Mobile Suit Gundam: The ORIGIN 11: A Cosmic Glow

機動戦士ガンダムTHE ORIGIN 愛蔵版 [Kidō Senshi Gundam: The Origin aizōban] #11

by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko, Hajime Yatate (Producer), Yoshiyuki Tomino (Creator)

The biggest name in Japanese science fiction— Gundam —returns with one of its creators retelling its origins 25 years after the series debuted. Caught in the crossfire of a space civil war, teenager Amuro Ray accidentally finds a new mobile weapon—the RX-78 Gundam. In the eleventh volume of THE ORIGIN , Amuro and the rest of the Federation forces prepare to advance toward the space fortress A Baoa Qu.

Genres: Manga, Science Fiction, Graphic Novels, Comics, Comics Manga, Seinen, Graphic Novels Manga

372 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Yoshikazu 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.

Reviews

[Keith W · Rating 5 out of 5]

The grand finale conflict of the series finally takes place and is nearly perfectly executed. The scale and clarity with which it is drawn and told feels like a culmination of everything Yoshikazu Yasuhiko has learned while telling this long grand tale and I often find myself in awe of how detailed he manages to make some of the pages and panels in this series.

While this volume is very heavy on action, it’s totally fine because this is one of the best grand scale space battles I’ve ever seen or read. Lots of great character moments during this battle as well.

[CountZeroOr · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the volume where the series hits the home stretch, everyone slams into high gear, hits the nitrous and goes barreling towards the finish line. Chickens come home to roost, character arcs approach their climax, and everything approaches their dramatic conclusion. I cannot wait until volume 12.

[Ronald · Rating 5 out of 5]

And here arrives the climax, or most of it, anyway. The Battle of A Baoa Qu is the final battle of the One Year War, what everyone on both sides has been aiming for, a pitched battle to determine who decides the future of humanity. The art is spectacular, probably the best in the entire series, and the battles are brutal, with no holds barred. All of the plot threads that were set up in the previous ten volumes are slowly narrowed down as everything going on becomes the background events for what the war has become: a decisive showdown between Amuro and Char. Earthnoid, Spacenoid, Oldtype, Newtype, the character development and character deaths, the culmination of grand schemes and the desperate desire to survive, all of it beautifully depicted page by page, panel by panel. For those have seen Gundam, the original or any of the more serious sequels, it's a major catharsis, but also something that keeps the readers on tenterhooks. A real page turner, one that can't be put down until it's done, and which drives the reader to pick up the next one to finish the story, as even with everything that goes on, there's still the final climax to go.

[Libbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5✨

✨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

[Olivia Thames · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think it is hardly a coincidence that the eleventh volume in Yoshikazu Yasuhiko's series, and the 11 O'clock number in theatrical musicals, both leave the reader and viewer going: "Oh....WOW!" after their conclusion.

A lot happens in this volume that turns the tables more than can be described. I could and would happily elaborate, but spoiler alerts are a cardinal sin when it comes to the literary and visual arts. That being said, be prepared for a 'jaw-dropper' of a book.

This will be a short review, for the time being, simply because I have to see what happens in the twelfth, and final, volume of The ORIGIN series. Whatever the resolution of the numerous disruptions to the characters and their individual and collective plots, it could possibly be a show stopper.

[Juho Pohjalainen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always thought that the resolution of the Lalah story arc was rather rife with melodrama, not to mention the forerunner of many similar plots in later Gundam stories - always poorly executed. In each subsequent series after the first, you had an increasingly less rational newtype guinea-pig superweapon woman, falling in love with the main character and then going crazy and needing to be killed, now everyone is sad. I hate them so much. I don't hate the original, but I can't entirely dissociate her from what is to come.

The rest of the war's basically flawless, though. And Sayla gets to do a lot more than in the anime. That's great.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

To me, this volume feels more like the end of the series than the actual last volume. Char's story arc is mostly concluded, and Gihren and Kycilia get their just deserts. The battle for A Baoa Qu is suitably epic. Sayla's role is satisfactorily expanded. Very nicely done overall.

[[boredom.is.overrated] · Rating 4 out of 5]

In comparison with the other books, I thought some of the translations were odd; particularly the high brass of the federation and Lalah’s lines near the end. I didn’t seem to always understand the reactions/emotions and some of the metaphors. Art was beautiful - some of the best so far.

[Zachary · Rating 5 out of 5]

The One Year War reaches it's epic conclusion with the Battle of A Baoa Qu. The Penultimate volume of Gundam the Origin has a lot of high drama as the rivalry between series protagonists Amuro and Char clash one more time and from that battle a great tragedy is born.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not ready for the ending. I do not ship Lalah and Char though. Too weird.

[Davide Pappalardo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot happens here as the plot hastens and the final part takes a new course with Sayla and the Zeon troops

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wanna know what character development looks like in these books? After 11 books, Amuro finally asks Fraw how she’s doing instead of reacting to her with petulance.

[Dan Cowden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yas continues his take on the original Gundam story, and continues to tell it how he wants it -- and remains a better storyteller than Tomino Yoshiyuki, who created the franchise. This book brings the characters to the Battle of A Baoa Qu, and continues to change the order of events in small ways. These changes manage to keep the story fairly fresh and exciting, even to those who already know how the story is supposed to go. The art and the writing remain high quality; Yas has been in the business for a long time, and it's clear that he knows what he's doing.

[sucker4synth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lalah has reached out to Amuro with her powers. There are several lovely surreal landscapes, in color, when this happens. Gorgeous! There is more political intrigue and people getting killed. Artesia finds herself in a perilous situation and takes control. Such coolness. The story is starting heading towards it's climax and it's an excellent ride!

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

The penultimate volume in the Origin (or so I believe) features the battle of A Baoa Qu, or at least the first part of it.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. This volume packs quite a punch. During the various battles at A Baoa Qu, power shifts several times as certain characters make connections and turn the tides.

[Paolo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of story make up this latest volume, but I still remain skeptical of the entire Newtype thing. Either way, the art remains freaking spectacular, like, holy shit.