More epic than Quest For Iscandar (Yes!)

STOP!!

THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SOME MAJOR SPOILERS CONCERNING STAR BLAZERS: THE QUEST FOR ISCANDAR!! DO NOT READ IT IF YOU HAVEN'T WATCHED ISCANDAR YET!!

Star Blazers: The Quest For Iscandar was created to be an epic tale and succeeded greatly. Its sequel, The Comet Empire, is even more ambitious than the first and, unlike many sequel attempts, it pulls it off with the introduction of a far more dangerous enemy, The Comet Empire. However, TCE does not stop here: it also brings back the Star Force's enemy from QFI, the Gamilons. Gamilon leader Desslok, the most dangerous man in the universe, is also found to be alive, and is working with the Comet Empire! Finally, the Space Marines are introduced, they aid the Star Force in their mission, albeit not always on the friendliest of terms!

All of the action takes place over a 26 episode, 24-esque story arc again, and here is...

...A more in-depth look at the five principle groups of characters and plot:

The Star Force

One year back from Iscandar, Derick Wildstar has been promoted to Captain of the Argo--the youngest such person to ever have this high honor--in the wake of Captain Abraham Avatar's death from space radioactivity in the final episode of QFI. Wildstar is calmer and much more mature this time around.

Wildstar and the Argo's crew have been away in space patrolling the Solar System for almost a year and are anxious to get back home to earth. Thanks to the technology given to them by Queen Starsha of Iscandar, earth has made great bounds in colonizing and mining the planets of the solar system, and the Argo has (again) been on patrol, along with other ships armed with Starsha's "wave motion technology," to provide safety from any potential outside threats. While returning home, they notice strange spacecraft on their radar, spacecraft that have never been seen before. At the same time they spot the alien ships, all the power on earth and aboard the Argo surges greatly. Wildstar rushes to his fighter plane to get a close-up look at these mysterious ships, but is unable to deal with the amazing maneuverings of them. Wildstar decides to forget about it for the time being and return home, especially since he needs to deal with the Argo's power surge, but he files this away in the back of his mind to get to the bottom of...later.

Wildstar arrives home, and goes first to see Chief Radar Operator and Nurse (and his girlfriend) Nova Forrester. They meet with the Argo's medical doctor, Dr. Sane, and discuss the odd happenings. Later that night, at a tribute to Captain Avatar, the same ship flies overhead again, and all the power goes out! Wildstar is now convinced that things are not all right, and that the earth is in great danger. This feeling is made even stronger as astronomers are picking up a gigantic white comet, previously uncharted, headed straight towards earth, with an impact only months away. Furthermore, the Argo's Chief Science Officer, Stephen Sandor, has picked up a distress call from light years away--its frequency is coming from the same direction as of the mysterious white comet.

Wildstar takes this information to the Earth Defense Federation, but when they are slow to act, he assembles the Star Force together, along with Pilot Mark Venture, who is hesitant to come as he does not want to defy orders.

The Comet Empire is a massive planetoid with a white, comet-like shell outside of it that devours everything in its path. For unknown years, this empire has travelled through space conquering everything in its path. This mammoth battle fortress/world has the ability to even destroy planets and his led by the power-hungry, maniacal Prince Zordar, whose next planned conquest is earth. He has recently discovered it and believes it will be the jewel of all that he has conquered.

Desslok and the Gamilons are also back opposing the Star Force and aiding the Comet Empire. The Gamilons and Desslok were believed dead after their home world of Gamilon was destroyed in Quest For Iscandar, and Desslok's final assault on the Argo resulted in his battleship being destroyed with him supposedly on it.

However, Desslok's lifeless, near-dead body was dicovered and ressuciated by the Comet Empire, and Prince Zordar (going against his advisors' wishes as they do not trust Desslok) makes Desslok a "partner," so to speak. Desslok assembles all of his Gamilon patrols together that were away from Gamilon when it was destroyed and tells Zordar he can have earth, "I only want the Star Force."

The Space Marines led by their Sgt. Knox are stationed on the "eleventh" planet from the sun, Brumis. Their outpost is attacked by a Comet Empire scout envoy, and the Argo helps them out--rescues them, in fact. With their base in ruins, the Space Marines join the Star Force on their journey and many times along the trip Wildstar and Sgt. Knox will clash over "who is in charge" sometimes leading to out and out brawls with both crews. Sgt. Knox is a great new character, and adds a lot to this new story. I might add also that he is voiced by the late Christopher Latta, famous for providing the voice of Cobra Commander, on the GI Joe cartoon series>

Finally, Trelaina of Telezart is the mysterious individual who contacts earth, particularly the Star Force. As they blast off to answer her, believed to be, distress call, there is fear among some of the crew she may (as with Queen Starsha before) be an enemy, and luring them into a trap. Whether this is the case or not, the Comet Empire fears her, as she is believed to have discovered the secrets of anti-matter, which could make her potentially the most dangerous person in the universe.

What will happen? How will this story play out? Will the Star Force be forgiven by the EDF for disobeying orders? Major characters will die! There will also be an episode near the end with Desslok that will totally blow you away--you will not, I assure you, see this coming!

Technical Details

The superb voice cast is back once again and it is (the known actors--see my QFI review for more details) as follows:


Eddie Allen as .........Gamilon Leader Desslok
Ken Meseroll as ........Captain Derick Wildstar
Amy Howard Wilson as....Nova Forrester
Tom Tweedy as...........Argo pilot Mark Venture
Chris Latta as..........Sgt. Knox
Lydia Leeds as..........Trelaina of Telezart

The Comet Empire is comprised of six discs containing 26 episodes. The special features are outstanding:

* Each disc has a trailer for the next disc.

* Discs 2 and 3 have interviews (Parts 1 and 2) with voice actors Eddie Allen and Ken Meseroll.

* Discs 4 and 5 have (again, two-part) interviews with voice actors Amy Howard Wilson and Tom Tweedy.

* The discs contain overviews of all the principle characters from all of the different groups, as well as overviews of all of the weapons, fighter craft, etc.

* Finally, there is an interactive map on one of the discs that gives you a detailed look at the Star Force's journey this time around.

It would have been nice if the would have included a "making of" featurette, too. But, I really cannot complain as the special features are outstanding.

The Run Time is 584 minutes

Conclusion

Star Blazers: The Comet Empire does succeed in being even more epic than the first. The superb voice actors are back, as well as the same haunting score, plus all of the new characters and groups make for some fantastic, "escapism" viewing.

And, did I mention the special features are outstanding?

Easily 5 out of 5 stars!