"Traps, Turbo, & Terror!" Ninja High School Featuring Speed Racer#2 (December 1993) with credits to Mark Levine (script), Studio Madmen (art), Dan Schaefer (inks), Joseph Allen (colors), and David Lanphear (letters)
The race continues!
Yeah, turns out Captain Terror is the bad guy (who saw that one coming?) and he's working for General Liability, who in turn unleashes a giant robot on Quagmire!
Better in terms of art but Dunn's absence is sorely missed.
"Traps, Turbo, & Terror!" Ninja High School Featuring Speed Racer#1 (September 1993) with credits to Mark Levine/Ian Ward (script), William Jang/Dan Schaefer/Albert Deschesne (art), Joseph Allen (colors), and David Lanphear (letters)
Nearing the end, so let's look at one of the first crossovers NHS did. In the early 90's, NOW Comics had the rights to Speed Racer and thus we have Ninja High School meeting the cast of Speed Racer.
This is the day of the Quagmire 1000, the biggest race ever! Such a challenge must be meet by Greg!
Yeah, Greg. In the NOW series, Speed was simply a nickname, so more often than not character called out for Greg Racer.
As the race prep is underway, ninjas opt to steal RNC's latest laser weapon. Is the Car Acrobatic Team responsible?
The interior art, man, I'm sure these guys were nice and professional but the Speed Racer series didn't have the best visual take on the character. Manga ish but not quite so characters are left with giant heads on stick necks.
"The Big Finito" Zetraman#3 (February 1992) with credits to Steve Ross (script), Carlos Tron (art), and Craig Miller (letters)
The Venusian Amazon's begin their final assault. Terry tried but she couldn't stop her alone...but with Aleka's help?
Also, Aleka is now Zetra Green.
Belloma is defeated, a compromise is reached and the Zetra team welcomes two new members!
"Strike Me Pink" Zetraman#2 (October 1991) with credits to Steve Ross (script) and Carlos Tron (art)
Remember Belloma? Yeah, she's gone full megalomania destroy all planets mode. Aleka now has a choice-does she stay loyal to Venus or should she help the Earth?
All the while, Professor Steamhead has an idea-the Zetramen are the target and possible vulnerable to Belloma's wiles-so why not use a woman? Thus, Terry (AKA Robogal) is now Zetra Pink. Can she provide enough muscle to drive off the invasion?
"Venus Needs Men" Zetraman#1 (September 1991) with credits to Steve Ross (script) Ben Dunn (art), and Craig Miller (letters)
Wrapping things up this week, so let's finish it with one of the first NHS spin off-Zetraman! Based on Sun Vulcan, three average Quagmire High students get imbued with steam and turned into masked sentai heroes!
Out in space on the planet Venus, meanwhile, things are looking grim. To wit, they ran out of men and cloning tech is still decades away from being viable, so the rulers of Venus are going to need some man power (in that sense, yes) and fast. Belloma is sent oversee the operation.
The operation isn't going to be as simple as tractor beaming some yokel farmers, no. They just need a copious amount of fluid and Belloma has her eyes set on the Zetramen. Why not aim high, right?
Aleka is a simple Amazon trooper. She agrees with the mission but she thinks Belloma may not have the right temperament for the job, but I'm sure the lady with the giant horned helmet and flowing cape behind her would be a humble servant and would never dream of say, going power mad and trying to rule two planets.
That would just be silly.
"8-Bit Madness" Super Ninja High School (October 2015) with credits to Steve Ross (script) Ben Dunn (art), Alfred Perez (letters), and Doug Dlin (editor)
Slight change, as we'll be looking at one of the many miniseries/one shots that popped up over the years. This yarn takes place right after issues 28 and 29.
Basically the robotic army has been quiet...a little too quiet.
Yeah, turns out the Earthlings were right to be wary as Destructo got sent into the future, a future where things like the internet exist! He has now returned from the future to conquer the past! And yes, all of our bases now belong to them too!
Asrial and Professor Steamhead rush to the RNC HQ and give a reluctant Lendo a plan. Video games (and reference ahoy!) will save the world! Basically a network of game consoles are plugged into a Really Ornamental Bot with a Back and Forth Oscillating Top. From there, players will control their video avatars inside the game and defeat the evil robots with the power of STEAM!
A team is assembled: Mikey, Jeremy, Ricky, Sammi, and Lendo's brother Tetsuo
While they play and distract the robots, Ichi and Asrial are slipping into their base. Pity they get caught, scanned and sent into a totally not DEAD OR ALIVE beach volleyball game.
From there, more game references (including Captain N: The Game Master) abound until Ricky comes back with the Missinggo pokemon and uses it against Destructo.
It works awesome, but Mimi Masters has to send it back to the future and so this adventure and everyone's memories of it will be erased.
Cute, even if the references can be a bit overwhelming at a few points.
Unmasking the Idol (1986), dir. Worth Keeter, Polo Players
The last ninja film for the year, why not end it on an insane vanity project?
