From: dvandom@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (David VanDomelen)
Subject: Re: Battle of the Planets
Organization: The Ohio State University
Date: Sat, 7 Nov 1992 04:59:13 GMT

Okay, I brought along my Animag, so prepare to get the Straight Dope on BoP and
Gatchaman.
     "The Science Ninja Team Gatchaman:  Formed by Dr. Nambu to locate the 
Gallactor home base...." starts the intro.
CHARACTERS:
     G-1, Ken the Eagle (Mark Venture) 18
     G-2, Joe the Condor (Jason) ??
     G-3, Jun the Swan (Princess) ??
     G-4, Jinpei the Swallow (Keyop) 10
     G-5, Ryu the Owl (Tiny) 17
     Dr. Nambu (leader dude)
     Berg Katse (Zoltar)
     Governor X (Great Spirit)
ORGANIZATIONS:
     ISO, International Science Organization (Intergalactic Federation)
     Gallactor (Spectre)
     Science Ninja Team Gatchaman (G-Force)
     Red Impulse Squadron (Project Neptune?)
     Selector system, home of Governor X (Crab Nebula)
VEHICLES:
     G-1, Ken's Fighter, transforms from mail plane to jet fighter.  Initially 
unarmed, later has laser cannon
     G-2, Joe's Car, 2000GT stock car that transforms into a racing car capable
of 1000 kph (nearly Mach 1) on 'good roads'.  Later version has gatling cannon
     G-3, Jun's Motorcycle, standard 700cc street bike transforms into "Sonic 
Car" capable of 700 kph on land, can put down skis to travel at 200 kph on 
water or snow.  Later version has heavy rocket launcher.
     G-4, Jinpei's Helicobuggy, dune buggy (Jinpei has special driver's 
license) transforms into "self-contained VTOL rocket-assisted tank" capable of 
max speed of 200 kph. The mouth opens to use buzzsaws, lasers and other neato 
stuff.  Later version (as if it needed more weapons) could barf up bombs.
     G-5, Ryu's Hovercraft.  Forget it, this thing doesn't transform.  What 
would it become, anyway?  Kinda hard to say "Okay, everyone out of the jumbo 
jet, we need it for a mission" isn't it?  This is the main boby of the God 
Phoenix (Fiery Phoenix) and can hit Mach 5.  It can go to depths of 2000 meters
underwater.  It cannot use the Bird Missiles (those thangs that it launched 
whenever Jason broke the glass and started punching the button alot) without 
the otehr vehicles attached (for some strange plot-driven reason) so it usually
just rams opponents or runs away.
     God Phoenix - Capable of low Earth orbit, but attaining it causes much 
strain on the crew.  Forget interstellar travel, bub.  It has those nifty 
missiles which *almost* never run out.  It also has a parabolic deflector dich 
and can initiate "Science Ninja Firebird Techniques" which consist of becoming 
a flaming bird and ramming stuff.  Usually the stuff rammed doesn't survive the
experience.  This "Fiery Phoenix" attack also can do other plot-devicy things.
The upgraded version (hey, they hadda upgrade everything that episode) had two 
upgraded Super Bird Missiles.
     All Dem Monsters - Gallactor technology transmitted to earth by Governor X
allowed them to build all sorts of nasty war machines.  Fun, eh?  Good thing 
some friendly aliens beamed the transforming vehicle tech to the good guys.
SECRET BACKGROUNDS:
     Mark/Ken - He was presumed an orphan, but it turns out his father was in 
the Red Impulse Squadron.  Of course, the episode he found out, his dad got
caulked.
     Joe/Jason - His hobbies used to include robbery and arson.  His parents 
were killed by Gallactor agents (shades of Batman here) but it later turns out 
they were Gallactor agents, which messes his head up a bit, and sets him up to 
get killed while stupidly taking on a whole Gallactor base.  Yeah, he dies.  
Unfortunately, in the sequel series, his consciousness returns in a robot 
body.  Sigh.
     Jun/Princess - Runs the disco/restaurant called the "Snack J" (possibly 
the origin of that stupid ready room sequence in EVERY BLOODY EPISODE OF THE 
AMERICANIZED VERSION) but can barely cook.  She's the only character who's 
known to be part Japanese.
     Jinpei (not Keyop) - Might be orphaned son of the leader of the Jupiter 
Ninja Army.
     Ryu/Tiny - actually has a family and knows they're alive and they aren't 
secretly enemy agents or anything!  Wow.
     Berg Katse/Zoltar - "A mutant created by Governor X, Katse has an IQ of 
280 but is completely unable to stabilize his sex, which uncontrollably 
fluctuates between male and female.  Once he learns to control his form, Katse 
sometimes takes on his female personage to work for Gallactor undetected."  
Hence any Mata Hari type Spectre agents in later episodes are probably Zoltar.
     Governor X - Really a computer

SETTINGS:
     All on Earth in Gatchaman.  No space travel.  In BoP, there are a few 
regular planets: Riga (sortof allies) and the Spectre world in the Crab Nebula.

WEAPONS:
     Ken/Mark - Boomerang that can be loaded with various thingies
     Joe/Jason - Weird gun that also had cable shooters.  He also had perpetual
dibs on the missile launchers on the Phoenix.
     Jun/Princess - Exploding Yo-yos.  Really.  Honest.
     Ryu/Tiny - Air Gun
     Jinpei - Bad Puns

     Dave Van Domelen, all stuff is from Animag Vol II issue 1 and I hope they 
don't see reason to sue.
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