Saturday, July 2, 2011

BATTLE OF THE ZOIDS

 

Not to be confused with a certain robot toy line (though no doubt inspired by it), Battle of the Zoids ran from 1987 to 1988 in Bata Batuta Komiks, published by Graphic Arts Service, Inc (GASI). One of the earliest manga/anime-influenced komiks serials, it was written and illustrated by Hector R. Samaniego.

 

 
 
LET'S ZOID IN!

 The series was set in the world of Zoidra, where human-piloted mecha known as Zoids battle each other for supremacy and the right to be called King of the Zoids.

   

In the serial's first several chapters, it was basically every Zoid for himself. Eventually, the main "good" Zoids realize that their ongoing conflict is only causing the destruction of the environment, and they decide to join forces to restore their world's ecology.

 

 
 
THE GOOD ZOIDS
  
GORE
Gore Mark 1

 

An ape-like Zoid, piloted by Rex.
Gore Mark 2

 

KRAKEN

Kraken Mark 1

 

An octopus-based Zoid, piloted by Jimboy.
Kraken Mark 2

 

GORGON

Gorgon Mark 1

 

Formerly a bad guy, a serpent/dragon Zoid, piloted by Kim.
Gorgon Mark 2

 

DRAGONFLIGHT

            A dragonfly Zoid, piloted by Minda.  

YOBIX 

  The comic-sidekick Zoid, piloted by Medix.

 
 
THE BAD ZOIDS
 SAIGOR 

  Leader of the evil Zoids, piloted by Tarsus.  

KUMKAN & TRAKUM 

  The bumbling hench-Zoids, piloted by identical twins Mioc and Bimo.  

INSECTRA

  An insect-based Zoid sent from Mars, piloted by the android Jefia.  

BRACKY

Another Martian Zoid, piloted by the android Kio.  

TAIRAX

Tairax Phase 1

 

A second Zoid piloted by Tarsus.

 

Tairax Phase 2
 
 
OTHER ZOIDS
 ZARK

  A scheming bat-like Zoid who conspired with Gorgon in the first few episodes. 

 

 

 

 

 

WORMOIDS

  Led by Ascarizoid, a group of worm-like Zoids working for Kraken.  

NAMELESS FLYING ZOIDS 

An unnamed squad of airborne Zoids that served Gore.  

GAFIX 

A little hologram-projecting robot.

 
 
COVERS
 

2 comments:

  1. Fun Fact... The masthead of this series was rendered by one of the assistants of Hal Santiago. No doubt he was given instructions to copy the logo of the original Zoids. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I didn't know that there were such series of these comics. Truly those Filipino artists are not being supported by their country men.

    ReplyDelete