Heroic Age: The Complete Series, Part One

Set in a distant time in a less desirable corner of the universe, Heroic Age focuses on the aftermath of the disappearance of the Tribe of Gold, an advanced civilization whose absence created a void filled by rivals Tribe of Silver, Tribe of Bronze, and Tribe of Iron. The latter represents mankind, nearly driven to extinction from endless warfare. However, an ancient prophecy spoke of a savior who would liberate the universe—a role eventually taken by Age, a feral child living with a quasi-squid creature that doubles as his companion and source of food (yes, it's weird). Age is discovered on a ruined planet by Princess Dhianeila, from the Tribe of Silver—a fortuitous encounter, since Age has the power to fight off invading forces from the Tribe of Bronze. Although the set-up is fairly complicated in the 13 episodes (of 26 total) compiled here, anime fans will enjoy the richly detailed action sequences in which Age proves himself to be truly heroic, not to mention the unexpectedly bizarre humor as Age struggles to adapt to the seemingly incomprehensible ways of civilized beings. An offbeat series, presented on a dual-language double-disc set suitable for 13-up, the entertaining Heroic Age is highly recommended. [Note: Heroic Age: The Complete Series, Part Two is also newly available.] Aud: P. (P. Hall)