If there's one anime studio that I seem to be ignoring at the moment, it's Gonzo - unless you count the multiple times I've seen Linkin Park's music video for “Breaking The Habit” or the Street Fighter IV opening. Apart from that, I've not watched an anime series or film with their name on it. So I have been sent a challenge to review one of Gonzo's early works in the form of Usune Masatoshi's Desert Punk.

My problem with reviewing Volume 5 was that I knew little about Desert Punk, so - just in case - I did my research on the basic plot lines.

The story takes place in a post-apocalyptic future where most of the world, including Japan, has been reduced to nothing but a desert wasteland, kind of like the popular gaming series Fallout. The main protagonist is the handyman nicknamed “Desert Punk” or “Demon of the Desert” (real name Kanta Mizuno) who is a highly professional mercenary when it comes to dangerous jobs, but has a weakness when it comes to women with big breasts. He is followed by his apprentice Kosuna (real name Taiko Koizumi) who attempts to help him in any way possible with her excellent survival skills.

We begin the volume with rival mercenary, Junko Asagiri, who bumps into our two main leads and gives them an assignment to protect her from an unknown sniper that is chasing after her. After much persuasion (and the offer of a huge reward) Mizuno accepts the job. The chase lasts for two episodes and the creators do very well to sustain a decent pace even for a stealth mission; tactics are smartly used and always keep you on your toes.

I really liked how Desert Punk isn't your typical good guy mercenary hero; the only thing he cares about is working alone and taking on jobs, even if it means accepting the current government (which seems to be treating its citizens rather unfairly.) Humour was the last thing on my mind for this kind of setting, but it brings a kind of light-hearted quality to it. Although most of it is ecchi-based, it doesn't drag on as in other anime that I've watched.

The last episode of the volume has some really interesting revelations and a very tense fight scene and the disk finishes on a tragic cliff-hanger that I wasn't expecting. I am now going to be very interested to see how it will all end in the final volume.

Extras include a special interview in which the singer YUKA (who did both of the opening and closing songs for Desert Punk) answers various questions about how she became involved in the project and what she thought of the anime. Then there is a Public Desert Punk Radio recording of the final show, which is basically the main Japanese voice actors answering questions sent in to them; both of these are well subbed. Along with textless opening and closings and trailers for other series, you're getting at least thirty minutes of extras, which is a really great offering for one volume.

In Summary

Even for someone coming into Desert Punk very late, there is nothing bad I can say about it; the firefights are thrilling and the set-up for the final volume is highly anticipated by me. Maybe I should go back and start from the beginning?