Gatchaman Volume 7: Cities On Flame With Rock & Roll - Underland Online

• Media Source:Underland Online
• Reviewed By:Mike Lewis
• Review Date:02/01/06
• Read the original review click here

"...another six episodes filled with action, vile plans, and unintentional laughs."

"There's no other style like Birdstyle, and you won't want to miss this..."

"If there's one thing that you can expect from Gatchaman, it's entertainment."

If you love the 70's and over the top anime that is predictable as it is fun to watch, then you probably already own every volume of Gatchaman that has been released. ADV has been giving fans of the iconic series just what they want; the original Japanese versions complete with a new dub. The seventh volume of Gatchaman has another six episodes filled with action, vile plans, and unintentional laughs.

Galactor has more schemes that they hope to use to conquer the world, and it seems that the Godzilla films played a huge part in their influence. Okay, so maybe the writers of the series were influenced by the movies, but it would make perfect sense. The green behemoth was becoming an icon himself in Japanese cinema during the late 60's and early 70's. Why not capitalize on that in anime? This volume begins with Galactor unleashing another fiendish creation; Renzilla. When that fails, and you know that it will, they move on to using giant dinosaurs that ruin what should be a perfect city. These creatures though aren't the usual mecha that Galactor generally uses, and instead are merely stationary robots on wheels. It's not too imposing, and it's obvious early on that this is yet another plan that is going to quickly be foiled by the Science Ninja's.

Another two-part episode is contained on this volume, and it involves a cannibalistic plant with a hunger for the flesh of young women. Even Jun seems to have fallen victim to them and the team is on the verge of breaking up. Gatchaman has failed in his attempt to destroy the plants by burning them, and we find Galactor on the verge of success as the seeds begin to spread across the world and the plants begin to destroy cities one after another. Leave it to Dr. Nambu to accidentally find hope, and Jun of course isn't dead. That would ruin the series. When mecha and plants fail, the next effort is to use music to destroy the world. That's right. Galactor kidnaps the rock band the Demon Five, a band with an imposing name but sadly, a 70's sound. You'd think that they might be a Norwegian Black Metal act, but they aren't. Galactor should have used a bit of death metal for this plan to succeed. You will find though that before everyone though it was cool to pimp their rides with stereos that could be heard from blocks away, Galactor was pimping their ships with set-up's that could destroy cities and drive people insane.

Red Impulse also makes a very brief appearance, and one that is long enough to beat Ken to a pulp. The leader of the Science Ninja's is acting like a spoiled brat and ready to tuck his tail between his legs when the going gets tough. Well, when that happens, Red Impulse is ready to throw down and literally knock some sense into him. Ken still can't escape that strange feeling that he knows Red Impulse from somewhere. Oh, the elusive foreshadowing.

Fans of Gatchaman can take a wild guess what at least three of the additional features are on this volume. If you picked clean opening and closing animations, you are correct. If you also assumed there was another Gatchaman karaoke segment, that's another perfect guess, but you don't know what episode was selected. It would be episode 38, 'The Mysterious Mechanized Jungle.' Personally, I would have gone with 'Murder Music,' but that's only because I want to live out my dream of re-dubbing the episodes with some music by Nile or maybe Godflesh. You will also find commentary by the English voice of Berg Katse, Edwin Neal that is actually quite humorous.

If there's one thing that you can expect from Gatchaman, it's entertainment. The series might be predictable, but that's really the charm here. It's not just children of the 1970's that are hooked on the series again, but there are new legions of fans under the age of 10 that love it for all the same reason. There's no other style like Birdstyle, and you won't want to miss this, or any other volume of Gatchaman.

Episode 37 - Renzilla, the Electric Monster

Galactor has abducted a brilliant scientist, but he's sent word to Dr. Nambu and Gatchaman thanks to his faithful dog. The team is sent in to rescue him and discovers their diabolical plan; they have a new mehca capable of destroying the landscape with radiation, and it's up to the Science Ninja's to stop it before it's too late.

Episode 38 - The Mysterious Mechanized Jungle

An advanced city that is supposed to be the wave of the future is celebrating its accomplishment, but when a strange archeologist comes to town, it leads to trouble. He has a menagerie of dinosaurs that start running amuck and soon, Ken finds himself without his bracelet and the rest of the team must recover it.

Episode 39 - Jigokillers, the People-Eating Flowers (Part 1)

A deadly prehistoric plant has suddenly appeared and it has an appetite for young women. Dr. Nambu has invented a new body suit that should protect anyone who the plant attempts to eat, and Jun 'borrows' the creation in hopes of gathering more information on this new terror. When she disappears however and the plants all move to a single location, it seems that burning them may be the only way to eliminate them . . . . even though Jun may be inside.

Episode 40 - Jigokillers, the People-Eating Flowers (Part 2)

The Jigokillers have spread, and killing them seems hopeless. The Science Ninja's are ready to break up for good following the death of Jun, but when they get a Bird Scramble Code, it seems there may still be some hope left, if only Dr. Nambu can find a way to permanently kill this horrible enemy.

Episode 41 - Murder Music

Leader X has come up with a plan to destroy the world through music, but he's going to need some help. Galactor kidnaps the rock band the Demon Five to do their bidding for them, and the sonic assault they are forced to record may be impossible for even Gatchaman to stop.

Episode 42 - The Great Breakout Trick Operation

In order to recruit new members, Galactor is breaking convicts out of jail. Dr. Nambu is suspicious of the recent breakout attempt and with the help of the Science Ninja's, they devise an elaborate plan to bring them all back. However, there is someone among the law breakers that shouldn't be there and nearly ruins the plan.

Posted on Wednesday, February 01, 2006 (Archive on Wednesday, March 01, 2006)