Linebarrels of Iron

Title: Linebarrels of Iron

Volume: Part One (eps. #01-#12)
Distributor: FUNimation Entertainment
Genre(s): mecha, action
Age Rating: 17+

Runtime: 300 minutes total
Price: $49.98
Release Date: 01/19/2010

Official Website: at FUNimation.com

Linebarrels of Iron gave me a small surprise. I can't say I truly knew what to expect with the first couple episodes, but it wasn't what the anime the series evolved into by the twelfth. At worst, I expected the series to be another Code Geassstory, while at best turn out to be a darker version of Megas XLR. Instead, Linebarrels of Iron has taken a different path that I enjoyed for the most part.

The story starts with a middle school student named Kouichi Hayase. Kouichi is a weak, callow boy much like Shinji Ikari from Neon Genesis Evangelion. When placed in a confrontational spot, he closes up and concedes to his aggravator's demands. Because of these flaws, Kouichi is bullied and tormented by his peers. His two childhood friends, Risako and Yajima, often shelter and protect him from those who want to use or harm him. And because of these years of protection, Kouichi is extremely resentful for the strength of his friend Yajima, and his inability to keep a childhood promise.

Kouichi, due to his general lack of a spine, ends up at ground zero for the fall of a meteorite. When the dust clears, Kouichi finds himself beside a giant robot and next to a naked girl. Following a short bit of story development, Kouichi learns that he is the pilot of the robot named "Linebarrel." Using his newfound powers, Kouchi proclaims himself the Ally of Justice. Sadly, his actions speak much louder than his words as he fights through the city destroying not only his enemies but everything he strives to protect as well.

As I've said, the overall story of the Linebarrels of Iron anime caught me off guard. Initially the series seemed like it was going to play out in a similar fashion to Code Geass: a person with little or no power in a world they harbor a deep hatred for suddenly acquires the ability to shift things their way. Because of my recent overexposure to Death Note and Code Geass, the only way I saw this anime going was with Kouichi setting out to take over the world via lots of bloodshed, trickery, and general tomfoolery.

Instead, I watched as lessons in power equating to responsibility unfold. It was quite refreshing after wading through two anime series of people bent on world domination.