Preface
I've watched various works from the "Mobile Suit Gundam" series since way back.
That said, I think I only started watching it properly when I was in high school.
I vaguely remember watching reruns of "Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam" and other shows during the mornings of summer vacation.
"∀ Gundam" was the first anime I started watching in real time every week.
After that, I continued watching shows like "SEED" and "OO," and also started catching up on their past works.
For that reason, I've periodically felt like watching or reading works related to Gundam since way back.
This time, I came across it on an e-book website."Mobile Suit Gundam CDA: Portrait of a Young Comet"I've read all 14 volumes, so I thought I'd write a review and my thoughts on it.
What is it about?
This story depicts how Char Aznable lived between the end of the One Year War in "Mobile Suit Gundam" and the Gryps Conflict in "Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam."
After the decisive battle at A Baoa Qu, Char ends up going to Axis, and the story revolves around his relationship with Haman there, as well as the internal conflicts within Axis.
About the highlights
The main setting is Axis, the enemy force that appears in "Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam" and "Mobile Suit ZZ Gundam."
Therefore, there are many scenes that delve deeper into the characters appearing in each work.
For example, characters like Apolly and Roberto from Zeta Gundam, and Mashymre, Chara Soon, Ilia, and Lacan from ZZ Gundam will also appear.
He is a person whose background is shrouded in mystery.Nanai Miguel from "Char's Counterattack"The story is quite bold, with even characters like [character name] making an appearance.
Conversely, if you read this work without having seen those other works, you might not fully grasp it.
(There may not be many people like that, though...)
There are not many works that depict people's perceptions, the situation, or the atmosphere of the era after the One Year War.
In that respect, this work had some interesting aspects as a source of information for understanding the historical context, such as the thinking of the Zeon side at the time.
My thoughts (with some spoilers)
In short, my impression is that it was "somewhat enjoyable, but ultimately unsatisfying."
As a spin-off, it inevitably lacks the dynamism of the main series, and the pacing feels somewhat constrained.
Furthermore, it is known that characters who appear in later works do not die in this work.
Therefore, the sense of tension during combat is somewhat lacking.
Especially since Char is so incredibly strong, I can't help but think that he'll manage somehow even in a fight.
The details of the battles and political conflicts were, to put it mildly, easy to understand, or to put it less favorably, not particularly profound.
For a series of 14 volumes, the content felt rather thin.
It's something that people with money and interest might want to read.
However, the portrayal of the relationship with Haman, which is one of the highlights, and how it ultimately deteriorates, was convincing.
The story ultimately explains how Char ended up in the Earth Sphere and joined the AEUG.
I imagine that having original characters makes things difficult for the author, and that they must have had a lot of trouble bringing them to life.
Therefore, I found the original characters to be more lively and appealing overall.
In particular, Lieutenant Fabian, whom I initially disliked, gained a certain level of trust from Char and Andy during the long voyage, and I, too, found myself unable to dislike him.
He showed a surprisingly decisive side, and the scene where he comes to the rescue at the end made him even more appealing.
Mobile Suit Gundam CDA: Portrait of a Young Comet (1) (Kadokawa Comics Ace)
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