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機動戦士ガンダムTHE ORIGIN 愛蔵版 [Kidō Senshi Gundam: The Origin aizōban] #2
Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin, Vol. 2: Garma
With the Federation's White Base now on Earth and his assault carrier loaded with civilians, Bright Noah must now navigate his ship safely through enemy occupied territory. Unfortunately on his tail are a host Zeon troops. Lead by the Commander of North American Earth Forces, Captain Garma Zabi, a fleet of aircraft is preparing to lay siege on the Federation ship with ambitions to capture its new Mobile Suit. But before the Zeon make their move in the American desert, an old acquaintance of Garma's has arrived. Lt Char Aznable, known on the field of combat as The Red Comet, followed the White Base from space and is here to on a reconnaissance mission to gain information on the Federation's new suit.
To prove his worth, Garma engages the Feds soon after his brief reunion. The results were not ideal. In fact, the Federation may have found new weapons for their defense in the process. And Garma, who led the charge himself, was fortunate to survive this first confrontation.
Now with the White Base heading towards South America, and word of an insurgence movement developing, Garma must find a way to quash the Federation's plans...There is no turning back!
To prove his worth, Garma engages the Feds soon after his brief reunion. The results were not ideal. In fact, the Federation may have found new weapons for their defense in the process. And Garma, who led the charge himself, was fortunate to survive this first confrontation.
Now with the White Base heading towards South America, and word of an insurgence movement developing, Garma must find a way to quash the Federation's plans...There is no turning back!
432 pages, Hardcover
First published June 21, 2006
37 people are currently reading
419 people want to read
About the author
Yoshikazu Yasuhiko
371 books36 followersYoshikazu Yasuhiko (安彦良和) is a Japanese manga artist, animator, character designer, anime director, illustrator, and novelist. He was born in Engaru Town, Monbetsu District, Hokkaido, and currently resides in Tokorozawa City, Saitama Prefecture.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
April 22, 2017
The story definitely picked up in volume 2 which I'm glad of as I found it a whole lot more enjoyable. I continued my love of Char/Red Comet and I was even treated to a shower scene with him! First time I've come across nudity (rear not frontal if you want to know) in a male in a manga (that I can remember anyway).
I do still think the battle scenes suffer due to the use of grey scale, but they were a lot clearer than last time, but that might just be me getting more used to the style.
I was disappointed that we saw no more than a line from Sayla as I was really looking forward to seeing more from her, but I know how manga arcs work and I'm sure we'll come back to her again in the future.
Amuro...oh Amuro...I am really not a fan of his so far and I think the relationship between him and his friend (I can't remember her name sorry) is so childish and silly - mainly on her side - that it takes away from the main story. What happens between Amuro and his mum is heartbreaking and as a mother, she is despicable; however I still didn't feel any sympathy towards Amuro, just disgust towards his mother.
Characters have started to stand out more now there has been a bit more development, but there are still quite a few that are basically interchangeable for me.
Overall though I really enjoyed this volume and I'm looking forward to volume 3 - which I already have - yay!
I do still think the battle scenes suffer due to the use of grey scale, but they were a lot clearer than last time, but that might just be me getting more used to the style.
I was disappointed that we saw no more than a line from Sayla as I was really looking forward to seeing more from her, but I know how manga arcs work and I'm sure we'll come back to her again in the future.
Amuro...oh Amuro...I am really not a fan of his so far and I think the relationship between him and his friend (I can't remember her name sorry) is so childish and silly - mainly on her side - that it takes away from the main story. What happens between Amuro and his mum is heartbreaking and as a mother, she is despicable; however I still didn't feel any sympathy towards Amuro, just disgust towards his mother.
Characters have started to stand out more now there has been a bit more development, but there are still quite a few that are basically interchangeable for me.
Overall though I really enjoyed this volume and I'm looking forward to volume 3 - which I already have - yay!
August 18, 2023
Have seen mixed opinions on whether the original series or this Manga adaptation is the better starting point for someone interested in the Gundam universe. I enjoyed what I watched of the TV series, but never made it quite as far as I have now read and can say without a doubt that the Manga adaptation has done a better job of hooking me personally.
I’m not trying to shade the original TV show, I did enjoy what I watched, but after finishing this book I can safely say it is the best Gundam media I have consumed between a handful of different TV series and this.
There’s the odd panel where it’s a little tough to figure out what’s going on and the coherence of the sequential art is not always perfect, but all in all the art and writing are both fantastic.
I’m not trying to shade the original TV show, I did enjoy what I watched, but after finishing this book I can safely say it is the best Gundam media I have consumed between a handful of different TV series and this.
There’s the odd panel where it’s a little tough to figure out what’s going on and the coherence of the sequential art is not always perfect, but all in all the art and writing are both fantastic.
April 23, 2024
Building upon the first volume we get into depression, loss of purpose, and back stabbing.
Char really gets to showcase himself here, a cunning, sexy, piece of flying turd shit he is. He's got a lot of layers, scheming at all times, while also always wanting to have the absolute power in the room. I love how he works and thinks, and makes for a excellent villain.
On the other hand Amaro is going through it. Dealing with depressing and not wanting to be used as a tool yet the only one to be able to pilot the Gundam like he does, it leads to a lot of great questions. He goes back to earth to see his mother, but this may not be the reunion he hoped.
Great look into war, loss, and of course kids and young adults being used as props and tools to win something almost unwinnable. Excellent stuff.
Char really gets to showcase himself here, a cunning, sexy, piece of flying turd shit he is. He's got a lot of layers, scheming at all times, while also always wanting to have the absolute power in the room. I love how he works and thinks, and makes for a excellent villain.
On the other hand Amaro is going through it. Dealing with depressing and not wanting to be used as a tool yet the only one to be able to pilot the Gundam like he does, it leads to a lot of great questions. He goes back to earth to see his mother, but this may not be the reunion he hoped.
Great look into war, loss, and of course kids and young adults being used as props and tools to win something almost unwinnable. Excellent stuff.
May 18, 2021
Volume 2 picks up almost immediately after the crash re-entry of White Base onto Earth. If you enjoyed volume 1 then you are going to like volume 2. It has the same great giant mech battles, just this time on Earth. Plus even more tricky political maneuvering from Char, more history of the Federation and Zeon sides, and a short introduction of Prince Garma.
Oh, and Amuro gets some reality slapped into him a bit harshly by both Lt. Bright and his mother. Lots of awesome Gundam action and deeper plot make this a great sequel and bridge to volume 3.
The art is fantastic as usual. Thank you Yoshikazu Yasuhiko! And we even get a couple of colored sections. This entire manga is going to be incredibly difficult to talk myself out of purchasing.
Oh, and Amuro gets some reality slapped into him a bit harshly by both Lt. Bright and his mother. Lots of awesome Gundam action and deeper plot make this a great sequel and bridge to volume 3.
The art is fantastic as usual. Thank you Yoshikazu Yasuhiko! And we even get a couple of colored sections. This entire manga is going to be incredibly difficult to talk myself out of purchasing.
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June 23, 2024“All men grew to fear their own deeds.” I think this is the story’s defining note, and it’s struck right from the beginning, in the expository prologue of both volumes 1 and 2. This colors everything that follows.
Mobile Suit Gundam is a story of war, but its orientation to that subject can seem ambivalent. On the one hand, the story evokes the pain and exhaustion and anxiety—the toll—of war, but at other times, the it seems to exult in the excitement and sheer coolness of its sci-fi, giant-robot battle scenes. In this respect, it’s like the Iliad (minus the sci-fi, giant-robots part), somehow attractive and troubling by turns. There’s a matter-of-factness to both: they seem to present things as they are. But just as the Iliad has to be read as constantly touched, even in its moments of glory, by the shadow of tragedy, so also Mobile Suit Gundam has to be read against the backdrop of that utterance from the prologue: that in the course of this war, all men have grown to fear their own deeds.
Some other observations:
1) The art has lived up to the praise I'd heard for it: the framing and overall motion in the battle scenes is dynamic and really striking. This is especially true of depictions of the titular Gundam. The overall look and “vibe” of the Gundam remains one of the most attractive and compelling ever: it’s the perfect midway point between the colorful, anthropomorphic “super robot” and the more down-to-earth, practical “real robot” Japanese traditions.
2) I can’t tell whether the author means the protagonist, Amuro, to be insufferable, or whether the author is just failing to make Amuro's inner conflict sympathetic: but he is insufferable. Perhaps there’s going to be character growth.
3) Amuro is rather overshadowed by the lead antagonist, Char: sly, droll, enigmatic, competent, and a great deal more interesting. You would almost say “more likable,” but the end of Volume 2 unmistakably brings his cold-blooded cruelty to the fore.
Mobile Suit Gundam is a story of war, but its orientation to that subject can seem ambivalent. On the one hand, the story evokes the pain and exhaustion and anxiety—the toll—of war, but at other times, the it seems to exult in the excitement and sheer coolness of its sci-fi, giant-robot battle scenes. In this respect, it’s like the Iliad (minus the sci-fi, giant-robots part), somehow attractive and troubling by turns. There’s a matter-of-factness to both: they seem to present things as they are. But just as the Iliad has to be read as constantly touched, even in its moments of glory, by the shadow of tragedy, so also Mobile Suit Gundam has to be read against the backdrop of that utterance from the prologue: that in the course of this war, all men have grown to fear their own deeds.
Some other observations:
1) The art has lived up to the praise I'd heard for it: the framing and overall motion in the battle scenes is dynamic and really striking. This is especially true of depictions of the titular Gundam. The overall look and “vibe” of the Gundam remains one of the most attractive and compelling ever: it’s the perfect midway point between the colorful, anthropomorphic “super robot” and the more down-to-earth, practical “real robot” Japanese traditions.
2) I can’t tell whether the author means the protagonist, Amuro, to be insufferable, or whether the author is just failing to make Amuro's inner conflict sympathetic: but he is insufferable. Perhaps there’s going to be character growth.
3) Amuro is rather overshadowed by the lead antagonist, Char: sly, droll, enigmatic, competent, and a great deal more interesting. You would almost say “more likable,” but the end of Volume 2 unmistakably brings his cold-blooded cruelty to the fore.
April 23, 2018
I wanted giant robot battles. I got it. I wanted a science-fiction political war drama. I got it. I wanted to see at least one of these military studs have a shower scene. I got that to.
Most of all I wanted a developing and nuanced arc from each of the characters in this book as we see them having to reassess and reevaluate who they are in the midst of this intergalactic conflict. I got it.
Mobile Suit Gundam keeps giving me what I want. And I'll keep taking it.
Most of all I wanted a developing and nuanced arc from each of the characters in this book as we see them having to reassess and reevaluate who they are in the midst of this intergalactic conflict. I got it.
Mobile Suit Gundam keeps giving me what I want. And I'll keep taking it.
February 21, 2018
This series is so fantastic and just keeps getting better. Also how fantastic are those watercolours?
June 25, 2013
better than the first.
I really like the characterization of Garma in this volume, it comes off a lot stronger than the tv series.
Art continues to be absolutely astounding. Yaz is the king. is there some way for me to wallpaper my house with the colour pages in this thing?
also the fangirliness of the clamp interview had me laughing so much.
I really like the characterization of Garma in this volume, it comes off a lot stronger than the tv series.
Art continues to be absolutely astounding. Yaz is the king. is there some way for me to wallpaper my house with the colour pages in this thing?
also the fangirliness of the clamp interview had me laughing so much.
November 3, 2025
„Wirst du am Leben bleiben im Angesicht des Krieges?“
Der interstellare Konflikt zwischen dem Herzogtum Zeon und der Föderation geht mit unverminderter Härte weiter. Das Trojanische Pferd, das Raumschiff mit den Gundams an Bord nimmt Kurs auf die Erde. Doch Char Aznable ist der Föderation dicht auf den Fersen und scheut keine Mittel.
Auch der zweite Doppelband der Gundam Origin Reihe wartet mit einem trollen Schutzumschlag, dem großen Format und der Wertingen Qualität auf. Ein besonderer Augenschmaus sind die zahlreichen Farbseiten über den Manga verteilt. Der Inhalt knüpft nahtlos an den ersten Band an - mit einer delikaten Mischung aus Aktion, Charakterentwicklung, Verrat und Strategie.
Mich hat insbesondere der Wechsel zwischen actiongeladenen Schlachten einerseits und dem Fokus auf Amuro, dem Gundampiloten, andererseits gefesselt. Die Actionszenen waren so detailliert ausgestaltet, dass es praktisch wie ein Actionfilm anmutete, teilweise habe ich es genossen, teilweise musste ich auch zwischen all den Explosionen und herumfliegenden Stahlschrott ganz schön puzzeln, welche Seite jetzt in die Luft geflogen ist.
Amuro hat mich besonders begeistert. Er ist kriegsmüde, überspielt das mit Ignoranz gegenüber seinen Freunden und stumpft so immer mehr ab. Seinen Plot habe ich mit dem größten Interesse verfolgt - und die Szenen mit seiner Mutter empfand ich als die Stärksten im gesamten Band.
Wie schon im ersten Teil bekommen wir hier nicht nur Einblick in die Geschehnisse bei der Föderation, sondern werfen auch einen Blick auf die Gegner.
Trotzdem - der Manga konnte mich nicht genauso fesseln wie der erste Band. 4 Sterne für die actiongeladenen Schlachten und die wohl dosierten Charakterentwicklung.
Der interstellare Konflikt zwischen dem Herzogtum Zeon und der Föderation geht mit unverminderter Härte weiter. Das Trojanische Pferd, das Raumschiff mit den Gundams an Bord nimmt Kurs auf die Erde. Doch Char Aznable ist der Föderation dicht auf den Fersen und scheut keine Mittel.
Auch der zweite Doppelband der Gundam Origin Reihe wartet mit einem trollen Schutzumschlag, dem großen Format und der Wertingen Qualität auf. Ein besonderer Augenschmaus sind die zahlreichen Farbseiten über den Manga verteilt. Der Inhalt knüpft nahtlos an den ersten Band an - mit einer delikaten Mischung aus Aktion, Charakterentwicklung, Verrat und Strategie.
Mich hat insbesondere der Wechsel zwischen actiongeladenen Schlachten einerseits und dem Fokus auf Amuro, dem Gundampiloten, andererseits gefesselt. Die Actionszenen waren so detailliert ausgestaltet, dass es praktisch wie ein Actionfilm anmutete, teilweise habe ich es genossen, teilweise musste ich auch zwischen all den Explosionen und herumfliegenden Stahlschrott ganz schön puzzeln, welche Seite jetzt in die Luft geflogen ist.
Amuro hat mich besonders begeistert. Er ist kriegsmüde, überspielt das mit Ignoranz gegenüber seinen Freunden und stumpft so immer mehr ab. Seinen Plot habe ich mit dem größten Interesse verfolgt - und die Szenen mit seiner Mutter empfand ich als die Stärksten im gesamten Band.
Wie schon im ersten Teil bekommen wir hier nicht nur Einblick in die Geschehnisse bei der Föderation, sondern werfen auch einen Blick auf die Gegner.
Trotzdem - der Manga konnte mich nicht genauso fesseln wie der erste Band. 4 Sterne für die actiongeladenen Schlachten und die wohl dosierten Charakterentwicklung.
November 25, 2019
Yoshikazu Yasuhiko's "Mobile Suit Gundam: THE ORIGIN" series continues to keep my attention, and help me ease into the science fiction, robot, space wars sub themes and genres of manga. Yes, I gave both of the first books a 3-star rating, which looks iffy at best, but I can say that despite the 3 stars I am not slowing down from continuing onward into Volume 3!
I would love to see this as a anime series, given how each time I watched/read a match, battle, attack, etc. I could easily see the action playing out on a screen. I could also hear the score as Amuro journeys back to his Mother's land, as Garma faces his foes, and as the refugees reclaim their land. It is a full sensory experience manga, if you have a full(er) experience with anime.
Hopefully Volume 3 will arrive at the library soon, because one must find out what happens next to Amuro, Fraw, and the others.
I would love to see this as a anime series, given how each time I watched/read a match, battle, attack, etc. I could easily see the action playing out on a screen. I could also hear the score as Amuro journeys back to his Mother's land, as Garma faces his foes, and as the refugees reclaim their land. It is a full sensory experience manga, if you have a full(er) experience with anime.
Hopefully Volume 3 will arrive at the library soon, because one must find out what happens next to Amuro, Fraw, and the others.
May 30, 2017
As you know, I read the previous graphic novel and I fell in love with the series, the characters, and the actions. After barely escaping the zeon fleet in space, the trojan horse has touched down and Earth, but due to the change of course, they entered the atmosphere miles away from Jaburo. Forced to traverse the unfamiliar environment of Earth, the ship and the Gundam encounter many enemies, including the new mobile suit, Gouf. Mobile Suit Gundam: The ORIGIN is a fantastic series. The last book was fantastic and this one is no exception. As I stated in the previous review, the art style is incredible. The characters were relatable as well. The plot was solid and had little to no plot holes. I enjoyed the book and I think all the people who enjoy action and graphic novels will too.
March 5, 2024
Char, the red comet, is an asshole. A lovely, sexy, suave, charismatic, debonair asshole.
Especially in color. Gotta` love the colored pages in Origin. As for a review, if you get your hands on the book itself just read the quote on the back by Joe McCulloch. He hits the nail on the head.
*sigh* Fine. Here it is.
"It's a good book. Very good, actually. Very good war comics, requiring no prior experience with anime or mecha or Gundam - just a well-made, old-fashioned war comic, full of thrills and spills and lucky breaks and narrow escapes and preening villains you'll love to hate and pigheaded heroes you may hate to love, and expert drawings by a master craftsman, and hard, sturdy violence." ~Joe McCulloch, The Comics Journal
Especially in color. Gotta` love the colored pages in Origin. As for a review, if you get your hands on the book itself just read the quote on the back by Joe McCulloch. He hits the nail on the head.
*sigh* Fine. Here it is.
"It's a good book. Very good, actually. Very good war comics, requiring no prior experience with anime or mecha or Gundam - just a well-made, old-fashioned war comic, full of thrills and spills and lucky breaks and narrow escapes and preening villains you'll love to hate and pigheaded heroes you may hate to love, and expert drawings by a master craftsman, and hard, sturdy violence." ~Joe McCulloch, The Comics Journal
May 12, 2025
✨Writing a grouped review for the whole series and copy and pasting ✨
Mobile Suit Gundam is my first venture into more mechasuit sci-fi stories and to it I have had a rather mixed experience. I'm not the biggest of sci-fi readers in general but I now know this is not really my niche. I read it after multiple people had recommended to me both the manga and the anime and I am glad I have read it.
The series does an ok job at setting the plot and developing it's characters; with some satisfactory moral conclusions. However, a lot of it is pretty convoluted and hard to follow. I wouldn't say this is necessarily beginner friendly for readers not used to the genre.
If sci-fi and specifically mechsuits are more your thing, you could definitely find enjoyment here. Just not for me
Mobile Suit Gundam is my first venture into more mechasuit sci-fi stories and to it I have had a rather mixed experience. I'm not the biggest of sci-fi readers in general but I now know this is not really my niche. I read it after multiple people had recommended to me both the manga and the anime and I am glad I have read it.
The series does an ok job at setting the plot and developing it's characters; with some satisfactory moral conclusions. However, a lot of it is pretty convoluted and hard to follow. I wouldn't say this is necessarily beginner friendly for readers not used to the genre.
If sci-fi and specifically mechsuits are more your thing, you could definitely find enjoyment here. Just not for me
March 30, 2021
Another excellent volume in the series that finds the refugees on Earth but not a much better situation, as they are still chased by Char while moving through hostile territory. Yasuhiko continues to craft an excellent manga adaptation of the classic anime series, with some nice adult twists. In particular, Amuro goes through PTSD at the beginning of the story, raising the stakes even higher. His art is equally excellent, whether depicting cool manga battles or the horrors of war. All in all, just as good a manga in its own right, outside of the anime series.
May 8, 2025
Amuro's encounter with his mother always felt weird in the anime, for a number of reasons, and I'd hoped the manga would do something to fix that and make it more palatable for me - but sadly, it was not meant to be. If anything it almost makes it worse. He comes across as more... berserk.
But hey, at least it did the bare minimum what the first volume did, even at its worst: tarted it up with some great art.
Apart from that bit the adaptation continues strong at the four-and-a-half level. Glad to see the first one wasn't a fluke.
But hey, at least it did the bare minimum what the first volume did, even at its worst: tarted it up with some great art.
Apart from that bit the adaptation continues strong at the four-and-a-half level. Glad to see the first one wasn't a fluke.
June 7, 2025
Beautifully illustrated. The full color panels that are thrown in during the most significant scenes are beautifully colored. The story remains action packed and exciting. The authors really pay attention to minor details that serve the world building like the fact that Zakus don’t have the ability to fly in atmosphere because they were designed to fight in space. Char is a great villain and really feels like a scheming mastermind. I’m looking forward to reading the next one!
June 24, 2017
The second volume of this series was equally enjoyable. Again, I know nothing of the original incarnations of this series, but the story being told here is well done, with lots of humanity and way more time spent on the personalities and politics of the villains than I had expected. I'll certainly seek out volume 3.
November 10, 2020
This was not nearly as good as the first volume. I feel like the localization team really blew it here. There were a lot of bizarre split sentences across speech bubbles. Some sentences have strange phrasing that doesn't make sense. There are also some awkward relics of the series being a tv show. Volume one is really good, so I hope the translation gets better in later volumes.
February 28, 2023
An actually good adaptation and almost definitive portrayal of Garma’s death. All lose ends are tied up and has a pacing that fills the wider themes without sugar coating it the audience.
This comic had me on the edge of my seat and I loved every page of it. I might get the third one eventually to see how they do Ramba Ral.
This comic had me on the edge of my seat and I loved every page of it. I might get the third one eventually to see how they do Ramba Ral.
November 11, 2023
This second installment in the Mobile Suit Gundam origin series did a great job of continuing the story established in the first graphic novel. The character growth, while obviously limited due to the story continuation, was well written, especially how the teen characters dealt with their new responsibilities and PTSD from the ongoing war.
May 19, 2024
The series continues chronicling the first part of the campaign on Earth. The general plot and direction are the same as the anime, but subtle changes offer a mature and redefined version of the tale. A major difference can be found in Sayla and Mirai’s characterization - both of them are stronger characters here - and even Kai is more sympathetic and less of an asshole. Well worth the reading.
February 14, 2025
I still struggle with this manga.
The action scene where mecha fight each others are very hard to decipher.
I think there are quite a few better manga out there that I have not read, but I can get this for free at the library so I may continue.
We shall see, it's really not my top reading priority right now.
The action scene where mecha fight each others are very hard to decipher.
I think there are quite a few better manga out there that I have not read, but I can get this for free at the library so I may continue.
We shall see, it's really not my top reading priority right now.
June 23, 2025
The plot armor and contrivances of this manga continue into its second volume, but the world where mecha became the default weapons for interplanetary conflict begins to broaden in this installment. As Yoshikazu Yasuhiko's tragically-underage heroes struggle within the roles they've been forced to play, the physical and political landscape around them comes into sharper focus. The addition of new characters, perspectives, and schemes provides ample opportunity to see war for the senseless, violent thing that it is - the addition of new tech and mech to smash together somewhat distracts from this, but nevertheless keeps the pressure up enough to stress the characters out in interesting ways.
March 12, 2023
This is one of the few manga series I wish to not simply read, but own. After reading the first manga, I had tried to get into the original anime and realized that I couldn't get into it. This manga fixes many misses the original series made.
November 28, 2017
My son got me into the mobile suit series. Love the artwork. Really intricate panels, and the premise is an interesting take on space colonisation.
January 14, 2018
Bloody Awesome.
January 26, 2018
I wasn't sold on it with the first volume, but this one was awesome. I've never read any war comics, but this has to be among the best of them.
May 14, 2019
Now I can watch the shows with Evan this summer!
December 30, 2019
A massive improvement on the first. This one actually has an engaging story, even though Amuro is still a completely dull character.
January 19, 2021
Why are all the bad guys so pretty?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews