giant alien spaceship called the SDF-1 crashes on a remote island on Earth, it brings a new renaissance of technology to Earth. Unfortunately, the aliens known as the Zentraedi want their ship back, and the Robotech Forces must defend it. When General Gloval accidentally teleports the SDF-1 near Saturn along with Macross Island, the ship and the survivors begin their dangerous trek home…and rookie pilot Rick Hunter finds himself thrust into the battle.

Written by Mike Baron, Jack Herman, and Carl Macek, Robotech Archives: The Macross Saga—Volume 1 is the comic book adaptation of the Robotech: Macross Saga anime series printed by Titan Comics. Featuring art by Neil D. Vokes, Svea Stauch, Reggie Byers, Dave Johnson, and Mike Leeke, the collection is a reprint of the Comico Comics and also includes the Robotech: The Graphic Novel (August 1986) which served as a prequel to the series.

I didn’t really watch Robotech growing up, but it was always there. The Robotech robots were like different versions of the Transformers, but with less marketing in the U.S. and less airing of the TV show. The Transformer Jetfire was even created from the mold of the VF-1S Super Valkyrie from Robotech…which always made him different than the other Transformers. I started watching the Robotech series in the 2000s…and it is a pretty compelling storyline.

The comic is a direct adaptation of the Robotech: Macross Saga. The comics are episode based and if you are familiar with the show and have seen episodes of it, it feels lifted almost 100%. This means both the good and the bad of Robotech is included. While I enjoy a lot of the Robotech series, the drama surrounding Rick, Minmei, and Lisa gets a little overboard…but at the start here, it is just ramping up.

The TV series didn’t include the graphic novel that starts out this collection. If you are encountering Robotech for the first time, the start can be a bit jarringwith a lot of techno jargon and characters you don’t know, but rereading the Robotech: The Macross Saga Graphic Novel is rewarding for fans of the show. If you do know the series, it is worthwhile to see how the SDF-1 ended up on Earth.

The art of the series is kind of a struggle. It has a lot of anime tones, but it doesn’t feel entirely like anime…but it also isn’t as developed as some of the normal comic books from the period. It feels rather like a hybrid and that could be a challenge for some readers.

As indicated by the title Robotech Archives: The Macross Saga—Volume 1, the collection is just the first part of a bigger story. Don’t go into this collection and expect a beginning and end. The story ends rather abruptly since it isn’t designed for collection reprints and you will have to seek out Robotech Archives: The Macross Saga—Volume 2 rather quickly if you want to find out what happens to Rick and the others….but it is worth it.

[Hugh Pfabe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one gets a bump in stars from 3 to 4 for the nostalgia factor, though it wasn't as good as I remembered it from when I was a kid.
The opening, with the prequel graphic novel, is great, story and art.
Then the main series begins, with Macek and his wife-to-be writing, and it's just ok. For the intentions of the art, I don't think they quite achieved what they were going for. The writing, also, shows that this was his first time writing a comic book, and I think he hadn't quite figured out what he was going to change from Macross into Robotech yet.
Despite Macek getting top billing, he only writes the first few issues.
After that, the new team does another ok job, but they make some choices in skipping entire scenes in the story that just make it feel disjointed and the art feels rushed, a bit more fan-art quality.
I loved this as a kid, but I think maybe my memories of the comics are a bit influenced by some of the better later sequels (and, to be fair, there were also some far, far worse later sequels, too).

[Rocky Sunico · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't expecting to enjoy this comic book adaptation of the old Harmony Gold creation that is Robotech, but really this is such a quirky artifact of its time. The effort to create a new narrative on top of the original Macross story and then create a supporting comic book series for it must have been something else because this is an oddly fun book. And it's not just a straight-up adaptation of the cartoon - it includes some prequel/back story material at the beginning that helps explain how the SDF-1 first made its way to Earth and the early explorations of the derelict by coincidentally many of the same characters who would become mainstays of the show.

The coloring is also an artifact of its time and someone end into the effort to change the handwritten text to a computer font - or at least that's how it appears to me.

If you loved the cartoon as a kid, this comic is an even more fun read.

[Kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this more interesting from a behind the scenes perspective. They tried so hard to be accurate to the TV series, would pause the video of the anime to get references and tried to recreate to process of cell creation. It looks good in a way that is almost uncanny.

Although been about 15 years since I last watched Robotech, I think it is more or less a direct adaptation. Interesting but also not something that is necessary to read.

[T.J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun collection of the original Robotech comic book series published in the 1980s by long-gone Comico Comics, beautifully reprinted on glossy colorful pages.

This is a direct adaptation of the cartoon episodes, so if you've never watched Robotech, check out the cartoon first. You'll love the dogfight visuals and beloved voice acting. If you're already a Robotech fan, these books are a nice companion and archive.

[Nate Balcom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book #13 of my #30BookSummer Challenge! Robotech Archives: The Macross Saga Vol. 1 by Carl Macek and Jack Herman. I’ve seen Robotech stuff since the 80s but never read or watched any of it. Figured I’d start here and see how it goes. Interesting but not super exciting so far.

[Robert John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Follows partway through the original series. I loved this stuff and things like Gundam would be nowhere without if.

[Michael Holland · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay. I've struggled to motivate myself to keep reading. It's Robotech after all. I finally gave up.