Rick Hunter
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Art by Tony Yune
- This article is about the character from Robotech. See Hikaru Ichijyo for the equivalent 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 first Robotech anime television series. He begins the series as a naive and headstrong nineteen-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", Rick was in the cockpit of one of the transformable Veritech fighters, and got 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 accidental hyperspace-fold in atmosphere and brings the island its inhabitants of Macross City with it.
During this encounter Rick rescues and falls for a young singer, Lynn Minmei. Although he was 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 SDF-1. During the initial battle on Earth Rick insults Lisa, thus when he enlists int 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 Sarah, 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 limps Earthward, such as learning to eagerly concede that Sterling is far and away a superior pilot to himself. 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 Zentradei 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 Max Sterling, Roy Fokker is killed in combat. 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 hero, commanding the SDF-1's air group 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 Lisa Hayes, are chronicled in Jack McKinney's now-decanonized Sentinels novels, which many Robotech fans tend to regard as holy writ despite repeated statements of their current non-canonicity). The SDF-3, with Rick Hunter aboard, never arrives at Earth with the main REF fleet at the end of the Robotech series. The quest to find the SDF-3, and Admiral Hunter and company, is expected to be a major plot thread in the upcoming Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles series.
An interesting development seen on Robotech discussion boards centers on a plot element of the original 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, willfull 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 did not give those orders.
[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 means. Causalties are expected to be heavy (millions of civilians), but it is expected that the Earth will survive. But during a test firing of one of the missiles in the Omicron Sector he realizes (after the test almost destroys his ship, kills everyone aboard another nearby vessel, and creates a new black hole) that there is something wrong with the missiles. Captain Vince Grant, captain of the 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. 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.
[edit] External links
- (Rick Hunter Profile) - Information on Rick Hunter
- The Invid Connection (Beyond Reflex Point) - Information on Robotech and Macross
