The manga adaptation of the Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative (Kidō Senshi Gundam NT) anime project, penned by Kōzō Ōmori, has officially concluded its serialization. The final chapter was published in Kadokawa’s Gundam Ace magazine on Tuesday, within this year’s October issue.
Ōmori’s manga, which offered an expanded and in-depth look at the plot and characters of its animated counterpart, began its run in Gundam Ace in November 2018. The series had previously approached its “last battle” in July 2023, building anticipation for its ultimate conclusion.
The Journey of Gundam Narrative
The Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative manga delved deeper into the events set in U.C. 0097, one year after the “Laplace’s Box” was opened. The narrative explores a world largely unchanged despite the Universal Century Charter acknowledging the existence and rights of Newtypes. It follows the aftermath of the “Laplace Incident,” a conflict thought to have ended with the downfall of the Neo Zeon remnants known as the Sleeves.
Central to the story is the reappearance of the RX-0 Unicorn Gundam 03, known as Phenex—a golden, immortal bird-like mobile suit that had disappeared two years prior. The manga, like the anime film, focuses on the “Phoenix Hunt” operation launched by the Federation to capture this powerful mobile suit.
Manga’s Expanded Narrative and Themes
While based on the anime film, the manga adaptation by Kōzō Ōmori, with story by Harutoshi Fukui, provided significant elaborations. The final five volumes, in particular, offered meaningful insights into the themes and characters introduced in the original movie. The narrative explored drama and science fiction themes, heavily featuring mecha action, characteristic of the Gundam franchise.
Kadokawa had published the manga’s 15th compiled book volume on June 25.
The Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative Film
The Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative story originated as a Japanese animated mecha science fiction film. Produced by Sunrise and distributed by Shochiku, it was based on the 11th Gundam Unicorn novel, “Phoenix Hunting.” Directed by Toshikazu Yoshizawa and written by Harutoshi Fukui, the film premiered in Japanese theaters on November 30, 2018.
The film’s plot involves the protagonist Jona Bashta, alongside Michelle Luio and Rita Bernal, who are childhood friends deeply intertwined with the Phenex. The anime was released on Blu-ray Disc in North America by Right Stuf and Nozomi Entertainment, with a special edition in 2020 and a new release in June 2022. Fathom Events and Sunrise also screened the film with an English dub in the United States in February 2019.
Future of the Universal Century Timeline
Fans wondering about the next installments in the Universal Century timeline after Gundam Narrative might look towards Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway’s Flash, which continues the narrative. While the Gundam Narrative manga has concluded, the rich Universal Century saga continues to expand through various other manga, novels, and anime projects.
The conclusion of the Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative manga marks the end of a detailed retelling and expansion of a significant chapter in the Universal Century timeline, offering fans a complete and enriched version of the story.
