Book 6: Robotech: Doomsday

by Nathan Stout (of AccordingToWhim.com)

Doomsday (by Jack McKinney) is the last of the 'First Robotech War' of books. It finishes out the final of the 36 episodes of the 'Macross Saga' part of Robotech. It begins a little out of sync of the show with the Robotech Masters detecting that something has happened in the war of the SDF-1 and the Zentraedi grand fleet.

During the first chapter there is some very interesting re-capping of the story of Zor that I never really thought much about in the past. The series never goes into the explanation of how Zor was the master of the secrets of Protoculture and exactly how the 'Masters' of Robotech came into power. It is pointed out that it was Zor who started it all with his discovery of turning the flower of life into a power source. The book goes on to tell us that it was with this power that the Zentraedi were created and put to work on Fantoma as miners. The 'Masters' manipulated Zor and took control of the Protoculture, put themselves in power, and turned the Zentraedi into warriors. A plausible storyline but this all means that the rise of the Robotech Masters and their empire happened only within Zor's lifetime. Zor didn't appear to be that old (at least his clones didn't (and he didn't in the comics). That means that the WHOLE of the events that put the Masters in power and such happened in just a few short years. From the show, comics, art, and books (an the unoffical Robotech timeline) it always seemed to me that the Masters and their Zentraedi had been around for a long time... apparently not! There is some food for thought.

I finished this book then promptly let life overtake my ambitions to run headlong through the Robotech universe so there was quite a bit of a gap from when this post was initially started to now (the point at which I am finishing this post). While reading the book I would take notes on my phone for later remembrance (since I forget stuff so easily).

When Max and Miriya take little Dana into the Robotech factory (an absolutely insane idea BTW), the book describes Dana in an EVA suit. For a split second I was thinking of Evangelion... lol

I thought the usage of the word Shibboleth to be strange. I think the writer was overthinking us as a target audience for a moment.

In this whole mess of bringing an infant into the middle of a military action made me think of one other thing. When Reno saw the mutant why o why didn't he just shoot it? He had enough time to wax eloquently about it being an abomination but the simple solution of incinerating it didn't cross his mind.

Later in the book Khyron is doing some inner monologuing about him being the Master's one last hope. When did that happen. After the destruction of Dolza's fleet Khyron seemed to want to do only what Khyron wanted to do. Never anywhere did anyone ever say or think anything different. Khyron is a mad devil who really only answers to himself. Not to mention the fact that it is apparent that all 'infected' Zentraedi are destroyed and Khyron is certainly infected.

When Rick ditches Lisa at the outdoor cafe before their picnick so he could go drool over Minmei he drinks so much (after the whole Kyle debacle) the bartender cuts him off. He then gets into a car and drives!

He heads out to help crush the Zentraedi that attack the airfield. He gets in a Destroid... Why? There was a Veritech there and when you are one of the top Veritech aces you don't get in a Destroid (the stormtrooper of the Robotech universe). Maybe it was cause he had a bit too much to drink.

When Khyron is looking for the Protoculture Matrix in the city the book mentions that Azoina's troops are also looking... in Quadrono Battalion Invid Scout Ships... what the heck are those?

Anyway in the end the story wrapped up nicely. Unlike a visual format like comics or cartoons you have to do a lot of Character interaction and such and although it helped to tie up stuff, having the visual only of the show was more powerful when it came to the destruction of the SDF1/2 at the end.

So long ago when I first finished this book I went to the only book that I even considered to read next (the first book of the 2nd Robotech War). Ofcourse that skips over 15 whole years. When I re-read the series years after that I did it in the right order but the Zentraedi Rebellion I read out of order because it came out after my 2nd read though. Now I shall be reading it all in order so the next book I will cover is The Zentraedi Rebellion. Keep an eye out for it and the comics that take place at the same time.

Robotech RPG Tactics: Our campaign. Update 1

by Nathan Stout (of AccordingToWhim.com)

Robotech RPG Tactics (2014-2015)

An introduction: 

After building the majority of the minis in the Robotech RPG Tactics core box set (along with some of the Kickstarter extras) I began thinking of a campaign where Chris and I could begin playing and learning the game. Neither of us has been a fan/player of table top army v army type games (wahammer, etc). This is all new to us so we are starting small.

I wanted to this to be a more cartoon-based game, that is to say I don't want to just open the box and start playing random games. I want there to be a background to the mission, etc... Below is my effort to do that.

The campaign that begins here is a (in game-time) year-long adventure following the playing character (a newly minted pilot in the RDF) beginning in March of 2008) with his training, moving into missions, on into actual battle with Zentraedi when they arrive in November of 2009.

At this point the game is purely based on the Tactics side of the game with an RPG generated character attached. If the game moves into the RPG side is yet to be seen. Chris has picked the name Rusty Dale Higgins because everything HAS to mean something to him. The (imo dorky) name is based on some King of the Hill references. Never the less, not everyone can be Rick Hunter or Jack Archer...

Campaign begins ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It is March 3^rd, 2008. The location is Macross Isand in the South Pacific ocean. The alien ship known as the SDF-1 is nearing it’s completion with litte more than a year left. The RDF Academy has been in operation for six years now, producing military men and women accustomed to the alien ‘Robotechnology’. 2^nd Lieutenant Rusty Dale Higgins is in his 7^th month of Veritech pilot training. The coursework begins moving into

the area of military encounters.

The Academy has a wealth of Robotechnology and complex, realistic combat simulators are where pilots get their training. On the schedule of training will be up 4 mandatory VR missions, then a live war game with other pilots at the end of the month. 

The VR missions will progressively get more difficult before the pilot will take to the skies. The combat simulators are available 24/7 so Lieutenant Higgins may choose to play additional VR missions of this basic type until the live event.

____________________________________________________

Mission 1 (03/7/08)

The first VR combat flight will be against another Veritech VF-1J. The encounter will be restricted o jet mode. This mission is to familiar the pilots with their own weapon system in a combat enounter. The object to the mission is to eliminate the enemy VF-1J.

Report: Lieutenant Higgins succeeded in eliminating the enemy Veritech, taking a few turns to come to grips with the effects of the Afterburner effects of the aircraft and unfamiliarity of the weapon system. Although useful, the GU-11 gunpod and twin head lasers under the pilot’s canopy are not as devestatingly useful as the Veritechs compliment of missiles.

____________________________________________________

Mission 2 (03/14/08)

This mission is a repeat of the first but each Veritech is limited to missiles only. The Veritech with the least amount of damage at the end of the last missile payload (of both Veritechs) is the winner.

Mission Override: At the beginning of this mission, combat parameters were over-ridden and all weapon systems were activated due to the power of the missile payload.

Report: Lieutenant Higgins won this mission quickly.

____________________________________________________

Mission 3 (03/19/08)

In this mission both units will be limited to Battloid mode only with no weapons. This mission will familiarize the pilot with the hand to hand combat methods of the Veritech in Battloid and Guardian mode.

Report: Spending the meager 1 command point (by both pilots) came in useful in Hand to Hand combat mode. It allowed for multiple attacks, speeding up combat. The VR pilot attempted a Jump Kick a couple of occasions but failed to attack on the first action (thus, denying the attempt of the Jump Kick).

____________________________________________________

Mission 4 (03/24/08)

This final VR mission will place a team of 4 Veritechs against 4 Veritechs. The match is over once 3 of the 4 Veritechs of any team are defeated.

Mission Override: Lieutenant Higgins and the VR pilot were both given a Leadership ability of 2 to allow for more command points in this battle.

Report: Once again missiles ruled the day as the VR team defeated Lieutenant Higgins’ Veritech squad. The Lieutenant kept his squad in jet mode while the VR pilot kept his in Guardian mode. The flexibility of movement (along with the missiles) gave the VR pilot the edge in battle. The inflexibility of jet mode (inability to turn more than 90 degrees in either direction led to the VR pilot being able to use Back Strike for +1 to strike.

____________________________________________________

VR Missions Summary:

These simple missions (much like the ones in the game manual) were designed to familiarize players with the basics of game play and the pros/cons of different weapon systems and modes.

Picking up the threads and continuing our quest!

by Nathan Stout (of AccordingToWhim.com)

First off, I'd like to address why in all our posts we say who the blog is by and why it always says (of AccordingToWhim.com). A couple of years back Chris and I did 365 posts for an entire year (one blog a day). After a while we did some searching on Google and Yahoo to see how our blog was showing up (or not showing up) based on searches. We found our blogs and they were pretty far up on the rankings but it turns out all our blogs were not attributed to us and were not on our blog anymore. Apparently websites have bots that go and scour the internet and steal content and pass it off as their own. This usually means the formatting is wrong and sometimes links are missing (and they generally do a shoddy job of presenting the blog in a decent format). Chris and I decided that we needed to start adding our main website's address at the top of all our blogs that way when our content is stolen, there is a link back to our site incase the reader is interested.

Anyway, as you can see from the sparseness of the posts in this blog that our Robotech journey slowed wayyyyyyy down over the last two years. You know how it is, you get all fired up for something and you set out ready to conquer the world then reality sets in and you have work and such get in your way. That's basically it. The blog has been dormant with the exception of the Robotech RPG Tactics Kickstarter posts. Well, it's that Kickstarter that has got me going again. I used to love playing the Robotech RPG and I've always wanted to play tabletop war games (like Warhammer, etc...) but never got into it. Well along came Robotech and I couldn't pass it up! I'm all excited again! Along with my reentry into the saga I am building a 'day one' Robotech RPG Tactics campaign for Chris. I want to have it fully follow the Macross saga through the RPG Tactics game's point of view (battles... lots of battles).

I've got to find out where I left off and pick back up on my (originally 2012) chronological journey through the Robotech universe! To recap from the first blog post I am using Triple-Super Mecha 8's slimmed down timeline to watch and read through series. Here is his website if you want to REALLY get into some super detailed information!

I have finished the first 36 episodes of the show and read through the comics up to that point (the destruction of the SDF-1 and 2 by Khyron and I (think) I finished the 6th book. I have notes on my phone that I took down long ago but I am not 100% if I finished it. I am going to have to go page through the book and see if the later stuff rungs bells (it will have been the 3rd time I've read it so it might be tricky). Next up is Robotech Novel 19: The Zentraedi Rebellion alog with the comics for The Malcontent Uprising. Some of my least favorite parts of Robotech but I shall prevail!

Below you will see the complete list in order and everything in yellow is everything I have already covered in this blog. So stay tuned!

* The (L) means last entry for that particular title.

GENESIS: THE LEGEND OF ZOR #1-6 (L)
GRAPHIC NOVEL (L)
RETURN TO MACROSS #1-13, 19, 14-15
WARRIORS #0 (#0 featured in RETURN TO MACROSS #15), #1-3 (L)
METAL SWARM #1 (L)
RETURN TO MACROSS #16-18, 20
ACADEMY BLUES #0
RETURN TO MACROSS #21-25
ACADEMY BLUES #1-2
MACROSS TEMPEST #1 (L)
ACADEMY BLUES #3
RETURN TO MACROSS #26
ACADEMY BLUES #4
ROMANCE #1 "Two Beers with a Skirt Chaser" story – NOTE: Contrary to the date printed in the story, the date is May 2005.
ACADEMY BLUES #5 (L)
RETURN TO MACROSS #27-33
CIVIL WAR STORIES #1 (L) – NOTE: Contrary to the date printed in the story, the date is July 2005.
RETURN TO MACROSS #34-37 (L)
ROMANCE #1 "When the Going Gets Tough..." story (L)
BREAKING POINT: CADET LISA HAYES SPECIAL #1 (L)
MACROSS (video series) "Boobytrap" to "Blue Wind" - Episodes 1-13
MACROSS MISSIONS: DESTROID #1 (L)
MACROSS MISSIONS: EXCALIBUR #1 (L)
MACROSS MISSIONS: EXCALIBUR - QUAKING THUNDER #1 (L)
MACROSS "Gloval's Report" - Episode 14
VERMILION #1-4 "Vermilion" story
MACROSS "Homecoming" to "To the Stars" - Episodes 15-36 (L)
THE MALCONTENT UPRISINGS #1-12 (L)
THE SENTINELS (video) (L)
THE SENTINELS BOOK I #1-6
THE SENTINELS WEDDING SPECIAL #1-2 (L)
THE SENTINELS BOOK I #7-16
FINAL FIRE #1 (L) – NOTE: Circa 2022 is when the narrator tells his account of events that occurred in 2012.
CYBERPIRATES #1-4 (L)
THE SENTINELS BOOK II #1-21
THE SENTINELS BOOK III #1-9
AMAZON WORLD - ESCAPE FROM PRAXIS #1 (L)
INVID WORLD - ASSAULT ON OPTERA #1 (L)
MECHANGEL #0-3 (L)
THE SENTINELS BOOK III #10-18
SMITH WORLD - SABOTAGE ON KARBARRA #1 (L)
CYBER WORLD - SECRETS OF HAYDON IV #1 (L)
THE SENTINELS BOOK III #19-22
THE SENTINELS BOOK IV #1-8
FERAL WORLD - NIGHTMARE ON GARUDA #1 (L)
CRYSTAL WORLD - PRISONERS OF SPHERIS #1 (L)
THE SENTINELS BOOK IV #9-10
STAR RUNNERS: CARPENTER'S JOURNEY #1 (L)
THE SENTINELS BOOK IV #11
THE SENTINELS HALLOWEEN SPECIAL #1 (L)
THE SENTINELS BOOK IV #12-13 (L)
ROBOTECH ANNUAL #1 "The Science of Law" story
ROBOTECH MASTERS [a.k.a. SOUTHERN CROSS] (video series) "Dana's Story" - Episode 1
THE MISFITS #1 (L)
ROBOTECH MASTERS "False Start" to "Catastrophe" - Episodes 2-24 (L)
INVID WAR #1, 5-6, 2, 7, 3-4, 8
FIREWALKERS #1 (L)
INVID WAR #9-12
THE NEW GENERATION [a.k.a. MOSPEADA] (video series) "The Invid Invasion" to "The Lost City" - Episodes 1-2
ROBOTECH ANNUAL #1 "Shop Talk or Why You Should Never Ride Without a Helmet" story (L)
THE NEW GENERATION "Lonely Soldier Boy" - Episode 3
INVID WAR #13
THE NEW GENERATION "Survival" to "Hard Times" - Episodes 4-6
CLASS REUNION #1 (L)
THE NEW GENERATION "Paper Hero" to "Eulogy" - Episodes 7-8
INVID WAR #14
THE NEW GENERATION "The Genesis Pit" to "The Fortress" - Episodes 9-12
INVID WAR #15
THE NEW GENERATION "Sandstorms" to "The Midnight Sun" - Episodes 13-17
INVID WAR #16
THE NEW GENERATION "Ghost Town" to "Frostbite" - Episodes 18-19
INVID WAR #17
THE NEW GENERATION "Birthday Blues" to "Hired Gun" - Episodes 20-21
VERMILION #2-4 "Unsung Heroes" story (L)
THE NEW GENERATION "The Big Apple" to "Symphony of Light" - Episodes 22-25 (L)
INVID WAR #18 (L)

First dry-run game of Robotech Tactics

by Nathan Stout (of AccordingToWhim.com)

After nearly completing all bazillion miniature builds for the base game with some of the kickstarter extras I was ready to begin learning Robotech RPG Tactics. I pulled out the rulebook (which other gamers have been bashing) and tried to wrap my head around new concepts that blend in with the original Robotech RPG. Of the big rulebook (112 pages) only the first 29 pages are the actual rules. This was fairly simple to figure out but as with anything new with tons of new concepts/rules you need to read a couple of times so the 2nd time I read through it I decided to make a cheat sheet. This would help during game play and (just like in school), making notes helps you remember stuff.

I wanted to do a self dry run before I drug anyone else in on an actual first game. I figured I'd play though a small battle or two to get some of the mechanics down. Chris gives me a call yesterday evening and tells me they scheduled him to work on our appointed night and was it ok for him to come over now. I said yes and decided we'd just try a couple of simple games and work things out as we went.

We started with a single unit versus single unit (much like the starter battle listed in the rulebook). We fumbled, read, re-read, mistook the 6 on the die for a 1 for most of the first 2 games (oops)! By the end of the night we discovered a couple of things...

1.) Zentraedi are underpowered (so you need lots more units than UEDF units).
2.) The font is way too small on the cards (for these old eyes).
3.) We need to re-read and comprehend some of the special abilities).
4.) I need to figure out the squadron cards (which we didn't use).
5.) It's hard to keep track of which of your units are which.
6.) I need to make a custom sheet with stats, MD, missile boxes, and all that jazz to help us.

And that's it. When we get it down I think it will be fun. It will just take many games for it all to become second nature.

I'm still here... Robotech RPG Tactics Kickstarter review

by Nathan Stout (of AccordingToWhim.com)

No, I am still here... I've just been VERY busy creating a board game of my own! Yep, I am about to launch a Kickstarter for it. Go here!

I am almost done with Doomsday (the book) an will post soon. Sorry for the massive delays. In the meantime take a look at this! THIS IS AWESOME. I suggest you go back it now!

Today's review is more of a review of coming product: Palladium Books: Robotech RPG Tactics. This is currently in the Kickstarter phase and it is doing well... REALLY WELL.

Initial goal to get game made: $70,000

With 15 days to go (out of 30), current total money gained: $520,000

WOW.

 

 

Robotech is one of those name brands that has a cult following. The brand has been around since the early eighties and it was destined to do well... and it did!

 

Robotech RPG Tactics is based on the Robotech Role Playing books. In the RPG there are rules for mecha combat but this game takes that concept to a whole new level and focuses only on the mecha combat (via miniatures). If you look at the demo videos it looks a bit like Warhammer with Robotech mecha.

 

Here is the level I have backed at. As you can see the initial game was nice but with the increased funding SO MUCH MORE has been added. Way to please your backers Palladium!

 



 

The Kickstarter started 17 days ago and I got wind of it on day 2. They had already funded the project (gotten the needed $70,000) within the first few hours of the project! I can only hope our Kickstarter will fund so quickly!

 

As the amount of backers and pledges has increased so has the quality and quantity of the game. Several new miniatures have been added to the core box set as well as upgrades to the dice and play pieces.

 

I am very happy that Palladium is doing so well on this. I have enjoyed the Robotech RPG books for many years and it is nice to see so much being put into the game even after all these years.

 

Thanks for looking at this blog! Please follow us and if you are interested, please help us produce our own game at: RiseOfTheRockStar.com by donating to our Kickstarter Project when it starts on May 17th!

Thank you.



Robotech Episodes 31 - 36

by Nathan Stout (of AccordingToWhim.com)

Episode #31 Khyron's Revenge

The animation looks pretty rough. I know these last episodes were tacked on but it does look unusually rough here at the beginning.

In the second scene the Masters decide on their ultimate fate: to spend the 15 years to travel to Earth (meanwhile developing one of the Zor clones along the way). This major story point was probably above the heads of kids back then but what did they care?!

The mechanical animation of this episode is rough but the character animation is really good.

Rick is a short dude but the Mayor of New Detroit looks like a midget compared to him!

Oh crap, there's Kyle again! What, Khyron is wearing the same clothes? Sheesh.

New Detroit gets EVERYTHING it deserves! Ha!

Rick's Left Wing pilot looks funny.

With every one's use of the term Protoculture (i.e. Protoculture chamber) it seems the populace knows about this mystic material.

Gloval goes on this imaginary tale about how Protoculture came about. It's totally wrong but whatever. Now I realize that as far as the cartoon goes, that is the story and it was only additional materials that turned that story on it's head.

I find the whole conversation by all the RDF guys pure speculation and totally unnecessarily. It seemed like a lot of time filler.

When Kyle takes off in the car with Minmei in the back seat he hands something to her and says 'here, hold this'. I wonder what that was...

PROTOCULTURE ADDICTS BITS:
Bloopers:

Episode #32 Broken Heart 

The battle scene a the beginning is kinda strange. They use strange terms and Lisa looks different.

What the heck is Lisa doing right there in the middle of the action?

The Zentraedi riding on the Battlepods look cool.

When the bad guys attack the concert hall why don't the Zentraedi in the audience fight back? They are warriors. It appears that if you give up the warrior lifestyle you become a weak and feeble.

Khyron talks about wanting to leave the planet while in the comic he longs to rejoin the Masters.

When Rick jumps into his jet during the Star Saver operation the cockpit is WAY over sized! It's huge!

Where did Khyron get chicken legs THAT big?! I wonder if you could put a regular sized chicken leg in a sizing chamber... That would solve the world's starving masses!

Those forks that make up Kyle's and Minmei's cage have gaps big enough to crawl through.

The lighting of the cigarette with the auto cannon is great. However that Zentraedi is waring a completely different uniform.

Azonia rides her mecha like a true lady; side saddle.

I can't believe that Khyron's little troop could hold up against that many MAC II Monsters.

Rick's Guardian takes the lid off Minmie's prison but then a few moments later we see him rip if off again.

At the end Minmei has to run a looooong way to get to Rick. She seems to be running forever.

Rick super leaps into his Guardian.

What's with Lisa's look at the very end of the episode? Strange...

PROTOCULTURE ADDICTS BITS:
Bloopers:

Episode #33 A Rainy Night

Sure Claudia... tea... sure it is... lol.

I freeze-framed the shot where Rick is climbing out of his Veritech. Something didn't look quite right. What looks like the 'head' lasers are way too high on his plane. They are on the side of the body. In fact his debarking ladder goes between the lasers... strange.

Vanessa's thought about Lisa being hung up on Rick is very perceptive. Rick seems genuinely surprised when Vanessa tells him Lisa is in love with him. Is he THAT dense?!

Rick's curtains are very transparent, he better not run around the house naked.

Lisa sure puts that Burgundy away. This is a very adult scene in a kids show. I wonder if any parents just happened to be watching when this scene happened (and I wonder what they thought)?

Claudia (in her remembrance of her waiting for Roy when he shows up with a carload of girls) looks at her watch in a strange way. She looks at the inside of her wrist. This is how I used to wear a watch (back before phones took over). I didn't wear them because of Claudia! My brother used to wear his that way and I did followed his lead)

When Claudia remembers giving Roy back his presents you can see the 'under construction' SDF-1 in the background!

When Roy meets Claudia outside in the rain he seems to have grown up from earlier in the day when he looked WAYYYYYY younger.
Claudia and Lisa are both earring fuzzy green house slippers.

It seems in the future phones got bigger, Claudia's is pretty big.
Rick's uniform changes color while he and Lisa walk home... its Robotechnology!

PROTOCULTURE ADDICTS BITS:
Bloopers:

Episode #34 Private Time

I always thought that when Lisa is chewing that little squiggle line looks funny.

I'm sure that map she looks at can clue me in to where the show's creators placed New Macross but I can't bother to find it out.

Rick is such a BUTT HEAD! Why would you do that??!!!! The book makes Rick a bit less jerk-like with his thoughts of quickly getting back to Lisa, but the Rick from the show just ditches Lisa... jerk!

Lisa has the patience of a rock! I'd have left a half hour after Rick didn't turn up.

The piano player just replays the same song after we come back from checking in on Lisa.

Oh no... Kyle! Rick just lets him be an ass to Minmei, what a wimp.

When Rick drinks he is the kind of person who is a 'sad drunk'.

Communication officer Mitchell is the Velma of Robotech.

The Zentraedi shooting at tiny humans is gruesome!

The Zentraedi shoot at Rick's Gladiator and the bolts do nothing! It's like Rick has the power to make the useless Gladiator a real fighting machine.

The character art changes in this episode from shot to shot. It looks like different companies worked on this episode.

Cooking?! Lisa made sandwiches... that is not cooking.

Rick has the AUDACITY to wrap his new 'cheater scarf' around Lisa! J E R K!!!

Kyle says Minmei is going to sing her latest hit 'We Will Win'. Uhhhhh 2 issues:
1.) The music that starts up is Stagefright.
2.) We Will Win was first performed over 2 years ago! Latest hit?! We call that 'A HAS BEEN'.

Kyle finally leaves! Woooohoooo! Its sad but at the same time... its party time!

PROTOCULTURE ADDICTS BITS:
Bloopers:

Episode #35 Seasons Greetings

How is it Khyron started in the snow and now he is in the Amazon?

Zentraedi working on the ship? I thought they couldn't fix anything?

Evil Santa giving out black balloons!

Whoa, it's a black pilot! The RDF finally stopped being racist (or something)...

You can tell this animation team did the first episodes. The character's have their original looks.

Rico, Konda, and Bron's booth is labeled Toys, Plastics. Which brilliant marketing minds thought that would entice kids? Perhaps the former spies did it, they might not know what might work.

What's up with Rick's apron? And look, he is wearing those popular fuzzy slippers.

In Rick's apartment you can see that little radio he used to have back on the SDF-1, remember when he was in the hospital and he was listening to Minmie on it?

Claudia runs to the bar to drink to Roy's memory... Ut oh, Lisa runs into relationship problems and hits the bottle!

Minmie in Rick's shirt, sitting in bed looks HOT!

The animation is great in this episode!

Hey, the store clerk has the same radio as Rick.

The radio report (which takes place 'late into the night') says that the first attacks took place six hours earlier. If you remember they attacked on Christmas morning... Its Robotechnology!

The moment of spirituality in this episode WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED in a cartoon now-a-days.

There's the SDF-1 (being lit up with Christmas lights), but where o where is the SDF-2?

PROTOCULTURE ADDICTS BITS:
Bloopers:

Robotech (Comico Comics) #31-36

by Nathan Stout (of AccordingToWhim.com)

Robotech #31 (Comico 1988)

At the beginning of the comic the Masters and the Elders talk about the mission to send themselves on a twenty year trip to Earth. It's a nice band-aid to bridge the gap between the Macross Saga and The Southern Cross parts of Robotech. Although the decision to make this massive journey seems really rushed!

The Masters talk about Khyron being their last hope meanwhile on Earth, Khyron seems to still be obeying the Masters... I find that silly since we all know Khyron was just power mad, why would he still do the Master's bidding?

I am noticing as the series progresses the art is getting better. The artist are starting to get a handle on the look of the characters.

On page 15 we get to see the male power suits. I am not sure I have even seen them in the comic series so far. Maybe, but I can't be sure.

The bottom frame of page 16 has Minmei look daggers at Kyle, I love it!

On page 18 a Spartan is getting it's ass handed to it (as usual). Too bad, it's such an awesome mecha.

On page 20 Goval talks about the Masters discovering the secret of Protoculture 500,000 years ago... hummm. It was supposed to be only like 30 or 40 years ago. Maybe this is what Harmony Gold has kicked the comic series out of canon...

The last frame on page 25 looks great, excellent hero shot.

Robotech #32 (Comico 1988)

The back cover of this comic is kinda rough by showing us a Zentraedi getting gunned down by a Gerwalk.

On page 5 Rick just shoots first and asks questions later, not very hero like.

The last frame on page six is the inside of Rick's Battloid. This is a cool shot, we never see this!

On page 14 there is this RDF person who looks very hairy!

In this whole issue Rick looks very different. It's like they gave his drawings to someone new to the character. He looks... cartoonish (if that even sounds right).

Rick continues to treat Lisa like crap. What a turd.

I don't remember Kyle 'sacraficing' himself in order to save the SDF-1 from the hands of Khyron but on page 21 that what he basically says. That doesn't fit his character.

On page 23 there is a tribute to Markalan Joplin who worked as writer on the majority of the Robotech Comics (including all the rest of the series that had not been released yet). He died in 1988 of an AIDS related illness.

In the diversion scene (on the show) the Battliod pilots lights the Zentraedi's cigarette with his cannon... it is not in the comic. I always thought that was funny.

I never understood how any force could hold up against being absolutely surrounded by MAC II Monsters. That should have blown Khyron and his guys to crisps.

On page 29 the Zentraedi says 'Macek's Eyes!', lol.

Robotech #33 (Comico 1988)

On the ad for the Sentinels episodes it says at the bottom, 'VHS only, no Beta'... lol!

I don't know what's going on in the last frame of page 7, It looks like they blurred out part of Lisa's face on purpose but I don't know why.

On page 12 the women get their Lush on...

I know I have pointed this out in the past but I find it funny that uniforms the old Internationalist Army had very similar the RDF ones years later.

I like the enemy fighters on page 18.

How can Lisa not see Roy Fokker as a playboy... talk about blind!

So you assume that once Rick has his epiphany about Lisa loving him he would really do something about it, make sure it happens. Shortly after this comic he seems to give up again. What's with that dunce!?

On page 34 in the letters column they talk about Protoculture Addicts! Awesome! You know how much I love that mag!

Robotech #34 (Comico 1988)

 I doubt very much that Lisa would be singing a Minmei song.

Page 2, featuring 'Macho-Man' Hunter.

Rick is a selfish sob!

The character art in this issue is hit and miss. Sometimes the characters look great, sometimes they look like... herp-a-derp.

At the top of page 11 is Janus-Rick.

I'm super confused at what is happening. I always thought that the restaurant was at the airport but Rick is driving a car back to the airport to head back to New Macross. I won't even bother with the fact that Rick got a car out of nowhere!

Rick is so versatile. He has never been shown to drive a Destroid and poof! there he goes. What a guy!

At the bottom of page 16 we FINALLY see a Spartan being USEFUL!

Ouch! Minmei has some harsh words for Kyle on page 26. This marks the exit of Lynn Kyle (for now... mwa ha ha ha).

Robotech #35 (Comico 1989)

They almost got this comic out in time for Christmas. Too bad. The cover shows a kinda goofy looking Khyron holding a Christmas bag with some of the women of Robotech.(god I love those commercials!)

How is there a Zentraedi worker (working on Khyron's engines)? I thought there weren't any of those guys.

On the 2nd frame of page 5 there's a dwarf! Also, it appears the former spies have ditched the dry cleaning business for retail...

On the last frame of that same page they appear to be standing in front of some toys from Astro Boy, the Argo from StarBlazers and something else I can't figure out.

On page 9 we see Rick wearing some lovely house slippers.

What in the world say people would give up (on page 10)... their 'eyeteeth'?????

So Lisa shows up at Rick's and somehow on a snowy, cold night Rick leaves the front door open?!

At Dr. Watson's Pub the bartender Frankenstein will be glad to serve you. Geeze, there goes Claudia again, drinking it up!

On page 23 Max seems to 'hate to admit' that Rick is right. What a jerk! lol.

At the bottom of page 24 we see the side of the SDF-1 and the Prometheus. It is at an angle but I though it was always sitting correctly and being used. Probably just an oversight on the artists part.

AWESOME! On page 25 we FINALLY see the SDF-2 back to back with the SDF-1. This is the ONLY time I have ever seen this!!!!! WOW!!!!!!

Robotech #36 (Comico 1989)

Lisa looks strange at the bottom of page 4, also I see some color-changing uniforms again...

On the next page Gloval says that they 'let' Khyron have that Protoculture he stole last time he raided New Macross. This is new to me.

FINALLY! Lisa gets it out (on page 8). It has taken YEARS but it happened, sheesh.

How in the world did Khyron get so close to New Macross and no one pick him up on radar or something?

Another shot of the SDF-2 back to back with the SDF-1.... ahhhhhhh.

On page 16 Minmei is in a shelter with some familiar faces... including the NEVER AGING Jason. He should have aged 8 years since we first saw him on Macross Island. Must be all that space travel that stunted his growth.

Nothing of the final assault makes sense (physics wise). Since (in the series) the SDF-2 didn't exist on screen it was easy to miss but in the comic here Khyron shoots the SDF-2 first but somehow he is in front of the SDF-1... how can he be in front of both ships? Did he fly around in a big circle to get a shot of the SDF-1? On page 14 the ships are back to back then on page 17 the SDF-1 is rising out of the water in front of the SDF-2. So confusing. Must be Robotechnology!

Ok, the final scenes on page 25 are awkward. I like the show's version better, more bittersweet less talking.

Oh man, the last couple of pages are really strange. Not sure we really needed them.

And that is it for the Macross Saga (comic book style)! On to more Robotech!