For many years,the Japanese magazine Newtype has been a fan favorite for its beautiful artwork, and excellent articles. When it was first published in March 1985, it contained the first episode of Mamoru Nagano's manga, Fool for the city.

The next year, in the April issue, Nagano began his magnum opus, The Five Star Stories.

Set in the Joker cluster of stars, it tells the story of Amaterasu, the emperor of the planet Delta Belune, his wife Lachesis and the many characters that are caught up in the tides of war that will sweep across the Joker system.

While the characters are central to FSS, it is the mecha that are the most unusual. Looking much more organic that most mech designs, the range of styles is quite incredible, from the light, almost feminine Empress flame, to the massive, hulking Jagt Mirage.

Empress Flame