Manga Review: Mobile Suit Gundam – The Origin, Volume 10

We’re on the home stretch as we continue with Gundam The Origin.

Title: Mobile Suit Gundam – The Origin, Volume X
Written and Illustrated by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko
Original Story by Yoshiyuki Tomino
Mechanical Design by Kunio Okawara
Translated by Melissa Tanaka

Available from Amazon.com

The Premise

Earth Federation forces continue to push into Zeon space, preparing to attack the Zeon stronghold of Solomon, before moving on to attack Zeon itself. Meanwhile, cracks are beginning to form within the ruling Zabi family, as Kycilia and Degwin try to find a peaceful conclusion to the war, while Gihren, blinded by his ambition and his Spacenoid-supremacist ideology, continues to push for victory at any cost.

High Points

This is the “supporting characters go out like a boss” volume, with Dozle and Sleggar going out this volume, in combat with the other.

Also, the style Yasuhiko uses for the psychic communication between Newtypes is perfect.

Also, the reveal that Char is not a Newtype, or at least has not manifested his Newtype abilities yet, is wonderfully done.

Low Point

Hikaru’s near-suicidal desire to prove himself in comparison to Amuro feels out of character here.

Scores

Originality: 4/6
Artwork: Yasuhiko does a fantastic job of adapting the visual style of the anime to the more stationary medium of manga in this series, and this is particularly well demonstrated in this volume. 6/6
Story: Great mix of mecha military action and incredibly well plotted political maneuvering. 5/6
Emotional Response: See the high point. 5/6
Characterization: See the low point. 5/6
Flow: 6/6
Overall: 6/6

In total, Gundam: The Origin – Volume X gets 37 out of 42