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The subject is Mamoru Nagano's famed masterpiece, THE FIVE STAR STORIES. First published as monthly installments in NEW TYPE Magazine in early 1986, it soon skyrocketed to cult status, both for Nagano's artwork and the incredibly intricate storyline. fss's most noticeable traits are its characters and mechas. Since Nagano was a fashion designer, his characters are a reflection of this part of his training. They are extremely tall with very long and thin limbs, very wild haircuts and clothes that truly stand out from the usual styling seen in science-fiction mangas. An interesting detail is that many characters of FIVE STAR STORIES are re-designs of characters from Nagano's earlier work HEAVY-METAL L-GAIM. That is particularly true for Colus VI looking like a clone of Daba Myroad, the L-Gaim's pilot, and Amaterasu Des Grand Adas De Mikado whose look is highly inspired by Oldna Poseidal, the king of the Pentagona star system (which also inspired fss's Joker star system). The same applies to Mortar Heads. Many of them are redesigns of the older machines from L-Gaim. For example, the Junchoon First Sally type is inspired from the L-Gaim MK-I and the A-toll Mortar Head is virtually unchanged from the A-Taul Heavy-Metal. Five Star Stories fiction also follows that of L-Gaim in some ways. The plot mostly deals with the ambitions of the king of the A. K. D., Amaterasu No Mikado, to be star emperor of the Joker system and the incidents those ambitions stir up. As the story unfolds, Amaterasu finds himself forced to fight the descendants of his once allies. like Colus V and VI, who are the descendants of Colus III, king of the Trio de Colus and one of Amaterasu's best friends. As of today, eight compilation volumes are out and Nagano hasn't given a sign of wanting to stop! In this issue stage, we focus on the O.V.A. that recounts the first volume of the manga, DESTINY LACHESIS, in which Amaterasu has to assume his cover identity- Ladioss Sopp- to save his promised Fatima, Lachesis. You will find a synopsis mecha and character files, along with other information. |
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