This is likely my favorite HCG video. So much that I tracked down and bought the "Gold Book" from an eBay seller. It's worth every nostalgic word ever spoken about it. Johnny's enthusiasm got me looking for it!
Thank you for sharing your great memories. I recently found your channel and as a Japanese gamer who is in the same generation as you (I'm just couple of years younger than you), it's been such a joy to watch your videos. Most of the games that you talked about on your channel are the games that I played and have memories with. There are still a lot of videos to watch on your channel (I started watching from the very beginning and just came to this point) but I just wanted to thank you. It's always great to know a fellow gamer of the same generation.
1987 was one of the best years of the 80s for me. The Lakers won the title and I also remember getting straight As and playing basketball for my elementary school team. Also out of all the great tv shows, movies, and cartoons/animes, Robotech was the best. I'm still torn on whether I prefer the New Generation or the Macross Saga better. The awesome mecha , music, and drama; Robotech was freakin' dope.
What the-!! You just reminded me of something. I found an SDF-1 toy in someone's trash once. I salvaged it and looked at it and saw "Macross" carved onto the underside of one of its 'legs'(I think). This was back in the 90s, when I was just getting into 'Robotech' and Dragonball Z on 'Toonami', so I didn't know what 'MACROSS' was but I knew that this toy was the SDF-1, but I started wondering why two different shows were using the same model, the same idea. The thing was I'd say around 14 inches tall. I remember that I could rotate the ends of the shoulder columns. Man, I don't even know what happened to that toy. I might've been able to make some money by selling it on ebay today.
Man, I guess every childhood in every culture are the same! In my time, I was so obsess with the Final Fantasy 5 game and when I see the artbook for the first time, it just drive me crazy! It is so wonderful to see the character in my imagination in real manga drawings. It's quite easy that in my country (Thailand) that there are Japanese book store to buy import Japanese books. And yes! to express what I really love.. I have to draw it. Draw all the characters and write everything, every feelings about it to show your love. However, your drawing is fantastic. Great story and great parents!!!
What's great is that you not only drew the whole comic from memory, you also look like you finished it. That's something I've very rarely achieved.😊 TBH when I was a similar age my mum gave me a really kind talking to after I'd been walking around our town looking everywhere for a specific D&S book that was already a bit of a vintage thing. She was very understanding that I really wanted the book -- and I got it a bit later on -- but she said that even if I got it, would it really make me happy or would it just make me want more? I'm totally not someone who is anti-consumer and now I have money I spend it quite liberally. But honestly that talk was a kind of reboot. She knew I enjoyed my hobby but she was concerned that the drive to own just that one more book was becoming more of an obsession than the hobby itself. Buuuut...you rule. But your folks are really great in a different way and I'm so glad you got your book. My equivalent was a really nice illustrated book based on the Lays of Marie de France when my parents saw I was into fantasy and D&D. I still have my copy thirty + years on. It was more artistic than game-orientated, but it gave me so much inspiration for my games and then pleasure later on when I kind of stopped D&S gaming. So I totally understand the impulse and the way books can get close to your heart. The only other time I've ordered something specialist, I didn't go back to collect it. I hadn't paid for it so...whatever. A while later I was in the same shop and they'd put the CD in question out on the shelves. So I still was able to buy it...
That is such a heart warming story! The pure passion that we have for our hobbies (especially as children) is an amazingly beautiful thing. Your dad was the real winner that Christmas because the love and dedication you put into your drawings was even better than the real book. Thanks for sharing your wonderful memories with us Johnny.
Yeah, I probably love this episode the best. I just love the part where he makes his own Macross books. It's just so badass and what I use to do as a kid when I was excited about something. It's those treasures that are more valued than the actual book he wanted. I can def relate.
Macross was one of my favorite shows growing up (possibly my absolute favorite)! This is incredible. I first watched it after my friend captured it on videotape from toonami. It was slightly out of order haha
I have been subscribed to your videos since a year or two ago. The reason why I mention this is because of your enthusiasm covering games and different minutiae that have added to your life. You sir, are a joy to watch, your happiness over such games is infectious. You remind all of us who watch you why we enjoy games and the culture surrounding it, kudos!!
Stories like this are the main reason why I'm subscribed to this channel. I'm starting to see a trend when you want something bad enough as a kid, you ask parents, parents say no, then parents surprise you either on your birthday or Christmas. Your parents are quite devilish in the sneaky kind of way. Still I never had a chance to watch the movie but the original macross saga I absolutely love.
You're a genius, Johnny. Being inspired to draw a Macross book after seeing it once in a store, and making some forty pages of drawings, is amazing. A $200 book is really something. I know in U.S. dollars, $200 in 1987 would be like $400 now, and I'd guess it's somewhat similar with Canadian dollars. When the 16-bit era dawned, I played Sonic on a Genesis at a kiosk at a Target store and was absolutely convinced that we needed a Sega Genesis. My family already had an NES, and at that time the idea that there would be a series of console generations just hadn't clicked with us. I think this was kind of a widespread attitude - that the NES was all you need - and that the Genesis was just trying to compete with the NES, not usher in a new level of gaming, and so it was just sort of the same thing as Nintendo. So it was hard to convince my parents to spend $200 on a Sega Genesis. Anyway, I pestered the hell out of them for something like eight months to get one on my birthday. And I wasn't always subtle about it. It was more like every conversation with my parents during those months led to me talking about the Sega Genesis, and I had planned every conversation this way from the start. Looking back it seems hilarious, and I'm laughing just thinking of how brazen and obnoxious I must have been. But I was patient and strong-willed. I used to stare at the Genesis after I got it and just admire its beauty. I handled it gently and lovingly and enjoyed it greatly. I'm the same way with books I love: obsessive about handling them properly. The shitty part is so many of my original games and magazines from back then aren't in great shape because after a while my brothers and friends and me used them so thoroughly that they just deteriorated. We didn't have a sense back then that such things would mean so much to us later on and be as prized as they are now. I guess that's what makes such items collectible. People enjoyed them so much that not many remain in their original condition.
I'm a huge Macross Fan. I can't believe you actually drew the pictures from memory. I purchased this book from E-bay from a seller from the other side of the country after watching this video. I'm from California. Didn't even know such a book existed back then. We're about the same age too. Thanks so much for your enthusiasm and story!
I truly was captivated by the passion in that story. I'm so glad how much you were inspired, and at the age where it went more then the world to you. I've always taught high school kids percussion, and I always have one or two students a year that has that twinkle in their eye, and I try to get them excited and love music like you loved that kind of art. Beautiful story man. Thanks for sharing.
Late to the party, but I wanted to say how great this video is! I really appreciate the version you drew of the Macross book; a ton of talent right there!
Johnny, this is one of the best episodes that you've done. It was wonderful for you to share such a story. It reminds me of being young and excited myself around the holidays. There is something about being that age that allows a person to get completely wrapped up in something, to come to a boil with excitement. When you get older, you'll never really reach that youthful exuberance, but boy is it fun to look back and reminisce. Good show and take care Johnny.
I was born in 82 and I never even heard of this as a kid. But that is so fuckin cool that you loved that book so much that you drew your own books! Thats honestly one of the coolest childhood stories i've ever heard!
That is such a cool story. Growing up in the 80's, I too was a huge fan of Robotech. There was not any models or comics with Robotech around but there were Macross model kits that I use to find at stores. I did not see anything Robotech/Macross comic book-wise until Comico started printing all three arcs of the Robotech series. Thanks for the memories!
This's my fav episode of yours. I just love the thought of hommade sequential art. Captain underpants is about kids making their own comic. And episode of Doug when Doug and Skeeter make their own comic I love that stuff. Seeing April ONeil sketching the turtles in the first movie, seeing art fortunes drawing the white blaster beetle borg in an episode it has gold inspirational value to me.
Amazing story, man. Macross was such a milestone. It really ignited your imagination as it did me back in 87. This has to be one of my favorite HCG videos.
Brings back some of my old birthday and Christmas memories. I have watched and commented on this video before and I have come to watch it again because it is one of the best videos on RU-vid! Awesome!
Thank you for sharing such a personal story. It was very fascinating to hear you talk about the art book.I wasn't born near the 80's but I can appreciate how hard it must of been to import something like this back then.
This was a great story and the excitement and enthusiasm you had for that book reminds me of the anticipation for Christmas morning that many of us had as kids. The thing that separates your channel from most other RU-vid gaming/anime channels is your level of sincerity and passion for the topics you discuss. Keep up the great work!
Was 1993. I was 9 years old. I was reading the Cable Magazine when I can see a name: Robotech, man, wtf is Robotech? So, i´m ready for the lunch. I turn on the TV, channel 27 (Big Channel, a dead channel in Argentina) and then, Robotech start with the music, aircrafts, ROBOTS!!! Gooood, this looks very good. After that day I become a FAN!!! Any stuff from Robotech (toys, magazines, etc, etc) was imposible to get here, so in 1997 my cousin (a fun too) send me a box by mail, I open up, inside, a fantastic Valkyrie VF-1J Max Jenius version. And that is one of favorite days!!! Macross/Robotech was a before and after......
Your enthusiasm and fond memories of this period in your life made for a very interesting video. My first experience of Robotech came via a stocking filler VHS cassette in 1987 with the first couple of episodes of the TV series. I finally got to see the whole thing years later when I bought the DVD boxset. It was worth the wait.
This is the best story ever. Great job on doing your old book. I found out about the macross movie the same way at a convention in 87. They were also playing the movie on vhs
The first time i saw DYRL i remember being so drawn in by how Macross city was designed in the movie. There's nothing like Macross and the Macross Saga portion of Robotech.
This is why yours is my favourite youtube channel! You have such strong feelings for these objects and for the times. I'm the same but could never exppress it so well! Keep it up!
I absolutely LOVE these stories of yours. Your enthusiasm is terrific. I have all of the Fighting Fantasy books and everytime I open one to play it, I smell the pages to recapture those old days when they were new to me. :)
Great video, childhood memories are usually the fondest, its very good to back to them. I love Macross and is very good to see someone who does as well. Cheers.
didn't even know what Robotech or Macross was. I got goosebumps after watching your video because you said exactly what is on my mind as I, too, was going through the same exact experience as you were about purchasing Macross merchandise. I wish you good luck with your passion and talent. I usually don't post comments on RU-vid, but I think this is a special celebration as I am happy that there is at least also someone out there who has gone through what I went through growing up with Macross.
Same thing happened with me and Evangelion! As a child I remember reading SO much about it on the internet. It was everywhere, except crucially absent on network Canada in North America. But it excited me like MAD.
Golden memories. robotech was impressed me like I watched starwars. artworks are awesome. I have forgotten these games, animes etc.., you have been remembering them.
one other thing, your artwork is amazing! Its always a good idea to keep your old artwork to look back as you just did. I regret getting rid of a lot of the old comics ive drawn when i was younger EVERYTIME i pick up a pencil to start drawing!!!!
I'm a big Macross fan also which affected me when I was growing up in the 80s to the point that I became a professional illustrator but I have to say you are a fan of the truest kind!
You have just the best stories and what a great storyteller you are too. I hope you have kept on drawing because that's some impressive work and dedication right there.
Man, this was a great video, i can really relate to being that little kid begging their parents for rare japanese goods. Its things like this that remind me of why i became an artist ini the first place.
The Blu Ray just came out in Japan (we're likely NEVER going to get anything Macross related outside Japan other than the original series) and it was the same ~$200 to import. Money well spent for anyone who is as crazy for it as Johnny is.
Man what a story. I was a 90's kid but robotech was so awesome. I then learned the real show macross, and of plus, DYRL, 7 and collected all that stuff online. Just imagine being a kid and asking your parents to use their credit card and ordering from shady sites, and really early ebay, especially since internet was such a new concept it was hard convincing them to give anonymous people money in another country and hope they deliver. But alas they did and macross franchise as a whole has always had special place in my heart. I just loved the idea and the journey to acquire stuff that is not available was just something special since it was mostly me and my dad hunting these down. It was those cheap yellow text VHS, I think from hong kong it was so much engrish, But i loved it as a kid. It's a shame these never made it here. I love collecting the remasters on blu ray, but alas I have to rip it to the PC and put anime subs on them to enjoy them. DYRL blu ray is unreal what they did to totally remaster the show. I don't mind the new shows frontier and watching delta. Macross will always be that special franchise and DYRL and SDFM is so nostalgic.
Great video. I bought this movie in the United States, maybe around 1988-1989. They had it a base exchange at Norton Air Force Base in California. It was subtitled.
Robotech/Macross changed my life. You have no idea. It sparked my interest in aviation. So much so, that I went to Aviation High School in NYC. I'm an aircraft mechanic now.
I'm right with you there brutha! I used to hang around hastings and federated electronics here in Lubbock,TX scouring for anime back in 1986-1990. The only thing available was horrible kiddy show translations. Nobody in the comic book/geek crowd gave a rats ass either. I really felt so alone during those years. No one would even consider that an animated show could be filled with so much drama, death, intrigue, love stories, etc. Then the Robotech Art Book came out and I nearly shit my pants.
I dont get ? not even 20000 views ? This show is great !!!!! I think you guys deserve a higher spot on youtube ? i mean you have very nice ,quality videos .I`m not even 18 yet , but you guys inspired me so much with your memories ,that i found my old genesis system and played it for the rest of my weekend .Becouse of you I`m I relived one of the most fantastic moments of my life and I am living many of them right now .Love the the show , love you guys , don`t lose the enthusiasm to do this !!!
Great vid Johnny, i love hearing other peoples old stories and nostalgic reminisings. I've never seen Robotech/Macross but i could totally get how much you love it and it really makes me want to see it. I think 3 people have never had a childhood or have a soul though... :/
