Customer Reviews

Cannon God Exaxxion Stage 1

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Ten years ago, the aliens arrived and started bringing benefits to mankind. But one man has felt they were silent colonial invaders. He wrote a book about it and has been labeled crazy. His nephew, Hoichi, thinks he could still be right, but has had to bear the brunt of bullies (and is now an excellent fighter).

But on the tenth anniversary of the alien arrival, the aliens make their move. They almost immediately destroy the UN forces and take control of the globe. Hoichi has been selected by his uncle to be a hero. He is to be the pilot for a super, giant robot.

An excellent story that unfolds nicely. Hoichi is a good hero character and at first really gets into his role. But the power he wields can cause collateral damage and he begins to have doubts.

One of the more intelligent Mecca stories out there. Good characters and character development joined the intricate plot and background makes for a very enjoyable story.

IT was sad when GunsmithCats ended but this series is looking great from the beginning. It's about a high school kid, named Hoichi, who lives in a world where first contact with aliens was achieved 10 years ago. The aliens have given the humans great technology and seem to be prepared to release a new elevator-type transport system so they can send large objects through(seemingly faster then any other means). Suddenly the aliens turn on us and lay the smackdown on earth's defenses, leaving us unprotected. The only person who can stand up to the aliens is Hoichi's excentric uncle, who has created a fighting suit, a giant mech with a huge cannon in its chest, and a rather busty and flirtatious android. This manga is a great read for fans of Gunsmith Cats and I await the other releases

After Gunsmith Cats ended in the 90's all I heard was that Kenichi Sonoda was going to work on a giant mecha project. I hoped it would be a TV series, but it turned out to be another manga series. I picked it up a copy of volume one, and was immediately surprised and entertained.

Let's face it, the mecha genre had a major game change after Evangelion came out. Then every series and manga went out of their way to imitate its success: angst filled pilots, combining the philosophical and psychological ramblings with the action, and of course you have to have a completely incomprehensible ending (even if Evangelion's ending made sense to some people). It was all getting old and stale.

Sonoda must have felt the same way, because he brought back the mecha genre with a return to basics. Aliens invade attempt to take over the earth and only a young pilot in his huge mecha can stop them. Nothing fancy, just simple and straight to the point.

Of course this being Sonoda there have to be his characteristic touches: guns, ammo, hot babes, and intense action scenes. And that's what "Cannon God Exaxxion" delivers in Vol 1.

The character of Hoichi "Gun" Kano is a breath of fresh air. Not only does he want to save the earth, and pilot the mecha - but he isn't shy around the girls. Hoichi is a total and complete guy, the 15 year old in me was cheering. On top of that Hoichi seems to be a pretty decent kid. He's a little hot tempered, but he wants to help people and has a kind heart. He's a hero you can get behind.

Supporting him, literally and figuratively is Isaka Minagata, a "robot-girl" with serious curves and serious powers. Not only is she the main link to the entire Exaxxion project (which Hoichi's scientist grandfather runs), but she can turn into a jet cycle, provide him with a direct link to the Exaxxion mecha and has offered to jump his bones a couple times during the first issue. She's completely willing to do just about anything Hoichi asks. Tell me this wasn't written for teenage boys.

Then there's Akane, Hoichi's school friend who obviously has a crush on him. Trapped with the rest of the school during the alien invasion, Akane proves that she is smart, a little nosey (she is a reporter after all) and brave. She's concerned about Hoichi, but is trapped in the sidelines for most of this first volume.

The story itself moves very fast, establishing the world, alien invaders, the basics of the Exaxxion project, and a few action scenes. Sonoda keeps things flowing quickly but never in a confusing manner (something that occurred during the "Gunsmith Cats: Burst" saga. Since this volume is the introduction it really as to cover a lot of ground, but it does it well, and establishes our villains and heroes perfectly. It's not all exposition either. Sonoda weaves the action and story together, so there aren't really any slow spots, and it's all building toward more revelations and confrontations.

The art is typical top notch Sonoda, so fans of the "Gunsmtih Cats" look will be right at home here. Many of the similar character designs are present (Hoichi could be the kid version of Bean Bandit!). The mecha design is very similar to the hardsuits in "Bubblegum Crisis" that Sonoda designed. And then there are the girls. Sonoda makes 80% of the gals very busty and with various attitudes ranging from sultry, to cute, to mischievous. And of course there are lots of guns and ammo going around, because Sonoda loves his firearms.

This is really a guy's manga through and through. You could say the same thing about "Gunsmith Cats" but that had a strong feel of girl power running through it. Not so much in this one. Hoichi is the hero, and Isaka is nearly subservient to him. Akane has more of a backbone, but she's drawn less like a bombshell and more like a schoolgirl. It's not a PC book at all. But it is fun.

In the end, the 15 year old guy in me loved it. The brisk pace kept things interesting. The hot girls and intense action were great. The plot, while a bit cliché and not deep in the least, was solidly executed. I've read this volume about five times and each time it just flies by.

Male fans of Sonoda and "Gunsmith Cats" will enjoy this the most. But anyone looking for some mecha action, cleavage and firepower won't be disappointed either.

This is one of the favorites of my collection--I practically memorized it within two days of buying it. It has everything... humor, romance, action, adventure, terror, and most importantly--beautiful women and incredible mecha! And it is (semi) believable. Isaka's...assets are like that for a reason, which makes a weird sort of sense. Hoichi is reluctant at first to play the part of the hero, but once he gets a load of his weaponry, his assistant, and his fans, he's all for it.

This should appeal to fans of Gundam and Escaflowne, due to the incredible mech designs and action. Of course, fans of Gunsmith Cats will probably enjoy it too.

And for those of you that are not in the above categories--read it anyway! You won't be sorry you did!

Hoichi Kano is not your typical superhero. He is not doing this for the 'good of the planet Earth'--he's doing it to feel like a hero and boost his ego. When approached by the beautiful android Isaka, he tries to make out with her. He is unpopular at school because of his grandfather's opinions on the aliens, and the fact that he shares them. Of course, when the aliens turn on humanity, Hoichi and his grandfather are suddenly very popular.

If you are looking for beautiful girls and powerful mecha, then look no further. Busty young ladies abound in this series, and Isaka's sexiness even serves a real, logical purpose. And the Exaxxion is right up there with the Gundams and Escaflowne in mecha goodness!

I reccommend this to any fan of Gundam, Macross, or Escaflowne. I think you'll like it!

It's been 10 years since we made first contact with alien lifeforms, the humanoid Riofaldians. During this time they have integrated quite well into all walks of human life. Some of them have even become teachers. On our part, we have become hopelessly dependent on their advanced technology. They are now due to open up their first planetside base off the coast of Hawaii with a bunch of human VIPs on hand for the ceremony.

Hoichi Kano, our hero, or "Gun" as he is affectionately known by his friend Akane, having been raised by a crack-pot grandfather has always been taught that the Riofaldians are actually invaders who will turn on us one day. And that's pretty much the truth, as the Riofaldians broadcast their plans to make the Earth a subjugated colony. The fact that they control most of the technology makes our defeat a foregone conclusion. That's unless Gun's grandfather has built a power suit for Hoichi, supplied a shape-shifting big-busted companion, and a Godzilla size mecha to fight against the aliens. He HAS!

With its oversexed hero, big boobs, and phallic imagery, this first volume seemed like a bad story from Heavy Metal Magazine. The characters are all campy and transported right out of a bad 1960s Adam West Batman episode. First of all, it's so convenient that Gun's grandfather just happens to have all this technology lying around for Hoichi to use with no training whatsoever. He just pulls out what looks a normal handgun and starts blowing away alien mecha. The fact that his girl Akane, finds one of her teachers cut in half doesn't seem to leave much impression on her. And the fact that Hoichi's grandfather allows thousands of people to be killed by a Riofaldian mecha just to prove that Earth is too soft and pacifist to deal with the alien problem is a little much, and the fact that he is constantly grabbing his all female(robot?) assistants in the chest area is a little disturbing. On top of that the mecha designs are totally goofy, even with their names painted across them. I mean, who is going to be reading it? This series is a failure to me with its immature and caricatured characters and their lack of respect for life and their sexual obsessions right out of Sade.