Rick Hunter
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
It has been suggested that Hikaru Ichijyo be merged into this article or section. (Discuss) |
- This article is about the character from Robotech. See Hikaru Ichijyo for the original inspiration for this character in The Super Dimension Fortress Macross. See Hunter, starring Fred Dryer, for the main character of that TV series.
Rick Hunter, voiced by veteran voice actor Tony Oliver, is one of the fictional characters in the Robotech anime television series. He begins the series as a naive and headstrong sixteen-year-old civilian pilot, having flown for his father "Pops" Hunter's world-class flying circus. Yet by the end of the series, he matures into a well-respected and experienced military commander.
Rick originally shares his father's pacifist view of war, until the alien race known as the Zentraedi attack the Earth. Rick then spends the series struggling to reconcile his personal feelings with the realities of war, and the need to confront the incredible alien threat.
Contents |
[edit] First Robotech War
The first episode begins with Rick Hunter arriving as a visitor to Macross Island in 2009 to watch the launching of the Super Dimensional Fortress One. Visiting his "big brother," Roy Fokker, Rick is in the cockpit of one of the transformable Veritech fighters, and receives a crash course in piloting the strange craft from Roy in the midst of an all-out alien invasion. He is present when the SDF-1's accidental hyperspace-fold in the atmosphere takes the island and its inhabitants of Macross City all the way to Pluto, on the edge of the solar system.
During this encounter, Rick rescues and falls for a young singer, Lynn Minmei. Although he is not initially open to the idea, the constant danger to the ship and the city it carries compels Rick to sign up with the Robotech Defense Force, and soon becomes an ace pilot. During his time on the SDF-1, Rick has many dealings with Lisa Hayes, the disciplined and reserved second-in-command of the great ship. During the initial battle on Earth, Rick insults Lisa...thus, when he enlists into he military, she takes it upon herself to ride him a little harder than most new recruits.
After a mission to rescue Lisa from the soon-to-be-destroyed Mars Base Sara, Rick is awarded a medal, promoted to Lieutenant, and is given his own command (Vermilion Squadron) and two subordinates (Max Sterling and Ben Dixon). Throughout the course of the series, Rick matures and gains experience as the SDF-1 slowly journeys Earthward, such as learning to eagerly concede that Sterling is far and away the superior pilot compared to himself (and thus a prized wingman). Nevertheless, Rick is accounted as one of the most dangerous and accomplished Robotech warriors in all three series.
During a reconnaissance mission, his team and Commander Hayes are captured. At the request of the Zentraedi, Rick is "ordered" by Lisa to kiss her. While this was the first of many "ordered" kisses, it is at this point that Lisa starts to develop feelings for the younger man.
Even after reaching Earth, the crew of the vast ship are not safe. During a battle led by Miriya to hunt down and destroy Max Sterling, Roy Fokker is killed. A heartbroken Rick is given command of the legendary Skull Squadron, and is issued Roy's VF-1S Veritech. Rick rises to become one of Earth's greatest heroes, commanding the SDF-1's fighter squadrons during the desperate battles of the last years of the First Robotech War. At the same time, he matures greatly as a person, until by the end of the series, he realizes his love for Lisa Hayes is deeper than his infatuation with the self-centered Minmei. As the dust settles from the terrible war, Rick and Lisa are two of the most influential surviving military figures of the human race, and together with the Zentraedi Commander Breetai, they construct the SDF-3, with which they intend to take humanity to its destiny in the stars.
[edit] Robotech Expeditionary Force
By the time of Robotech's third generation, some thirty years after the first generation, Rick is referred to as "Admiral Hunter," who appears to be in command of the Robotech Expeditionary Force that is attempting to liberate Earth from the Invid. (His experiences during the intervening years, as well as his relationship with now-wife Lisa Hunter, are chronicled in Jack McKinney's Sentinels novels). The SDF-3, with Rick Hunter aboard, never arrives at Earth with the main REF fleet at the end of the original Robotech series. The quest to find the SDF-3, and Admiral Hunter and company, is a major plot thread in the Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles feature film, and its forthcoming sequel(s).
An interesting development seen on Robotech discussion boards centers on a plot element of the original Genesis Climber Mospeada, which became Robotech's third generation. At the end of the war with the Invid, it is decided that if the Invid can not be dislodged, the planet Earth must be razed.
In Robotech, Rick Hunter is named as the originator of this order. Since many human civilians and troops are alive on Earth, and the imminent threat of the Invid to the rest of the universe is not clear to all, some fans allege that with this order Rick Hunter might be found guilty of numerous charges. These include conspiracy to commit war crimes, conspiracy to commit multiple-million counts of murder, conspiracy to commit multiple-million counts of assault, willful destruction of property on a global scale, treason, and others.
Other fans, however, disagree that this could be possible, and argue that ordering the destruction of the Earth and all its inhabitants was a legally-correct and factually-prudent action, or that Rick Hunter's orders were prematurely executed as they were to be executed "only if everything else has failed" in the event of "our total annihilation."
[edit] Prelude to the Shadow Chronicles
In the comic Robotech: Prelude to the Shadow Chronciles, Rick is faced with betrayal of the Robotech Expeditionary Force (REF) by T. R. Edwards, as he defects to the side of the Invid Regent. During the inital attempt to arrest Edwards, Edwards fires on the SDF-3, severely injuring Rick's wife, Admiral Lisa Hayes. As Rick learns that Lisa will survive, he is overwhelmed by another tragedy, the baby Lisa was carrying did not survive. The loss of his unborn child is devastating to Rick - in the year it takes to rebuild the SDF-3, Rick's once black hair turns gray.
At the end of the comic, Rick orders all available REF forces to prepare for a one final assault on Earth to dislodge the Invid. He also orders that the use of the Neutron S missiles, which will wipe out the Invid and most or all life on Earth if the attack is unsuccessful. Before the SDF-3 joins the attack, Rick orders a test firing of a Neutron-S missile. However, the test goes horribly wrong as the true power of the missiles become apparent.
The comic ends here and paves the way for the movie Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles.
[edit] The Shadow Chronicles
Admiral Rick Hunter, unaware of the destructive power of the Neutron-S missiles, gives the order for a bombardment of the primary Invid hive at Reflex Point if it can't be overcome through conventional military means. But during a test-firing of one of the missiles in the Omicron Sector, the detonation of the missile creates a black hole. Despite being more than 800 million kilometres for the detonation, the SDF-3 sustains heavy damage and everyone, except the android Janice Em, is killed onboard the science vessel Deukalion. Vince Grant, captain of the starship Icarus, is dispatched to rescue the SDF-3 and Admiral Hunter. Because of hostile jamming, Captain Grant is forced to leave the SDF-3 behind, as he races back to the fleet to deliver Admiral Hunter's order that the missiles not be used under any circumstances. The SDF-3's current status and location is unknown, as is Admiral Hunter's condition.
In The Shadow Chronicles, Rick's formerly dark hair is now white, and he has a prominent scar on the right side of his jaw.
[edit] External links
- (Rick Hunter Profile) — Information on Rick Hunter
