#Neo-Zeta Earth

[theriverbeyond]

who's alive, dead, in between or beyond! pre-alecto the ninth character masterlist

After my previous pre-nona the ninth character status masterlist, I'm attempting another one! Some characters have been grouped for ease, and I did not include any characters from the previous post that are not mentioned as doing anything in NtN (i.e. Wake, Canaan House crew, previous lyctors et. al). They are all, presumably, in the same place as they were before.

Also not included is the empty stretch of time between Harrowhark's soul exiting the bubble-memory with John and reappearing in her own body at the end of the book - this is relevant as based on the preview, AtN may not immediately pick up post-NtN.

(current date: 12/12/2022, #ntn spoilers)

ALIVE (characters who have been alive continuously since their birth, and whose body&soul have never been separated)

The Gang - Hot Sauce, Honesty, Born in the Morning, Beautiful Ruby, Kevin (all last seen on New Rho)

We Suffer and We Suffer (last seen on New Rho)

Jolie/the teacher (last seen on New Rho)

AIM/the Messenger (Last seen in the megatruck on the top tier of the Ninth)

Noodle (last seen in the megatruck with AIM, barking)

Our Lady of the Passion (Last seen in the megatruck)

Crown Him With Many Crowns (formerly Coronabeth Tridentarius, last seen in the megatruck)

Judith Deuteros (Body still partially possessed by Varun, last seen in the megatruck under the care of Crown Him with Many Crowns)

The Sixth House Oversight body (notable member Juno Zeta, all last seen in the megatruck)

Various OG members of the Ninth House (last seen under Devil attack, sheltering in the catacombs of the Ninth)

Aiglamene (last seen outside the unlocked door of the Tomb)

Ianthe the First (feat. the chewed up battery of Naberius Tern' soul) (last seen in the Unlocked Tomb, having just been smacked by Alecto & thrown into the water)

Grand Admiral Sarpeadon (Presumed to be on Antioch with EJG. has received a large promotion!)

ALIVE (reunited and it feels so good)

Harrowhark Nonagesimus (feat. the cheeseburger portion of Gideon Nav's happy meal soul) (body & soul together, last seen being carried unconscious by Alecto. lyctoral/power status unknown, eyes black)

KILLED BUT NOT DEAD (they got better!)

Emperor John Gaius (presumed to be on Antioch, last seen being stabbed through the chest by Alecto but still chatting it up. previously murdered by Mercymorn the First)

Alecto (presumed to be on Antioch with EJG and Harrow, last seen putting a sword through EJG's chest. previously murdered by John's nukes)

Pyrrha Dve (soul active, body G1deon the First's, last seen in the Unlocked Tomb. no necromantic powers & immune to herald fear, lyctoral healing intact. previously murdered by John's nukes and also again by an unknown party - presumed to be self or G1deon the First - to attain lyctorhood)

Various members of the neo-Ninth (notable member Sister Berta, last seen sheltering in the catacombs of the Ninth & under Devil attack. previously murdered by John's nukes)

SOUL GESTALT (mutual death & rebirth, fusion)

Camilla Hect (body active as Paul, individual soul consumed by grand lysis)

Palamades Sextus (body blown to pieces & bones presumed to have been abandoned somewhere along the way consumed by Camilla Hect to complete ascension process (updated 12/14/2022), individual soul consumed by grand lysis)

Paul (revived/lyctorized soul gestalt of Pal&Cam, body Camilla Hect's, last seen in the Unlocked Tomb. presumed to have full suite of lyctoral powers, herald reaction unknown. implications of soul gestalt vs. traditional lyctorhood on abilities is unknown. grey-brown pupil, lambent grey iris)

Nona (amnesiac 6 month old world-soul of planet earth. last seen in the Tomb, currently presumed to have been subsumed into the body and greater consciousness of Alecto)

DEAD

Naberius Tern (body last seen on New Rho, empty. soul being used as a battery/chewtoy by Ianthe the First)

Crux (killed by Kiriona Gaia to provide the thanergy needed to unlock the Tomb. prior to death was soul-infected by the Devils, implications of which are unknown. soul status unknown)

Anastasia (soul status known, body last seen as only bones, nestled by the rock in the Unlocked Tomb)

DEAD*

Varun the Eater/Number 7 (revenant world-soul currently periscoping in Judith Deuteros, with Heralds currently attacking New Rho. Body is dead/revived as a House planet)

DEAD?

The River (what does a river of the dead being dead even mean? no idea, but Alecto found it so and was thus grieved)

MEGA DEAD

Gideon Nav/Kiriona Gaia (sans cheeseburger portion of her happy meal soul) (mega dead, aerodynamic, sad bitch and the most special girl in the universe. soul & body together, eyes gold. last seen in the Unlocked Tomb)

???????????????

Devils/Stoma creatures (are they individual beings or is it hand, finger, spider, web situation? what's their relationship to the Tower? what's their relationship to the Stoma? Spirit magic, possession shit, specific abilities unknown. Currently on Antioch and the Ninth. Seen also at Canaan house in the body of Colum Asht)

[lets-talk-gundam]

The PMX-003 The-O

With the Titans gaining power and influence in Earth-sphere through the 0080s, they began seeking out individuals of renown to fill their ranks. One of the most notable of these figures was known by the moniker "The Man from Jupiter". This man, Paptimus Sirocco, was a gifted strategist, pilot, and mobile suit designer.

His development of the PMX-000 Messala caught the attention of Admiral Jamitov Hymen, who insisted that he be recruited into the organization.

Working under the Titans, Sirocco personally developed a number of mobile suits, the third of which would be used as his personal unit, and the machine for which he is most well known for designing.

The-O is a large, heavily armed and armored machine, standing at an oppressive 28.4 meters in height. Its bulky appearance is deceptive, however, as it is covered in maneuvering thrusters. Having been personally designed by Paptimus Sirocco for his own use, it is specialized to take advantage of his precognitive abilities. Due to this, it is nearly impossible for anyone else to pilot.

The unit also had a number of unconventional features, including a pair of sub-arms hidden in the front skirt armor and a Biosensor system. A development of the Psycommu system, the Biosensor condensed and amplified this technology, allowing for use of mind-guided weaponry, and enhancing the mobile suit's capabilities.

Seeing deployment toward the end of the Gryps conflict, Sirocco was able to stand toe-to-toe with Axis Zeon's Qubeley, as well as the AEUG's Zeta Gundam, along with destroying a number of mass-produced units over the course of the battle. The-O was only disabled with the death of its pilot at the hands of AEUG ace pilot Kamille Bidan.

The-O was also built with a sister unit, the PMX-004 Titania. The Titania was intended to be used by the woman who Sirocco would install as Earth-sphere's Queen following the completion of his coup d'état. A candidate was never selected.

Paptimus Sirocco also designed the AGX-11 Over.on, based closely on The-O. The machine was only completed after his death, and was piloted by Mashiro Oaks. The machine featured removable "chobham" armor that closely resembles the original machine.

Casval rem Deikun's Neo Zeon movement made use of several machines based on The-O, as former Zeon scientists who worked on the design joined the faction as it grew to prominence. These machines were the PMX-003 The-O II, the PMX-005 Breda, and the PMS-007 Jaguar.

The-O was originally designed by Makoto Kobayashi and Kazumi Fujita for the 1985 anime Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam. The unit has seen several alternate interpretations over the years.

This unit was a request from a friend! Requests are always welcome!

[local-redhead-bookworm]

Char Aznable is such a tragic character. He never really moved on past his parents’ death. Once he murdered the Zabi family, he had nothing else to believe in. He tried to fight for Zeon zum Deikun’s ideals, but he didn’t have the same heart behind it. Zeon struck me as a very kind, level-headed man who just wanted the colonies to be free to govern themselves, whereas Char is the kind of person who will accomplish his goals at any means necessary.

Char either pushed everyone away, used them, or lost them. He pushed Sayla away and essentially abandoned her so he could get revenge on the Zabis. Lalah died in battle and haunted him to his dying day. He let others get close to him and pushed them away after a while. He used Quess as a pawn in his battle. He got close to Kamille, and he seemed to genuinely see the kid as a little brother, but he didn’t realize until it was too late that he’d led Kamille to become nothing more than a killing machine, and his actions directly led to Kamille’s severe brain injury in the Zeta Gundam and his subsequent coma. Don’t get me started on Amuro, he decided that this guy was the one person who understood him and also his mortal enemy.

After Kamille’s injury and hospitalization, Char blamed the Earth Federation and the Titans for what happened. He misapplied Zeon zum Deikun’s desire for the space colonies’ independence and used it to justify dropping an asteroid on Earth, freeing the colonies by any means necessary. And that any means wound up leading to him being so desperate that he threw everything away, even his own life, for a cause he didn’t even believe in.

Char Aznable wasn’t ever really Char, he had no idea who he was. He had to stop being Casval rem Deikun very young to look after Artesia. He became Edouard, the ward of a noble. Then Char, young soldier from the Texas colony. Then the Red Comet, Zeon’s ace fighter. Then Quattro Bajeena, the AEUG operative and big brother figure to Kamille Bidan. Then he became a new Char Aznable, the face of Neo Zeon. He died without a purpose, nothing more than a boy who never was able to grieve his mother.

[bagea]

test design of mixing the zeta c1 types color scheme with the bawoo, as both are my favorite transforming type mobile suits, it would have the same gun more or less as the zeta c1, hence its circle camera thing, but i didnt feel like drawing it, id imagine this is either like an au situation or just a neo zeon recaptured coloration, like with the zaku f2 and gelgoog marines in 0083, and i could imagine these docking on earth along with the zeta plus types on military bases out in the sun

[gatormeister]

First time watching Gundam Wing thread

Two episodes down before heading to bed and… Well I’ll be honest I have no idea what to think. I’m watching the dub even though it’s not considered to have aged well just for convenience, and it is very strange. Everyone seems to talk in a whisper. I switched to the sub for a scene in episode two just to see how it faired, and it seemed about on par with ZZ and Turn A in quality, which were pretty good.

But the voices are the least of my concerns, the dialogue feels so bizarre. I don’t even mean like the random “I’ll kill you,” Heero gives Relena in episode one after she tries to invite him to her party. I mean the way people seem to talk as though they aren’t an active member of the scene, especially Relena. Two people will be speaking, but they’ll each go on as though all they need to do is say their inner monologue out loud while doing things, and that counts as having a conversation.

Beyond that oddity, the only initial hook for the viewer seems to be, “The Earth Alliance is bad, Gundams are on Earth now, what are the pilots’ missions,” and, “Man that Heero pilot guy sure does seem to like killing people, making threats against strangers, and just being generally rude to everyone he meets in the most dramatic fashion. Isn’t that great?” And aside from those two things, I really have no idea what’s going on. Zechs and the Oz group are trying to take over the alliance or something like that, so that’s three, but it hasn’t been shown in much detail at all yet.

Overall, not the strongest start. I’d actually say Double Zeta had a stronger opening hook in its episodes than Wing. Double Zeta had some severe tonal whiplash coming out of Zeta, but it was still very expressive and engaging thanks to Neo Zeon having already been established as a threat in the previous series, and Judau having a very strong personality from the get go. I imagine Heero will become more defined whenever he becomes a proper POV character rather than viewing him through Zechs and Relena’s eyes, but I’ll have to wait and see.

If you were to ask me how I’d rank this compared to the opening episodes/scenes from the Gundam shows and movies I’ve already seen, I’d have to put these first two episodes at the bottom of the list. Which is a damn shame, because I love the look of the mobile suits, and was really excited to finally get to watching it. That said I have hope it will pick up for me as it goes on. Nothing ever becomes well liked for no reason. Divisive as the show seems to be online, I know that Gundam Wing still has a lot of fans who love it. So here’s hoping I can get a bit of that enjoyment too.

[gremoria411]

The MAK-005S Gaplant Kai was a mobile armour used by the Earth Branch of the AEUG, Karaba, during the latter half of the Gryps Conflict and throughout the subsequent Neo Zeon War. Unlike its predecessor, the ORX-005 Gaplant, it was a non-transformable suit conceived as an atmospheric interceptor - an excellent means to challenge invading Axis forces. However, Karaba already possessed the excellent Zeta Plus series with which to establish aerial superiority, and as such only 20 units were produced. These twenty units would be deployed in rapid strike operations against (formerly) spaceborne Axis forces entering the atmosphere.

The regular Gaplant is one of those titans suits that I just see everywhere. We know that a lot of old Titans Stock was sold off by the Earth Federation (though to who exactly is a little unclear), and a transformable suit capable of long periods of atmospheric flight was always going to be a hot item. It makes sense that it’d have some further development with the fall of the Titans - though materials associated with them are politically inconvenient to Earth Federation itself, Karaba really isn’t in a position to be picky. The Gaplant’s just rather nice and straightforward. I will call out that I absolutely adore the wing binders, and just wing binders in general; they’re just a design feature I really like - a wing, a thruster, a gun all-in-one. It’s just a great economy of design and yet so stylish.

Armament-wise, the Gaplant Kai eschews the integrated beam rifles and beam sabers of the original Gaplant and replaces them with weaponry more suited to a mobile armour, namely Vulcan Cannons in the wings and some optional 12-tube missile launchers near the rear of the craft (not shown in the above picture). It also has some Diffuse Beam Cannons built into the wings. If it wasn’t for the fact that they can also function as regular Beam Cannons, I’d find fitting your interceptor with what are essentially beam shotguns an extremely ballsy move.

In case it isn’t obvious, I do very much like the Gaplant Kai conceptually - taking a Titans design and pressing it into Karaba’s service in the Neo Zeon War is just kinda rad, recognising the enemy was on to something and deploying it in the next war out of desperation. I like the Gaplant, so a variant on its design emphasising the mobile armour element is just lovely and I appreciate how much more specialised it feels - no longer a test unit, it’s Aerodynamic and suited to quick strikes. I’m of two minds about the colour scheme. One one hand, it’d be difficult to pick out against the clouds, so I can visualise it coming out of nowhere and attacking a surprised enemy. On the other, it’s just a little bit plain.

[amalgamasreal]

Yeah, two of them, Hathaway and Cheimin, they first appeared during Zeta during the Gryps conflict as toddlers and were taken hostage by the Titans to keep Bright inline before being saved by Amuro:

During CCA Hathaway was able to make it onto a shuttle to escape from a doomed Earth post colony drop thanks to Adenauer Paraya.

Thanks to this Hathaway fell in love with Adenauer's daughter Quess:

Quess had a HUGE thing for Newtypes, which Hathaway is so she was all for it at first, till they encountered Char and she went full blown simp for him and his Neo Zeon movement.

She died during the events of the Counterattack and Hathaway has held a candle for her ever since.

He's the star of the new-ish movie Hathaway's Flash, which is based post Unicorn in UC0105 and Hathaway is 25 at that point:

Strong recommend to watch, has some of the best action in the UC since Unicorn's release and the Penelope is one of the oddest looking Gundam's in the UC since Stardust Memory.

Why go to therapy when you can become an ecological terrorist while still pining over the girl who left you to join a TOTALLY not gay man with a death wish who then was blown up in a mobile armor before said man and his object of obsession ascended to a higher plane of existence? Ignoring these two women who're obviously holding a candle for you the entire time:

Bright Noa out here being a great dad to everyone EXCEPT his own damn kid.

[pmiller1]

The Next Cat! [N:TWEwY/Neo Zeta Earth]

"You know." She said, sipping her Boba Latte, "I've made that with you in mind."

"Hah?" Neku look toward his Girl, Shiki, with curious look to her. "That jacket." She pointed, "I thought it would look good on you." Taken another sipped, "Good to know I wasn't wrong on that."

"Well, you're the fashion expert." He said, taken a drink of his Boba Latte, "Of course, you know what'd look good on me."

"You damn right." Shiki said, snarking at him, "Back then you use look like a Spicy Tuna Roll, Remember that?"

"How can I forget?" He said, "I've been stuck in Shinjuku for three year, I really outgrown them. Never think I would still aged up."

"Yeah, All that time you been in what left of Shinjuku." Shiki said, looking down on her drink. "I knew something wasn’t right."

"How so?" He ask her. "Well, a part of me did form my own brand with Eri, to help you get you out of the Game." She told him. "I thought that if I couldn't help you in the UG, I can at least created some mean to help you in the game."

"It a good Motivation, Shiki." He said "Making your brand just to help me." "I was gonna do this with Eri over all, after our Game." Shiki said "Make our dream together, to be a team with her. I was already Motivated into making our own fashion brand. It was my idea to have Mr Mew as our mascot and well, Gatto Nero was born."

"But after what happen with you and Shinjuku." Shiki said "I just knew that I have to support you with all I can." Another sipped. "I had hope it would get you home as soon as it was."

"It not like it was all for nothing." Neku said "You became the fonder of the most popular brand in Shibuya. You're a rising stars in the designer world."

"That true." She said "It wasn't for nothing, I feel like I would had done this with you around."

"And hey, you did free Tsugumi Soul from Mr Mew, only you could had done that." Neku said "And you sure had make a former Reaper choses to save Shibuya and join the Wicked Twisters."

"Yeah, Shoka isn't a that bad. She still can't get over the fact that I use to be a Player and that Mr Mew was my own Psych." Shiki said "And Tsugumi is a sweet girl, wish I got a changed to talk to her before Hishima came over to pick her up."

"Specking of, did you ever question, why she had Mr Mew or why her soul was trap inside it?" He ask her. "I mean, Coco filled me in when I came to met her at Wildcat. But I sort of knew before hand, just not as clearly." Shiki said "Who knew that Mr Mew remain in the UG when I came back here."

"Yeah, something about that Mr Mew being the one that you use in the Game." Neku said rubbing his neck. "Beat sure told me what that Mr Mew did with the Wicked Twisters. Along with Rindo and Shoka."

"Base from what they describe the battle, seem like Mr Mew was being able to multiplied along with using our fusion attacks. Up to even Giga Maw and they laser eyes." Neku said, "Oooo..." Shiki shrink that that "Talk about being a bad kitty."

"Be lucky that there manage them." Neku said "That being said, those GN pins did come in handily, no doubt you put your imagination when making them." As he taken one of Black Cat Pin out of his pocket.

"That was the ideal." She said, smiling, "I did designed then with the ideal of them being use a psych, I take it you like what I did with them?"

"Yeah. You sure show you work and the team sure used them well, it actually help them in end game. From Yearlong Pins keeping them in battle. The Catch-and-Release for good teamwork and how we able to take down the Dissonance Noise with the Black Cat sets." Neku said, "You did more then you think girl. And I thank you for that."

"I'd love to see you using them all Neku." She said, eyes closed, fixing her glasses. "Just you and a army of Mr Mew fighting along side you."

"And what overshadow the Wicked Twisters?" Neku said, making her giggle. "Like I don't want to over step my bounded with them, I know I been a legend, but I'm a team player, Not a sole player now. You get me."

"I guess that fair." Shiki said. "Plus I am landing them my power, sure Rindo been able to use his imagination for his team, but he the leader, not me."

"I sure you be a good mentor for him." Shiki said. "Specking off, No word from Mr H?" He ask her. "I've been told he been missing for three years."

"Not really." Shiki said "But I sure he would be glad to met up with you again."

"I did almost thought he was back for some time, but it turn is someone going by the name An0ther. With a Zero for a O." Shiki said "Could be a scam artistic for all I know."

"In fact, Gatito haven't been around too." Shiki said "I almost feel bad, sent there the one that had the cat theme before my brand."

"Well it bond to happen without CAT around." Neku said, looking down, "Still, I had another Cat to look up. What do you say Shiki, think I can help out?"

"Well, there isn't anything I can think of you can do for my work." Shiki said, "I just thought you had your own dream to followed. Like y'know, those whole street art."

"Hah." He smiled "And here I thought you want me to modelled for you." "And risk everyone else eyeing on you as some icon." Shiki said "Yeah, No changed! Beside I really don't need any more model, right now."

"And really, you're fine being my boyfriend then being my business partner, you just came back from all those three year, give yourself a brake." Shiki told him. "Yeah, you're right." He said rubbing his neck. "Still need to reject myself in the RG after all. To get my life back and all." "Indeed." She told him, taken her last sipped to her Boba Latte.

"I'm paying by the way." She told him. "Really? I know you're rich now, but can't I?" He ask her. "Well you paying with my ShibuPay if you want to be a my paying boyfriend." "Alright. Alright."

[gundamexplored]

Axis/Neo-Zeon vs. Federation

ZZREDUX

[battleangelaelita]

Haman Karn and audience reception of female antagonists

I am not just an Azula fan, I have a broad and healthy appreciation of girlbosses in all their forms, and one of my favorites of the archetype is Haman Karn from Zeta and ZZ Gundam. Seriously, she walked so the rest of our faves could fly. More under the cut.

Now, this little blog post is going to be at least partly speculative. I don’t know for sure how how Haman Karn was received during the initial broadcast of Zeta in 1986 and ZZ in 1987. But I do know as a longtime Gundam fan that the second and third outings in the Gundam franchise were a high-water mark for female characters in Gundam, and the franchise has, at best, stagnated and usually backslid since. The Origin fleshed out parts of Sayla Mass’s story that were left on the cutting room floor so that’s really the only notable exception prior to this fall’s forthcoming Witch from Mercury, which will have the franchise’s first female protagonist.

People usually have one of two opinions on Zeta in the English speaking anime world: “best of the franchise” or “i have never heard of this.” It got its localization contracted just before Toonami decided to pull the plug on Gundam broadcasts after the one-two punch of the original having disappointing ratings and September 11 made the violence of the series less palatable--the background of the opening narration depicts the use of city-killing WMDs in the form of deorbited space colonies.

So Zeta survived on DVD sales only, while the immediate sequel didn’t get an official localization, finally releasing as a subtitle only BD/DVD in 2015, and only getting put on CrunchyRoll this year (2022).

So the only people who watched are people who were already Gundam fans, and people who were likely to be older to pay for what was at the time a niche product, or something they’d have to acquire a fansub for.

So who is Haman Karn? She’s a Neo-Zeon warlord who assumed control of a remote mining colony and military base, and returned to the Earth sphere in the middle of a ongoing colonial uprising against the despotic Earth Federation emergency regime. Seven years after the end of the One Year War, the world is still a huge mess, with many of the heros from the original forced to fight against their own government by the tyrannical Titans state security force, the Zeon-hunting organization that has become the small gear turning the large gear in the Federation.

And into this mess, which has seen magnificent bastard Char (under a pseudonym) fighting with the heroes, on the same side as his rival Amuro, Haman shows up bound and determined to make this mess worse.

Look at this demon baby...she even has a knife!

Haman has a lot of the qualities people love (and love to hate) in characters like Azula. She is a young and extremely competent female antagonist with a deep personal relationship with a previous fan favorite (Char). She is often smug and manipulative. In spite of her general sense of duty towards her people and their cause, that cause is a deeply destructive and evil one (Zeon in Gundam is a pastiche of currents of Japanese right-wing futurism viz the Kodoha clique and the pseudo-left anti-imperialism of Kita Ikki and some elements of the student movement).

In Zeta Haman is a spanner in the works, a sometimes ally, sometimes adversary of the protagonists who ends up maneuvering for supremacy in a three-way conflict with both the heroes and the series big bad Paptimus Sirocco, who is Jupiterian in both the Emmanuel Macron personalist/Bonapartist political sense as well as literally from Jupiter. Haman is the ultimate victor of this battle; she not only defeats Char in a one-on-one, possibly killing him (his fate was left ambiguous), but her forces come out in the best shape. Zeta’s protagonist Kamille Bidan beats Sirocco, but is left catatonic from the psychic resonance (it’s Newtypes, I don’t have time to explain...)

Haman goes on to be the big bad in Gundam ZZ (it’s usually pronounced Gundam Double-Zeta). Not only does the general trend of gaslight, gatekeep, girlbossing continue, she intensifies and double-downs on it. War crimes ensue. And not the silly sense that fandom talks about characters like Azula being war criminals because they don’t like them, I mean actual violations of the laws of armed conflict like the use of WMDs on open cities. She does get somewhat chickified because one of the long-running subplots is her attraction to Double Zeta’s protagonist Judau Ashta (it’s another Newtype thing...just think of it like their souls touching through some psychic stuff), but it’s played more for tragedy. In the end she cannot let go of her pride, and chooses to die when defeated rather than accept Judau’s alternate perspective.

Haman in sum has all the hallmarks of the villainous woman in the traditionally male sphere. She’s stoic, manipulative, hypercompetent, but also emotionally closed off. She can’t femme fatale, and her few romantic overtures are clumsy. Nonetheless, she has complicated, multi-faceted relationships with multiple male characters, including a series fave, and often beats them at their own game.

Yet she’s also consistently a pretty well liked character in both the English and Japanese fandoms. There is no shortage of moeified fanart of her, and she’s showed up as a cameo in several other series like the Build Fighters one.

So what went wrong elsewhere? Perhaps it’s because Haman was intended to be a sympathetic character from the start by Tomino, unlike Bryke’s relative disinterest towards Azula’s internality, for example. It’s long been a pet theory of mine that Haman began conceptually as the next arc for Sayla Mass, another fave in the Gundam franchise. Perhaps I’ll do a whole post on that subject someday, but in brief, Sayla is Char’s estranged sister, both of whom have been living under assumed names in exile from their home colony after their father’s assassination. Sayla’s plotline in the original got slightly truncated due to the episode count being slashed, but in the original outline she was supposed to lead a soldier mutiny in Zeon in the final part, taking off the character masque of Sayla and becoming Artesia Deikun again (this was restored in the expanded The Origin manga by Yasuhiko Yoshikazu, who was Tomino’s right-hand man on the original series).

There may be a slight resemblance...

Sayla unfortunately had to be cut from Zeta because the voice actress was on a year long Safari in Africa (it was the 80s, I guess people just did that sort of thing). So somewhere in development, a character who also has a complicated personal relationship with Char, a stoic and serious female character who looks like if Sayla decided to dye her hair and cut her bangs, shows up again on the opposite side of the conflict from Char, who’s doing his best at trying to be a hero...really gets the old noggin joggin’.

It could also be a matter of audience. Gundam is aimed more towards a slightly older demographic than many western animated shows, particularly one like Avatar, and it’s also a pre-internet show. People had time to grow up and form more nuanced opinions and weren’t dumped unvarnished into a fandom space very early. Or they were American adults experiencing the show for the first time as adults, with some background for nuance.

But there’s plenty of people who first watched Avatar the Last Airbender as adults who also have extremely hyperbolic opinions about Azula. The reception towards Rey from the Star Wars sequels, who let’s be honest here, is neither overpowered compared to her male counterparts nor does she have a strong, domineering personality, also points to the fact that older fans are far from immune to knee-jerk toxicity. If anything, they were worse with Rey.

In fact I find the audience reception of Rey even more baffling, because from the very start Rey is clearly communicated in terms that make her relatable to the audience of Star Wars fans. She is, after all, a fangirl in-universe, living in her mundane world dreaming of the big adventures outside of the meager existence salvaging scrap on Jakku, keenly interested in the old ‘legends’ about people like Luke Skywalker or Han Solo.

What then is the answer? Fandom I guess is an often toxic space, and I can’t find any clear answers. Sometimes villainous female characters get generally well liked and appreciated, and other times they’re treated with such comically hyperbolic disdain it would be funny if it weren’t so damn stupid. I am interested in hearing what you have to think.

[animecharareview]

Double character week part 1: Totally not Char Aznable

This man here is Quattro “Totally not Char Azanable” Bajeena, I kid, this is actually Char Aznable who took on a different alias in the events of Zeta Gundam, the sequel to the OG Gundam series, and he went from anti-hero slash secondary antagonist to one of the main protagonist. 

He pilots the Rick Dias before switching over to one of his well-known mobile suits, the Hyaku Shiki, most notable for its golden colour due to its anti-beam coating. 

The Rick Dias in Quattro’s colours before becoming the standard for the rest of the Rick Dias units.

The Hyaku Shiki with the Gundam Mk2 on the left fighting against the Titans’ Asshimar on the right.

Quattro Bajeena or Char Azanble, he is one of the pilots that fights against the uprising of the elite division of the  Earth Federation, the Titans, under another faction within the Earth Federation, the Anti Earth Union Group or AEUG, in the Universal Century 0087.

His personality was that he became didn’t really had any antagonistic features that he used to have from the original 0079 Gundam since he had completed his ulterior motives of killing off the Zabi Family, which he worked under except for Mineva since she was only a baby. Thus he was more of the very level-headed person and patient while also who cared for the crew and respects his former enemies that he used to fought against during the One Year War(UC 0079)

However ever since the main protagonist of the show, Kamille Bidan joined the AEUG, he took the time to nurture him, becoming his mentor, then later on, things happened thoughout the series, which includes meeting his former enemy and rival, Amuro Ray on their meeting with the AEUG’s ally on Earth, the Karaba the leader of the AEUG was murdered during their trip to the leaders meeting, he reluctantly took on the job of becoming the leader the AEUG which was the previous’ leaders last request, when all he wanted to be was just to become a freedom fighter to fight for his beliefs that he places his hopes and faith in the Newtypes and spacenoids.

The turning point of few of his personality change was that the AEUG was met with the Neo Zeon (the revamped Principality of Zeon that Char used to fight for), where he lost his cool when he realised that Haman Karn (The real leader of Neo Zeon) is using Mineva Lao Zabi, who was only a child, to be the leader of the Neo Zeon in name. Aaround the same time, the Titans were there to see who the Neo Zeon will ally with. 

Due to Char’s anger, the Neo Zeon allied with the Titans which later on, both of these factions fought against the AEUG, bringing them to a crippled state, and the loss of many of his crew mates that he has bonded with throughout the entire series, including Kamille Bidan, not really dead but got into a vegetative state, thus causing him to snap and sets him up to revert to becoming the antagonist in the sequel movie, Char’s Counterattack.

Overall, this is my favourite version of Char Azanable, especially the way he bonded with the characters and his rivals, and the fact that at the end of Zeta Gundam got a lot of people thinking of “what’s going to happen to him next?” Since he went missing in action after the Gryps Conflict. Even the Character design just shouts iconic, with the red colours that shouts back to his Red Comet Days. Even delivering the most famous Gundam meme, yet obscured in mainstream communities where he quotes “ I came here to laugh at you” to Amuro Ray to answer his question to why he came to Earth.

Now that is all for this overview, next will probably be a very obscured character from a spin off manga of a popular yet niche anime franchise that I haven’t read in a while.

Links:

https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/i-came-here-to-laugh-at-you

https://images.app.goo.gl/pAJm9GEedGUjE7zB9

https://images.app.goo.gl/3BCv6ihJexGxRR6KA

https://images.app.goo.gl/yHNmSTbBrt26nhVH7

[scope-dogg]

Gundam Unicorn: Final Thoughts

This series probably represented the biggest gap in my mecha fanatic cred, at least after I plugged the last big hole in the shape of Code Geass a few months ago. I’ll keep this one short, because let’s face it, if you’re reading this you were probably way ahead of me on this one so there’s not that much to say - plus this time I’m really just passing through on my way to my true goal of watching Gundam Narrative. Still, I think this was a remarkable series in many ways and it wouldn’t be right to pass up making comment on it entirely.

The plot setup is that it’s UC 0096, after the Grypps conflict and Neo Zeon wars. A Neo Zeon faction is on the hunt for something known only as Laplace’s Box, the contents of which are said to be something capable of destroying the Earth Federation. It’s currently in the hands of the Vist Foundation, an organisation headquartered at the space colony Industrial 7. The “key” to the box is the RX-0 Unicorn Gundam, which falls into the hands of Banagher Links, who gets caught up in a shadowy conflict between multiple factions in their race to recover the box, and ends up being led across the Earth sphere into a series of increasingly bloody and desperate battles.

I found the plot surprisingly compelling - you get invested into what the contents of the Box are, even though you know that what’s inside will ultimately make little difference in the grand scheme of the Universal Century’s timeline - F91 and Victory came out years before this despite being set further down the road and the Federation is still very much up to its old bullshit in both. Still, that doesn’t mean that the journey isn’t interesting regardless, even if character motivations are sometimes hard to follow and can chop and change on a whim at times. Even disregarding the end goal of the journey entirely, as a kind of tour of the UC setting I thought this series was excellent and fleshed it out perhaps better than any other prior mainline entry in this venerable old timeline - it brings the desperation of angry space colonists, the desolation left by years of devastating wars and the shadowy machinations of the Federation government to life in intimate detail across the course of the 22 episodes that made up the TV rerelease version that I watched (it was originally a 6 episode OVA.)

Characters are by and large superb - whether they’re old or familiar faces. Most characters come to be really well fleshed out through the course of their interactions and their voice actors deliver impassioned performances. That said, Banagher, the protagonist, was somewhat hit and miss for me. He’s probably the most Tomino-esque main character I can think of, which is honestly somewhat impressive because as far as I can tell Tomino had little if any direct involvement in the creation of either the animated work or the novel it’s based off (besides, of course, being the original creator of the setting itself.) What I mean by that is that he has a very odd way of talking, following a very strange form of logic and openly talking about feelings to a ridiculous extent - this is a hard thing to put into words but if you’re familiar with Tomino shows that feature this kind of character, especially the likes of Zeta Gundam or Brain Powerd you probably know what I’m talking about. I don’t think this is intrinsically a bad thing at all, but it has a time and a place. During dramatic plot moments involving newtype magic, sure, I’m down with it, but sometimes the off switch needs to be flipped so the protag can come off as a little more human - not everything that comes out of his mouth needs to be a profound insight into the human condition - though when it comes to young newtype protagonists in UC Gundam, perhaps that’s just the nature of the beast.

One thing that doesn’t really need spelling out by me is that this show’s basically at the apex of the genre when it comes to presentation, and probably near the apex of animation in general. The animation is vivid and dynamic, especially during the chaos of battles - this show sells you on the sheer destructive power of the mobile suits that star in it better than any other entry in the franchise. This would be impressive enough by itself, but the animation is also immaculately detailed at all times. Mobile suit designs new and old are brought to life impeccably. Meanwhile, Hiroyuki Sawano’s ridiculously sublime musical score elevates the entire thing to stratospheric levels. Honestly, the entire production just feels like an enormous flex by Sunrise, as if to proclaim its dominance - and honestly, it’s hard to argue with it when the level of quality is set this damn high.

Overall, I feel slightly foolish for not finding some form of excuse to watch this sooner, although perhaps it’s best to keep things like this in reserve to savour them fully when the time is right. I’m hoping that Gundam NT manages to live up to this, though I know critics weren’t as kind to it as it was to Unicorn. Regardless of what the case may be, I’m watching that next.

[rowdarker]

Gundam Games

Arcade[edit]

See also:

Arcade game

Gundam: Battle Simulator

Mobile Suit Gundam

Mobile Suit Gundam: Final Shooting

Mobile Suit Gundam: EX Revue

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Card Builder

Mobile Suit Gundam: Bonds of the Battlefield

Mobile Suit Gundam: Spirits of Zeon - Dual Stars of Carnage

Mobile Suit Gundam: Spirits of Zeon - Memory of Soldier

Mobile Suit Gundam VS Series

Quiz Mobile Suit Gundam: Monsenshi

Mobile Suit Gundam: Federation vs. Zeon

Mobile Suit Gundam: Federation vs. Zeon DX

Mobile Suit Z Gundam: A.E.U.G. vs. Titans

Mobile Suit Z Gundam: A.E.U.G. vs. Titans DX

Gundam Seed: Rengou vs. Z.A.F.T.

Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny: Rengou vs. Z.A.F.T. II

Mobile Suit Gundam: Gundam vs. Zeta Gundam

Mobile Suit Gundam: Gundam vs. Gundam

Mobile Suit Gundam: Gundam vs. Gundam Next

Mobile Suit Gundam: Extreme Vs.

Mobile Suit Gundam: Extreme Vs. Full Boost

Mobile Suit Gundam: Extreme Vs. Maxi Boost

Mobile Suit Gundam: Extreme VS Force

Mobile Suit Gundam: Extreme Vs. Maxi Boost ON

Gundam Versus

Mobile Suit Gundam: Extreme Vs. 2

Fujitsu[edit]

FM-7

[

edit

]

Kidou Senshi Gundam Part 1: Gundam Daishi ni Tatsu

Kidou Senshi Gundam Part 2: Tobe Gundam

FM Towns

[

edit

]

Mobile Suit Gundam: Hyper Classic Operation

Mobile Suit Gundam: Hyper Desert Operation

MSX[edit]

Mobile Suit Gundam: Last Shooting

MS Field: Kidou Senshi Gundam

MS Field Kidou Senshi Gundam Plus Kit

MS Field Kidou Senshi Gundam Plus Kit Tsuki

NEC[edit]

PC-88

[

edit

]

Kidou Senshi Gundam Part 1: Gundam Daishi ni Tatsu

Kidou Senshi Gundam Part 2: Tobe Gundam

PC-98

[

edit

]

Kidou Senshi Gundam Part 1: Gundam Daishi ni Tatsu

Mobile Suit Gundam: Return of Zeon

Mobile Suit Gundam: A Year of War

Mobile Suit Gundam: Advanced Operation

Mobile Suit Gundam: Multiple Operation

Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Operation

MS Field: Mobile Suit Gundam

MS Field 2 '92: Mobile Suit Gundam

Sharp[edit]

Sharp X1

[

edit

]

Kidou Senshi Gundam Part 1: Gundam Daishi ni Tatsu

Kidou Senshi Gundam Part 2: Tobe Gundam

Sharp X68000

[

edit

]

Mobile Suit Gundam: Classic Operation

Mobile Suit Gundam: Classic Operation - Original Scenario Disk

PC[edit]

Gundam Network Operation

Gundam Network Operation 2

Gundam Network Operation 3

Gundam Storm (Browser-Based) - Service terminated

Mobile Suit Gundam 0079: The War For Earth - 1996 interactive movie collaboration between Bandai and Presto Studios Inc. Also released for Macintosh, PlayStation (JP release only) and Pippin.

Mobile Suit Gundam Online

New Gundam Breaker

SD Gundam Capsule Fighter Online

SD Gundam G Generation Cross Rays

Universal Century Gundam Online

Bandai[edit]

Arcadia[

edit

]See also:

Arcadia_2001

Mobile Suit Gundam

Bandai RX-78[

edit

]See also:

Bandai RX-78

Gundam - Luna II no Tatakai

Playdia[

edit

]See also:

Playdia

SD Gundam Daizukan

Apple Bandai Pippin[

edit

]

Gundam Tactics Mobility Fleet 0079

WonderSwan[

edit

]See also:

WonderSwan

Mobile Suit Gundam: MSVS

SD Gundam G Generation: Gather Beat

SD Gundam: Emotional Jam

WonderSwan Color[

edit

]See also:

WonderSwan Color

SD Gundam G Generation: Gather Beat 2

SD Gundam G Generation: Monoeye Gundams

Mobile Suit Gundam SEED

Gundam Strike Force Go !!!: Stairway to the Destined Victory: Worldwide Edition

Mobile Suit Gundam: Operation U.C.

Nintendo[edit]

Family Computer[

edit

]See also:

Nintendo Entertainment System

Mobile Suit Z Gundam: Hot Scramble

SD Gundam Gaiden: Knight Gundam Monogatari

SD Gundam Gaiden: Knight Gundam Monogatari 2

SD Gundam Gaiden: Knight Gundam Monogatari 3

SD Gundam World Gachapon Senshi - Scramble Wars

SD Gundam World Gachapon Senshi 2 - Capsule Senki

SD Gundam World Gachapon Senshi 3 - Eiyû Senki

SD Gundam World Gachapon Senshi 4 - New Type Story

SD Gundam World Gachapon Senshi 5 - Battle of Universal Century

SD Gundam: Gundam Wars

Super Famicom[

edit

]See also:

Super Nintendo Entertainment System

Mobile Suit Gundam: Cross Dimension 0079 - Tactical role-playing game

Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam: Away to the Newtype - Tactical role-playing game

Mobile Suit Gundam F91: Formula Wars 0122

Mobile Suit Victory Gundam - 2D fighting game

Mobile Fighter G Gundam - 2D fighting game

Shin Kidō Senki Gundam Wing: Endless Duel - 2D fighting game

SD Gundam: G Next - Turn-based strategy

SD Gundam: GX - Turn-based strategy

SD Gundam Gaiden: Knight Gundam Monogatari - Ooinaru Isan - Japanese role playing game

SD Gundam Gaiden 2: Entaku no Kishi - Japanese role playing game

SD Gundam Generation - Tactical role-playing game

SD Gundam: Power Formation Puzzle - Puzzle games

SD Gundam: V Sakusen Shidō - Shoot 'em up with Run and gun stages

SD Gundam 2 - Shoot 'em up with Run and gun stages

Super Gachapon World: SD Gundam X - Turn-based strategy

GameCube[

edit

]See also:

GameCube

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Ace Pilot

Mobile Suit Gundam: Gundam vs. Zeta Gundam (Only in Japan)

SD Gundam Gashapon Wars

Wii[

edit

]See also:

Wii

Mobile Suit Gundam: MS Sensen 0079

SD Gundam G Generation Wars

SD Gundam G Generation World

SD Gundam: Scad Hammers

SD Gundam Gashapon Wars

Nintendo Switch[

edit

]See also:

Nintendo Switch

SD Gundam G Generation Genesis

SD Gundam G Generation Cross Rays

Game Boy[

edit

]See also:

Game Boy

SD Gundam G-Arms

SD Gundam Gaiden: Lacroan Heroes

SD Gundam: SD Sengokuden Kuni Nusiri Monogatari

SD Gundam: SD Sengokuden 2 - Tenka Touitsuhen

SD Gundam: SD Sengokuden 3 - Chijou Saikyouhen'

Shin SD Gundam Gaiden

Virtual Boy[

edit

]See also:

Virtual Boy

SD Gundam Dimension War

Game Boy Advance[

edit

]See also:

Game Boy Advance

SD Gundam G Generation Advance

Mobile Suit Gundam SEED: Tomo to Kimi to koko de

Mobile Suit Gundam SEED: Destiny

Mobile Suit Gundam SEED: Battle Assault

SD Gundam Force

Nintendo DS[

edit

]See also:

Nintendo DS

SD Gundam G Generation DS

SD Gundam G Generation: Cross Drive

Mobile Suit Gundam 00

Emblem of Gundam

SD gundam Sangokuden DS

Nintendo 3DS[

edit

]See also:

Nintendo 3DS

SD Gundam G Generation 3D

Gundam the 3D Battle

Gundam Try Age SP

Sony[edit]

PlayStation[

edit

]See also:

PlayStation

Mobile Suit Gundam (1995)

Mobile Suit Gundam v.2.0 (1996)

Mobile Suit Gundam 0079: The War For Earth (1997)

Gundam: Battle Assault

Gundam: Battle Assault 2

Kidou Butouden G Gundam

Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack (1998)

Mobile Suit Gundam: Giren's Greed, Blood of Zeon

Mobile Suit Gundam: Perfect One Year War

SD Gundam G Century

SD Gundam G Generation

SD Gundam G Generation Zero

SD Gundam G Generation F

SD Gundam G Generation F-IF

Mobile Suit Z-Gundam

PlayStation 2[

edit

]See also:

PlayStation 2

Mobile Suit Gundam: Gihren's Ambition

Giren no Yabou: Zeon Dokuritsu Sensouden - Kouryaku Shireisho

Mobile Suit Gundam: Journey to Jaburo

Mobile Suit Gundam: Zeonic Front

Mobile Suit Gundam: Lost War Chronicles

Mobile Suit Gundam: Encounters in Space

Mobile Suit Gundam: The One Year War

Mobile Suit Gundam: Climax U.C.

SD Gundam G Generation Neo

SD Gundam G Generation SEED

SD Gundam G Generation Spirits

SD Gundam G Generation Wars

Mobile Suit Gundam SEED

Mobile Suit Gundam SEED: Never Ending Tomorrow

Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny: Generation of C.E.

Gundam Battle Assault 3 Featuring Gundam SEED

Mobile Suit Gundam: Federation vs. Zeon

Mobile Suit Gundam Z: AEUG vs. Titans

Mobile Suit Gundam: Gundam vs. Zeta Gundam

Gundam Seed: Rengou vs. Z.A.F.T.

Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny: Rengou vs. Z.A.F.T. II

Mobile Suit Gundam 00: Gundam Meisters

MS Saga: A New Dawn

G-Saviour

SD Gundam Force: Showdown!

Dynasty Warriors: Gundam

Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2

PlayStation 3[

edit

]See also:

PlayStation 3

Mobile Suit Gundam: Crossfire (a.k.a. Mobile Suit Gundam: Target in Sight)

Mobile Suit Gundam Battlefield Record U.C. 0081

Mobile Suit Gundam: Side Stories - combines six games released for Sega Saturn, Dreamcast and PlayStation 2, and includes new campaign that connects all releases together with Gundam Unicorn

Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn

Dynasty Warriors: Gundam

Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2

Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 3

Dynasty Warriors Gundam Reborn

Mobile Suit Gundam: Extreme Vs.

Mobile Suit Gundam: Extreme Vs. Full Boost

Mobile Suit Gundam Extreme Vs. Full Boost Premium G Sound

Gundam Breaker

Gundam Breaker 2

Gundam Battle Operation

Gundam Battle Operation Next

PlayStation 4[

edit

]See also:

PlayStation 4

SD Gundam G Generation Genesis

SD Gundam G Generation Cross Rays

Gundam Breaker 3

New Gundam Breaker

Gundam Versus

Gundam Battle Operation Next

Mobile Suit Gundam: Battle Operation 2

Mobile Suit Gundam Extreme VS. Maxiboost On

PlayStation Portable[

edit

]See also:

PlayStation Portable

Gundam Battle Tactics

Gundam Battle Royale

Gundam Battle Chronicle

Gundam Battle Universe

Gundam Assault Survive

SD Gundam G Generation Portable

SD Gundam G Generation World

SD Gundam G Generation Over World

Mobile Suit Gundam: Giren no Yabou - Axis no Kyoui

Mobile Suit Gundam: Gundam vs. Gundam

Mobile Suit Gundam: Gundam vs. Gundam NEXT PLUS

Mobile Suit Gundam SEED: Federation vs. Z.A.F.T. Portable

Mobile Suit Gundam: Senjou no Kizuna Portable

Mobile Suit Gundam: Mokuba no Kiseki

Gundam Memories: Tatakai no Kioku

Mobile Suit Gundam AGE: Universe Accel

Mobile Suit Gundam AGE: Cosmic Drive

PlayStation Vita[

edit

]See also:

PlayStation Vita

SD Gundam G Generation Genesis

Kidō Senshi Gundam SEED Battle Destiny

Gundam Breaker

Gundam Breaker 2

Gundam Breaker 3

Mobile Suit Gundam Extreme Vs Force

Mobile Suit Gundam: Battle Fortress

Gundam Conquest V

Dynasty Warriors Gundam Reborn

3rd Super Robot Wars Z Zigokuhen

Sega[edit]

Game Gear[

edit

]See also:

Game Gear

SD Gundam: Winner's History

Sega Saturn[

edit

]See also:

Sega Saturn

Mobile Suit Gundam

Mobile Suit Z Gundam: Kouhen

Mobile Suit Z Gundam: Zenpen

Mobile Suit Gundam: Gihren's Greed

Mobile Suit Gundam Side Story: The Blue Destiny Vol. 1

Mobile Suit Gundam Side Story: The Blue Destiny Vol. 2

Mobile Suit Gundam Side Story: The Blue Destiny Vol. 3

SD Gundam G Century S

Dreamcast[

edit

]See also:

Dreamcast

Gundam Side Story 0079: Rise from the Ashes

Mobile Suit Gundam Gihren's Greed - Blood of Zeon

Mobile Suit Gundam: Federation Vs. Zeon DX

Gundam Battle Online

Microsoft[edit]

Xbox 360[

edit

]See also:

Xbox 360

Mobile Ops: The One Year War

Dynasty Warriors: Gundam

Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2

Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 3

[mudaship39]

Alpha Centurion War:

The grass roots movement Earth Shakers marched, rallied, protested, & did sit ins at Neo Washington DC because it was the seat of power of Earth. Where did the mass movement (no name yet) marched, rallied, protested, & did sit ins at? Which planet in which star system in the Milky Way Galaxy is the seat of power of the Terran Empire? 

Planets: 

Colonized and terraformed independent and autonomous moons, planetoids, asteroids, & planets with alien and human colonies across the Alpha, Beta, Delta, Gamma, Mobius, Omega, Omnicron, Polaris, Regulus, Sol, Vega, & Zeta Star systems: 

Amaterasu, Chiron, Hina, Hou Yi, Kane, Artio, Ku, Izanami, Thoth, Laka, Fujin, Pele, Tlaloc, Brynhildr, Haikili, Raijin, Kuula, Horus, Lono, Susano, Namaka, Ullr, Inari, Phobos, Ikatere, Ursula, Mercury, Ra, Mary, Izanagi, Venus, Rohe, Juno, Ryujin, Bellona, Osiris, Loki, Set, Mars, Suijin, Krishna, Anubis, Freya, Calypso, Neith, Psyche, Earth or Terra, Bastet, Farbauti, Rhea, Laufey, Pan, Thrymr, Atlas, Ymir, Hyperion, Nix, Sigyn, Demeter, Vesta, Europa, Io, Omnicron, Pallas, Nemesis, Hercules, Fortuna, Fenrir, Chantico, Styx, Gaea, Skadi, Apollo, Eros, Thor, Achilles, Luna or the Moon, Sif, Artemis, Fafnir, Saturn, Victoria, Perseus, Hydra, Pandora, Vishnu, Sol, Vesta, Theseus, Cupid, New Terra, Loki, Minerva, Persephone, Nike, Juno, Tyr, Isis, Vulcan, Amphitrite, Vali, Titan, Odin, Ceres, Helios, Baldr, Titania, Ariel,  Uranus, Frigga, Prometheus, Jupiter, Oceanus, & Pluto. 

Birthplace of Kulax Kojir, Ohoi Nessars, Loran, Hleor, Breapru, & Iesloria who are the alien extraterrestrial wives of Alex Smith/Lexi Smith.

The outskirts of the Sol System is the current home of the Elites (imagine a superhero team like the Teen Titans, Young Avengers, Legion of Superheroes, & Young Justice combined with enough metahuman and superhuman members to defend the planet Earth).

Star Systems: 

Alpha Star System, Banana Star System, Beta Star System, Delta Star System, Eagle Star System, Gamma Star System, Heart Star System, Mobius Star System, Octopus Star System, Omega Star System, Omnicron Star System, Polaris System, Regulus System, Sol System, Vega System, & Zeta System. 

The outskirts of the Polaris, Vega, & Sol System is the current home of the Paragons (imagine a superhero team like the Justice League, Avengers, Doom Patrol, X-Men, & Justice Society of Superheroes combined with enough metahuman and superhuman members to defend the Sol System, Vega System, & Polaris System). 

[pulseofthestars]

Zeta Gundam Unit Designation MSZ-006 Height: 19.85 m (Mobile Suit mode) Length: 24.32 m (Waverider mode) Wingspan: 18.61 m (Waverider mode) Base weight: 28.7 t Full weight with all armaments: 62.3 t

Powered by a Minovsky Ultracompact Fusion Reactor and composed of  Gundarium γ alloy the Zeta Gundam was developed in Project Zeta by Anaheim Electronics during the Gryps Conflict. Using modifications to the blueprints of the mobile suit the Hyaku Shiki that would allow for the planned transformation mechanic to work sent in by Kamille Bidan the company developed the Zeta with it being delivered to the Anti-Earth-Union-Group. Thanks to the developments the Zeta can switch between mobile suit mode and the jet-like Waverider mode. The Zeta’s standard weaponry include a pair of beam sabers stored in the side armor, head mounted vulcan guns, forearm mounted grenade launchers with a pair of grenades in each that can be swapped for a grappling wire, a beam rifle that can form a beam bayonet for close quarters combat, a shield that forms the “nose” of the Waverider, and for heavy duty purposes the Zeta can also launch with the Hyper Mega Launcher, a large beam cannon that can form a beam blade similar to the beam rifle for a melee weapon. The Zeta is also equipped with a Bio-Sensor that allows for Newtype pilots piloting the mobile suit to issue mental commands for easier interface between pilot and machine. Notably when piloted by a powerful enough Newtype focused enough, usually in a moment of intense emotion like anger, the Bio-Sensor allows for the Newtype to channel their power through the Zeta, manifesting in ways such as forming a barrier around the mobile suit capable of blocking beam rifle shots, extending the length of a beam saber to notably longer than it can normally be, and can allow potent Newtypes like Kamille to channel the souls of deceased Newtypes and Cyber Newtypes through their bodies to do things like freeze enemy mobile suits as shown in the final climatic battle of the Zeta Gundam anime where Kamille Bidan is able to freeze The O, mobile suit of the main villain Paptimus Scirocco before switching the Zeta to Waverider mode and ramming through the O, impaling both suit and pilot in a move known today as the Waverider Crash. The Zeta would see use in the sequel series ZZ where it is one of three mobile suits from Zeta along with the Gundam Mk II and Hyaku Shiki that are used by the main team of protagonists along with the debut of the Double Zeta. Even after its destruction in the tail end of the First Neo Zeon War in ZZ the Zeta’s legacy lives in a series of successor units seen in later parts of the Universal Century.

Video was made by DestinyFreedom VA on YouTube, be sure to give them a look for other awesome tributes to various other mobile suits from the Gundam franchise.

[jacereviews]

Review: Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack

Movie (Anime) Also Known As: Kidou Senshi Gundam: Gyakushuu no Char, Gundam CCA Consumed in English Sub

Released just over a year after the end of ZZ in 1987, CCA is here to finally draw the first era of Gundam to a close. A capstone on the original trilogy. CCA however, isn’t simple. There’s a lot going on in this movie, and a lot left to the viewer, making this movie a source of debate. The question lies, is that a good thing? Let’s rock.

PLOT: UC 0093. After the events of Zeta and ZZ Neo Zeon has been built once again, this time with Char as its head. Char is running a plan to end the struggle between the Spacenoids and the Earth Federation once and for all, by permanently destroying the Federation. A 2 phase plan of dropping asteroids on the Earth to put it into a new Ice Age. Amuro and the Londo-Bell unit seem to be the only thing truly standing in his way. One of the initial complaints many people have with this movie, is how abrupt the start is. After ZZ only had one monologue in reference to Char, we suddenly have the movie opening with him dropping an asteroid on the Earth. However I feel the lack of build-up is quite intentional, as throughout the movie Char’s motives are hotly discussed and it leaves the viewers with interesting questions. We’re given enough to come up with answers, but we never truly see what’s going on in Char’s head. The movie continues along this plotline at a rather brisk pace, the 2 hour runtime of the movie is well earned even if it’s not enough to truly set up the new cast of the film. Seeing the conclusion to the battle between Amuro and Char is a worthwhile selling point. Seeing the old enemies battle again 14 years after their original war was quite impactful. The ending of this movie is... interesting. I definitely found the last few lines surprising and honestly I still am unsure what to make of them. It does bring things to a satisfying end however.

9/10, a dramatic finale to a strong series

CHARACTERS: Now here’s where the anger from fans really sets in. Sure there are some returning characters. Amuro, Char, Bright, Astonaige, Mirai, and Cameron Bloom all return in this movie. All of the returning characters were on-character and enjoyable. There are also a lot of new characters. On the Federation side we have Kayra, a character who’s thwarted by a lack of screen time and basically earns investment from her relationship with Astonaige. Chan, who spends the movie working with Amuro, has enough screen time but was never characterized too strongly outside her relationship with Amuro. On the Zeon side we have Nanai, who’s close to Char and generally comes off as being a cold bitch when not around him. The best of the new cast would have to be Gyunei, who probably would’ve been a super interesting character in a longer series, but instead serves as a semi-interesting view of Zeon and on Char. Any viewers of the movie will notice two characters I’ve left out. Quess and Hathaway. These characters are controversial to say the least. Hathaway, while not a new character, has his first major role where we get to see his personality. Hathaway is largely in over his head and emotional, causing intense ire from many audience members. Quess is kind of a similar case, her character thematically plays her role well, but is also a dumb brat who I doubt has any fans. Many complaints about CCA are about these characters being unbearable to watch. I found them effective despite being unlikeable. 

6/10, they tried too hard to introduce a new cast and ended up introducing the most obnoxious characters in Gundam history.

VISUALS: This movie is a good example of “good for the time.” Some of the effects haven’t aged well but I can clearly see how they looked amazing at the time. The frame rate dropping when colonies were shown was annoying, but the real 3D look of the colonies was neat. The animation was somewhere between good and impressive the whole movie. As for design- I want to start off by saying how much I like the nu-Gundam design. Fitting with the movie, it’s very similar to the iconic Gundam but yet still looks newer and even a bit more mature. Some of the other new Mobile Suits had some interesting designs but didn’t stick around long enough for me to really get to know them. Char’s mobile suit was pretty cool and had the nice, fitting red. The returning characters have aged rather naturally, and as new characters go their designs were effective and memorable. Gyunei was a personal favorite of mine design wise.

8/10, aged but rather good.

SOUND: I don’t think I could listen to a Char not voiced by Shuuichi Ikeda. The OST for this movie was rather strong, though my favorite piece was the people in the train car singing for Char. The ending theme was also pretty good. As for sound effects, this is Gundam sounding it’s most Star Wars yet. It does come off as a bit cheesy, but fun. The voice acting was pretty on point, fantastic performances for Amuro and Char especially.

7/10, pretty good

FINAL SCORE: 8/10

A bit of a messy project, but the strengths definitely show through. Perhaps this should have been part of a TV Gundam, but it worked as a movie. UC Gundam up to this point has been a long story, and with CCA we draw it to a satisfying close. I know this isn’t the last page in the Gundam story, but it’s a good ending for what it is.