Banner of the Stars - No Turning Back (Vol. 1)

This time the series focuses more on the Space War with the United Humans, than in the original. I gave it a slightly lower rating because of that. It was a little more difficult to contrast the two leads as shipmates. I preferred the changing locations, and the dynamics of the original series.

Battle strategy, and space warfare were done very well, plus once again had a very realistic feel to it. As in the first series, the animation, and visuals are all done first rate. The series tries hard to create its own culture. As the world of Star Trek, and the world of Star Wars, are structured to have an independent notion of the future. So does the world of the Abhs and Humans.

One question I do have for series of this kind is why the political structure for such an intelligent race. They use what seems to amount to a Monarchy. Basically, this is just a unified Feudal system, an ages old government with many flaws. One of those flaws being that the Royals are those who ultimately command. As history has shown us, there are wide differences between the intelligence, and ruling capabilities of Kings and Emperors!


banner of the stars Dvd box set release date?   February 29, 2004
 2 out of 2 found this review helpful

Banner of the stars is overall an excellent series that blends the genre of science fiction with fantasy, It has elves in outer space! It is a grand space opera on the level of star wars, star trek, Space battleship Yamato (starblazers) with a bit of tolkien thrown in. I wish the studio would release a box set for Banner of the stars and banner of the stars II. I bought the crest of the stars set to economize, and loved the conflict and love story of the show. It reminded me why I love Mythology, science fiction and fantasy literature. Like the Lensman Books Of "Doc" smith and Empire and foundation novels of asimov. It also reminded me of my love for the works of edgar rice burroughs, mainly a princess of mars, and tolkiens middle earth saga comprised of the silmarillion, the hobbit and the lord of the rings.


Comment on the Editorial Review   January 21, 2004
 3 out of 3 found this review helpful

In the Amazon.com Editorial Review, the reviewer claims that the producers of this series (as well as Crest of the Stars) spends too much time inventing words and runes and not enough time with character development and space battles. What if it does? Didn't Tolkien do the same thing with The Lord of the Rings? (Not the movies.) But they didn't: Crest and Banner are strong on character development, with Jinto's (and sometimes Lafiel's) internal monologues scattered throughout the series--which were kept from the original books, I assume. Also remember that this series is not about humanity, really. It's about the Abhs, which are human, but very different than your average human. There aren't going to be all that many traditional anime relationship/character building moments, because they sometimes don't work on the Abhs. In exchange you get some fresh ideas that you (and the planet-born humans in the show) maybe surprised at.

The space battles are gorgeous and there aren't very many of them, but if you're looking only for space battles you shouldn't be watching this series. This series deals much more within the bridges of ships and the characters and the planning of the overall war--sort of like a happy War and Peace for space operas. The entire concept of Plane Space (their faster than light travel method) makes large battles easier to comprehend for the viewers, while keeping the complexity of space battles and the need for good strategy, de-emphasizing the pretty graphics and large explosions and putting the focus on what is really the most important stuff.


The continuing adventures of Lafiel and Jinto   December 15, 2003
 3 out of 3 found this review helpful

For those who enjoyed Crest of the Stars, picking up Banner of the Stars should be pretty much a given.

It takes place three years after the events of Crest of the Stars. Lafiel, having finished training, is now the commander of her own ship. She has quickly snatched up Jinto as her supply officer, and we meet the rest of her senior officers as they are brought up to speed on their first mission.

They are being assigned under one Admiral Atosuryua as part of a fleet with orders to create an Abh corridor through a solid United Mankind territory. The entire fleet is abuzz with the news that ultimate responsibility for the mission will lie with Admiral Nereis Bebaus and his twin and Chief of Staff Nefee, who belong to a family nicknamed "Spectacular Insanity" for it's reputation of creating geniuses and madmen in equal measure. Not exactly comfort inspiring.

Oh yes - and Atosuryua is the sister of Baron Febdash. Yep - THAT Baron Febdash - the one who Lafiel had to kill back in the middle of Crest. Disturbingly, she wants Lafiel and Jinto, the only people available who knew her brother, to join her for a memorial dinner to remember him.

Will the Bebaus twins remain sane through the whole mission? Is Atosuryua painfully aware of what her brother was and grateful that Lafiel rescued her father from his imprisonment, or is she out for revenge? Will Lafiel get her crew through the mission in one piece? Tune in to the next two volumes to find out.

Banner successfully expands the Stars universe, mixing old characters and new. The oh-so-bored Spoor, who rescued Lafiel and Jinto at the end of Crest, and her hapless Chief of Staff are back. The intriguing Dusanyu, who made a cameo in Stars as the Abh representative to whom Jinto's father officially surrendered, plays a major role. And it's hard not to laugh, though it may be nervous laughter, as the Bebaus brothers routinely question eachother to determine if they both retain their faculties. It's genuinely funny, but you sympathize with their fear and shame and wonder if things are going to end well for them when all is said and done. Finally, while their relationship is intact and dominant, it's nice to see Lafiel and Jinto's social circle expanding as they chat with the crew.

The Stars franchise remains space opera at it's finest.