Heroes are Extinct 3
January 29, 2008
There are some flaws in this series that will make it so that isn’t enjoyable by most. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but I think that part of it is that the characters are kind of shallow, as much as I like them. They get a lot of backstory, especially in this volume, and their intentions are all clear in the end, but there’s just something a little off about them. Also, I don’t think there is a big market for sentai series like I said before, which is just a real shame. This last volume totally rocks, and I really and genuinely enjoyed this title all the way through.
The premise for the series itself is really weird, and it’s hard to keep that in perspective as you read this volume, because you kind of get used to it. You have to remember that general Cassiel volunteered to conquer Earth because he wanted to fight their Sentai force, and when he found out that there wasn’t one, created one himself and fully outfitted it with everything they needed, right down to the giant robot. How and why Earth broadcasts were getting to the planet the aliens are from is not explained, but I’m willing to suspend disbelief.
In this volume, things come to a head as the government from the alien planet comes down hard on all the main characters… basically because Jude, Cassiel’s brother, has arranged things so that Cassiel can stay on Earth and gone slightly against the law of his planet to do it. There’s a bunch of weird politics that aren’t quite explained, but also aren’t too hard to follow the basics of. A lot of characters wind up in jail, and there’s a big battle where almost all the generals fight against their planet’s bureaucrats and one hold-out general vying for promotion. This battle is waged on/in/around Earth, and the Terra Rangers are drug into the fray as the Earth is almost invaded for real.
Basically, Jude tries to set things up so Cassiel can stay on Earth and be with the sentai heroes he loves best. Cassiel doesn’t know about Jude’s efforts, but as things progress, it’s clear Cassiel would have found a way to stay on Earth himself. He gives a long speech to the people of his planet about how the Earth has no heroes, so he had to create them himself and that’s why he has to stay behind there. By the end, you feel like cheering for Cassiel. You WANT his heroes, goddammit. This little series also almost makes you feel bad for the Terra Rangers when they find out about Cassiel, too.
Other than the fact many of the rulers of Cassiel’s planet (but not the King) want him dead, the actual final battle he wages against the Red Ranger has some hazy details. Basically though, the Red Ranger thinks he’s helping Cassiel with some political details to set him free. Cassiel thinks that it’s a battle of good versus evil, which is also interesting and confusing at the same time. The actual end of the series, what takes place after the battle, doesn’t quite make sense, but I’m willing to forgive it that.
Heroes are Extinct is a hard sell. It’s not for most people. There are very few who will think it’s genius other than me. But the immediate and ardent need for heroes that it left me with was something few other series have accomplished.
January 30, 2008 at 10:49 pm
*Squee* Vol 3 is out??
I think it’s genius too ^^
January 31, 2008 at 2:05 am
I’m glad someone else likes it ^_^ It really does have a great ending.
February 4, 2008 at 3:19 am
Having now read it, I totally agree :)
November 15, 2009 at 8:30 pm
It’s just so earnestly goofy. :) I enjoy it.
November 16, 2009 at 12:52 am
It’s still one of my favorites. I think I’m going to re-read it within the next month or so.
December 23, 2009 at 9:45 pm
On a somewhat related note, have you ever seen Shinesman? I think you might really get a kick out of it. After reading Heroes again, I found myself desperately wishing someone would license the manga that inspired Shinesman, so I can enjoy it as much as I like Heroes. :)
December 25, 2009 at 12:55 am
Yes! Shinesman was one of the first anime I remember seeing the trailer for, and I wanted to see it so badly, but didn’t get to until years later. I like it a lot. The manga was on my most wanted license list for years, I only took it off recently because I really don’t know too much about it other than what I’ve seen in the anime. But it’s pretty funny, and I still love watching it. It’s still got the super-hilarious dub, too.
I forgot about those 4-koma comics! Those were pretty funny, I always love little extras like that.