Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam Define Manga, Through Its Conclusion | Review & Character Analysis

Preface

The anime "Mobile Suit Gundam" has already been boldly adapted into a manga, as evidenced by the work "Mobile Suit Gundam THE ORIGIN".
This "THE ORIGIN" is not just a simple comic adaptation; the setting and plot have been significantly altered, and the descriptions are more detailed, making it practically a new work.
This work provided a detailed depiction of the One Year War and Char's past, and the film adaptation further clarified it to the point where it was almost canon.

And while "Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam" hadn't been adapted into a manga for a long time, it finally began serialization in 2011 as "Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam Define."
Like "THE ORIGIN," this work is not simply a manga adaptation of the anime, but a bold remake, which is a major distinguishing feature.
As the word "Define" attached to the title suggests, I felt that this work was full of enthusiasm for "clarifying" and "defining."

Work Introduction

As of February 2020, this series is not yet complete (16 volumes have been published).
The story is presented as a sequel to the author's previous work, the manga "Mobile Suit Gundam CDA: Portrait of a Young Comet."
The main character isn't Kamille; the story is primarily told from Char Aznable's perspective, which is a different approach from the TV series.

In the TV series, the focus was on Kamille, a pilot, so the circumstances leading to his participation in the operation sometimes felt somewhat abrupt.
In reality, it's difficult for pilots at the operational level to see the details of how the operation was planned, so in a sense, it was realistic.
However, this work is told from Char's perspective, and he plans the strategy while talking with the higher-ups in the AEUG, so it has the characteristic of making it easy to understand why they have to attack this place.

The game also features plenty of conversations and episodes between the characters.
There are plenty of highlights, not only in the interactions between the Argama's crew members, but also in the interactions between Amuro and Char.

Furthermore, a considerable amount of effort has been put into developing the Titans, the antagonists.
In particular, Jerid, the rival character, is well-developed, with his growth process, emotions, and relationships with other characters all being vividly portrayed.
I feel that his mentor-student relationship with Laila, his interactions with the original character Major Sherry Page, and his encounter with Mauer Pharaoh are depicted in more detail than those of Camille.
While there are many original episodes, such as the perceived competence of Colonel Bask Om and Yazan, and the early meeting between Colonel Paptimus Scirocco (apparently changed because it was unnatural for a lieutenant to be leading a fleet) and the AEUG leadership, the skillful way in which these original elements fit in is what makes it stand out.
After reading this manga, you'll find yourself so engrossed that you'll even empathize with the Titans' characters.

In addition, there will be appearances of characters that connect to the era after ZZ.
Characters from ZZ, such as Roux Louka, Chain Agi from CCA, and from the Axis side, Glemmy, Mashymre, Chara, and Ilia, all make appearances again, continuing from the previous series.
Due to the meticulous depiction that consciously "defines" (clarifies) various aspects, the pacing is a little slow at times, but I think it's of a quality that even Gundam fans will be satisfied with.

My thoughts (with some spoilers)

As I mentioned in the previous section's introduction to the work, it's very interesting.
To be honest, while the author's previous work, "Mobile Suit Gundam CDA: Portrait of a Young Comet," was significant as a record of Char's journey, I didn't find it particularly interesting as entertainment.
However, while this work has the interesting premise of being based on Zeta Gundam, I found the way it clarifies aspects that hadn't been depicted before to be very convincing and enjoyable.
This is just my personal opinion, but perhaps the author is better at delving into existing ideas and providing justifications rather than being given complete freedom to write.

The aspects that might be somewhat divisive are the original characters and mobile suits.
Many of the original pilots are highly capable individuals, including Sumire Hongou, the mechanic who appeared in the previous work, and Shannon, a former Zeon pilot.
For the numerically inferior AEUG to fight on equal terms, the individual abilities of their members must be high for it to make sense, so this might be unavoidable.
However, just like in the previous film "Young Comet," the pilots on the AEUG side are so strong that it's undeniable that the tension of the battles is somewhat diminished.
Among the original characters, Major Sherry Page of the Titans is one of my favorites because she helped to deepen the understanding of various other characters.
I felt that the characters played various roles, such as Jerid's growth, Char's high level of ability, Bask's strategic vision as a soldier, and the harsh realities of war.

At first, I wasn't sure about Char's bright red, original mobile suit, the "Zero Type."
However, upon reflection, I realized that the flashy gold Hyaku Shiki that appears in the original anime is far more outrageous, so I think this is better than that.
In terms of performance and form, it has a similar feel to the Prototype Z Gundam, so I personally see it as the Prototype Z.

Overall, "Define" is undoubtedly a very interesting work, including its original elements.
I wouldn't particularly recommend the previous work, but to enjoy this one more, I think it's a good idea to read both.

Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam Define (1) (Kadokawa Comics Ace)

Rakuten Market: Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam Define (1)