Super Dimension Fortress Macross the First (2010)

[超時空要塞マクロス THE FIRST]

Volume 2

Author/Artist: Haruhiko Mikimoto
Publisher: Kadokawa Comics Ace

Synopsis:
The Macross spacefolds to escape the alien onslaught and emerges near Pluto. Hikaru and Minmei find themselves stranded in the bowels of the ship.

Story/Characters:
Half of this volume is Hikaru and Minmei being stranded, which goes a long way toward cementing the bond between them. After that, we have Hikaru decide to join UN Spacy and go on his first sortie. There's also the debut of the Daedalus Attack, showing off Misa's tactical acumen. We have an original character introduced, the Macross' chief engineer LCDR Gina Bartolo. She doesn't get a lot of focus, but she does provide a vehicle for the technobabble.

Art:
The art continues to impress, but there's so much Minmei fanservice that it's crazy. If Mikimoto isn't a Minmei fan himself, you'd never believe it from all the loving detail that goes into portraying her. I'm not a Minmei fan, by the way, but I have a hard time resisting the charm that just oozes from the page. Besides all the attention paid to the future superstar, the space battle sequence is brief but striking, particularly the Daedalus Attack.

Other:
This volume includes a two-page full-color spread of Minmei.

Conclusion:
There is some great character building going on between Hikaru and Minmei this volume that sets both of them on their respective tracks. Accompanying this solid storytelling is some gorgeous art, making for a piece you'll want to add to your collection.

Rating:
Own It