One ventured briefly into the world of Robotech before, but every time, I was lost. There was a great deal of backstory to contend with, and I never felt like I had all of the exposition necessary to really grasp the plot. I was pleased to find that the main story here was much more accessible, and it raised my hopes for this limited series. Unfortunately, the backup story -- with its exploration of a different period of this fictional history -- immersed me once again in confusion... and ultimately, in disinterest. It seems to me that those who love Robotech are dedicated to expanding the continuity of it all to the point that those who are new to the property haven't much of a chance.
It's the year 2038, and the Earth has been under the rule of the alien Invid for seven years. Though no longer the dominant species on the planet, most human beings seem to enjoy fairly normal lives, but that doesn't stop those people living on Mars to mount an offensive aimed at ridding the world of its conquerors. Years before, in 2001 when the world was still free, a young woman's journey from being an innocent university student to her assumption of the same military rank as her father -- admiral -- begins.
I loved Miyazawa's work on Sidekicks, published by Fanboy Entertainment and later Oni Press, and it was a delight to see his work in color. Dogan brings a more polished quality to Miyazawa's usually loose style, and I love how the art instills a youthful energy in the main characters in the main story. In the backup story, we're presented with some fairly standard manga artwork. I was a bit disappointed that the main character -- whom we meet at different ages -- looks exactly the same in both periods of her life depicted here.
The opening story sets the scene quite clearly, which was a welcome change of pace for this particular reader. Mind you, we really don't get to know the main characters all that well. The bulk of the story consists of aerial gunfights, and throughout such scenes, the characters do not shine as individuals. They all seem to blend together. I realize that such action sequences are integral to the kind of story unfolding here, but they lost my attention rather than holding onto it.
There's a far more personal and intimate tone to be found in the backup story, but shifts backward in time settings and my general unfamiliarity with the circumstances these characters are facing made it an arduous read.
