Markatron's Galleria - Mecha

The transition from robots to "MECHA"

17-Aug-00
The influence of Robotech and Starblazers drew me into the realm of Japanese anime. Also, with the diminishing years of the great Transformers in the US, I was drawn to the epicenter of giant robots - Japan. I discovered that the Transformers were actually selections of the Japanies Microman and Diaclone lines.

Another discovery: there was a whole genre of giant robots that didn't emphasize transformations that much. (And they were still cool!) Series like Votoms, Mazinger, Metal Armor Dragonar (oh, you have to see this anime series), Five Star Stories, Aura Battler Dunbine, Mobile Police Patlabor, etc had wonderful robot designs. Sure, a few "mecha" could transform and combine but the focus was on the giant suits of armor and the drama of their pilots. In most of these series, the robots were not sentient but vehicles for humans.

And ultimately, there's MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM. If you're into robots, you'll eventually run into a Gundam. What Star Wars did for America, Gundam did for Japan. My "Mecha Years" were heavily influenced by Gundam mecha.

The Battlesuit code-named Archangel UEBS-155

16-Aug-00
The Battlesuits were the mecha in a story I wrote years ago. I actually did some 14 chapters (50+ pages typed) of text and a bunch of mecha and character designs. The story revolved around a squadron of Nato pilots in a fleet driven away by a Soviet space force. The Archangel is an advanced Battlesuit -- one of the few that can transform.

Archangel in Battlesuit mode

Archangel as a trans-atmospheric jet

Archangel with Guardian Angel - A special booster unit that can link up with Archangel in either Battlesuit or jet mode. The unit adds speed, firepower, and armor.

Miscellaneous mecha

16-Aug-00 Riot Control Suit

Your basic police mecha. Inspired from the looks of a Gundam GM and the function of a Patrol PatLabor. These are special police units designed to contain heavily armed incursions in urban / city centers. Large body shields can link to other shields for a solid wall of defense, Blaster can penetrate various armor, gatling unit on chest is used against human insurgents, wings and jet pack are used for limited aerial maneuvering.

* Images are mine. Please ask before using them. Just about all the Anime series refered to on this page are copyright or trademarked by Bandai.

©2000 Mark Wong