Thread: As Rare as Good Vogon Poetry

Out of respect to Outlawstarnexus, and natural curiosity, I finished my first episode of Outlaw Star (Outlaw World). The series definitely starts off with a bang! In a good way, I feel I am going to be taking a wild ride much like the old movie serials, such as "The Green Hornet" or "The Phantom". Though I am over a decade late to the party, I am liking what I am seeing!

"Now there's something you do not see every day, Chauncey."
"What's that Edgar?"
"A person registered to an anime fan site who has not seen the anime."
"Chunchunmaru"

Originally Posted by Major Bougainvillea

The series definitely starts off with a bang! In a good way, I feel I am going to be taking a wild ride much like the old movie serials, such as "The Green Hornet" or "The Phantom".

First of all, can I say that I love you for making that connection? I've always thought I was the only one who saw that. One of the things that got me into Outlaw Star was that it was like a classical, Indiana Jones-style pulp adventure story from a Japanese perspective (Well, OK Indiana Jones came much later than The Phantom but they drew inspiration from the same sources). It's a story type that you don't see very often in anime so it was cool to see something that took a page from a lot of the adventure stories of yesteryear. There is also a funny twist on that story that...well, it sounds like you're not very far in the show so I wont go into detail on it until you get further along.

Oh, and I'm a big fan of Konosuba as well so props to you good sir (Or madam)!

Glad to see you're enjoying Outlaw Star. I've talked to Starwind55 about those connections (or rather, Indiana Jones), though we didn't go in-depth about it since he knows those films far better than I. Sometimes I find it difficult to draw parallels in Outlaw Star because a lot of people have different interpretations of it. Like how one guy said Outlaw Star is basically a sitcom, but I don't get that one at all.

Now that I mention that, I was joking with Starwind55 a few months back about how an Outlaw Star sitcom would be. I just can't make much of an actual connection between Outlaw Star and sitcoms. When one guy believed that Outlaw Star was based on the sitcom format I found that plain silly. But of course, that was just that guy's interpretation of Outlaw Star.

You also get people who try seeking more direct comparisons between Outlaw Star and other media. For instance it's very likely that Treasure Island was an inspiration. A lot of people say that the live action TV show Firefly plagiarised Outlaw Star but I've yet to draw my own conclusions there. The original Outlaw Star manga was absolutely inspired by western media, particularly those of the western and space genres from the '60s to the '80s. The author has expressed his interest in western media (even casually talking about American singers on his manga pages of all places!) on different occasions. I recall that one time he talked about his interest in Star Wars.

I happy you appreciated the references. I am happy you like Konosuba, too. So, yes, you can say, "I love you" lol

When Starwind uses increasingly more powerful blaster pistols to take out the Tao magic user with the katana/cleaver, that just brought flashbacks to Indiana Jones non-ceremoniously shooting the swordsman. I look forward to more references in upcoming episodes.

Mantis,

Interesting you brought up the Firefly reference. That could have been the show the spaceships reminded me about. During the opening sequence when the rocket is going into space, I kept trying to make a reference and all I came up with was "Battlestar Galactica" I look forward to the next episode tomorrow. Yes, I watch an episode a day so the enjoyment lasts longer, but not going to wait a week, either!

Just finished episode 2: "World of Desires". Did not disappoint. Lots of good background information on Gene and Hilda and even more questions! I sound like a person watching a soap-opera for the first time. "Why did Hilda try to kill Gene but then ends up in bed with him?" "Melfina! Who/what is it?" Even though he seems to be a super-baddie, I cannot help thinking the Tao Magic-User is Fu Manchu. I know these questions, and more, will be answered in due time.

Episode 3: Into Burning Space logged. No real answers to questions yet, save Hilda probably won't try to kill Gene anymore (probably). He showed his usefulness as a crew member and she seems to be accepting him. The Ctarl-Ctarl empire has some stern discipline (inference of Romulans?). Anyway, good episode and "To Be Continued" is a great way to end an episode!

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on each episode. They're a nice read and I don't find many people who are new to the series. I love Hilda's character. She's a total badass but still has a heart behind that rough exterior.

Those pirates are so unappreciated. Watchers usually completely ignore them. And I see the resemblance you pointed out. That's a hell of a moustache he has.

It's interesting to see someone going through for their first time, especially since we just finished the anime again last night together xD but of course, no spoilers in here!

"When Hot Ice Melts" was crushingly good. Initially, I was as upset, but it had to be this way. Hilda reminds me of Valeria from Conan and her fate-weaved destiny. ("Do you want to live forever?". She ship is aptly named by Gene! Then "Beast Girl Ready to Pounce" came prowling, complete with a girl who literally turns into a beast. I liked the moon tie-in and the comedic approach this episode had as a whole, especially after what happened last episode. On the serious side: some questions about Melfina are answered and Aisha has hit rock-bottom it seems (or dish-bottom) from high ranking officer to cannot even paying (albeit A LOT of it) a food tab.