
(let's put the getter talk here)
Yes, I've only read the 70s manga. I wasn't especially impacted at the time... but to be fair, I felt same about Mazinger Z. It had fun moments, but it wasn't something that stayed in my thoughts afterwards.
What made me interested in Getter Robo was the Armageddon OVA. Particularly the beginning and ending. It was so intense, stylish, and definitely gave me a taste of that monumental scale Tendercomrade was talking about. By the time moons were used as weapons and planets sliced with a single move, I was losing my breath because I didn't believe what I'm seeing. And then the ending topped even that...
I've never seen a mecha anime this impressive before, it's still a favorite.
I watched New Getter Robo after that. I liked it too, and it sure had a lot more character development than Armageddon. The robo battles didn't impress as much though. And it significantly favored Ryoma over the other pilots, while I was really looking forward to seeing their teamwork.
But,
" I also like the OVAs but they can be frustrating. The way they revel in the crude energy of the manga while neglecting its substance makes them feel incomplete at times, instead of standing on their own like the TV series. "
This confirms what I thought. Watching the OVAs, I felt like I'm supposed to be familiar with the manga.
So the next goal is Getter Robo Go and Shin Getter Robo... thanks for the recommendations!
I'm downloading the Getter Robo TV series now, too.