sketchley

It happens. I've been collecting the manga version of Evangalion since, oh, the late '90's. Once the double-oh's started, the pace of release has slowed from one every half year or so to one every 1.5 to 2 years. I think a better question might be: is it common for famous artists working on high-profile manga who can afford to take an extended period of time off without fear of negatively impacting their readership, to take yearly breaks between issues?

Which totally destroyed the "and this is where you came in" moment that leads right into the manga series!

Here's a link with the 30 second spot: http://deagostini.jp/mcr/ (the part with TVCM) Saw it on TV this morning... am wondering which demographic they're targeting, as the TV show it ran during is basically one for housewives... Didn't you know? The Sand Booster is the backup when the Sound Energy Converter doesn't work!

Don't think about it too much. None of it makes sense if you do otherwise.

Deagostini Macross Chronicle Newly Revised Ed. commercial: [i wasn't aware of this until the wife said that she saw it on TV.]

I'm sure we should be looking forward to the alternate game versions, too. Anyhow, translation of the front of the YF-29 Durendal page: http://sketchleystats.webatu.com/Trans/MCNRmechanic/TFsms04aYF29.php# FINALLY, some hard numbers on that craft.

The MCR's All Macross Series Guide Line has M0, SDFM, FB2012, M+ (OVA), M7, D7 and MF along the timeline; M+ Movie Ed., M7 Galaxy is Calling Me, and FB7 in red boxes inside their respective series in the timeline. Underneath the timeline are DYRL, the 2 MF movies, and MII. It's almost like they're saying that all the movie versions take place outside of the timeline (or are movies within the movies). Anyhow, I've spotted to minor changes: Tech Sheet Macross Class and Successor Ships: from 16A to 06A (replacing Beam Weapons) Worldguide: Reknown VF Squads: from 22A to 25A (replacing The Galaxy-Wide Thought Connection Network Project) Should we take those changes as a sign that things the publisher will be better organized?

Beat me to it! Scoopda info: http://www.macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?showtopic=30860&view=findpost&p=1015183 I agree, it's well worth picking it up... almost like reacquainting oneself with an old friend. I honestly hope that they have revised or updated at least some of the reprinted stuff... I'm pleasantly surprised that the game stuff, etc. appears to be getting a lot more (and better) coverage this time around. Fingers crossed! The M0 character interrelation chart/love triangle timeline is a bit more informative than I was expecting. Although highlighting when Shin decides who he loves with a heart is a bit too corny for my tastes... The Episode Sheet is better than I expected. On top of the expected screen caps and story run down, we get a chart highlighting which characters and mecha appeared (and which didn't), along with "Topics" (the Daegostini version of Extra Reports?) that provide additional info ("Valkyrie Variations" and "the Destruction of Studio Nue"). I like how the bonus mail-in this time are pins... but the fine print begs a closer look... PS: Azrael, the VF-1 is represent. DYRL, VF-1S Strike Valkyrie.

Macross Chronicle Newly Revised Edition 01 is OUT. Let me tell you, it's great going to the bookstore and seeing a big stack of Macross on the new releases counter once more. That said... Pros: - Cheap binder (included with the first issue. Supplementary 2 for ￥590. It's a steal compared to the first run) - Dedicated binders for all sections (that previous catch-all divider, what was it? Special Sheet is gone. We gets Mechanic, Character, Timeline, History, Technology, Worldguide, Glossary, Episode, Heroine Gallery, Gallery, Song, and Goods.) - expanded series categories: Zero (M0), M (SDFM), Plus (OVA & Movie), FB (Flashback), 7 (M7), 7銀 (M7 Movie), D7 (MD7), F (MF), FB7 (same), 愛 (SDFM:DYRL?), 劇F (theatrical MF, both movies), II (M2), 他 (game productions, etc.) I'm pleasantly surprised at this last one. - Rearranged use of Tenjin-san's art in unexpected places (for example: a foldout poster with 52 of the paintings on it) - we have approx. 1/4 of the content already translated into English! Cons: - about 1/2 the content is recycled, and at a quick glance, it doesn't look like the text has been changed. Discussion thread: http://www.macrosswo...dpost&p=1015181 EDIT: Issue #2 due out 2013.01.29 (2 weeks from now), with subsequent issues following weekly.

Mini-update: Translation of the flight suit info from VFMF:VF-25 Messiah http://sketchleystat...ghtsuits.php#MF (scroll up on the linky for a collection of flight suit/anti-G mechanisms)] Apparently there's a new model of EX-Gear introduced around the start of the 2060's (EDIT: in the unofficial setting version, that is).

There might be a delay, if you're overseas supplier has to contact Japan - as yesterday was a national holiday here.

The producer behind the prequels.

Looks like it could be some kind of lubricant. How does it feel on the fingers?

Someone was asking about the "science lessons" that came with AftT in another thread, and as the ultimate AftT book I picked up last week has a list of every single video released... the following might be helpful for the person wanting that info, and others: right side: the 4 science lesson videos that came with the original release: 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th times. the 2 science lesson videos that came with the 1994 LD box set: 4th+1 & last times. left side: the 2 science lesson videos that came with the 2012 Blu-ray box: New 1st "orbital elevator and orbital ropeway" and New 2nd "the core of the galaxy and black holes". the 3 short films released in 2000 and 2001: "Harumi and Yumiko's good morning Oki-jo!", "AD 2032.7.23 Cosmic battle space orbit of Halley's commet" and "Sizzler Project". These are the 3 science lesson videos that came with Diebuster. All the publications up to the time of printing (2012.12.17). It even includes the "Aim for the Top! picture contents collection" due to be printed in 2013.01.

How many times have you seen it? Could you watch it (in English) with the sound and subtitles turned off and still understand the story (it is an action movie, after all)? If so, you don't have to worry about either the lack of English or learning Japanese.

Yup, no special book. Only the special Alto/VF-25 (Keitai) strap. Though, I am happy that the sticker does say "Osaka" on it, making it a bit more unique.

M:SDE ~in Osaka~ Stamp Rally! Part 1: Kyoto On the 5th, my family headed off to Kyoto for Hatsumode. Double checking the fine print on the Stamp Rally sheet, I realized that I had a chance to complete the stamp rally! First stop was lunch at Mozaic Kawaramachi. Men-chaya Kinasai on the 8th floor not only has excellent Kyoto cuisine (that doesn't break the bank), it has one of the best nose-bleed inducing views in the city! After lunch, we headed over to Animate Kyoto, located in the Shin-Kyogoku Shopping Arcade (first traffic light on the right in the right picture above). Note: if you're heading to Kyoto, this is the first of the two shopping arcades that run parallel in Kawamachi. There's an anime/manga store near the end of the other one, but Animate is a lot closer to Kawaramachi. The store itself was bigger than I expected (comparable to Animate Nipponbashi), and I was pleased to see a Ranka costume in the Cos-play section. That said, the Macross display was disappointingly small - shockingly small, given that the store is one of the stamp rally destinations! It occupied only a couple of shelves, with the stamp, ink pad, and M:SDE flyers occupying a chunk of that! Aside from the event straps, the only other items on sale that come to mind were Macross themed iPhone cases. Alas, the ink pad (or the stamps themselves) were all gunky... smearing ink onto the other stamp rally sheets, and who knows what else... I also picked up the Intron Depot 5: Battalion book at the store. I haven't been going out of my way to find it, so it was a nice bonus. Mini review: it's themed on 6 video game and anime projects Shirow-san worked on from 2001 to 2009, most of which didn't get produced. First impressions of the book are that it illustrates what goes into a pitch for a show/game, and it's interesting seeing a couple of picts in 3 different states (pencil sketch/block colours/highlights). Wish there was more, and a few more "completed" images (as in, backgrounds behind the characters), but that is also a refreshing change from the other books in the Intron Depot series. After that, we headed over to Higashi-yama for Hatsumode proper. First stop, Yasaka Shrine. [pictured is the shrine entrance, BEFORE the traffic signal change and the mob of people waiting to cross start climbing the stairs.] As to be expected, it was REALLY busy. The kids enjoyed tossing the coins into the collection box (remember MWers, it's always ￥15, so that you get "enough luck"), but they enjoyed kicking pebbles at Maruyama Parkeven more. >.< We continued through the park to Chion-in. Alas, the main hall is under construction. If you're heading to Kyoto, the temple gate and stairs at Chion-in are well worth checking out, but as the main hall is undergoing reconstruction for the next SIX years, it's about as impressive as walking through a factory yard (right side of the following). Gah... not only Chion-in, but Himeji Castleis undergoind a multi-year restoration. Lame! >.< And, apart from buying some snacks for the kids on the way home, that wraps up Hatsumode/Rally day 1. Part 2: Hirakata The very next day, I headed out along the Hirakata Historical Highway to complete the Stamp Rally with a visit to Animate Hirakata. Living in Japan, you get hundreds of years old (sometimes thousands of years old) things literally in your backyard - or a few blocks away in this case. This highway is part of the Tokaido (an Edo-era Edo-Kyoto highway), dates to 1559, and some of the MWers living in Kanto probably live near other sections of the road. See the glove? It's one of the nice things about Japan - you drop something, people put it in a visible place where it won't get trampled on. If you drop something valuable, invariably someone will take it to the nearest police box. Animate Hirakata had a much larger Macross display, right in front of the main entrance (couldn't miss it, unlike Animate Kyoto, which required some searching). There was a LOT more Macross themed goods on sale. Though, the much advertised commemorative strap for the Osaka edition of the M:SDE didn't look like it was selling well. I was thinking about picking one up, but opted for a FB7 movie themed mechanical pencil - not only was it cheaper, it's also nicer looking and useful! I also scored the ultimate Aim For the Top! book. Mini review: if you like Aim for the Top, THIS is the book to get. Insert a bunch of superlatives and praise of your choosing about it. The only negatives of the book are that the the line-art is usually shrunk so that there are many different pieces on a single page - some of those pieces deserving half to full page treatment; and that comparing the 2 series side by side reinforces my view that Gunbuster is pretty much all substance, with style on top, and Diebuster is almost exclusively style, with little in the way of substance. The stamp rally corner was off to the left of the main Macross display, and, thankfully, the ink pad was not gunky. Alas, it looks like the stamp is well used... poor VF-1J! I handed in all 3 of our stamp rally sheets at the register, and was presented with a long, rectangular box of stickers. I was told to pick any 3 at random, and if there was a mark on the back, I would have won one of the stamp rally prizes. As I had used up all my good luck scoring the Aim For the Top book... Here's a close-up of the sticker prize: After returning home, I noted that Animate's monthly magazine (mostly listings of products to be released in the month) was stuffed into the bag. Tucked away in a corner was a plug for the M:SDE event: All in all, I was surprised at how smoothly the Stamp Rally went (I had had visions of expensive train rides and entrance tickets to get all 5 stamps). Of course, not getting one of the grand prizes is a bummer, but I was more disappointed not getting the main prize at the Macross shrine - the Daruma signed by Kawamori-san!

Officially? There are a handful of vague ones. Here's MF's Island 1: http://sketchleystats.webatu.com/Statistics/Island1/Island1.htm (same map image, original size: http://sketchleystats.webatu.com/Statistics/Island1/CityMap.jpg ) Unofficially, there's one for the M7 type SLRE City Ship that people have come up with: http://nomansland.site.nfoservers.com/MRG-Active-Archive/forums/index.php?topic=1606.msg42112#msg42112

The Macross 30 HP has some larger pictures of the first issue of MC:NaRE: http://www.macross30.com/news/ Apparently if you get a subscription, you get a) a pin set, and b) clear files (if you subscribe on the web). Both are double lame, as us who either don't bother with a subscription or can't get one with the publisher don't have access to them...

Yes and no. Some ships are extremely detailed, and others have next to no details. Here's a list of the human space ships that I've found over the years. Each one links to stats that have some to all of the information you're looking for (NOTE: green means official setting. Other colours invariably mean someone else's supposition.) And some further information: http://sketchleystat....php#BACKGROUND All the information here and in Lobizon's post is about the TV series version. The back story in the movie version is slightly different, but pretty much the same when it comes to answering your questions.

The bottom 2 are mine: http://studiootaking.deviantart.com/gallery/142336 The other one looks like a derivative of some roughs that Kawamori-san drew: http://sketchleystats.webatu.com/Statistics/VF-4/VF-4.php#OPTIONAL_SYSTEMS

As indicated earlier in this thread... got around to completing the translation of the model kit building advice article in Dengeki Hobby for the 1/1000 UN Cosmo Navy Combined Fleet: http://sketchleystats.webatu.com/Trans/DenHobMag/DH2012-12.php#20 Alas, it doesn't have much, if any, fun facts on the actual anime. One of these days I'll get around to translating the in-universe stats and write-ups for the ships that appear on the kit's box and in the instruction manual. One of these days...

Dengeki Hobby Magazine 2012.12 issue, now with updated and expanded Macross translations (and HTML-ized): http://sketchleystats.webatu.com/Trans/DenHobMag/DH2012-12.php

Picts of the M:SDE flyer I picked up at Animate Hirakata on the stamp rally expedition (report coming soon). Front: Rear: Also... this weekend will be your last chance to be lured by the Valkyrie in Osaka (perhaps ever?). 3 more days.

It looks sweet. Especially the top and bottom 3/4 views. Now... the missile launchers look... odd. Not so much in how they appear outside of the fuselage (though extending below the landing gear seems impractical for maintenance and loading), but how it gives the impression that there are no engines in the engine nacelles. Otherwise, sweet.