Getter Robo Saga

One of the pioneers of the super robot genre, the Getter Robo saga, which started in 1974, still remains one of the pillars of its genre and a major inspiration for many authors.

The story of Getter Robo is fairly simple: a group of 3 teens are summoned to pilot the Getter Robo, a machine that is capable of defeating the monsters that threaten the human race. Each entry in the saga usually has a different main trio, a different Getter, as well as different enemies, but they all have a similar premise and execution. Despite the simplicity, the plot explores several themes and has dark undertones, which make it interesting. Unfortunately, due to author Ken Ishikawa's death, the story remained unfinished.

Initially, the series was drawn by Go Nagai, while latter installments were drawn by Ken Ishikawa. Both art styles are very similar similar, so the transition feels natural. Also, overall, I'd say the art of this series is pretty good.

The protagonists of Getter Robo are quite interesting, as they are not your usual do-gooders. They each have their individual traits and quirks, which get developed as the story goes on. My favorite from the bunch is Hayato Jin, who is introduced as the intelligent psychopath leader of a group of teenage revolutionaries. Just from this description, you can guess that the protagonists are all far from the usual.

Overall, the series is very enjoyable. I love the GAR and testosterone-fueled battles and I believe the series is worth reading.

For years I had Getter Robo lingering at the back of my planning list, just sitting there, just waiting to be cracked open. Having already read and been bored to tears reading Mazinger Z, I admittedly did not have high expectations for Getter Robo. Both series were from the 70s and presented by Go Nagai, the grand daddy of modern anime angst and horniness. However, Getter Robo had one major difference between it and Mazinger Z, and that was Ken Ishikawa. In the end I can safely say that Getter Robo totally kicks Mazinger's ass (though I still prefer Mazinger's design).

The first two entries in Saga are Getter Robo and Getter Robo G, the oldies. These early parts of the series are the ones that feel the most "Go Nagai", what with Ishikawa's art style highly emulating Nagai's, and the plot having used a lot of typical conventions of the time. What isn't typical is how goddamn chaotic everything is, and how insane all the pilots are. These aren't your typical hot-shot teens or goody two shoe heroes, the pilots in Getter Robo are NUTS. The art gets noticeably looser and less stilted as the early series goes on, and you get a few early glimpses at Ishikawa's later art style with some of the additional chapters that were added with the Saga release (which I don't feel too strongly about in any way). The writing is a little episodic here, though unlike other mecha series from the time it does a really good job continuously ramping up the stakes, to the point where you doubt the heroes will come out unscathed.

From that point on is Shin, Go, and Arc. I would personally read Shin after Go (as it was released), but Saga orders it in story-chronology. The three later series in Saga present a massive evolution in both art style and writing from the early series. Over a decade had passed between G and Go, and Ken Ishikawa was not the same artist as he was back in those days. The writing is much sharper, the conflicts more exciting and unpredictable, and the art takes on a quality that I feel is wholly unique to Ishikawa. If you plan on reading Getter Robo Saga, these are the series you're reading it for.

Saga concludes on Getter Robo Arc which unfortunately got cancelled before it could end in the way Ken Ishikawa intended. Sadly, Ken Ishikawa passed away only a year after Arc's cancellation, so we will likely never get a proper conclusion.

The ending we got was far from conclusive, however I feel like it's incredibly fitting of the series. The world of Getter Robo is never at peace and is always in a constant state of escalating conflict, so in a way, ending right at the climax feels true to the series' spirit.

If I had to personally rate each series individually:

Getter Robo: 6/10
Getter Robo G: 6/10
Shin Getter Robo: 7/10
Getter Robo Go: 8/10
Getter Robo Arc: 8/10

As a whole I would comfortably give the entire series a solid 8/10 and a definite recommendation to anyone who likes giant robots, or is interested in the history of the mecha genre. If you're a fan on Neon Genesis Evangelion, Gunbuster, or Gurren Lagann; I also highly recommend giving this manga series a shot!