Comet Lucifer: Complete Collection

Despite some striking introductory artwork, this series serves up old anime clichés of mecha and super-cute mystery girls floating down from the sky. On an advanced Earth-like planet called Gift, young mineral prospector Sogo finds a strange, mute, otherworldly young maiden dubbed Felia. A guardian-spirit, she is protected by a small, bug-like companion that can morph into a fearsome giant humanoid. A longstanding conspiracy of military and underground types vie to capture and exploit Felia for the hidden power she represents. A few bystanders and not-so-innocent background players are also swept up in the skullduggery, but it's the mecha-on-mecha slugfests that dominate and tend to stand out (the series features some seriously bloody violence). A surprise climactic twist explains where hitherto-unmentioned planet Earth fits into all of this (involving elaborate mythology). Compiling all 12 episodes from 2015 in separate DVD and Blu-ray editions, rated TV-MA, and presented in Japanese with English subtitles, extras include related shorts and music videos. A strong optional purchase. (C. Cassady)