Gundam School Part 34

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


　Is that a pineapple? A cucumber? A pineapple sea cucumber? No, just a super-simple intro column for new Gundam fans! We're back with Part 34 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 at a few of the long list whose faces tell a story before they even speak.

　In part 34, it's a look at the scarred men of Gundam!

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[Part 1]
The scarred men of Gundam are fighting to put the scars of their past behind them!


　The first scarred man we'll look at is the sunglass-wearing, slightly shifty-looking Jamil Neate. ( After War Gundam X)

　 Jamil's edgy (because of the shades?) look belies his position as leader of the Freeden group of "Vultures" (scavengers and resellers of abandoned military equipment) that protagonist Garrod Ran joins and captain of its eponymous ex-Old Earth Federation landship.

　Jamil, whose nickname "Captain" comes from his old rank as a Federation ace pilot, suffered a tragic experience leading to a fear of piloting.
　 While Jamil's a scarred, masculine (← in a '70s way?), everyone's-big-brother type now, 15 years ago during the Seventh Space War he was a reckless 15-year-old boy. His youth, however, didn't prevent him from enlisting as a Newtype soldier, and while he fought brilliantly at the controls of the Gundam, a failed attempt to stop a Space Revolutionary Army colony drop lead to unprecedented destruction across the face of the Earth that nearly exterminated humanity. The shock of these events lead to his own personal tragedy: a loss of Newtype abilities (and a terror of piloting.)

　It must be terrible to live with the blame for that day's events even though you tried to prevent them. I suppose Newtypes, able to sense the emotions of others directly, suffer even more stress in these situations.

　While Jamil is left unable to pilot mobile suits, this doesn't stop him from becoming the leader of a Vulture group after the Seventh Space War concludes, or from attempting to protect other Newtypes like Tiffa Adill (the first Newtype born after the war.)

　Scarred mentally, as well as physically from fragments of a broken helmet visor sustained during a battle with his rival, SRA Captain Lancerow Dawell, Jamil fights to atone by protecting other Newtypes, until near the end of the show he contacts D.O.M.E., a mysterious microwave transmission emplacement on the moon which (← who?) is revealed as the "first Newtype". At this moment, he casts aside his normal driven style and his trademark sunglasses, and reveals himself for the first (?) time to the crew of the Freeden.

　After this, he remains a source of advice and guidance for young Garrod, but also regains his confidence and returns to the front lines, playing quite a more serious and reliable role than his appearance might suggest. See "Big brother Jamil" (← "Mr. Neate" might be heard the wrong way...) in action in After War Gundam X!

　Our next scarred hero is Domon Kasshu, Neo Japan's Gundam Fighter. ( Mobile Fighter G Gundam)

　 You can see Domon's red-blooded machismo (← and oh, what machismo it is!) from 100 yards away; in addition to being one of Gundam's rare extroverted protagonists, he's also one of Gundam's rare scarred protagonists. If we put all of Gundam's leads into a ring, he'd definitely be the one to make it out with the belt (or with all of his teeth, depending on just how we were keeping score.) The "King of Heart" crest on his right hand, awarded to the Colonies' martial arts champion, definitely isn't just for show. It makes sense, though: he learned from Master Asia, the Undefeated of the East, the man who can take down Dark Army mobile suits barehanded, on foot. 　His attack names are just as impressive, with tricks like "Shining Finger" and "Erupting Burning Finger" up his sleeve (in his glove?)

　Feeling stifled under his talented father and brother, Domon ran away from home during a rebellious phase, and by chance met his lifelong teacher Master Asia during his wanderings; later, as the sole inheritor of Master Asia's style, he would employ these techniques as a Gundam Fighter. With his... not Mobile Suits but Mobile Fighters, the Shining Gundam and Burning Gundam, acting as extensions of his own body, Domon fought against a range of other Mobile Fighters (← all called Gundams!) in a series of incredible bouts on Earth and in space. 　These MFs feature a special control method that relies not on sticks and pedals, but instead on the "mobile trace system" designed for martial artists like Domon which directly senses their motions.

　 Domon's skills are noticed by an ex-Gundam Fighter and current Neo Japan military officer, Ulube Ishikawa, whose own participation in Gundam development is a cover for his efforts to weaponize the Dark Gundam. Ishikawa offers a trade: in return for victory at the Gundam Fight and the capture of the Dark Gundam, he will order the release of Domon's father Raizo Kasshu, currently held in a permanent cryogenic freeze for the crime of high treason. Domon signs on as Neo Japan's Gundam Fighter, and takes the once-in-four-years opportunity to travel freely on Earth during the Gundam Fight. However, while he searches for his brother Kyoji who took the Dark Gundam from their father and vanished, events take a shocking turn beginning when he discovers his master fighting on the Dark Gundam's side... Fascinating isn't it?

　Domon, previously a bit of an awkward child, grows as a person and as a Gundam Fighter as he survives the bloodsport that is Gundam Fighting and a fateful clash with his master. If you want to see what happens in detail, watch Mobile Fighter G Gundam! 　Gundam Fight! 　 Ready! Go! 　……Wait, what? You're too busy around the holidays to cram a watch in? 　It's not like I'm worried you actually won't or anything, but if you don't, I'll never forgive you. 　Wrap that red headband around your head, book a flight, and train in the mountains of Guyana until you're ready to pull off the Sekiha Tenkyo Burning Finger! (← the Sekiha Love-Love Tenkyoken would be fine too.) 　Now!

　And, with that burst of energy to warm up during the cold, cold winter out of the way, we're done with our first look at Gundam's scarred men! 　We'll be continuing on the same theme next week, so don't miss it.

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