Gatchaman Vol. 14: Iron Spiders & Delirium Beams 1972 ADV Films Official US Website Buy It Now

Galactor once again has some of the most devious and evil schemes that an organization bent on taking over the world could come up with. The Science Ninja Team has thought they were getting close to finally tracking down their enemies, and in the previous volume, they even were under the impression they had killed Berg Katse, but they were quite wrong. Now, the fourteenth volume of the unedited and uncut collection of Gatchaman episodes finds that Galactor is determined to stop the Science Ninja’s once and for all, and cause a great deal of damage along the way.

The Science Ninja Team and Dr. Nambu have been trying their best to locate Galactor’s primary secret base and put a stop to them before more lives are lost, and these efforts haven’t been going extremely well for them. Galactor on the other hand has realized that the only way to stop Gatchaman once and for all is to learn who they really are, and in this volume they get closer than ever before. It all starts with an ISO scientist stealing vital information on the team to turn over to Berg Katse, and like many of Galactor’s plans, they have kidnapped the poor mans family in order to make him do their bidding. The plan ultimately fails, but they aren’t quite done yet.

Galactor has more schemes they are working on including a laser than turns people into mindless killing machines, and this nearly costs Ken his life. They even work with a former associate of Dr. Nambu in hopes of the Science Ninja Team showing up and getting the chance to photograph them in their normal street clothing. I guess Galactor shouldn’t be focusing their efforts so much on mecha as much as making one of those snazzy x-ray lenses that have been sold recently that allow one to see through clothing.

We do get an opportunity to learn a bit more about Joe in this volume as well. Already the series has revealed that his slain parents were former Galactor agents who betrayed the organization, and it was believed that their son, George Asuka, was killed as well, but Berg Katse is realizing that this may not be true. Joe, or George, makes a return trip to the island where his parents were murdered 10 years ago to visit their graves and finds that the island is nothing more than a haven for Galactor and a former friend, now a priest, may be the only source of protection, though he also wants to kill the Science Ninja Team member Joe the Condor who he holds responsible for the death of his fiancé.

Galactor’s final triumph in this volume involves them finally managing to locate the Science Ninja Team’s hidden base using the technology previously developed to transform them out of Birdstyle. The Crescent Base however can be moved at a moments notice, and the team manages to escape (barely) but Galactor is showing more ingenuity aside from simply making yet another mecha to destroy property and take lives, though they do find some time for that as well.

Skipping the usual extra material that has been found on each volume thus far of the series, the two things that have always been different are the commentary and the karaoke. This volume features Charles Campbell, the ADR director of the English version of Gatchaman, and voice actor Marty Fleck (Director Anderson) giving some insight into episode 84, and the episode “Duel on Galactor Island” serves as this volumes karaoke. I’m still going to throw out the suggestion of a voice over contest, serious and otherwise, for this bonus features. The results I’m sure could be hilarious.

Berg Katse may very well screw up quite a bit, but we’re seeing Galactor make some fantastic leaps in terms of discovering who the Science Ninja Team really are with this volume, and Galactor still remains the real attraction to the series. Well, some laughable dialog really helps a great deal as well, but you can’t expect Shakespeare from a early 70’s anime, but were it not for the often ridiculous nature of the series, some bad lines, and plenty of death and destruction, Gatchaman just wouldn’t be as much fun.

Episode 79 – The Stolen Gatchaman Information

One of the ISO’s own members has stolen vital data revealing the identities of the Science Ninja Team and Dr. Nambu has ordered them to follow him. Ken soon learns that Galactor is holding the man’s daughter hostage and the team moves out to try and rescue her and retrieve the data before it falls into the wrong hands.

Episode 80 – Come Back! Boomerang

Galactor has devised a brilliant new mecha that turns people to acts of violence and when the Science Ninja Team interferes it seems that Ken is not only a victim, he’s been killed in action. Galactor strike again and the team is out for revenge, but there’s a little surprise waiting for everyone.

Episode 81 – Duel on Galactor Island

Joe has returned in secret to the island where his parents where murdered a decade ago but finds that it is a haven for Galactor. However, in the chaos he runs into an old friend who remembers Joe, or George as he was known then, from their youth, but he also wants revenge on Joe the Condor for the death of his fiancé.

Episode 82 – Aim at the Crescent Coral Reef!

Galactor dispatches a deadly attack force of mecha with a single objective; find the Science Ninja Team base. After a destructive onslaught, the team jumps into action and realizes that they have no choice by to return to base, unaware that Galactor is close behind until it is too late.

Episode 83 – A Deadly Ring on Fire!

The Science Ninja team must journey deep below the surface of the Earth to stop yet another Galactor plan. They intend on detonating a supply of uranium to create an artificial earthquake and it seems that Dr. Nambu’s trusted associate who is helping the team may actually be working for the enemy.

Episode 84 – Smog Fiber, the Spiderweb Iron Beast!

Relief aid to a starving nation has been stopped by another of Galactor’s mecha and when Dr. Nambu gets a message from an old colleague claiming to know how to stop it, he immediately leaves to find out. The Science Ninja Team following along, the trap has been set and now it seems that Galactor may have photographic evidence of who the team really is.

-mike-
 

Genre: Science Fiction / action   Series Director: Hisayuki Toriumi   Voice Cast: Katsuji Mori (Ken) Kazuko Sugiyama (Jun) Isao Sasaki (Joe) Yoku Shioya (Jinpei) Shingo Kanemoto (Ryu) Toru Ohira (Dr. Nambu)

DVD Features: Dual Language Japanese/English English subtitles Clean Opening Animation Clean Closing Animation Commentary Track w/ Charles Campbell & Marty Fleck Gatchaman Karaoke Contains Episodes 79 - 84