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The cover to issue #1.
Robotech Defenders, a two-issue miniseries, was published by DC Comics in 1984. It was originally intended to be a trilogy, but was reduced to the first normal-sized issue and a 32-page second issue with no advertisements. The universe of the Robotech Defenders Comic book series bears no resemblance at all to the Robotech canon adapted by Harmony Gold USA. While the comic book has nothing to do with the Robotech cartoon series, it is a licensed comic book of the model kits that gave Robotech its name. Although it has nothing to do with Robotech, it is often considered a collector's item among fans for it's name and back story.
Storyline
The story followed the battles of a team of pilots who fight a savage race of aliens, called "Grelons", who have conquered Earth using superior technology. They plan to colonize Earth, using their titanic humanoid war machines to eliminate all resistance. The heroes, a small combat unit, are losing badly when their leader accidentally activates one of the Robotech Defenders. She then learns of the existence of the other machines, which are scattered on the other pilots' home planets. Each of these units has a unique range of abilities and environmental specialties (e.g., Aqualo was capable of diving and sea-based activities, Ziyon's element was cold and snow, Thoren's heat and magma, Gartan's urban combat).
By the end of the first issue, the team have managed to recover all the robots and engage the enemy in battle, but are still defeated and get captured. They escape by pushing a big red button which releases the Defenders' minds, unleashing the latter's' full combat capabilities. The pilots then track down the controller of the savage aliens. They defeat him by causing the evil alien energy siphon to suck the energy from the sun, causing their space ship to explode.
History
DC Comics had originally agreed to publish a three-part miniseries in 1984 to test the waters, but the comic was of such poor quality, and sales of the first issue were so low, that it was canceled after only two issues, and two and three were truncated into the final issue.
Issues:
- Robotech Defenders 1: The Gathering
- Robotech Defenders 2: The Confrontation
External Links
- Stupid Comics #73, a review of the miniseries.