Gundam’s Epic Return: ‘Mobile Suit Gundam Eight’ Unveiled by Dream Team!

Japanese publishing company Kadokawa has unveiled a new “Gundam” manga titled “Mobile Suit Gundam Eight” for the “Gundam Ace” Magazine, marking the first glimpse for fans of this iconic franchise. The creative team behind this project includes writer Hajime Kamoshida and artist Shuei Takagi. Kamoshida is a seasoned “Gundam” scriptwriter who has previously worked on “Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans” and the spin-off title, “Gekko”. He is also recognized for his work on the popular “Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai” series. Takagi, on the other hand, is an artist renowned for his work on the “Mobile Suit Gundam” manga series “Battle Operation Code Fairy”. The magazine has revealed the initial designs for the new Gundam and the main character.

Mobile Suit Gundam Eight, initially unveiled in 2021 for the celebration of Gundam Ace’s 20-year milestone, is set in an Earth distinct from other Gundam narratives. In the year 2030, humanity faces a dire situation with only 258 survivors left. The manga will commence publication on Gundam Ace on June 26th, 2025, followed by a High-Grade model kit based on the primary Gundam. Kadokawa has kept the storyline details sparse, only revealing the fundamental outline and a promotional image.

Gundam’s Relationship with Manga

Unlike most anime being based on their manga counterparts, the Gundam series often features unique storylines developed specifically for animation. On occasion, Bandai has produced manga adaptations of these Gundam anime, such as “Gundam: The Origin,” which is a comic book version of the original “Mobile Suit Gundam” series. Additionally, spin-off titles of the Gundam anime have been published as manga, like “Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans – Gekko.” Furthermore, when launching new Gundam products, the franchise occasionally releases manga tie-ins, like Takagi’s “Mobile Suit Gundam Battle Operation Code Fairy,” a comic book cross-promotion for the 2021 video game of the same name.

The entire Gundam series has expansions in comic form, with the Crossbone Gundam manga being particularly notable. Following the Gundam F91 film, Crossbone Gundam served as a continuation, further developing the plot points and story arcs established in the movie. Set in the far-off future of the Universal Century timeline, this comic series introduced the well-liked Crossbone Gundam X-1 and Crossbone Gundam X-1 Full Cloth mechas. The popularity of Crossbone Gundam spawned numerous sequels such as Skull Heart, The Steel Seven, Ghost, Dust, X-11, and Love & Piece. To this day, the Crossbone Gundam X-1 remains one of the most sought-after robots in the franchise when it comes to model kits and design.

Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt is another well-known story that initially started as a comic book (manga) and later became an animated series (anime). Thunderbolt is set in an alternate universe from the original Mobile Suit Gundam series, where the technology has some differences. The manga originally centered around the fierce rivalry between two skilled pilots on opposing sides during the One Year War, later branching out to explore conflicts post-war involving a secretive cult. The anime version of Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt garnered praise for its jazz-inspired music and striking animation. Unfortunately, the manga has faced numerous pauses in production, delaying the progress on the anime adaptation, but the series is now moving towards its concluding chapter.

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2025-04-25 05:10