MattBrady
12-02-2002, 12:15 PM
<a href="http://classic.newsarama.com/Wildstorm/pic_lrgrobot0cvr.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://classic.newsarama.com/Wildstorm/pic_lrgrobot0cvr_t.jpg" width="175" height="266" alt="Robotech #0 cover" align="right" border="0"></a>It’s not as well known as the Transformers, GI Joe, He-Man, or the Micronauts, but it has it’s fans. This Wednesday, Wildstorm returns the Robotech franchise to comics with #0, followed by #1 of a six-issue miniseries later in the month, along with trades and one-shots to follow. Newsarama chatted with Harmony Gold’s Tommy Yune and Robotech writer Jay Faerber[/b] about the hubbub.
While the series (plotted by Yune, scripted by Faerber, with art by Long Vo and UDON, and edited by Ben Abernathy) jumps back into the franchise with both feet, a little primer may be in order first, for those whose only experience with Robotech may have been snippets of the animated series some 15 years ago.
Firstly, the “world” of Robotech “began” when a gigantic alien spacecraft crash-landed on Macross Island in the South Pacific. Although it was in the midst of a global war, the nations of the world realigned themselves and the world’s overall geopolitical climate, and scientists from all nations flocked to Macross to study the ship. Ultimately, a city was built around the ship, which served as home to the scientists, support staffs, and of course, the military element that had been involved with the ship and alien technology since day one, when it was discovered that the ship was of a military nature.
As the animated series timeline showed, the Macross Saga, that is, the first animated Robotech series, picked up ten years after the crash, when preparations are underway to return the ship to space. During the intervening ten years, the alien technology has been reverse engineered so that earth’s forces are equipped with advanced weapons fueled by “Protoculture,” which was found on the ship (now christened the SDF-1). The overall name for new technology utilizing Protoculture: “Robotech.”
Of course, just as the ship is readying for takeoff, the aliens (who were pursuing the ship ten years previous) arrive. Assuming the ship is still active, and the earth is its ally, the aliens (named Zentraedi) attack.
Following the Macross Saga, the animated Robotech canon continued in Robotech Masters and then Robotech: The New Generation.
But that’s another story.
By and large, the “Macross” component of Robotech is the most popular with fans, as it told the story of earth’s valiant fight against an enemy it didn’t even know it had. The animated series, while treated as “just another cartoon show” by network syndicates in the United States, was filled with surprisingly mature storylines involving love, loss, betrayal, and fairly complex politics. At the time of its original airing in the majority of the US (the late ‘80s), it made the storylines of many other animated series pale in comparison, and look, frankly, childish.
<img src="http://classic.newsarama.com/Wildstorm/pic_lrgrobot1cvr.jpg" width="175" height="266" alt="Robotech #1 cover" align="left" border="0">While Robotech became a cult hit, it didn’t have backing from a major toymaker, and was still too small for a large comic publisher to adapt into comics. Enter Comico. The small publisher began with Robotech: The Macross Saga in 1985, and continued publishing Robotech comics until 1989, adding Masters and New Generation along the way. Comico’s adaptations of the animated series were overseen and often written by Carl Macek, who produced the English version of the animated series. Macek’s involvement gave the Comico series a ring of authenticity. DC’s Robotech: The Macross Saga trade, coming in January, reprints the first six issues of the Comico series.
Eternity was next in line to try its hand at the Robotech license, and Robotech comics, most based upon the Macross storyline, continued to be published by a variety of small publishers throughout the ‘90s. Tangential storylines were embarked upon, stories designed to fill in missing chunks of time were told, and while some resonated with the fans of the franchise, none were seen as canonical.
Part of the reason there were so many versions of Robotech comics over the years was due to Harmony Gold, which owns the license for Robotech, having a decentralized control of products. Recently, Tommy Yune, Tom Bateman and Steve Yun have endeavored to pull the various pieces of Robotech back together to allow them to move forward as a cohesive unit, rather than a collection of divergent parts. One of the first results of the revamped view of Robotech was <a href="http://www.robotech.com" target="_blank">www.robotech.com,</a> a comprehensive website produced by Harmony Gold, which features the official Robotech timeline, as well as images, and an Infopedia. Basically, if it’s not on the website, or in the timeline, it didn’t happen as far as Harmony Gold is concerned.
Harmony Gold’s new approach to coordinating the Robotech license is aimed at making sure Robotech releases have strict quality control, and meet specific criteria, which, in the end, result in better products, in HG’s eyes.
Putting the upcoming comic projects into the above mix, it was Yune who was instrumental in getting Robotech back to comics, as well as at Wildstorm, in particular. Having made a name for himself with such projects as Speed Racer and Danger Girl: Kamikaze, Yune left Wildstorm to work as the creative director on Robotech for Harmony Gold in the late ‘90s.
Primarily, Yune’s job is to work on the new Robotech animated series in development, but there’s always more. “I’m also closely involved in all our story-driven Robotech products,” Yune said. “I still really enjoy drawing and every once in a while I get the time to squeeze out some nice illustrations.”
The World
In starting up the Robotech comic franchise at Wildstorm, Yune was instrumental in the setting. The miniseries launching this week is set in the months and years after the ship crash landed on Macross Island – a time period which has already been visited once or twice.
<a href="http://classic.newsarama.com/Wildstorm/RTHCVR3.jpg"><img src="http://classic.newsarama.com/Wildstorm/RTHCVR3_t.jpg" width="175" height="266" alt="Robotech #3 cover" align="right" border="0"></a>”Since we're relaunching Robotech in comics through DC Comics and Wildstorm, it made sense to start over from origin of the Macross Saga,” Yune said. “The storyline follows elaborates on events from the 1999-2009 timeline that is briefly covered in the opening narrative and sporadic flashbacks in the original television series. Though some elements of this story had been depicted before in [Comico’s] Robotech: The Graphic Novel and [Eternity’s] Robotech: Return to Macross, we're excited that this is turning out to be the best Robotech comic series ever produced and will introduce Robotech to a new generation of fans.”
Yune’s writing partner on the miniseries, Jay Faerber, agreed. “The Macross Saga is probably the most popular Robotech era, so it makes sense to focus our initial mini-series on those characters,” Faerber said. “Robotech fans will remember that the first episode of the Macross Saga features a sort of opening narration, which chronicles the arrival of the SDF-1 and all the back-story. With this mini-series, we’re able to extrapolate on that back-story, and examine it in greater detail.”
To nail down specifics, the miniseries follows the events just following the opening minutes of the first animated episode. “Talk about time compression -- when the subtitled date advances from 1999 to 2009, this has got to be one of the fastest passages of time in the entire series,” Yune said. “After a brief ‘introductory epilogue’ in issue #0 [Captain Rick Hunter finds Roy Fokker’s Veritech fighter as its about to be junked for scrap], the story segues back to 1999 to show the effects of the arrival of the SDF-1 upon many of our favorite Robotech characters, namely Roy Fokker. Some of the subsequent events will intersect with flashbacks seen in the ‘A Rainy Night’ television episode as well.”
According to Faerber, during the miniseries, which spans from the crash up to just prior to the launch ceremonies in first episode, he and Yune will be able to explore the earth a little more than was ever allowed in the anaimted series. While only alluded to in the animated series, the earth that the ship crash lands on is one that is at full-on war, something which changes immediately.
“While the crash-landing of the SDF-1 is certainly a terrifying event, it also acts as a sort of lynch pin that holds everything together,” Faerber said. “A new world government is hastily assembled, as the various world leaders realize that they need to put their heads together in order to deal with this global event – especially if the SDF-1’s alien owners ever come looking for it.
“We don’t delve as much into the sociological and cultural implications, however, since the majority of our story is set on various military bases, which are purposely isolated from the rest of the world as scientists try and unlock the SDF-1’s secrets, and test pilots try to master the new Veritech fighters.”
According to Yune, the political climate of the world in which the SDF-1 crashes is very much like it is today. “We now have the advantage of 20/20 hindsight since we can now depict reflect back on the events following 1999 rather then guessing during the 1980's,” Yune said. “The cold war is over, but now the enemy is a decentralized and elusive terrorist coalition that could threaten the world unity that is desperately needed to build up the Earth's defenses against incoming aliens.
<a href="http://classic.newsarama.com/Wildstorm/RYHCVR4.jpg"><img src="http://classic.newsarama.com/Wildstorm/RYHCVR4_t.jpg" width="175" height="266" alt="Robotech #4 cover" align="left" border="0"></a>So really, the threat of the miniseries is human society itself. How does a world deal with an alien encounter in which no living aliens are initially present? The United Earth Forces at Macross Island have to deal with a world that has not yet seen the alien threat and remains terrified of the mysterious technology buried deep within the SDF-1. Not knowing that the Zentraedi are on the
way, some would feel that the SDF-1 itself is the greatest threat that needs to be destroyed.”
As such, political battles are the norm for the duration of the miniseries. “The ratification of the United Earth Government takes over five years, and not without a struggle,” Yune said. “In the meantime, the United Earth Forces struggle to maintain a perimeter around Macross Island and keep the details of Robotech development under tight guard.”
The Players
While his character arc in the animated series is slightly short-lived and tragic, pilot Roy Fokker plays a key role in the miniseries. “Roy’s an amazingly talented pilot – one of those natural fliers who relies much more on instinct than on his instrument panel,” Faerber said. “And yeah, he’s a show-off. He got his start flying at Rick Hunter’s dad’s circus, so there’s a big part of him that likes performing. He doesn’t enjoy killing, but there comes a time when he realizes that his country needs his skills, so he enlists in the service – and promises young Rick that he’ll come back and fly in the circus one day.”
Yune continued the character sketch of Fokker: “The Global War hardens the normally carefree Roy Fokker into a brooding pilot. His prodigious skills have allowed him to miraculously survive the most intense combat, only to repeatedly experience the tragic loss of comrades around him. This is a black cloud hangs over him, even though it's not necessarily his fault.”
In the miniseries’ first issue, Fokker is assigned to hunt and kill the military commander of the “other side” of the global war – Captain Gloval, who is on his submarine somewhere in the Pacific. Fans of the animated series will recognize the name – Gloval will one day be the commander of the SDF-1 as it takes to space. As Yune pointed out, Gloval is Russian – a nod of sorts to how the original writers of the animated series would’ve seen the sides of a global war from the early ‘80s – the US versus the USSR.
<img src="http://classic.newsarama.com/Wildstorm/Rick.jpg" width="300" height="213" alt="Rick reads a letter from Roy, detail from #1, page 1" align="right" border="0">Yune said that the global war was tweaked a little, but the sides remained relatively the same. “The Global War initially involves the known superpowers such as the United States and Russia,” Yune explained. “However, the Anti-Unification League, a terrorist organization that had a minor role in the Robotech television series, will have a greatly expanded role afterwards in this comic miniseries.”
Back to Yune’s description of Fokker, Faerber gave a few more details about the character, as well as what holes the miniseries will fill in for those familiar with him through the animated series. “Roy’s such a talented pilot that he does outlive his wingmen,” Faerber expalined. “It’s not that he’s reckless, per se. It’s just that they can’t keep up with him, and this eats away at him. Because of this, he doesn’t enjoy any camaraderie with his fellow pilots. They view him sort of as an outsider, because he’s got this black cloud hanging over him. Nevertheless, he’s got quite the reputation with the ladies. One of the subplots of this mini-series is that we get to see the early days of Roy’s romance with Claudia Grant. We’ve seen bits and pieces of their courtship in the actual Macross cartoons, through flashbacks. So Tommy and I’ve worked hard to weave those flashbacks into this series, along with new material.”
That said, Fokker has yet to reach the “big brother” maturity level that he has with Rick Hunter in the animated series.
<a href=http://classic.newsarama.com/Wildstorm/pic_lrgrobotech1sht2.jpg target="_blank"><img src="http://classic.newsarama.com/Wildstorm/pic_lrgrobotech1sht2_t.jpg" width="175" height="266" alt="Roy prepares to land and hunt for Gloval; issue #1, page 2" align="left" border="0"></a>Speaking of Rick, given that he’s only 19 when he shows up in the first episode of the animated series, he’s a precocious nine year old when the miniseries begins who views Roy in larger tha life terms. “Rick’s relationship with Roy is seen mainly through the letters that Roy writes while he’s in the service,” Faerber said. “Each issue is framed by a letter Rick receives from Roy. Obviously, the fact that Rick calls Roy ‘Big Brother’ is an indication of the closeness of their relationship. And I think Roy is probably largely responsible for Rick’s love of flying. Sure, Rick’s dad is a pilot, so there’s double the influence. But I bet Rick idolizes Roy more than Pop Hunter.”
To go all geek, Yune said that the relationship between Rick and Roy isn’t like Luke Skywalker and Biggs Darklighter, but rather, opted to compare it to a latter day Star Wars reference. “It's more like young Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon,” Yune said. “They're both gifted, but the younger has a differing philosophy - that is until he's forced to mature into the elder's role.”
Other characters that play roles in the animated series will show up in the mini in one way or another, from Admiral Hayes (father of Lisa Hayes), who is the power broker of the military development of Robotechnology, to the above mentioned Claudia Grant, and others, such as T.R. Edwards, who will have cameo roles.
The Personal Stuff
As creators in their late ‘20s and early ‘30s, the chance to tell an original Robotech story is something beyond cool – a chance to add their mark to something that they have enjoyed for years. Both Faerber and Yune took the opportunity to reflect back to their early encounters with the property.
“I forget the first moment I saw Robotech,” Faerber said. “I just remember that I really dug it in junior high school. I’ve always enjoyed finding stuff that not everyone else was into, so while all the other kids - those who hadn’t outgrown cartoons by that point, at least - were watching He-Man, I was more into Robotech. I just loved the complexity of the series, and the way in which it comprised one big story, where characters died, and there was no status quo. I liked knowing that the next episode would pick up where the previous one left off, as opposed to other cartoons, which you could watch in any order and it wouldn’t make a difference. Come to think of it, Robotech could very well have been the first ‘soap opera’ I ever watched.”
<a href="http://classic.newsarama.com/Wildstorm/pic_lrgrobotech1sht3_t.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://classic.newsarama.com/Wildstorm/pic_lrgrobotech1sht3_t.jpg" width="175" height="266" alt="Issue #1, page 3" align="right" border="0"></a>Yune's introduction was slightly different – he began watching Robotech with the last series, New Generation, but still, it has a lasting effect. “I was really hooked by its serial storyline and really enjoyed the similarities of the Macross Saga to Spaceship Yamato, which was one of my favorite anime before Robotech.”
Both Yune and Faerber are drawing on their initial impressions of the animated series in creating the miniseries. “This comic experience is meant to feel like an extension of the television series,” Yune said. “It will have elements of action, romance, humor, and wonder rolled into a slick and intelligent science fiction storyline. Because this miniseries is essentially an origin story, it's the perfect introduction to Robotech, whether or not fans have seen the television series, so we’re making sure to make it very new-reader friendly.”
And for those who still are scratching their heads as to what it’s all about, Faerber gave the bigger, “big” picture of Robotech. “At the risk of sounding pompous, it’s a story of love and war. Yes, there are aliens and big robots, but at the heart of the story are well-drawn - both figuratively and literally - characters that face numerous professional and personal hardships, and are permanently affected by the events around them. It’s essentially a novel, with a beginning, middle, and end, with each episode being a single chapter.”
The Future
With the upcoming miniseries in the can, both Yune and Faerber are thinking of the next Robotech outing. “At this past year’s San Diego Comic Con, Tommy, [editor] Ben Abernathy, and I sat around for a bit and talked about story possibilities for the next mini-series, but so far, we haven’t made any decisions. So it could literally be anything – it could be another Macross-themed mini, or maybe Masters or New Generation. Anything goes!”
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While the series (plotted by Yune, scripted by Faerber, with art by Long Vo and UDON, and edited by Ben Abernathy) jumps back into the franchise with both feet, a little primer may be in order first, for those whose only experience with Robotech may have been snippets of the animated series some 15 years ago.
Firstly, the “world” of Robotech “began” when a gigantic alien spacecraft crash-landed on Macross Island in the South Pacific. Although it was in the midst of a global war, the nations of the world realigned themselves and the world’s overall geopolitical climate, and scientists from all nations flocked to Macross to study the ship. Ultimately, a city was built around the ship, which served as home to the scientists, support staffs, and of course, the military element that had been involved with the ship and alien technology since day one, when it was discovered that the ship was of a military nature.
As the animated series timeline showed, the Macross Saga, that is, the first animated Robotech series, picked up ten years after the crash, when preparations are underway to return the ship to space. During the intervening ten years, the alien technology has been reverse engineered so that earth’s forces are equipped with advanced weapons fueled by “Protoculture,” which was found on the ship (now christened the SDF-1). The overall name for new technology utilizing Protoculture: “Robotech.”
Of course, just as the ship is readying for takeoff, the aliens (who were pursuing the ship ten years previous) arrive. Assuming the ship is still active, and the earth is its ally, the aliens (named Zentraedi) attack.
Following the Macross Saga, the animated Robotech canon continued in Robotech Masters and then Robotech: The New Generation.
But that’s another story.
By and large, the “Macross” component of Robotech is the most popular with fans, as it told the story of earth’s valiant fight against an enemy it didn’t even know it had. The animated series, while treated as “just another cartoon show” by network syndicates in the United States, was filled with surprisingly mature storylines involving love, loss, betrayal, and fairly complex politics. At the time of its original airing in the majority of the US (the late ‘80s), it made the storylines of many other animated series pale in comparison, and look, frankly, childish.
<img src="http://classic.newsarama.com/Wildstorm/pic_lrgrobot1cvr.jpg" width="175" height="266" alt="Robotech #1 cover" align="left" border="0">While Robotech became a cult hit, it didn’t have backing from a major toymaker, and was still too small for a large comic publisher to adapt into comics. Enter Comico. The small publisher began with Robotech: The Macross Saga in 1985, and continued publishing Robotech comics until 1989, adding Masters and New Generation along the way. Comico’s adaptations of the animated series were overseen and often written by Carl Macek, who produced the English version of the animated series. Macek’s involvement gave the Comico series a ring of authenticity. DC’s Robotech: The Macross Saga trade, coming in January, reprints the first six issues of the Comico series.
Eternity was next in line to try its hand at the Robotech license, and Robotech comics, most based upon the Macross storyline, continued to be published by a variety of small publishers throughout the ‘90s. Tangential storylines were embarked upon, stories designed to fill in missing chunks of time were told, and while some resonated with the fans of the franchise, none were seen as canonical.
Part of the reason there were so many versions of Robotech comics over the years was due to Harmony Gold, which owns the license for Robotech, having a decentralized control of products. Recently, Tommy Yune, Tom Bateman and Steve Yun have endeavored to pull the various pieces of Robotech back together to allow them to move forward as a cohesive unit, rather than a collection of divergent parts. One of the first results of the revamped view of Robotech was <a href="http://www.robotech.com" target="_blank">www.robotech.com,</a> a comprehensive website produced by Harmony Gold, which features the official Robotech timeline, as well as images, and an Infopedia. Basically, if it’s not on the website, or in the timeline, it didn’t happen as far as Harmony Gold is concerned.
Harmony Gold’s new approach to coordinating the Robotech license is aimed at making sure Robotech releases have strict quality control, and meet specific criteria, which, in the end, result in better products, in HG’s eyes.
Putting the upcoming comic projects into the above mix, it was Yune who was instrumental in getting Robotech back to comics, as well as at Wildstorm, in particular. Having made a name for himself with such projects as Speed Racer and Danger Girl: Kamikaze, Yune left Wildstorm to work as the creative director on Robotech for Harmony Gold in the late ‘90s.
Primarily, Yune’s job is to work on the new Robotech animated series in development, but there’s always more. “I’m also closely involved in all our story-driven Robotech products,” Yune said. “I still really enjoy drawing and every once in a while I get the time to squeeze out some nice illustrations.”
The World
In starting up the Robotech comic franchise at Wildstorm, Yune was instrumental in the setting. The miniseries launching this week is set in the months and years after the ship crash landed on Macross Island – a time period which has already been visited once or twice.
<a href="http://classic.newsarama.com/Wildstorm/RTHCVR3.jpg"><img src="http://classic.newsarama.com/Wildstorm/RTHCVR3_t.jpg" width="175" height="266" alt="Robotech #3 cover" align="right" border="0"></a>”Since we're relaunching Robotech in comics through DC Comics and Wildstorm, it made sense to start over from origin of the Macross Saga,” Yune said. “The storyline follows elaborates on events from the 1999-2009 timeline that is briefly covered in the opening narrative and sporadic flashbacks in the original television series. Though some elements of this story had been depicted before in [Comico’s] Robotech: The Graphic Novel and [Eternity’s] Robotech: Return to Macross, we're excited that this is turning out to be the best Robotech comic series ever produced and will introduce Robotech to a new generation of fans.”
Yune’s writing partner on the miniseries, Jay Faerber, agreed. “The Macross Saga is probably the most popular Robotech era, so it makes sense to focus our initial mini-series on those characters,” Faerber said. “Robotech fans will remember that the first episode of the Macross Saga features a sort of opening narration, which chronicles the arrival of the SDF-1 and all the back-story. With this mini-series, we’re able to extrapolate on that back-story, and examine it in greater detail.”
To nail down specifics, the miniseries follows the events just following the opening minutes of the first animated episode. “Talk about time compression -- when the subtitled date advances from 1999 to 2009, this has got to be one of the fastest passages of time in the entire series,” Yune said. “After a brief ‘introductory epilogue’ in issue #0 [Captain Rick Hunter finds Roy Fokker’s Veritech fighter as its about to be junked for scrap], the story segues back to 1999 to show the effects of the arrival of the SDF-1 upon many of our favorite Robotech characters, namely Roy Fokker. Some of the subsequent events will intersect with flashbacks seen in the ‘A Rainy Night’ television episode as well.”
According to Faerber, during the miniseries, which spans from the crash up to just prior to the launch ceremonies in first episode, he and Yune will be able to explore the earth a little more than was ever allowed in the anaimted series. While only alluded to in the animated series, the earth that the ship crash lands on is one that is at full-on war, something which changes immediately.
“While the crash-landing of the SDF-1 is certainly a terrifying event, it also acts as a sort of lynch pin that holds everything together,” Faerber said. “A new world government is hastily assembled, as the various world leaders realize that they need to put their heads together in order to deal with this global event – especially if the SDF-1’s alien owners ever come looking for it.
“We don’t delve as much into the sociological and cultural implications, however, since the majority of our story is set on various military bases, which are purposely isolated from the rest of the world as scientists try and unlock the SDF-1’s secrets, and test pilots try to master the new Veritech fighters.”
According to Yune, the political climate of the world in which the SDF-1 crashes is very much like it is today. “We now have the advantage of 20/20 hindsight since we can now depict reflect back on the events following 1999 rather then guessing during the 1980's,” Yune said. “The cold war is over, but now the enemy is a decentralized and elusive terrorist coalition that could threaten the world unity that is desperately needed to build up the Earth's defenses against incoming aliens.
<a href="http://classic.newsarama.com/Wildstorm/RYHCVR4.jpg"><img src="http://classic.newsarama.com/Wildstorm/RYHCVR4_t.jpg" width="175" height="266" alt="Robotech #4 cover" align="left" border="0"></a>So really, the threat of the miniseries is human society itself. How does a world deal with an alien encounter in which no living aliens are initially present? The United Earth Forces at Macross Island have to deal with a world that has not yet seen the alien threat and remains terrified of the mysterious technology buried deep within the SDF-1. Not knowing that the Zentraedi are on the
way, some would feel that the SDF-1 itself is the greatest threat that needs to be destroyed.”
As such, political battles are the norm for the duration of the miniseries. “The ratification of the United Earth Government takes over five years, and not without a struggle,” Yune said. “In the meantime, the United Earth Forces struggle to maintain a perimeter around Macross Island and keep the details of Robotech development under tight guard.”
The Players
While his character arc in the animated series is slightly short-lived and tragic, pilot Roy Fokker plays a key role in the miniseries. “Roy’s an amazingly talented pilot – one of those natural fliers who relies much more on instinct than on his instrument panel,” Faerber said. “And yeah, he’s a show-off. He got his start flying at Rick Hunter’s dad’s circus, so there’s a big part of him that likes performing. He doesn’t enjoy killing, but there comes a time when he realizes that his country needs his skills, so he enlists in the service – and promises young Rick that he’ll come back and fly in the circus one day.”
Yune continued the character sketch of Fokker: “The Global War hardens the normally carefree Roy Fokker into a brooding pilot. His prodigious skills have allowed him to miraculously survive the most intense combat, only to repeatedly experience the tragic loss of comrades around him. This is a black cloud hangs over him, even though it's not necessarily his fault.”
In the miniseries’ first issue, Fokker is assigned to hunt and kill the military commander of the “other side” of the global war – Captain Gloval, who is on his submarine somewhere in the Pacific. Fans of the animated series will recognize the name – Gloval will one day be the commander of the SDF-1 as it takes to space. As Yune pointed out, Gloval is Russian – a nod of sorts to how the original writers of the animated series would’ve seen the sides of a global war from the early ‘80s – the US versus the USSR.
<img src="http://classic.newsarama.com/Wildstorm/Rick.jpg" width="300" height="213" alt="Rick reads a letter from Roy, detail from #1, page 1" align="right" border="0">Yune said that the global war was tweaked a little, but the sides remained relatively the same. “The Global War initially involves the known superpowers such as the United States and Russia,” Yune explained. “However, the Anti-Unification League, a terrorist organization that had a minor role in the Robotech television series, will have a greatly expanded role afterwards in this comic miniseries.”
Back to Yune’s description of Fokker, Faerber gave a few more details about the character, as well as what holes the miniseries will fill in for those familiar with him through the animated series. “Roy’s such a talented pilot that he does outlive his wingmen,” Faerber expalined. “It’s not that he’s reckless, per se. It’s just that they can’t keep up with him, and this eats away at him. Because of this, he doesn’t enjoy any camaraderie with his fellow pilots. They view him sort of as an outsider, because he’s got this black cloud hanging over him. Nevertheless, he’s got quite the reputation with the ladies. One of the subplots of this mini-series is that we get to see the early days of Roy’s romance with Claudia Grant. We’ve seen bits and pieces of their courtship in the actual Macross cartoons, through flashbacks. So Tommy and I’ve worked hard to weave those flashbacks into this series, along with new material.”
That said, Fokker has yet to reach the “big brother” maturity level that he has with Rick Hunter in the animated series.
<a href=http://classic.newsarama.com/Wildstorm/pic_lrgrobotech1sht2.jpg target="_blank"><img src="http://classic.newsarama.com/Wildstorm/pic_lrgrobotech1sht2_t.jpg" width="175" height="266" alt="Roy prepares to land and hunt for Gloval; issue #1, page 2" align="left" border="0"></a>Speaking of Rick, given that he’s only 19 when he shows up in the first episode of the animated series, he’s a precocious nine year old when the miniseries begins who views Roy in larger tha life terms. “Rick’s relationship with Roy is seen mainly through the letters that Roy writes while he’s in the service,” Faerber said. “Each issue is framed by a letter Rick receives from Roy. Obviously, the fact that Rick calls Roy ‘Big Brother’ is an indication of the closeness of their relationship. And I think Roy is probably largely responsible for Rick’s love of flying. Sure, Rick’s dad is a pilot, so there’s double the influence. But I bet Rick idolizes Roy more than Pop Hunter.”
To go all geek, Yune said that the relationship between Rick and Roy isn’t like Luke Skywalker and Biggs Darklighter, but rather, opted to compare it to a latter day Star Wars reference. “It's more like young Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon,” Yune said. “They're both gifted, but the younger has a differing philosophy - that is until he's forced to mature into the elder's role.”
Other characters that play roles in the animated series will show up in the mini in one way or another, from Admiral Hayes (father of Lisa Hayes), who is the power broker of the military development of Robotechnology, to the above mentioned Claudia Grant, and others, such as T.R. Edwards, who will have cameo roles.
The Personal Stuff
As creators in their late ‘20s and early ‘30s, the chance to tell an original Robotech story is something beyond cool – a chance to add their mark to something that they have enjoyed for years. Both Faerber and Yune took the opportunity to reflect back to their early encounters with the property.
“I forget the first moment I saw Robotech,” Faerber said. “I just remember that I really dug it in junior high school. I’ve always enjoyed finding stuff that not everyone else was into, so while all the other kids - those who hadn’t outgrown cartoons by that point, at least - were watching He-Man, I was more into Robotech. I just loved the complexity of the series, and the way in which it comprised one big story, where characters died, and there was no status quo. I liked knowing that the next episode would pick up where the previous one left off, as opposed to other cartoons, which you could watch in any order and it wouldn’t make a difference. Come to think of it, Robotech could very well have been the first ‘soap opera’ I ever watched.”
<a href="http://classic.newsarama.com/Wildstorm/pic_lrgrobotech1sht3_t.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://classic.newsarama.com/Wildstorm/pic_lrgrobotech1sht3_t.jpg" width="175" height="266" alt="Issue #1, page 3" align="right" border="0"></a>Yune's introduction was slightly different – he began watching Robotech with the last series, New Generation, but still, it has a lasting effect. “I was really hooked by its serial storyline and really enjoyed the similarities of the Macross Saga to Spaceship Yamato, which was one of my favorite anime before Robotech.”
Both Yune and Faerber are drawing on their initial impressions of the animated series in creating the miniseries. “This comic experience is meant to feel like an extension of the television series,” Yune said. “It will have elements of action, romance, humor, and wonder rolled into a slick and intelligent science fiction storyline. Because this miniseries is essentially an origin story, it's the perfect introduction to Robotech, whether or not fans have seen the television series, so we’re making sure to make it very new-reader friendly.”
And for those who still are scratching their heads as to what it’s all about, Faerber gave the bigger, “big” picture of Robotech. “At the risk of sounding pompous, it’s a story of love and war. Yes, there are aliens and big robots, but at the heart of the story are well-drawn - both figuratively and literally - characters that face numerous professional and personal hardships, and are permanently affected by the events around them. It’s essentially a novel, with a beginning, middle, and end, with each episode being a single chapter.”
The Future
With the upcoming miniseries in the can, both Yune and Faerber are thinking of the next Robotech outing. “At this past year’s San Diego Comic Con, Tommy, [editor] Ben Abernathy, and I sat around for a bit and talked about story possibilities for the next mini-series, but so far, we haven’t made any decisions. So it could literally be anything – it could be another Macross-themed mini, or maybe Masters or New Generation. Anything goes!”
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