The Legend Of Black Heaven #4: Into The Arena Pioneer 80 minutes English/Japanese English Subtitles 04/24/2001

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Formalhaut: How much longer must I cater to their needs? Andrew: One more episode? The final disc of Black Heaven, after a relatively short marathon of death consisting of discs 2 and 3 Andrew and I set in for the last three episodes of one of the best anime series of all time. It fared quite well, quite well indeed.

The band's back together, sans keyboardist of course. So what do they do? The ever-present Layla is given a part that involves, surprise surprise, more of her "being hot". She's crazy fly skilled on the ivory. The only problem is she lacks the heart and soul that one needs to accomplish "groove". Basically Layla sucks and no amount of back-to-back playing style among the two guitarists is gonna save them now. She has to get good, and fast. That's where the trio comes back in full effect. They submit Layla to a bunch of weird "Battle Athletes" style tests like dragging concrete blocks and catching giant wrecking balls while wearing a Playboy bunny outfit. It's very odd and very chock full o' fan-service. Do I understand it at all? No, not particularly. Andrew : It's like outdrinking the robot! It can't be done! You can't outplay the robot! The robot Watanbe, now known as Mechanbe has been completed and the evil bad evil aliens are on their way with their own lethal brand of "Hard Rock Blowa Uppa the Space" Even with the skills of Layla on keyboards it isn't enough. Unless Hammil comes through with her mega amplifying space ship. Of course, there's no air in space so they really couldn't amplify anything, but then again, how the hell does music power a big laser anyway?

Now, the ship needs a name.** It's christened the Zappa, after Frank Zappa? Who knows! Well, no, it is... you know, and I know. The point is that, predictably, the Zappa might not even be enough to save them. They need something more, but what? What could possibly help? The final battle is approaching and they have no idea in hell how they're gonna save the space. Andrew: You better put that tie around your head, you know that's what gives you the awesoma power. Dave: Maybe they don't understand that they have to save the FREAKING space. Many suggestions were given, but not even the Hanpen stand man could save them now, my main thrust was that they do it for their retarded child Gen. If you can't save the world for retarded kids, then what's the point of saving it at all?

In the aftermath of all of it Andrew and myself had a conversation involving the fact that if you saved the world you'd be pretty much set for life. Hey, remembered when I SAVED THE WORLD, make me president. So in the end Black Heaven kept it's stride of being "Pretty damn good", defied all my expectations, and went above and the call of duty. Aside from not answering some of my crazy, mixed up theories. "If he's a robot, how does he have groove?" "Why doesn't the Hanpen guy save the world?" "If Yokko is six years old, shouldn't Oji be in jail right now?" Andrew: Dude, I knew he was bass.

**My suggestion of the "Flyridius 2000" was quickly turned down.