Desert Punk is an action comedy set in a post apocalyptic world. The title character is an infamous figure called Sunabozu, or the Desert Ghost. I don't speak Japanese, but I'm guessing that the title Desert Punk is an American interpretation of the main character's alias; to avoid confusion, we'll stick with Sunabozu.

Sunabozu is a gun for hire, doing whatever he has to as long as the money is right. His exploits have made him something of a local legend. In the first episode, The Demon and the Double D's, his first job of the series involves a guy who seems to really love pudding. Sunabozu gets the best of any adversaries through trickery, like smoke bombs and inflatable doubles of himself. He also uses a zip line that hooks onto ledges to escape being attacked.

Sunabozu gets more than he expected when he finds a woman lying on the ground, dying of thirst. She is the owner of the "double d's" of the title, and she is not who Sunabozu thinks she is. In the end Sunabozu has to fight the pudding loving guy, who goes from being very average looking, into a massive rampaging hulk. While Sunabozu can easily outwit the dumb thugs he usually encounters, this guy is a bit much to handle.

The second episode, Rock, Paper, Scissors, introduces the repo man, Amaguno, AKA Rain Spider. Amaguno is also a notorious figure, who "steals the soul" of anyone who tries to attack him. The way he actually "steals a person's soul" is pretty funny. Sunabozu and Amaguno are both looking to collect bounties from an old man (named Kazou Koike!?!) and his Daughter Noriko.

The old man owes two debts to two separate people, but he is unable to pay. Amaguno decides that he'll take Noriko as a replacement. Sunabozu, who is thinking more about his sexual desires than saving innocent people, decides to save Noriko from being taken by Amaguno. You would think that these two guys would go at each other in a tremendous firefight, but let's not forget that this is a comedy show; their weird fight goes on for so long that even the villagers end up being bored with it.

Fire Dragon Kong is the third episode, and probably the best episode of the first volume. Sunabozu meets again with the big breasted woman, named Junko Asagiri. In this episode we get to know who Sunabozu is behind the mask, which I thought would stay a secret for a while. Why be the mysterious Desert Ghost, but reveal everything about yourself so soon?

Junko comes to Sunabozu's hideout to offer him a job. She comes at the right moment, because Sunabozu's in debt and will take any job he can get, especially since he'd like to buy the latest sniper rifle.

What Junko omits telling Sunabozou and three other guns for hire is that they are going up against Fire Dragon Kong, a massive, unstoppable armored hovertank. Fire Dragon Kong ties into the first episode because of the key that Sunabozu was hired to find. I enjoyed this episode out of all the others mostly because Sunabozu has to use his wits to outmatch an adversary that is seemingly unstoppable.

An Ace in the Sand is the final episode of volume 1. Episode 3 may be my favorite, but An Ace in the Sand is a close second. Since taking on the risky job from the previous episode, Sunabozou has bought new gear, incuding a new sniper rifle! His joy is curbed when a mysterious sharpshooter catches him off guard and has him running for his life.

While he tries to find out who this sharpshooter is, and how this man is getting the best of him, Sunabozou happens upon a little girl.If there's one thing to love about Desert Punk, it's how crafty Sunabozou turns out to be. I just wish that the art was of a higher quality. My biggest problem is not really with the comedy, which is fairly decent. My problem is that the women who are supposed to be hot, really look average. Maybe that was the intention all along, but I don't get why the Desert Ghost, Sunabozu, finds Junko so appealing. Her breasts are quite large, but from the neck up, she's nothing special.

Desert Punk is nothing new from a comedy or action standpoint. I could see how people would find this series appealing, but when it comes down to spending my time on a certain number of anime, Desert Punk doesn't make the cut.


EXTRAS

There are a ton of extras on this DVD. Other companies should learn from this title and Funimation in terms of the bonus content they provide.

Desert parody- Just mock posters based on movies

Original Japanese extras- special features from the Japanese cast and crew. This volume, you get to see the behind-the-scenes of the live action opening to Desert Punk. Also, there is an interview with Takatori Hideaki, who sings the opening and closing music for the show.

Main character cast auditions- this is an American extra, where you hear the auditions of the English cast. It's a little less than 16 minutes long.

Life in the desert is a misnamed extra where you get profiles of some of the characters. Why Asagiri Junko is not included in this, I do not know.

As seen on TV- This is, I guess, the "uncensored" version of the show. What the difference is, I don't truly know.

Textless songs- This is a typical bonus feature

Mr. Stain on Junk Alley- do we really need this thing forced on us by Funimation for all their DVDs?

Trailers- trailers for other Funimation releases like Samurai 7, Baki the Grappler, Fullmetal Alchemist and Burst Angel

Recommended:
No

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good for a Rainy Day
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older