Area 88
From Conservapedia
Area 88 is a manga and anime about a mercenary air unit in the fictional Middle Eastern country of Asran. The title refers to the name of their base. It came out as a manga, an OVA series, and finally as a short TV series in 2004.
Contents |
Story
The Kingdom of Asran is in the middle of a civil war. In response to the sophistication of the rebel air force (which flies mainly Russian-built MiGs), the government has hired mercenaries to fight for them. The hired guns are paid by the mission and by the targets destroyed. Every merc signs a contract which stipulates a term of three years or until the war ends, whichever comes first. A mercenary can buy his way out of the contract if he’s earned enough money, but since they all have to pay their own expenses, including maintenance and fuel, saving up is difficult for all but the best pilots. Leaving the service of Asran without paying, or before the term of service is up, is considered desertion and punishable by firing squad.
Characters
Area 88 Pilots
Shin Kazuma: The main character of the series. Shin is a native of Japan, and was a civilian pilot before coming to Area 88. He is the only pilot who is there involuntarily, having been tricked into signing up. Ironically, since then he has become the top-scoring ace at Area 88. He flies an F-8 Crusader in the first part of the series, then switches to an F-5 Tiger II. He has a fiancée, Ryoko Tsugumo, back home in Japan, and his desire to return to her provides his main motivation to keep fighting to earn enough money to leave Area 88.
Mickey Simon: A former pilot in the US Navy and veteran of the Vietnam War. After his Navy service, he returned to civilian life working in his father’s company, but was unable to make the adjustment. He is the second-best dogfighter at Area 88, and Shin’s best friend. His plane is an F-100 Super Sabre in the manga and first part of the OVA, but he flies an F-14 Tomcat in the TV series.
Greg Gates: An affable Danish pilot who specializes in air-to-ground missions. He has the reputation of being “unkillable”; no matter how many times he gets hit or shot down, he always comes back. He flies an A-4 Skyhawk.
Kim Aba: A prince of an African kingdom who has become a pilot at Area 88. He is younger than the other pilots, and not as skilled, although he gains confidence as the anime progresses and saves Shin’s life on more than one occasion. He flies an AV-8 Harrier. He appears in the TV anime only.
Boris: A former RAF pilot who’s an ace at air-to-ground missions. He is called the “Angel of Death”, because it is rumored that pilots that fly with him never return alive. He often has nightmares about comrades who have died. Like Shin, he flies an F-8 Crusader.
Kitri Parvaneh: A member of the Asranian Royal Family and Saki’s cousin. She is very confidant, and the only female pilot in the series. Flying a Mirage F1, she becomes the third-highest scoring ace at Area 88. She appears only in the TV anime.
Nguyen Van Com: A former pilot for the South Vietnamese air force, and like Mickey a veteran of the Vietnam War. While an excellent pilot, he has a bad reputation at Area 88 because of his ruthlessness. Once after downing an enemy plane, he purposely shot and killed the pilot after he ejected. His plane is a brightly-colored F-105 Thunderchief. He appears in the manga and OVA only.
Base personnel
Saki Vashtar: A prince of Asran who commands Area 88, and cousin to Kitri. Even though his duties usually keep him on the ground, he is a capable pilot, and flies a Kfir in the OVA.
McCoy: An arms merchant at Area 88. McCoy can get anything the pilots need if the price is right, and is quick to sniff out money-making opportunities.
Big Sammy: The code name for the radar operators of Area 88.
Others
Satoru Kanzaki: A civilian pilot for Yamato Airlines in Japan and friend of Shin’s since childhood. He is the one who tricked Shin into signing the mercenary contract in order to get him out of the way of his sizable ambitions.
Makoto Shinjo: A freelance photographer who comes to Area 88. Being a fellow Japanese, he takes a special interest in Shin. He appears in all versions, but his character in the TV anime is very different in tone and motivation.
Ryoko Tsugumo: Shin’s fiancée and the daughter of the CEO of Yamato Airlines. Kanzaki pursues her as a means to gain position within the company, but she stays true to Shin.
Video Game
Area 88 was adapted into a side-scrolling shooter video game, entitled U.N. Squadron in the United States. A player can play the character of Shin, Mickey, or Greg, flying the F-20, F-14, or A-10 Thunderbolt, respectively.
