Now they’re just slapping images on at random.
Macross II: The Micron Conspiracy #4
Viz Comics (1995)
“Against The Wall” WRITER: James D. Hudnall ARTIST: Schulhoff Tam COVER DESIGN: Viz Graphics LETTERER: Wayne Truman ASSISTANT EDITOR: Toshifumi Yoshida MANAGING EDITOR: Satoru Fujii EDITOR: Annette Roman
Hibiki and Zara make their escape, but not before learning the UNR’s true plans. (I’ll save that for “other notes” because I want to make fun of these guys…I mean analyze the flaw in their plan.) While they escape in UNR mecha it won’t help them reach Hibiki’s newsroom without being taken by the UNR-sympathizers among the cops, like the one who decides to torment Silvie about her roommate’s eventual return. They have also pegged both Zara and Hibiki as traitors, and Hibiki’s holo-watch is low on power, so when Zara is spotted our heroes are in big trouble.
What they got right: While I’m about to poke holes in the villains’ plans, in theory I understand it. It’s still morally wrong and questionable as a successful plan, but it’s better than a plain-old power grab. Hibiki is forced to disguise himself as a woman and someone decided to base his disguise on Sailor Moon, which I thought was a nice nod.
What they got wrong: Male or female, what was the point of having Zara’s lover being the one to chase them? To show Zara is more concerned with exposing the UNR than caring for her girlfriend? It’s a bit late for this character to have her character explored, and it’s not necessary to her part of the story. She thought the UNR was a good thing until she started questioning their actions and decided to stop them. That’s all you need.
Other notes: So let’s go over the UNR’s plans. Worried that a world at peace will make them easy pickings for another invader like the Zentraedi or Marduk, they want to use the UNR to foster anti-Zentraedi sentiments and start a new civil war….which will make the Earth easy pickings for another invasion force since they’ll be more worried about fighting each other than being prepared for someone else looking for the remains of the Macross. Remember, Earth was at war when the SDF first crashlanded on Earth. The war was stopped in order to learn about the ship. In the years it took they learned how to create transforming robot planes and robotic weapon emplacements before the Zentraedi arrived and attacked the Earth. Imagine if they had shown up while World War III was still going on, or while tensions were still high as a joint group examined the alien ship? This plan of the UNR will actually make Earth more vulnerable to new aliens and cost the humans valuable allies among micronized and any remaining normal-sized Zentraedi. So your plan’s kind of stupid, guys.
Recommendation: With one issue left to go I’m still really into this story. Still on the recommendation list, pending how this adventure ends tomorrow.
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