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機動戦士ガンダムTHE ORIGIN 愛蔵版 [Kidō Senshi Gundam: The Origin aizōban] #3
Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin, Vol. 3: Ramba Ral
In the third volume of Gundam the Origin, the White Base is on the run after a successful attack against the Zeon forces in Los Angeles. As they refuel en-route to their Federation base in Jaburo, hidden in the heart of the Amazonian jungle, the crew learns they may be holding on to a new weapon just as valuable as their new Mobile Suit.
On the Zeon side, their leadership has been shaken to its core. A grand ceremony is produced in honor of a fallen Zabi youth. Shocked by this death, there are many within the Zeon ranks left frustrated with intent on seeking vengeance.
On the Zeon side, their leadership has been shaken to its core. A grand ceremony is produced in honor of a fallen Zabi youth. Shocked by this death, there are many within the Zeon ranks left frustrated with intent on seeking vengeance.
480 pages, Hardcover
First published May 23, 2007
19 people are currently reading
347 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 45 reviews
May 4, 2016
Even three volumes into Gundam: The Origin, I often find myself wondering if I'm supposed to be taking everything in a different way. If I were already died in the wool, would there be more or different meaning to things like the Zabi family and their interactions with Char and Ramba Ral? Or perhaps not. Gundam is such an expansive franchise that even while enjoying what I'm reading, I wonder if I've misunderstood something or if there's knowledge I should have that would make things click or not. It's not necessarily the fault of the author, but rather self-doubt rearing its ugly head. With Wings, and Origins, and 008s, and Zetas, and Build Fighters, and the list goes on and on, it's easy to let that doubt become overwhelming, and pushing it down with each volume gets a little easier with Federation actions but a little harder with Zeon antics.
For me, it's these Zeon antics that make the entire series compelling. While I'm intrigued by a few of the Federation characters, for the most part they're uninteresting. The villain of the week schtick does get old right at the start of a new arc, but somehow by the end of their volumes both Garma and Ramba Ral became much more interesting characters and added layers of mystique to the series. The Ramba Ral arc shines even more light on what appears to be a somewhat dysfunctional Zeon force. If I understood correctly, it seems that Ral had backed a different leader for Zeon and when that fell through followed the Zabi family but seems to have little support from them. This helps to explain Char's behavior in volume 2 as well--not everyone is completely overjoyed at supporting the Zabi rule of the Principality of Zeon.
Ramba Ral and Lady Hamon's relationship with each other, with their troops, and with the idea of battle was thought-provoking. Ral was clearly a lifelong soldier that wanted both victory but also valor. Lady Hamon's role was never entirely clear to me, but she certainly seemed to serve as both support and adviser to Ral, herself also well indoctrinated into the military life even if in a non-combatant role.
Unfortunately, the Federation side of the story was much of the same. Amuro huffing off by himself, Bright getting mad, Mirai trying to calm him, and Fraw losing her mind over Amuro for any little. Toss in uptight older officers, the ever-irritating Kai, and it was always a pleasure to turn the page and discover I was no longer on the White Base but rather enjoying some time with Zeon forces. My patience for Amuro and Fraw is wearing incredibly thin. It's beginning to dampen my enjoyment of reading the series, and I hope that future volumes finally hit the right notes with both of the characters.
For me, it's these Zeon antics that make the entire series compelling. While I'm intrigued by a few of the Federation characters, for the most part they're uninteresting. The villain of the week schtick does get old right at the start of a new arc, but somehow by the end of their volumes both Garma and Ramba Ral became much more interesting characters and added layers of mystique to the series. The Ramba Ral arc shines even more light on what appears to be a somewhat dysfunctional Zeon force. If I understood correctly, it seems that Ral had backed a different leader for Zeon and when that fell through followed the Zabi family but seems to have little support from them. This helps to explain Char's behavior in volume 2 as well--not everyone is completely overjoyed at supporting the Zabi rule of the Principality of Zeon.
Ramba Ral and Lady Hamon's relationship with each other, with their troops, and with the idea of battle was thought-provoking. Ral was clearly a lifelong soldier that wanted both victory but also valor. Lady Hamon's role was never entirely clear to me, but she certainly seemed to serve as both support and adviser to Ral, herself also well indoctrinated into the military life even if in a non-combatant role.
Unfortunately, the Federation side of the story was much of the same. Amuro huffing off by himself, Bright getting mad, Mirai trying to calm him, and Fraw losing her mind over Amuro for any little. Toss in uptight older officers, the ever-irritating Kai, and it was always a pleasure to turn the page and discover I was no longer on the White Base but rather enjoying some time with Zeon forces. My patience for Amuro and Fraw is wearing incredibly thin. It's beginning to dampen my enjoyment of reading the series, and I hope that future volumes finally hit the right notes with both of the characters.
May 6, 2017
This volume contained a lot of Amuro being whiny and a brat. I understand he's taking on a lot, but this is a story not real life so it'd be nice for a little less whining. Ramba Ral was pretty darn cool, even if he did look like a 70's porn star! He was intelligent and cunning and was a good bad guy. He felt really old school to me and was well prepared to fight on the ground as well as in the air. We did at least get to see a little more of Sayla (yay) in this book and there were some interesting revelations (that I had already guessed but was awesome to have verified) which should make for some interesting storylines going forward. I am definitely going to just accept I will probably never know who is who in the battle scenes. I am disappointed in how little Char is in this volume as he is my favourite character so far. I will be carrying on with the series and I am looking forward to the next volume.
November 29, 2024
Good read!
April 28, 2021
To begin, Lieutenant Ramba Ral is the brilliant, charismatic, and definitively ominous antagonist that Char Aznable should have been.
That aside, MSG: THE ORIGIN #3 is an entertaining volume for how it lends room to a few key characters to blossom into maturity, often at the expense of the crumbling world around them. Amuro is still a whiny kid, but it's slowly dawning on him the gravity and criticality his presence has on the balance of the war. Fraw evolves from her excessive mothering into the role of the ardently conscientious girlfriend. Ryu swallows a few bitter pills in his estimation of what it means to survive armed conflict, particularly when all of his allies are untrained civilians.
Also, Mirai's intuition and kindheartedness finally finds its rhythm. The woman's sympathies with Noa are fully rendered and fully genuine in this volume and come through with great synchronicity. As when the ship must negotiate the pretense of adjudicating deserters within its ranks, the woman tenderly opines, "White Base is falling apart," and one can't help but feel one's heart sink in response.
But the highlight of this stretch of the manga is without a doubt the introduction of Ramba Ral. The mustachioed soldier is one seriously intense guy. He's a fearless brawler. He's a perspicacious strategist. He's an experienced lover. He's a man who knows when he's being fleeced, even by his own supposed comrades. But he doesn't complain. He never complains. He just gets the job done. Every time. Because he's Lieutenant Ramba Ral.
And yet, he's not so bullheaded and ideological that he'll harm innocent civilians or betray the intimacy of his loving wife, Hamon. He's a grizzled warrior, true, but he's also a man of warmth. Too bad this warmth and sensitivity to others' insecurities is what ultimately puts him in a pinch by the volume's conclusion. The man's piloting of the MS-07B Gouf, a next-gen Zaku with insane speed and hand-to-hand combat specs, is impressive. Ral fulfills the roles of antagonizing villain, curious rival, and surrogate father figure insofar as he encounters White Base and Amuro's Gundam unit throughout MSG: THE ORIGIN #3.
Indeed, if Ral were the manga series' primary antagonist, readers would have a great deal more to think about when it comes to the man's heartfelt criticism and jocular approval of Amuro's arrogant wielding of poor battlefield skill and adolescent fortitude. Ral lives for combat, but for all his accomplishments, the man refuses to forsake his humanity in the pursuit of glory. Somberly, he declares, "Gundam... You will be the stuff of legend. How ironic that I should lend a hand to Federation mythmaking."
MSG: THE ORIGIN #3 pivots to the characters who drive the narrative through its most tenuous chicanes of military theater. It's unfortunate Char is off in a dive bar hurling insults at a fuzzy television. The guy could really learn a lot from how his comrades conduct themselves when fighting valiantly against a young foe who just won't quit.
That aside, MSG: THE ORIGIN #3 is an entertaining volume for how it lends room to a few key characters to blossom into maturity, often at the expense of the crumbling world around them. Amuro is still a whiny kid, but it's slowly dawning on him the gravity and criticality his presence has on the balance of the war. Fraw evolves from her excessive mothering into the role of the ardently conscientious girlfriend. Ryu swallows a few bitter pills in his estimation of what it means to survive armed conflict, particularly when all of his allies are untrained civilians.
Also, Mirai's intuition and kindheartedness finally finds its rhythm. The woman's sympathies with Noa are fully rendered and fully genuine in this volume and come through with great synchronicity. As when the ship must negotiate the pretense of adjudicating deserters within its ranks, the woman tenderly opines, "White Base is falling apart," and one can't help but feel one's heart sink in response.
But the highlight of this stretch of the manga is without a doubt the introduction of Ramba Ral. The mustachioed soldier is one seriously intense guy. He's a fearless brawler. He's a perspicacious strategist. He's an experienced lover. He's a man who knows when he's being fleeced, even by his own supposed comrades. But he doesn't complain. He never complains. He just gets the job done. Every time. Because he's Lieutenant Ramba Ral.
And yet, he's not so bullheaded and ideological that he'll harm innocent civilians or betray the intimacy of his loving wife, Hamon. He's a grizzled warrior, true, but he's also a man of warmth. Too bad this warmth and sensitivity to others' insecurities is what ultimately puts him in a pinch by the volume's conclusion. The man's piloting of the MS-07B Gouf, a next-gen Zaku with insane speed and hand-to-hand combat specs, is impressive. Ral fulfills the roles of antagonizing villain, curious rival, and surrogate father figure insofar as he encounters White Base and Amuro's Gundam unit throughout MSG: THE ORIGIN #3.
Indeed, if Ral were the manga series' primary antagonist, readers would have a great deal more to think about when it comes to the man's heartfelt criticism and jocular approval of Amuro's arrogant wielding of poor battlefield skill and adolescent fortitude. Ral lives for combat, but for all his accomplishments, the man refuses to forsake his humanity in the pursuit of glory. Somberly, he declares, "Gundam... You will be the stuff of legend. How ironic that I should lend a hand to Federation mythmaking."
MSG: THE ORIGIN #3 pivots to the characters who drive the narrative through its most tenuous chicanes of military theater. It's unfortunate Char is off in a dive bar hurling insults at a fuzzy television. The guy could really learn a lot from how his comrades conduct themselves when fighting valiantly against a young foe who just won't quit.
December 6, 2019
Compared to the thrill and intensity of the first two volumes, Yoshikazu Yasuhiko's third volume "Ramba Ral" was okay with the exception of one plot twist towards the middle of the book.
I am still a fan of the illustrations in this series, and a large fan of the colored panels compared to the black and white which does not contrast with the placement of text at times. It is not too strenuous or exhausting to read compared to other books and series, but I can imagine the breaks in this volume where the world is illuminated in color helps the sight of many readers who need the break.
I am curious as to how everyone will continue to change as the series continues. I am also curious as to who might spark the next plot twist based on their past, their present, or their growing future. I have a feeling it will be where we least expect it.
I am alright with waiting for volume 4 to arrive at the library, since there was hardly a nail biting cliff hanger at the end of this part of the series. I do not feel rushed into it volume 4, and the wait might ignite a new outlook on the more neutral parts of volume 3.
I am still a fan of the illustrations in this series, and a large fan of the colored panels compared to the black and white which does not contrast with the placement of text at times. It is not too strenuous or exhausting to read compared to other books and series, but I can imagine the breaks in this volume where the world is illuminated in color helps the sight of many readers who need the break.
I am curious as to how everyone will continue to change as the series continues. I am also curious as to who might spark the next plot twist based on their past, their present, or their growing future. I have a feeling it will be where we least expect it.
I am alright with waiting for volume 4 to arrive at the library, since there was hardly a nail biting cliff hanger at the end of this part of the series. I do not feel rushed into it volume 4, and the wait might ignite a new outlook on the more neutral parts of volume 3.
June 26, 2025
Yoshikazu Yasuhiko does a great job building on the details of the warring world in this installment, particularly when it comes to his characters' relationships. Ties of national, friendship, and familial loyalty are being strained to the breaking point here. Kids on warships is starting to look like the worst idea ever, in case that wasn't already apparent.
This volume is also where the usual routine of "villain-of-the-week attacks Gundam, loses," is really starting to wear thin. The addition of some humanizing moments for new characters Ramba Ral and Hamon is wholly welcome, but it can't quite shake off the knowledge in the back of the reader's head that they're both doomed. After all, the only one truly allowed to defeat the RX-78 is chosen boy Char, who's too busy becoming embroiled in Zeon regime intrigue to be present on the battlefield right now.
This volume is also where the usual routine of "villain-of-the-week attacks Gundam, loses," is really starting to wear thin. The addition of some humanizing moments for new characters Ramba Ral and Hamon is wholly welcome, but it can't quite shake off the knowledge in the back of the reader's head that they're both doomed. After all, the only one truly allowed to defeat the RX-78 is chosen boy Char, who's too busy becoming embroiled in Zeon regime intrigue to be present on the battlefield right now.
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
September 7, 2021
Amuro and company continue to flee from Zeon in a very by the seat of their pants manner as moral breaks down throughout the ship.
Amuro learns some valuable lessons about being a mobile suit pilot during a battle with loyalist Rambal Ral and realizes that he needs to get exponentially better faster.
Zeon continues to scheme in the background and Char sets plans in motion to ambush AMuro and company at Jaburo. Plus revelations abound about Sayla.
The plot definitely thickens in this volume and things really start rolling.
Amuro learns some valuable lessons about being a mobile suit pilot during a battle with loyalist Rambal Ral and realizes that he needs to get exponentially better faster.
Zeon continues to scheme in the background and Char sets plans in motion to ambush AMuro and company at Jaburo. Plus revelations abound about Sayla.
The plot definitely thickens in this volume and things really start rolling.
August 19, 2023
Continuously in awe of how great the conclusion of each arc of this series has been. There truly has not been a dull moment in it so far and a lot a genuinely epic character moments.
After starting off mostly with later TV shows that were significantly less good than this, I’m finally understanding why Gundam has earned the reputation it has beyond all the seemingly endless incredible mecha designs.
After starting off mostly with later TV shows that were significantly less good than this, I’m finally understanding why Gundam has earned the reputation it has beyond all the seemingly endless incredible mecha designs.
May 13, 2025
I remember Ramba Ral's introduction being the point in the story it really drew me in. Given how the last two volumes went, I had pretty high hopes that this adaptation would pull it off as well... and sure enough, it did. It's as good as I remember. Again, didn't go quite far enough in some places - particularly with some things Amuro said and did - but that's little things, and I could see why he did what he did anyway.
July 8, 2025
Absolutely flawless manga. The artwork is so good, especially the color pages. There is a lot of action, but it is never confusing and flows very well. Yasuhiko-sensei is truly a master. Highly recommended for fans of mecha anime and if you want to read the original universe story without watching the late '70s anime.
March 6, 2023
I think this is my favorite in the series thus far. The artwork in this book (as with the others) is incredible. Matched with the interesting storyline it's just a really exciting and inspiring read.
June 24, 2024
Another great entry in the series that finds the Gundam crew on Earth trying to navigate the war. Yasuhiko does a great job telling a war book with shades of grey, as no one is truly a hero or villain while mixing in some awesome gundam action. Great read for fans of the original series.
Read
November 16, 2025The drama and pathos — the emotional heft — really hit its stride in this volume. The Gundam-scenes are still gorgeous and thrilling; the Gundam pilot, Amuro, came the closest he's ever come to being likable and sympathetic.
March 3, 2018
Holy crap I thought the second one was super good. Do these just keep getting better?! This was amazing
December 18, 2020
Ramba Ral is the shit in this one.
January 20, 2021
It's hard to remember sometimes that the main characters are teenagers, because I just commend Lt Bright for not throwing all of them in the Brig at all times.
December 4, 2021
This is what outstanding manga looks like.
June 7, 2022
Somewhat slower paced volume
August 7, 2024
There are some very powerful moments in this volume but most of it focuses on mecha battles, just like the first one.
August 26, 2024
This volume is intense. The combat ramps up as Amuro battles the next General from the forces of Zeon.
January 23, 2025
The battles wage on and it’s not slowing down. Good series!!
March 20, 2025
This is so far the best volume for me.
May 10, 2025
The story is still moving at a steady clip and the characters remain rich and dynamic. This is to say nothing of the art, which is incredible.
September 18, 2025
Con mis personajes favoritos: Ramba Ral y Hammon
February 3, 2017
4.5 out of 5
October 5, 2023
uh oh, banger alert, volume 3 of THE ORIGIN is strikingly beautiful. Though this covers a period of the story that is beloved but that I have been ambivalent to every time I watched it, the manga does a really good job of adapting it, and it deeply affected my read on the story. Ramba Ral and Crowley Hamon are exactly what this story needs right now, as their presence complicates the morals of this war further. Gundam's series-wide tradition of depicting soldiers on both sides as capable of kindness, nobility, and justice begins with these two. This is the first time in the story that Sayla really gets to shine, as we learn more about her past and her connection to these new antagonists. As we gear up for Jaburo and the end of the first act, THE ORIGIN continues to be...a banger.
April 7, 2024
As this is the third volume, I'll repeat what I said before, the art is excellent, with the distinctive style that recalls the original Gundam anime, which is not surprising since the animation director of the original Gundam, Yasuhiko Yoshikazu, was the one drawing it. By hand, with a brush, without any of the modern technologies that made drawing manga easier a decade alone.
Following Campbell's Hero's Journey, this third volume involves the trials and tribulations that force Amuro to continue to grow. The trial in this volume is named on the volume cover, Ramba Ral. In the second volume, Amuro faced enemy heroes, Char Aznable and Garma Zabi. Both were experienced veterans at warfare, but both also still have the arrogance of youth, that belief in their own immortality and glory. By contrast, Ramba Ral is old enough to father any of them, and has been on and off the battlefield that entire time. He is not just a veteran, but a dangerous and experienced soldier.
In many ways, the fact that Amuro is frustrated and upset throughout the course of this volume is not a surprise. He's a young man thrown in headfirst to the deep end, so his successes thus far deserve admiration. His chance encounter with Ramba Ral off the battlefield is used to set up both comparison and foreshadowing. The volume also stabs a little deeper into the mysteries lurking beneath Zeon's surface, which make this an even more intriguing experience for the first time Gundam media consumer.
Absolutely worth the second readthrough, on with the show!
Following Campbell's Hero's Journey, this third volume involves the trials and tribulations that force Amuro to continue to grow. The trial in this volume is named on the volume cover, Ramba Ral. In the second volume, Amuro faced enemy heroes, Char Aznable and Garma Zabi. Both were experienced veterans at warfare, but both also still have the arrogance of youth, that belief in their own immortality and glory. By contrast, Ramba Ral is old enough to father any of them, and has been on and off the battlefield that entire time. He is not just a veteran, but a dangerous and experienced soldier.
In many ways, the fact that Amuro is frustrated and upset throughout the course of this volume is not a surprise. He's a young man thrown in headfirst to the deep end, so his successes thus far deserve admiration. His chance encounter with Ramba Ral off the battlefield is used to set up both comparison and foreshadowing. The volume also stabs a little deeper into the mysteries lurking beneath Zeon's surface, which make this an even more intriguing experience for the first time Gundam media consumer.
Absolutely worth the second readthrough, on with the show!
September 27, 2014
I've been absolutely enthralled with this series and this volume continues to mount the excitement in the same way as the two previous books.
In this volume we begin to see reverberations of the war on both sides, and both begin to truly wonder if the losses and deaths are worth it in the end? (going back to what I mentioned in my review of volume 1: who are the good guys and the bad guys? Maybe neither?)
We see Amuro also going through tension as he begins to grasp the implications of being a solider and even see him go rouge for awhile. We are then introduced to this volume's titular character, Ramba Ral! (who sports an awesome porno 'stache by-the-way).
I like the character of Ramba Ral, he sports a regal and noble air and commands a dedicated battalion. We also see Ral's connection to Sayla?! (Princess Artesia as she seems to be known? Foreshadowing?)
In this volume we begin to see reverberations of the war on both sides, and both begin to truly wonder if the losses and deaths are worth it in the end? (going back to what I mentioned in my review of volume 1: who are the good guys and the bad guys? Maybe neither?)
We see Amuro also going through tension as he begins to grasp the implications of being a solider and even see him go rouge for awhile. We are then introduced to this volume's titular character, Ramba Ral! (who sports an awesome porno 'stache by-the-way).
I like the character of Ramba Ral, he sports a regal and noble air and commands a dedicated battalion. We also see Ral's connection to Sayla?! (Princess Artesia as she seems to be known? Foreshadowing?)
December 25, 2024
I Really Liked It 😊
-★★★★✮- (4.50/5.00)
My Grading Score = 90% (A)
Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin Volume 3: Ramba Ral was great. Once again, it dives further into the struggles of characters on White Base. Amuro, Fraw, Bright, and Sayla are standouts at showcasing their turmoil in this volume.
Ramba Ral was an amazing antagonist who pushed Amuro's piloting skills to his absolute limit he as a character was great as well. I can understand some who may think his conclusion was anticlimactic, though, and probably is why it did not reach a five-star for me. But the amount of entertainment he brought permeate throughout the volume named after him that it far from ruins it in its entirety.
Verdict
The volumes are only improving more and more. This entire one was an absolute page turner with the best colored panels thus far. With nothing else needed to be said,
I Really Liked It
-★★★★✮- (4.50/5.00)
My Grading Score = 90% (A)
Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin Volume 3: Ramba Ral was great. Once again, it dives further into the struggles of characters on White Base. Amuro, Fraw, Bright, and Sayla are standouts at showcasing their turmoil in this volume.
Ramba Ral was an amazing antagonist who pushed Amuro's piloting skills to his absolute limit he as a character was great as well. I can understand some who may think his conclusion was anticlimactic, though, and probably is why it did not reach a five-star for me. But the amount of entertainment he brought permeate throughout the volume named after him that it far from ruins it in its entirety.
Verdict
The volumes are only improving more and more. This entire one was an absolute page turner with the best colored panels thus far. With nothing else needed to be said,
I Really Liked It
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews