#MSV-R: The Return of Johnny Ridden

[gundamfight]

[gremoria411]

Gundam Requiem for Vengeance then. I don’t really have anything to say on the new trailer other than it reminds me of a trailer I once saw for Final Fantasy 7: Advent Children.

However, given that I did a post on the Gundams in the one year war last time, I figured I’d go over the Full Armour units that I skimmed over this time around.

First up, the PF-78-1 Perfect Gundam. Now I usually try to use fairly neutral pieces of art for these, so they best illustrate the mobile suit in general, but this thing…… well.

It’s a bit of an odd one. First originating in the 1982 Manga Plamo-Kyoshiro, it was built by Shiro Kyoda (the kid in the bottom left of the above picture). Note how I said built. This manga is essentially the earliest permutation of what would eventually become the build series, where the focus is shifted from War to Modelling. Now normally this is where I’d earmark it as a build kit, except that it’s canon to the Universal Century as well. It was apparently a planned upgrade plan for the original Gundam, but was never built, with its data being carried into the Full Armour Gundam, being canonised in MSV. Its armaments are much the same as the original, only adding a built-in 2-barrel beam gun to the arm, four drop mines to the shield and a Shoulder Cannon to the backpack. The shoulder cannon is notable because it’s nature is different in each work - it’s a high pressure water gun in Plamo-Kyoshiro, a 360mm Rocket Gun in MSV, and a high-output beam cannon in Build Fighters.

I admit I was looking forward to talking about the Full Armour Gundam here, but its position in canon is just difficult. Officially, it was never built and existed only as simulation data, because the excess armour and weaponry would have slowed it down too much. Unofficially, it shows up damn everywhere, typically as a foe of either Johnny Ridden or the Perfect Zeong. I’m going to call out two examples here and then move on, primarily because they actually name pilots of the thing. In the videogame Spirits of Zeon: Dual Stars of Carnage, a blue Full Armour Gundam is piloted by Earth Federation Fighter Ace Takashi Kitamoto during the Battle of Solomon. Meanwhile in the manga Mobile Suit Gundam MSV Battle Chronicle Johnny Ridden, a Full Armour Gundam is piloted by Heinz Baer against Johnny Ridden’s Full Bullet Zaku (honestly I mention this because I absolutely love Heinz Baer’s character design, shown below). Armament wise, the Full Armour Gundam retains the Vulcan Guns and Beam sabers of the original Gundam, but carries a twin beam rifle as opposed to the original’s single-barrelled model. In addition, it gains a 360mm Rocket Cannon on its back and four missile bays, built into the knees and clavicles. As a design, I really like the thing, but I’m unsure why. Maybe it’s the simplicity of it being an up-armed and armoured version of the original Gundam, or maybe it’s that there’s some really nice art of it, particularly it’s Debut in Mobile Suit Variation (MSV).

C’mon, Look at this guy. A flying ace who wears a sweater under his pilot suit.

Next up, the FA-78[G] Full Armour Gundam Ground Operations Type, originating in MSV-R. Nice and simple, now. It’s essentially a Full Armour Variant that’s designed for ground combat, using the RX-78-1 Prototype Gundam as a base. It was designed, but never built (whether due to costs, practicality or the lack of the RX-78-1). Design-wise, yeah, it’s nice. Critical areas are up-armoured, and some new weapons added, but it still looks fairly agile, and the Prototype Gundam features make it stand out a little more. It’s armed with Vulcans, Two Beam Sabers on the left arm, a twin beam rifle on the right arm, a 360mm Rocket Cannon on the backpack and a missile launcher. Not much more on this one, it’s just neat.

The FA-78-1B Full Armour Gundam (Type B). Oh, I love this thing. Also originating from MSV-R, it was developed from the G-3 Gundam, rounding out the three full armour units. It was designed primarily for anti-fleet combat, with the assumption that it would be piloted by a Newtype. MSV-R keeps things vague on the details, but given that it seems to have been developed in response to The Battle of a Baoa Qu, the general theme of Full Armour Units and that it was intended to be used with a Newtype Pilot (which the Federation really didn’t have a lot of), it feels a safe bet to say that it was probably never built (honestly, Zeon went big on Newtype research and even they only had about five combat-ready examples). Armament wise, the Full Armour Type B is rocking Vulcan guns, a 360mm Rocket Launcher, a Triple Beam Rifle, upgraded missile launchers in the knees and clavicles, two beam sabers mounted on the left arm and a large missile launcher on the back, which is loaded with two large anti-ship missiles on the front and twenty along the back of the launcher, designed to counter any anti-beam defences employed by its victi- targets. Employed by its targets. Design-wise, gorgeous, I love the patterns on its armour and the simplistic colour palette of blue, grey and golden-yellow for the details is just wonderful. It’s heavyset yes, but it doesn’t feel excessive since it’s designed for anti-fleet work in space. The box-style beam saber adds to this, since it gives the idea of a quick weapon primarily to block attacks, as opposed to its primary armament. I’m not typically a fan of the G-3, but the Full Armour Type B blends its aesthetic so wonderfully.

Next up, the FA-78-2 Heavy Gundam. Another simple one. Three-Four units built postwar, with at least one of them being piloted by one Den Berserk. Apparently one unit was lost during atmospheric entry tests. Essentially a second go-around at the full armour Gundam concept, only a brand new mobile suit as opposed to an add-on. It is armed with: A shoulder mounted Beam Cannon, a singular beam saber, a frame launcher (essentially a composite weapon combining a Gatling gun with a 4-tube missile launcher) and an optional Beam Rifle. Again, just a lovely design, really liking the added bulk on the chest and the visor emphasises its ranged speciality.

The second unit (right) is equipped identically to the regular Heavy Gundam and appears in the Manga MSV-R: the return of Johnny Ridden, where it’s repainted and piloted by Ingrid 0. Due to the series being set in U.C. 90, Unit 2 is somewhat upgraded when compared to the original, being equipped with a bio-sensor for use by newtypes and a set of Dummy Launchers not dissimilar to those found on suits around the time of Char’s Counterattack. These were pretty clearly later additions, however. It was also equipped with a bazooka, patterned off the original Hyper Bazooka used by Gundam units in the One Year War. EDIT: I’d like to note that we don’t know which unit was lost during atmospheric entry tests, so it’s possible that the “lost” unit was Unit 2, so it could be employed “off the books”, as it were.

The RX-78SP Gunner Gundam was designed shortly after the end of the One Year War, during a review of captured Zeon materials. It’s essentially a sniper Gundam, featuring an improved sensor pod and specialised beam rifle in addition to the standard Gundam armament of Vulcans and beam sabers. I say designed because it was never built, development began and a mock-up unit was built from a GM, but it was deemed that the G06 Mudrock Gundam was able to perform the same role. A Full Armour variant appears in the Shin Matsunaga Manga however (MSV-R: Legend of the Universal Century Heroes: Rainbow’s Shin Matsunaga).

[slowlysointernet]

The portraits of father and son.

(MSV-R: The Return of Johnny Ridden Chapter 55 and Chapter 72)

I noticed that Zeon Zum Deikun, Degwin, Gihren, Dozle, Kycilia and Garma Zabi all face to the front but 'Char' is facing to the side.🙄 He just has to be extra doesn't he? 😭

(The Plot to Assassinate Gihren Chapter 9)

[missmassacre]

Of all the Gundam manga people talk about, I didn't expect the one no one talks about, MSV-R The Return of Johnny Ridden, to be the real stand out hit. Everyone wants to talk about the cool robots of Crossbone or Blue Destiny, but the series named for the guy primarily known as "the other red one" is the only one actually interested in talking about the finer points of the UC Timeline, primarily trying to answer the question: how did they fit so much bullshit into the One Year War, and who the fuck greenlit half those stupid ideas

It's a story primarily about foreign policy and military bureaucracy and all that fun "boring" stuff I adore, and it helps that the characters are fun and the art is phenomenally good. Blue Destiny 2015 was so boring it put me to sleep, and the depictions of giant robot combat had no weight behind the actual combat of giant war machines, just silly shounen-ass storytelling and fights that didn't fit UC Gundam. MSV-R is all overlapping political agendas of barely differing factions and it rules, because no matter how cool the Efreet is, it pales in comparison to whole chapters dissecting the economic reason anyone ever thought putting a Ball in combat was a good idea in the first place

[000tragicsolitude000]

Neo Zeon’s Pyscho-Frame

Char’s Neo Zeon 

Universal Century 0090 - Johnny B. Gundam 

MSK-008 Djeh (Char Aznable Custom)

In the MSV-R: The Return of Johnny Ridden manga, three years before Char’s Rebellion in UC 0090, Char is already in charge of a revived Neo Zeon. He has the Sweetwater colony, his new suave douchebag haircut, the personnel and the Newtype labs run by Nanai Miguel. With that, they produce the first test-bed for the psycho-frame in the form of Char’s modified Dijeh. From the Return of Johnny Ridden Archives : 

It was assembled as a test model for the psycho-frame and as a personal machine for the new Neo Zeon commander-in-chief Char Aznable. It uses the same type of Gyre Binder as the Schuzrum Dias and the shield and arm parts planned for the Geara Doga, the main MS currently under development. Under the cockpit is a successfully refined psycho-frame, which is connected to a backup Bio-Sensor. Switching modes activates the psycommu system.

This links to what has already been established about the Geara Doga - Char’s Dijeh also uses its beam rifle. The Dijeh was originally a ground-use Karaba MS, and we saw Amuro pilot it in Zeta (and by Luio & Co in NT). And curiously, the engineer Arlette Almage says : ”That person donated this MS after she had pity on how poor Neo Zeon is …” 

It isn’t named the psycho-frame yet, but the main trait of psycommu incorporated within the frame of the MS itself for maximum responsiveness and control is included. He sortied with it into a battle involving multiple parties near Confeito (Solomon) and activated the new system in a fight against Yazan Gable and an amnesiac Johnny Ridden, to which he damaged them both before escaping because the system was too much for the Dijeh too. 

MSK-008S Dijeh Traversia 

As at the moment I only have access to volumes 1-22 of MSV-R (of which 1 through 15 are translated) in which the Traversia hasn’t appeared in, we’ll have to rely exclusively on Japanese Wikipedia (and it will be used again). 

An attack-type mobile suit built in a short period of time by Char 's dedicated team of engineers, including Arlette Armage, in order to acquire the basic data for the next generation of Char's personal machine. In order to shorten the time to install the new psycommu frame on a new machine and readjust it, it is based on Char's Dijeh which was partially destroyed in the previous battle. The most important operational purpose of this machine is the testing of the new funnels. Since it was completed as a minimum armament system, it was given a model number and a unique name unlike the base machine. 

It’s described that the output of its nuclear reactor is the highest Neo Zeon had at the time and will later be used by the Jagd Doga. Its head is similar to that of the Dijeh SE-R (now with horns like the Sazabi), which was donated by Anaheim. Aside from that, the obvious is that the legs, arms and the funnel-equipped shoulders are pretty much the same as the eventual Jagd Doga. This implies the Jagd Doga is already far in development by Anaheim at this time.

Universal Century 0092 - Moon Moon River 

MRX-013-3 Psycho Gundam Mk-IV G-Doors

In a beginning flashback to UC 0091 in the Mobile Suit Moon Gundam manga, we see the psycommu machine Gundam G-Doors used by Titans remnants before it’s destroyed (aside from the head and its funnel Psycho Plates) by Amuro working under Londo Bell.

The Psycho Plates were developed thanks to assistance from Char (acting under a pseudonym) in order to, if I’m actually understanding the plot right, use the Titans (because of their access to their Newtype labs, as well as experience with psycommu machines and with enhanced pilots) as a field test for the psycho-frame (in the case of the G-Doors, the psycho-frame is incorporated into the funnels) from which he’ll get the results to of to benefit himself while the Titans remnants get wiped out by Londo Bell thanks to his misdirection. 

Moreover, this was done for pragmatic reasons considering Neo Zeon’s position: 

At the time, Neo Zeon did not have the ability to develop its own psycho-frames, so it had the remnants of the Titans, who had the know-how to operate enhanced humans, develop and demonstrate them on the premise that they would be betrayed and disposed of afterwards.

AMS-123X Varguil

In the story’s present of 0092, the Varguil looks like a Sazabi that lost weight and is a pyscommu prototype unit onboard a Zeon ship transporting Mineva and piloted by a Cyber-Newtype from the NT labs. Its body later was combined with the head/Psycho Plates of the Gundam G-Doors that crashed into the Moon Moon colony (as well as repainted in traditional Gundam colors for a mission to take back Mineva from a Londo Bell ship) to transform it into the eponymous Moon Gundam. 

A translated description of the Moon Gundam Mechanical Works by Zeonic Scanlations describes the Varguil as one among perhaps several prototypes, a stepping stone in the lineage leading to the creation of the Sazabi. It also proved inferior in terms of psycommu capabilities to the Jagd Doga, which itself also contributed to the development of Sazabi despite having been rejected as Char’s personal unit because he wasn’t satisfied with its performance. It’s clear that the Varguil must’ve been a key part of that road to the Sazabi despite its failures because of its general aesthetic and the placement of its funnels. Outside of the Mechanical Works, it’s said that the Varguil and Jagd Doga were developed at the same time. It’s probably safe to assume that the X in the model number likely stands for experimental. 

MSN-04X2 Sazabi Prototype (Terrain Mode)

Teased in Volume 7 of Moon and fully realized in Volumes 10/11, this Sazabi was built at a Neo Zeon secret base in Antarctica. The Geara Doga is also complete at this time. 

A translation description by Zeonic Scanlations - perhaps the most interesting parts are the design of this suit was reached by exploring the possibilities of the psycho-frame, starting with the psycho-plates, and by accumulating data from various prototypes and experimental suits. 

And all this was done to illustrate that while the appearance is almost the same, everything about it is totally different from a setting perspective. As the Sazabi is likely the most “powerful” suit, there are probably several prototypes, including some that have been abandoned, so this current model is just one of those.

One might assume this prototype would be tweaked into the final Sazabi we know, but that second quote and the Sazabi Early Test Type (under gravity version)* was one of the models used in constructing the Sazabi under the assumption of an operation to freeze Earth seems to say no. Other things, like the double-seater (and likely the model number MSN-04X2) call back to the MSN-04X Sazabi Test Prototype drawn by Yutaka Izubuchi for the novel Hi-Streamer, which can be described as Tomino’s original version of CCA before it was reworked into Beltorchika’s Children and the movie we know. 

AMX-107P Psycho Bawoo 

Along with the Sazabi and the Doga, there’s also a handful of Psycho Bawoos, one of which is piloted by Gyunei. They’re all equipped with the Psycho Plates based on that of the G-Doors, so I guess that whole operation paid off. 

MS Evolution 

The MS Evolution charts are from MS Bible, and this one translated by Zeonic Scanlations is for the Sazabi. It solidifies things we’ve already covered, like the Jagd Doga being meant for Char and that the Varguil was just one of the Sazabi prototypes (as well as developed at the same time as the Jagd), 

There’s also the AMS-120X Geara Doga Psycommu System Test Type which we’ve left out until now, made for the Char's Counterattack Mobile Suit Variations and was created by Neo Zeon themselves rather than Anaheim who manufactured the Jagd. Not only is it the first psycommu machine of Char’s Neo Zeon, but here it’s said that it came about before the psycho-frame. That would mean - if we were trying to fit things into place together - that it was created before Char’s Dijeh, the unit with the first working psycho-frame system. 

Also, the development for the Geara Doga is said to have started in the late stages of the Gryps War here, while the Fandom wiki and JP Wikipedia places it at the end of the First Neo Zeon War. Either way, it’s mass-production that began in 0090. And speaking of trying to fit things together, this is how the psycho-frame history looks in my mind : 

At the time of Char assuming control of Neo Zeon, the development of the Geara Doga is well underway. From it, the AMS-120X is born. 

The AMS-120X is shelved, leading to the start of Jagd Doga’s development - the Varguil’s development would also start at this time. Jagd Doga parts are integrated into the Dijeh Traversia for effective field-testing, from which the Jagd Doga is completed shortly after. 

The Jagd is rejected as Char’s machine. The involvement with the Titans remnants would start to perfect the psycho-frame for the unit that will eventually become the Sazabi. 

The Sleeves 

Universal Century 0094 - No clever title here 

AMX-107R Rebawoo

From Dengeki Data Collection - Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn :

The transformable MS AMX-107 Bawoo, developed by Haman's Neo Zeon, is a machine that has undergone major modifications by the Sleeves. In addition to the separation function of the original machine, a psycho-frame is employed in the cockpit area of the upper body (Bawoo Attacker) and the nose of the lower body (Bawoo Nutter). This enables more advanced coordinated maneuvering by means of the pilot's sensor waves. It was intended to be a dedicated machine for Full Frontal, but after the MSN-06S Sinanju was acquired, it was confirmed that other pilots boarded it and it was deployed in actual combat.

Appears in the manga U.C. 0094: Across The Sky and U.C. 0096: Last Sun, piloted by the Cyber-Newtype Luger Lugh.

nutter, i barely know her

Universal Century 0096 - Heart-Shaped Laplace’s Box

Sinanju & Neo Zeong II 

The Sinanju isn’t a creation of the Sleeves, but the modified Sinanju Stein they took in 0094 that was officially meant for the Federation’s UC Project and was developed by Anaheim. Narrative retroactively added in the fact that there was a second Stein unit that was stolen back then as well. More about that, the Stein and the Rebawoo can be read about on this page written by Tom Aznable. It can perhaps be assumed that the MSN-06S-2 was kept in storage by the faction within the Republic of Zeon that supported the Sleeves behind the scenes led by Minister Monaghan Bakharo until it was time to send it out along with the Neo Zeong II to capture the Phenex. 

Basic info on Neo Zeong/Neo Zeong II by Kakarot197 - the choice to go back to wire-guide arms probably had to be done specifically because the II is the spare parts backup. In the Sinanju’s evolution chart in MS Bible shows that the Alpha Azieru is linked towards the Neo Zeong. As for its development, which is otherwise vague : 

According to Ryoji Kansai, there is no way that this machine could have been made solely by the Sleeves, and the design was transferred from Anaheim as a deterrent to the Unicorn Gundam. 

In Narrative, it’s mentioned that the basic design of the Neo Zeong was made by Full Frontal himself. As for trivia on the NZ II : 

According to Shunichi Yoshizawa, the director of NT, the red paint added as an accent to the shoulders is said to be a decoration inspired by kabuki Kumadori and biological blood vessels. 

NZ-666 Kshatriya 

One of my favorite MS ever. From Dengeki Data Collection - Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn :

The concept was to downsize the NZ-000 Queen Mansa, which was deployed in the First Neo Zeon War, while maintaining its performance. By placing the psycho-frame around the cockpit, the space-saving psycho-mechanical equipment was successfully reduced, resulting in a smaller fuselage. It was a milestone in the development of new-type mobile suits based on Zeon technology. Despite its high degree of perfection, it is difficult for the limited resources of the Sleeves to reproduce it, let alone repair it when damaged. In addition, because of the complexity of its fire control system, it could only be handled by Marida Cruz, an enhanced human being.

And from Wikipedia : 

It is an exceptionally high-performance machine in the year 0096, but the only psycho-frames possessed by the Sleeves are those ordered from AE during the Second Neo Zeon War, and there are no facilities to reproduce them, so it is a one-and-only machine that is difficult to maintain.

Lastly, the red Jagd Doga that Quess used before she left it behind to go die in the Alpha Azieru was passed down to the Sleeves, where it was piloted by one of the Royal Guards. From Dengeki Data Collection - Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn :

This is a machine modified by the Sleeves from the Neo Zeon Newtype MS led by Char Aznable. Its right arm, which was missing, was repaired by using it from the Geara Doga, its base machine. It is also equipped with funnels, but only two were lost in the battle during Char's Rebellion. The fuselage color was also changed from the red of the prototype to a yellow.

Outside of inspiring a grieving young man to become a mass terrorist, this is the only worthwhile contribution of Quess’ existence to anyone. 

THE BEAST OF POSSIBILITY

[gundam-gic]

Oggi vi parleremo del figlio illegittimo del progetto Flight Type, più precisamente quello che sembra essere a tutti gli effetti un evoluzione del YMS-09J Dom High Speed Experimental Type, sebbene non siano ufficialmente correlati. Stiamo parlando del MS-09M Dom Mermaid, uno dei pochi MS della guerra di un anno in grado di poter leviate sopra le acque. Levitare, non volare al massimo planare quando si lancia da altri veicoli aerei ma il massimo riesce a fare di suo, è viaggiare a pelo d'acqua, come un novello ekranoplano o un hovercraft. Il suo scopo era quello di affrontare in mare le flotte della Federazione, per questo doveva poter essere molto veloce, per effettuare rapide sortite dalla costa, ed in grado di poter effettuare lunghi pattugliamenti oceanici nel tentativo di intercettare i convogli nemici, o poter scortare quelli della Marina del Principato lungo tutta la loro rotta. La prima cosa che notiamo guardando questo modello è l'immensa apertura alare, con due grossi turbofan, che fanno quasi pensare che gli sia stato attaccato dietro un aereo commerciale civile. Cosa molto probabile, ma grazie alla possibilità di ripiegare le ali, era comunque possibile imbarcare questo Dom M su una aeronave Gaw o su un sottomarino di classe Yukon. L'aspetto generico del Dom, per il resto non è molto variato, in compenso i propulsori sotto il gonnellino e sull gambe sono stati potenziati per poter garantire un effetto hovering anche sull'acqua. Unico segno evidente di queste modifiche sono però due prese d'aria sui polpacci. Altro dettaglio, in pieno stile flight type, due alette stabilizzatrici dietro al gonnellino. La Scattering Beam Gun, il cannone a megaparticelle sul petto sembra sia stato "tappato" quindi potrebbe essere non presente, o modificato, sono in compenso presenti degli agganci per poter trasportare due sturm faus, mentre la tipica mitragliatrice MMP-80 da 90mm ha un caricatore maggiorato che sembra essere la fusione di un tipico caricatore "slick" lineare con alla fine un caricatore a tamburo. Di questo modello se ne conoscono solo due unità funzionanti sopravvissute alla guerra e sotto studio da parte del FSS, il Federation Survey Service, un organo di ricerca della Federazione incaricato di studiare i mezzi della guerra di un anno per recuperarne tecnologia dimenticata per via del segreto militare. Questo mezzo è comparso solo in un volume del manga MSV-R: The Return of Johnny Ridden, degli Ark Performance. Ma non si tratta di una creazione degli Ark, ben si la sua introduzione nella serie è dovuta ad un contest di modellismo a tema, i cui vincitori avrebbero visto il proprio modello originale entrare a far parte del Manga. E a voi modellisti piacerebbe vedere il vostro modello diventare parte integrante di una storia di Gundam? https://www.facebook.com/GundamItalianClub/photos/a.2564255233654382/2864924536920782/?type=3

[mangaredditdotcom]

Kidou Senshi Gundam Msv-R: Johnny Ridden No Kikan.

Alternative: 機動戦士ガンダム Mobile Suit Variation-R ジョニー・ライデンの帰還; 機動戦士ガンダム MSV-R ジョニー・ライデンの帰還; Gundam MSV-R - Johnny Raiden no Kikan ; Gundam MSV-R: Return of Johnny Ridden ; Kidou Senshi Gundam Gundam MSV-R: Johnny Ridden no Kikan ; Kidou Senshi Gundam MSV-R: Jonny Raiden no Kikan ; Mobile Suit Gundam MSV-R: Johnny Ridden no Kikan ; Mobile Suit Gundam MSV-R: Jonny Raiden no Kikan ; Mobile Suit Gundam MSV-R: Return of Johnny Ridden ; Mobile Suit Variation: Johnny Ridden no Kikan

Description : Three members of the 'Federation Survey Service', Rimia Greenwood, Led Wayline and Ashley Brown Brandon are charged with collecting data that will bring the dark parts of the end of the one year war to light. Among their subjects of interest is a man named 'Johnny Ridden'. Who was this enigmatic man that seems to be shrouded in mystery. note: this manga is heavy on the mech schematics taking up many pages to describe each mech model. #MangaReddit.com, #ReadFreeMangaOnline Read Free Manga Online at MangaReddit.com: https://mangareddit.com/p/kidou-senshi-gundam-msv-r-johnny-ridden-no-kikan_1584417072.html

Read more.

[gundamfight]

[gremoria411]

Alright, given that I haven’t rewatched Gundam Narrative yet, let’s talk about something I did watch this week.

*Spoilers ahead*

Mobile Suit Gundam Twilight Axis: Red Blur, an 26 minute ova which adds new scenes to the original Twilight Axis, making it actually coherent in the process. The plot of Gundam Twilight Axis concerns three main characters:

Mehmet Merca - Earth Federation special forces commander, who’s been tasked to investigate the remains of the Axis Asteroid base to recover any evidence of psycho-frame or other newtype weaponry. IE the wreckage of the Sazabi. Despite what you may think, he’s actually a very nice and reasonable guy.

Arlette Almage - Formerly Char’s personal mobile suit mechanic throughout the One Year War and Char’s Counterattack (Second Neo Zeon War), though she did not join him in the AEUG. Also a Newtype from the Flanagan Institute (though apparently not a patch on Lahlah, the star pupil of the Flanagan Institute). Char personally handpicked her from Zeon’s Flanagan Institute when she was a young girl, so she views him as something approaching a father figure (honestly it’s a little unclear). This translates to her wanting to know what happened to him, which is the reason she helps Mehmet Merca to help navigate Axis.

Danton Hyleg - Formerly Char’s personal test pilot. Happily retired with Arlette, and is mostly along to support her. As he’s significantly older than her (at least ten years), he has a more realistic view of Char, outright telling him around the time of CCA it would’ve been better if he hadn’t come back to them. A very good pilot, but unable to actually pull the trigger and kill someone.

Overall, I’d say it’s pretty good, it does just enough with the time it’s got for you to be invested in these characters, and it’s got some good action scenes. It can’t disguise the fact that it’s got a very low budget (there’s a lot of scenes where you can’t see people’s faces, so they don’t have to animate lip movements), but it knows where to prioritise. I do like how even though it’s technically a set up for a later antagonist, it keeps focus on the actual characters first. Twilight Axis was originally a light novel and was adapted into an OVA and Manga. I have read a translation of the Light Novel and found it very good, since it fleshes out a lot of stuff missing from the OVA (IE Birnam’s motivations), to the point where I could honestly consider twilight axis a very good advert for it. The Manga adaptation, which I haven’t read, also looks very good. I’m given to understand that Arlette and Danton also cameo in MSV-R: the Return of Johnny Ridden, which is neat. The reason I’m pairing it with Narrative is that I view them both in similar lights - after unicorn showed off how utterly ridiculous psycho-frames can be in the right hands, we’re left with the question of what happens between now and F91 onwards for it never to be used or spoken of again. Both Narrative and Twilight Axis deal with the fallout of Psycho-frame mobile suits such that we can understand why it was sealed away and not further developed. Or, as I like to think of them, they’re curatorial works, made to answer some lingering questions.

However, I have two main non-ms design criticisms of the story - The First, and most forgivable, is that we’re not really given any information on the enemy pilots, the Fermo Brothers. I’m more forgiving of this because I think the manga fleshed them out more, and you don’t really need that much information. The Second criticism is both petty and bothersome to me, because it’s entirely likely it’s borne from my own assumptions. The Flanagan Institute, where Char headhunts Arlette, is shown to be performing inhumane experiments on children, with one of the bosses explicitly mentioning “disposal”. What bothers me about this is that to my knowledge this is basically the only piece of evidence that ever shows the Flanagan Institute to be abusive. Why does that matter? Because central to Zeon’s stated philosophy is that of the newtype, a new type of human adapted for space with the ability to sense, communicate and emphasise with others over long distances. The Federations’ refusal to recognise the newtype is synonymous to their refusal to recognise the autonomy of the colonies. The Federation refuses to recognise the capacity of mankind to evolve past it’s need for the Earth, since (as many characters are fond of saying) their souls are still bound down by gravity. So the revelation that the Flanagan institute, Zeon’s shining beacon of Newtype advancement, needed to resort to the mass death of children for its newtypes just completely undermines that. We know newtypes can naturally awaken in combat, but nowhere is it suggested that they *need* to, with both Challia Bull and Paptimus Scirocco basically just showing up, with no indication of harrowing battles beforehand. Furthermore, it also completely undercuts another notable organisation in Gundam, the Titans, who actually do resort to the kind of inhumane practices shown here. Why? Because they view Newtypes as nothing more than weapons, further demonstrating their utter contempt for spacenoids, having twisted one of the central facets of spacenoid independence into just another tool of oppression, with all the dehumanisation that implies. But if they’re just following off Zeon’s playbook for the “production” of newtypes, then it implies that newtypes aren’t actually a development for humanity at all, simply a reaction to large-scale trauma. I know Victory and other later UC shows went back on the Newtype philosophy a bit, but they (Zeon) knew from essentially day one that it wasn’t it? It just throws into question why a lot of the success stories of the Flanagan institute would even stay with Zeon, if that’s how they were treated (and it turns newtypes into the whole “super soldiers through trauma” thing, which…. I see a lot in fiction, and I bothers me a little that this is the route they decided to go for).

But enough quibbling about a whole 14 seconds of animation, what do I think of the mobile suit designs? These are arranged favourite to least favourite (though to be honest I’m not particularly crazy about most of the offerings here), and do not include the R-Jarja (I’ll cover it if I ever talk about Neo Zeon/Axis Zeon or the Gyan). Given that most of these suits are variations, I’ll typically discuss my feelings on their original counterparts as well. I’m using the Novel Artwork, since I generally prefer it (and image limits), but this applies to both versions of the designs.

First up, the AMX-011S Zaku III Custom. Straight-up my favourite mobile suit here (though that doesn’t mean a whole lot….) I like the Zaku III because it’s chunky, well armed and proof that even Neo Zeon is not immune to nostalgia. True, it gets outclassed during the First Neo Zeon War by all the 4th-Gen mobile suits running around, but it’s still a very solid design. I like how the Zaku II-to-Hizack-to-Zaku III-to Geara Doga-to-Geara Zulu line plays out too, with each one having slightly different characteristics. I have a very mixed views on Char’s custom mobile suits - which I like, because I enjoy judging the suits mostly on their own merits, rather than on who’s piloting them (key word being “mostly”). That said, occasionally one of Char’s suits can end up being a really baller design, which I just adore. Sadly, the Zaku III Custom shown here is not one such design, though I do like the idea of Char Piloting a Zaku III for whatever reason, hence it’s inclusion here. It’s actually quite nice, since it’s a relic of Char that the two characters attach value to, a momento of their time together, that nonetheless must be left behind on Axis. Just like Char.

Note: GB02’s decision to spit out a Byarlant Isolde at me is essentially the reason for this entire post, since I was forced to actually formulate an opinion on the blasted thing, having been utterly apathetic towards it until now.

The Original Byarlant is a suit I’ve gone back-and-forth on over time, disliking to tolerating to (generally) liking. It’s got a very unique silhouette to it, and I like how it essentially ended up a high-mobility suit with so much of its body devoted to thrust, and you can believe it’s high mobility, since it’s so many thrusters that can move and swivel to precisely direct the suit where it needs to go. The head’s pretty gorgeous and I like how inhuman it is, along with the Byarlants hands and feet. It’s got a very minimalist armament - just two beam sabers and beam guns (strong beam guns, mind), but I find this only adds to its sleek feel. It looks like someone wanted a war machine that was also a race car. The colours are both villainous, appropriate for a Titans machine, and eye-catching, with the yellow drawing your eye to the face, and the red highlighting either thrusters or limbs, again emphasising it’s mobility. I do like how the feet look both delicate and weighty at the same time - they’re both designed for high speed and yet don’t look like they’d struggle to hold up the suit itself.

The Byarlant Isolde takes several features from the later Byarlant Custom - chiefly the shoulder thrusters and back fuel tanks, creating the sense that Birnam was able to get their hands on some new parts, but not enough to fully upgrade the Byarlant. I will say that I absolutely adore the new colour scheme - I didn’t expect to like a lilac and white mobile suit this much, but somehow the Isolde makes it all work. I should note that the Byarlant is similarly outdated to the rest of the mobile suits present, however, The Titans and Neo Zeon didn’t have that much of a tech gap, chiefly since Neo Zeon declared war basically right after the Titans defeat. They undoubtedly had an edge in Newtype weaponry and heavily armed mobile suits, but from a practical standpoint, a high performance suit from the latter days of the Gryps War is probably going to stand a better chance than a Grunt unit from the Neo Zeon war. The Byarlant was always a fast suit, so this makes even more sense. This is why it slightly baffles me that the Tristan is considered Birnam’s best unit, but I’ll talk more about that later. Though I do like the original Byarlant’s head, I find the Isolde’s Gundam-style head to be growing on me. It’s likely a more advanced head than the original Byarlant, and likely better suited for its environment of a dense asteroid base (in UC, Monoeyes tend to be better at range, whereas Twin-eyes are better in close quarters (it’s to do with target tracking at differing ranges), though it’s not a large enough difference for it to get called out). It was likely also chosen for the lingering psychological effects it may have on any former Zeon or Neo-Zeon personnel they might run into while investigating axis - appropriate, since the Titans also dabbled in that. I will say that the new head gives the Isolde and absolutely wonderful silhouette - the sunken red-on-white eyes make it look very imposing and it reminds me of some of the head designs from Gundam Sentinel (the geometric nature of its V-fin also helps with the intimidation factor in my opinion, though I’m not really certain why).

The Ahava Azieru is a weird one. I know basically nothing about the design or it’s origin, and even it’s general form is unclear. It’s a mobile armour that I can only assume is patterned after the Neue Ziel, but when I first read the novel, I assumed it was some sort of prototype to the Alpha Azieru, so I’ve no idea what it could be a derivative of. It’s very well armed, and it seems to have at least some common design features of Late-UC Mobile Armours. I do like how it can essentially afford to sit back and throw beams at its opponents, but it seems remarkably slow for a MA (though that could be down to the pilot). It seems to have the design of a dragon, with its large winglike shields and funnel tail, which is an odd decision, since it’s ally, the R-Jarja is mentioned multiple times as being a “Knight”, an enemy of a dragon. Yet Arlette uses it to communicate with the enemy pilot, so they don’t come into conflict? It’s an odd thing. I do very much love the head (perhaps I have a thing for inhuman head designs in Gundam, though it’s awkward to see in relation to the rest of it).

The Jegan (Birnam Type). It’s a purple Jegan with a custom visor and rifle, used by Birnam. While it’s nice that it’s giving us a preview of what the Crossbone Vanguard’s suits will eventually look like (it’s rifle resembles a shot lancer somewhat), it honestly doesn’t do anything. It could have been replaced with any other grunt suit and it would have been the same (I’ve gone off the Jegan’s design a touch as of late, so forgive me if I’ve little to say on this one).

Finally, the Gundam AN-01 “Tristan” (typically just called the Tristan) and Kurwenal. Since the Kurwenal is an add-on to the Tristan, I figured I’d cover them together. This is also because although the Kurwenal is my least favourite design, I have more to say on the Tristan itself. I find the Kurwenal to just be boring honestly. It’s a bunch of missiles and Newtype tech bolted to the Tristan, relying on overwhelming firepower as opposed to anything else. I don’t like it’s colour scheme or it’s form at all, it feels too much like a toy with its blue and red colours and blocky psycommu claws. While it’s 5-tube beam pods make for a good visual, I can’t really appreciate them because they’re just a box that shoots scattering beams. There’s no design or artistry to them like there is with funnels, those agile and adaptable little attack drones. Lastly, when it gets broken up the Tristan just sits there. I’m not saying I expected it to leap out and continue the fight, it just looked so very goofy that I couldn’t take it seriously as a weapon. Onto the actual Tristan then. The novel art does help it a little but……. It’s just so boring. It’s the NT-1 Alex repaired with parts that make it look more like the MK-II. Performance-wise, the Byarlant Isolde was probably better-performing than it. It looks very generic, especially when compared to other Gundam-type mobile suits. Part of it might be that it exists at a time when 4th-Gen MS are all the range, while it’s only a 2nd gen at best. But the way it’s presented as Birnam’s big trump card is just silly when it’s roughly two wars out of date. It almost got taken out immediately by the Zaku III custom and only survived because the pilot couldn’t pull the trigger. I guess it’s supposed to represent the Gundam’s legacy in the same way that the Zaku represents Char’s legacy? But it’s basically the only Gundam that neither Char or Amuro had anything to do with, so that line of thinking falls a bit flat. It’s just overall dull.

Oddly so, even, because despite it changing very little, I find that I prefer its predecessor, the Gundam NT-1 “Alex” considerably. Part of it might be the older style of design, the well-defined place that the Alex has - it’s a nice piece of Late-OYW design, being cutting-edge and (spec-wise) able to give pretty much anything of the same time period a run for it’s money in the right hands. It feels like something between the RX-78 and the Gundam Development Project (Gp01, etc) and I like how elegant it feels, without losing any of that all-important weight. It feels like a space-specialist Gundam, counterbalancing the Gundam Ground Types from 08th MS team, with its extra ambac thrusters, compact and powerful backpack and general blue colourscheme. It’s well-used, since it shows the Federation moving to capitalise on their strengths and how desperate Zeon is at that stage of the war to stop things getting any worse. It also further demonstrates the massive power disparity between a Gundam and many of Zeon’s mobile suits, only being destroyed through great sacrifice and luck. That might just be it, the Tristan has too many recycled elements for me to look at it as it’s own thing, and it’s missing all those finer details from the Alex, so it just looks lesser by comparison. It’s little more than a charismatic grunt, compared to the absolute terrifying monster that was the Alex.

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MSV-R - Return of Johnny Ridden covers featuring Char Aznable.

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