Avenging Angel

This sci-fi adventure series is a spin-off from Outlaw Star--two of the characters once interrogated Gene Starwind. Pirates abound in the mineral-rich Oracion planetary system, and security for transport ships is a big business. But voluptuous, 16-year-old Meifon Li provides protection to worthy clients free of charge, in accordance with her late grandfather's wishes. The crew of the Angel Links includes elegant Kosei Hida, the reptilian Duuz Delax Rex, and Valeria Vertone, who sports a spiky blonde coif. But Meifon's closest companion is the catlike Taffei, who resides in the captain's formidable cleavage (no kidding) and transforms into her sword when needed. Security boss Gordon Hoi resents the Angel Links, as every client they protect for free represents a fee he didn't collect. Some of the stories tackle social problems, albeit heavy-handedly. In "The Proud Dragon," Meifon confronts the racism of a nasty art expert who dismisses Duuz's Dragonite species as barbarians and animals. Her efforts to defend a two-kilometer-long space monster from sightseers and poachers in "Lief--Living Ether Flier" mirrors conservationists' efforts to protect migrating whales. In "Guardian Angel," Kosei discovers what may be a bizarre secret about Meifon, which will play out in subsequent episodes. Rated 13 and up for nudity, sexual situations, and violence. --Charles Solomon