While cutting through a protected shrine, Kouichi Hayase is killed when a giant Machina, Linebarrels, falls from the sky and lands right on him. Funny thing is that this Machina brings him back to life and bonds itself with Kouichi through it's D-S.O.I.L, an artificial regenerating muscle. This D-S.O.I.L. connects the two together and bonds them til death. If the Human should die, the Machina will seek out another "Factor" or human to bond with.

Kouichi was always that kid who is the punching bag for the local bullies, he is also a teenage boy who lives through his dreams of being strong and the defender of justice. This new strength and power of Kouichi's sends him down a dangerous path of arrogance and delusional destruction. His friends go to extreme lengths to help bring him back and it is not until the death of his best friend that he begins to see his failings. Kouichi then joins the Juda Corp, a group of Machina that defend the world from the evil invaders, and begins his transformation into becoming a true defender of justice.

 
Overall Linebarrels Part 1 is all about development of the characters. The plot line is very familiar to the anime/manga world. It is a blend of many well known series like Evangelion, Full Metal Panic, and even a little of the persona that Naruto exhibits so well. There is the boy suddenly connected to a powerful Mecha, the military team member attending the same school along with the boy who feels like he has something to prove. Kouichi's persona is where the series hits its weakest point – he is a real wimp gone crazy and it becomes rather annoying. He goes from being a sympathetic character to one that makes you want to despise his rather self -righteous existence. It is not until later in the series that this issue is put on the right track.

I was less than excited about this series after sitting through the first 6 episodes, but once the struggle to work out Kouichi's deficiencies is corrected the series begins to stand on its own. I began to identify with a few of the characters and could appreciate the story rather than compare it to other big hits like Full Metal Panic or Evangelion. I don't see Linebarrels of Iron becoming a series that rises to classic anime status, but it does have a fun quirky quality that will please many a Anime fan.

ComicsOnline gives Linebarrels of Iron: EP. 1-12 2.5 out of 5 bloody noses of embarrassment.