Yoshikazu Yasuhiko

I knew about the Gundam TV show, but was never interested in the universe or the stories until Gundam Hathaway in 2021 (if I recall correctly). After witnessing that epic scene of city assault, realism of huge combat machines fighting it out in the middle of the city, that got me hooked. It had that gritty realism of Battletech, paired with the sleek designs of the mecha. So I tried firstone of the newer series like Thundrbolt and I liked it.

and finally I started with the series that is show more retelling of the original story arc (with differences definitely more darker view of events). And what a treat.

As mentioned, first thing to note is that story is much more serious than the one I remember from the original TV show. This is also visible in the opening chapter where Zaku suits get ambushed by Gundam 01 prototype. That very scene of fire coming from the dark and, and intimidating silhouette of Gundam approaching the Zakus, while resisting everything Zakus throw at it ...... oh boy. It is reminiscent of the scenes where Zaku crews encounter Gundam suite for the first time on Earth in that latest Netflix series. Chilling, frightening.....

This volume starts with Char's attack on the Station 7, what was supposed to be investigation rlated to Federations new mobile suit development, ends up in full scale attack, followed by hot pursuit of Gundam suite and its carrier vessel as they try to find their way back to Earth. Atmosphere of deep space battles, hit and run strikes - mining of "harbor" was touch of genius - and finally drama of atmospheric re-entry..... it is gripping and keeps you glued to the end. This is not story that is friendly to its characters - a lot of death and destruction here, author truly wanted to show horrors of war.

Art is beautiful, characters, mechas, combat, everything is beautifully drawn and composed, art has that dynamic feeling that made Flash Gordon so popular, everything is in motion, swirling ink lines, details are there but not in blocky way, every panel looks like ink/water-color painting. I never thought this would work for mecha, especially Japanese style mecha, stories (when compared for example to beautiful art of other SF manga like Alita or GiTS or Appleseed) but here it worked fantastically. And then as story progresses reader is treated with beautiful color panels ..... pure joy for the eyes.

Excellent first volume, highly recommended. show less

I really like how Yasuhiko-san put together in the manga how Newtype communication works - something trippy and consciousness expanding, freaky and wonderful all at the same time. It also really shows just how much Lalah and Amuro have bonded - making the ultimate fate of their relationship all the more tragic.

Battle of Loum is the seventh volume in Yoshikazu Yasuhiko's manga series Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin, a reimagining of the original 1979 anime series Mobile Suit Gundam which launched the massive Gundam franchise. The Origin provides an excellent entry point into the rather daunting Gundam universe for those who don't know where to start with it. I'd even recommend the manga to readers who don't have a particular interest in Gundam but who are looking for a great military science fiction show more series or space opera. Generally, I would consider myself a part of that latter group, though after reading The Origin I find that I am more curious about Gundam as a whole than I previously was. I have thoroughly been enjoying Vertical's deluxe release of the The Origin which is based on the Japanese collectors' edition. The seventh volume, originally published in Japan in 2011, was released in English in 2014 and includes additional commentary from Mamoru Nagano as well as the extra chapter "On the Eve" as bonus content.

After the Republic of Munzo declared itself the independent Principality of Zeon, political tensions continued to mount between it and the Earth Federation until an all-out war between the two groups ignited. Some of the other space colonies rally under Zeon's flag, demanding their autonomy and freedom from the Federation's rule. Others support the Federation and its efforts to keep humanity united. Neither side of the conflict is entirely in the wrong, but as the war continues so do the crimes against innocent civilians and colonists, many of which are manufactured by members of Zeon's ruling House Zabi who would use the war for their own designs. There are warmongers to be found among the Federation's ranks as well, though. But then Zeon does something unconscionable. Supposedly in an effort to end the war quickly and decisively, an entire space colony is crashed into the planet and the effects are devastating.

Battle of Loum recounts two of the most pivotal events of the war between the Federation and Zeon. The first chapter or so is devoted to the colony drop of Side 2 and the massacre of the colonists that precede its ultimate destruction. It is an appalling tragedy and the number of casualties is enormous, both of Side 2's residents and the worldwide population of Earth. Yasuhiko's stunning portrayal of the colony drop is extraordinarily effective. In addition to the showing astonishing damage inflicted, he explores the motivations behind it, the controversy and doubt surrounding the act, and how individuals respond and react to the plan and its execution. The colony drop is nothing short of an atrocity. It's chilling to see the propaganda touting the glory of war contrasted with the very grim reality and horror of it all. The images of the colony breaking apart and smashing into Earth and the resulting devastation and loss of life are haunting.

As can be assumed by the title of the seventh volume, the Battle of Loum is the other major incident of the war upon which Yasuhiko turns his attention. Although the Federation has the advantage of numbers and resources, it is outmatched strategically and technologically as Zeon proves just how powerful and versatile the newly developed mobile suits can be. The Battle of Loum is a turning point in the war. Neither side comes out of it unscathed, but the Federation suffers a major defeat. The seventh volume of The Origin is very dramatic, with intense space battles and devious political machinations. There are those who honestly desire peace, but there are also those on both sides of the conflict who seek war. The inclusion of "On the Eve" brings the narrative full circle to the events that begin the series. The Origin is a magnificent piece of science fiction. It's scope is epic, but Yasuhiko never forgets the very personal human drama that underlies it all.

Experiments in Manga show less

Though I wouldn't consider myself to be a fan of or even particularly knowledgeable about the massive Gundam franchise, at this point I would consider myself to be a fan of Yoshikazu Yasuhiko's manga series Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin. The manga is a retelling of the original 1979 Mobile Suit Gundam anime series from one of the artists who was heavily involved in its creation and visual design. Garma is the second volume in the collector's edition of Yasuhiko's The Origin manga, show more originally released in Japan in 2006. The English-language edition of the volume, published by Vertical in 2013, is a beautiful, high-quality release. This particular volume includes a small illustration gallery of Yasuhiko's color work as well as a roundtable and special illustration from CLAMP. I was quite impressed with Activation, the first volume of The Origin, so I was looking forward to reading Garma a great deal.

After an eight-month armistice, the forces of the Earth Federation and the Principality of Zeon have once again come into conflict. The Federation's colony Side 7 was attacked and destroyed when Zeon discovered the Federation military was secretly developing a highly advanced mobile suit there. White Base, the supply ship carrying the new weapon as well as hundreds of refugees from the colony, has reached Earth but Zeon's pursuit has pushed it far off course. Trapped behind enemy lines and commanded by a young and inexperienced crew, White Base may have survived the initial confrontation with Zeon but the threat is far from over. The Zeon forces are determined to prevent White Base from breaking through to Jaburo; if they can't capture the new technology, they are more than happy to destroy it. In particular, Colonel Garma Zabi, leader of the Zeon's North American forces and the youngest son of its reigning family, is interested in the recognition, prestige, and military honor that successfully accomplishing such a feat would bring.

While in Activation the fighting primarily took place in space, the battles and skirmishes in Garma are surface based, occurring on Earth's land, in its air, and even within a demolished urban center. Both Yasuhiko and the characters must make adjustments because of this. They must take into consideration and use the terrain and topography as part of their strategy. The battles in Garma literally, figuratively, and visually have weight. Even during the aerial maneuvers, Yasuhiko is constantly aware of the forces and gravity in play. The way he draws the battles makes them feel very different from those in Activation and they should be different--tactics and equipment change depending on the environment. Fighting on a planet is very different from fighting in space and he captures that remarkably well. The battles in Garma are engaging. Yasuhiko's excellent pacing and layout combined with his color work result in some exceptionally stunning, cinematic sequences.

While the military aspect of The Origin is certainly important, perhaps even more important are the more personal human dramas of the story. As can be inferred by the volume's title, Garma plays a particularly critical role at this point in the manga. Introduced at the very end of Activation, Yasuhiko quickly reveals Garma to be an arrogant and privileged young man. His relationship and association with Char, one of Zeon's most formidable and calculating commanders, is crucial to the development of the story. Perhaps Garma's complete opposite is Amuro Ray, the young pilot of the Federation's new Gundam mobile suit. Drawn into war more by chance than by choice, at the age of fifteen he's already seen more of battle than he ever wanted. He's understandably terrified and struggling with the grave responsibility that has been thrust upon him. I'm very interested in seeing how the two sides of the conflict react to the events in Garma because they will have some major consequences.

Experiments in Manga show less