Search - Voltron, Vol. 5: Defender of the Universe-Black Lion on DVD

"Fly on, mighty warrior; your destiny calls!"

iansomniak | USA, Planet Earth | 01/06/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The final set of Lion Voltron episodes consists entirely of the additional programs produced in a partnership between World Events Productions and Toei Animation after the original GoLion-based shows ran out. Therefore, although the stories are mostly excellent, the picture quality falls far short of the high standard set by the previous DVD volumes. The visuals are often a bit fuzzy and dark, except for the inserted scenes from earlier shows, which are always sharp and bright. The backgrounds are grainy and the characters are not shaded or highlighted. Some colors are nearly black (see the supposedly "Blue" Cat), while others are too pale (like Princess Allura's formerly hot pink spacesuit). Nevertheless, the series remains highly entertaining, and even features a brand new villain by the name of Merla.

The 3-DVD Black Lion Collection consists of thirteen episodes, including exciting adventures like these:

"Take a Robot to Lunch": A brilliant scientist named Marianne dons her canary-colored cloak and leaves her secret underground laboratory on Caspia to visit the monument on Planet Arus that was once her happy home, until Zarkon attacked. Soon after the orphaned inventor steps out of her pink and silver shuttle, she meets up with her old friend, Coran, and is introduced to the members of the Voltron Force. The brainy beauty informs the group that yet another of her fantastic creations, a highly advanced super-robot, has been stolen by the sinister forces of Doom and is now being used for evil purposes. When the Lion pilots offer to get the robot back, Marianne quickly lets them know, in no uncertain terms, that she does not approve of their violent and destructive methods of dealing with problems.

"Who's Flying Blue Lion": Prince Lotor makes a pact with the sadistic Largo--the one-eyed Barbarian King of the Rogue Galaxy--allowing the blue-skinned fiend to utilize infinite hordes of green and yellow striped Spider Ships and Shark Fighters to bring the Planetary Alliance to its knees, begging for mercy. Amid his vast army of dark droids, and with the ubiquitous Witch Haggar by his side, Lotor invades Galaxy Garrison, where the Voltron Force is hosting a conference of desperate galaxian leaders. He quickly takes some hostages, including Coran, and orders Allura to marry him...or else! Will the fair Princess be forced to join the loathsome pointy-eared Prince in unholy matrimony?

"Enter Merla, Queen of Darkness": When Zarkon convinces the chivalrous Stride--legendary pilot of the saber-toothed Tiger Fighter--that the guardians of Planet Arus are a threat to the galaxy, the undefeated space knight boards his winged cat-ship and zooms off to challenge Commander Keith and the Black Lion in a duel of claws and swords. Shortly thereafter, the malevolent blue-lipped telepath, Merla, and her armada of combat-craving minions land at Castle Doom, where the cold-blooded vamp easily manipulates the foul mind of the King in order to obtain Haggar's best and baddest serpent-faced Robeast. With the green behemoth in her possession, the dastardly Queen heads for Arus with her starfleet, intending to conquer both Stride and the valiant Voltron Force.

"A Ghost of a Chance": As her pet vulture watches the proceedings from his perch on her left shoulder, the cruel Queen Merla demonstrates her diabolical Cosmotron device on the doubting Cossack, quickly reducing the insolent horn-headed skeptic to a writhing lump of agony. Later, on Planet Arus, a mysterious woman in purple tells the residents of the Valley of Zohar that the "Palm of Venus" dictates that good King Alfor will soon rise from the dead to reclaim his glorious golden shield. When the lovely Allura learns of the rumored return of her beloved late father, she journeys to the eerie Rainbow Cave to see his statue, only to be trapped within the rocky cavern by a massive boulder!

"To Sooth the Savage Robeast": Inside her humble home amidst the resplendent flowers and rolling hills of Arus, a heartbroken young beekeeper with tear-streaked cheeks strums her harp and remembers her long lost love, Rowe, who was taken by ultra-droids during one of Zarkon's savage raids. These days, Rowe is breaking rocks beneath the granite towers of Doom, where he feels the sting of the robot guards' whips on a regular basis. Ironically, the weary captive's emancipation finally comes at the clawed hands of the devious Queen Merla. However, Rowe's long-awaited release from enslavement depends upon one condition: Merla will return the prisoner to the arms of his sobbing sweetheart only if he agrees not to interfere while the pale, pink-haired Queen hoodwinks the unsuspecting harpist into delivering a pitcher of poison to Keith at the Castle of Lions.

"With Friends Like You": The sharp-toothed Count Zane lands on Arus in a stolen Skull Tank after escaping the oppressive forces of Doom, who have recently conquered his brilliant blue home world, Philos. Once every fifty-two years, Philos' peculiar elliptical orbit brings it dangerously close to Planet Arus, and that fateful hour is fast approaching. Zane informs the suspicious Voltron Force that the lovesick Prince Lotor is now on the royal Peak of Dargon building a temple dedicated to the object of his affection, Princess Allura. The amorous tyrant has also constructed a series of anti-lazon missile launchers, which he intends to use to evaporate the stately Castle of Lions as soon as the Philos Comet nears the peaceful Arusian sphere!

Volume Five's extras include a video comic book, a montage of unused Season 3 scenes, and a voiceless "lost episode." There's also a "History of WEP" featurette with Ted Koplar. The remaining features serve to promote the upcoming DVD releases of Vehicle Voltron shows and unedited Japanese GoLion shows. You'll want to complete your Lion tin collection first though, `cause as you know, you need all five Lions to form Voltron!"

Lion Voltron Vol. 5 Review

Totally 80's | Charlotte, NC | 02/14/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The final episodes of the 80s Lion Voltron Force. A great piece of nostalgia for those of us who were kids in the 80s. This series stands the test of time."