Protocultural Artifacts: Changing of the Guard
Matchbox Rand, Scott Bernard, Armoured Cyclone, & Dana Sterling (1986); CM's Corp Ride Armor Blowsperior Yellow Type (2008); Matchbox Rook Bartley (1986)
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Protocultural Artifacts: Dana & Zor
Matchbox Dana Sterling & Zor Prime (1986) sitting at the feet of the Playmates Veritech Hover Tank (1995) & Bioroid Invid Fighter (1994).
Hovertanks and Bioroids are supposed to be approximately the same height. Also, Dana Sterling and Zor Prime are supposed to be at least reasonably attractive people. The folks at Matchbox seem to have missed both of those memos.
Protocultural Artifacts: The Robotech Masters
Background: Playmates Bioroid Invid Fighter (1994) atop a Matchbox Bioroid Hovercraft (1986), flanked by two Matchbox Bioroid Terminators (1986). Foreground: Harmony Gold Robotech Master (1992) flanked by two Matchbox Robotech Masters (1986).
Protocultural Artifacts: Sterling Family Reunion
Clockwise from top: Matchbox Dana Sterling action figure (1986), Playmates Exo-Squad Robotech Veritech Hover Tank (1995), Yamato GNU-Dou VF-1A Max Type TV Ver. (2009), Toynami Robotech Masterpiece Collection Maia Sterling's Shadow Fighter (2010).
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Protocultural Artifacts: Dana Sterling w/ Hovercycle
The dearth of merchandising available for SUPER DIMENSION CAVALRY SOUTHERN CROSS in Japan and the second generation of ROBOTECH in the United States means that fans of that show in either incarnation will, if the drive is strong enough, find themselves buying just about anything featuring its cast of characters and iconography. Consequently, I own a Harmony Gold-issued Dana Sterling doll (1992) and its matching Matchbox Hovercycle (1986). Yes, that makes me a thirty year old man who owns a doll, but alongside the small Dana Sterling action figure mounted on its Hovertank it makes a nice display piece. The Dana Sterling doll, oddly enough, was originally issued by Matchbox wearing a pink striped dress; only in this later Harmony Gold release was she released clad in her Southern Cross military uniform. Strange that they thought she’d sell better sans her iconic look.
Robotech, In Brief: Catastrophe
“I reject the structure of your civilization! I reject your values and your beliefs! I am an individual human being from the planet Earth!”
Robotech, In Brief: The Invid Connection
“What are they doing injecting the clones with anti-pain serum?”
“Because with the serum they become immune to pain and can stay in battle til the bitter end.”
“It has come to this?”
“That is their fate. War is their sacrificial altar. It is the Robotech way.“
Robotech, In Brief: Final Nightmare
“You yourself said there can be no forgiveness for somebody who betrays the people who trust him. Well, what do you think you just did? Are WE supposed to forgive YOU?“
Robotech, In Brief: Daydreamer
“What do you mean, you’d rather have stayed on that ship?”
“That’s precisely what I mean, Angelo. That ship is where I belong.”
“You’d probably be dead now. Did that occur to you?”
“I’m aware of that. In fact, that’s exactly my point.”
“WHAT?!”
“Can’t you see it? A hero’s funeral. A golden opportunity for you to display those wonderful emotions of yours, weeping for a fallen comrade and all that.”
Robotech, In Brief: Crisis Point
“I can’t take any more of this. Please, tell me who I am, Musica. Why is my mind so full of nightmares like this?”
“You are Zor Prime, a clone of the first Robotech Master.”
“What? What are you saying?”
“Stop it, Zor! You mustn’t ask me for any more! They’ll deprogram you if they think you know too much!”
