Gundam School Part 35

"What is 'Gundam', anyway?" This simple (?) question is answered in our thirty-fifth casual weekly column just for new fans!


　Another super-simple intro column for new Gundam fans crawls from the depths!
We're back with Part 35 of what makes Gundam Gundam.

　You can see our previous coverage of what makes Gundam Gundam here, and this week we're back with another Gundam standard!

　One of the best things about Gundam is its unique characters. Today, we look again at a few of the long list whose faces tell a story before they even speak.

　In part 35, it's our second look at the scarred men of Gundam!

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[Part 1]
The scarred men of Gundam are set apart!



　First up today is Andrew Waltfeld, the "Desert Tiger"! ( Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, Mobile Suit Gundam SEED DESTINY)

　While he's nicknamed "Andy" (← by his lover Aisha,) this hero to civilians and ZAFT (a militia organized by the PLANTs) soldiers alike has a far less cuddly reputation in public.

　His strategic brilliance is only matched by his piloting chops and long record of victories.

　However, he's not a man who lives on and for the battlefield; during downtime, he has some heart-to-heart talks with protagonist Kira Yamato about the meaning of war.

　As for the man himself, while his pleasant personality certainly doesn't get in the way of his soldierly duties, he's also got truly epic sideburns and the palate of a true gourmet.

　 Whether it's Kira and Cagalli Yula Athha meeting him in town, in an infamous incident some refer to as Operation: Desert Doner-Kebab, and receiving a proper education on how yogurt sauce is the one true topping, or whether it's asking (← and forcing) random people to test his personal coffee blend, Waltfeld is as bold a culinarian as he is a warrior. He's certainly the... Well, the James Sideburn of Gundam.

　 Between being the first enemy pilot to recognize Kira's coordinator abilities, and their chance encounter in town (← see: Doner,) he has a significant impact on our protagonist. However, in the end, his commander-type four-legged LaGOWE, copiloted by Aisha, is overwhelmed by an enraged Kira in SEED mode...

　 After losing his lover, his left eye, his left hand, and his left leg in battle with Kira, Waltfeld ends up joining the Archangel faction in the sequel Mobile Suit Gundam SEED DESTINY, as the XO of the combat ship Eternal when not piloting the transformable Murasame or Gaia Gundam.


　Next up, we've got Mr. Bushid--er, the Virgo, Graham Aker. ( Mobile Suit Gundam 00)

　 Graham, a lieutenant (and later captain) deployed to America's MSWAD base, is a fighter ace at the controls of the Flag, UNION's latest mobile suit. Graham's a bit of a narcissist (though with those looks, he deserves it,) but otherwise he's your average elite soldier... Until a chance encounter with protagonist Setsuna during a test flight changes his life forever.

　Graham's obsession with the Gundam kicks off in top gear, as he snatches away a companion's binoculars to get a better view, and this fascination is reflected in nearly all his dialog. He may have competition in his Gundam obsession, but he certainly doesn't have much.

　This fixation only deepens as he experiences Gundam Exia's fearsome capabilities over and over, and the loss of his comrades pushes it over the line from love to abject hatred.

　As the plot progresses, he volunteers for the task force pursuing the Gundams, and eventually clashes with the Exia in his beloved Flag in an extremely... well, complicated battle.
　 Graham's wounds sustained during the season one finale give rise to a super-quirky mask and fan ensemble in season two as he embraces Japanese stoicism and takes the name Mister Bushido. With a license to kill, or basically do anything, Graham is free to pursue his half-decade long love-hate vendetta with the Gundams, pursuing Setsuna's 00 Gundam (← and, of course, revealing his not-so-secret identity.)

　Graham, er, Mister Bushido (← You know, does he ever call himself this?) is almost gleeful when he finally tracks down another Gundam in season two, more concerned with his redemption than with the failure that led him to it. As he duels Gundams in his Ahead and Masurao, he's fiercely aware that he lost both his beautiful looks and his pride as a Flag fighter in their previous battles. If anything, his sudden adoption of bushido and a face-hiding fan are almost more embarrassing than that failure... Being this much of a narcissist must be complicated.

　And with that, we've completed another look at Gundam's weirdos, er, scarred men! 　

　Oh, isn't Gundam just so fascinating?

　Well well well well well well well well well well well well well well well well well well well well well well well well well well well well well well well well well well well, that's it for this week. Next week we'll be taking another laid-back look at what makes Gundam Gundam!