kenziekuma's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
nevinator's review against another edition
4.0
The manga that started the best Gundam movie, designs, and music to date. I want more to read to see what happens after the two films!
iowasjoe's review against another edition
3.0
Side story takes up a third of the volume. Docked at least a star for that.
momoxshi's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Amazing art.
I think the action sequences were drawn pretty well. Vol 1 had me rooting for Daryl instead of Io, mostly because of personalities but let's see where the series goes.
I think the action sequences were drawn pretty well. Vol 1 had me rooting for Daryl instead of Io, mostly because of personalities but let's see where the series goes.
eely225's review against another edition
5.0
(review of the whole series)
The series manages to extract so much of what is appealing to me about Gundam. It has beautiful mechanical design, a complicated political backdrop, and the ambiguity of humans operating in new ways. The mixtures of the newtype mythos with religious systems is one I'm shocked hasn't shown up before.
I doubt this would be where you'd start with Gundam, but if you already love UC Gundam, this will likely reinforce that feeling.
The series manages to extract so much of what is appealing to me about Gundam. It has beautiful mechanical design, a complicated political backdrop, and the ambiguity of humans operating in new ways. The mixtures of the newtype mythos with religious systems is one I'm shocked hasn't shown up before.
I doubt this would be where you'd start with Gundam, but if you already love UC Gundam, this will likely reinforce that feeling.
sarahc_98's review against another edition
2.0
I feel like the first volume needs to have more character development to help readers care about the stakes between these new rivals. As it is, I barely care about them because all we've seen is arrogance in combat. As a result, the parts where they set up relationships and connections to Side 4 are way more interesting and dynamic. Origin set up the characters' backstories much better than Thunderbolt has.
peyjturner's review against another edition
4.0
This is the good shit. No flashy special moves, no psychic New Types and no guarantees that your faves are gonna live or die -- just the endless chaos and despair of war, the utter grayness of everyone's morality and the hard sci-fi of robits in SPAAACE. If that's what you've wanted out of your mecha manga, then keep a close eye on this series. It is some good, good shit and I'm so so happy that Viz decided to pull the trigger and license it here.
beorn_101's review against another edition
5.0
This was an action packed volume. Bodies dropped! Tons of excellent fights, really capitalizing on the character building from Volume 1.
beorn_101's review against another edition
4.0
When I picked this up I was hoping it would be as cool as the cover, and for the most part it delivered. Some context, I have no prior knowledge about Gundam, except that it is a series with big piloted mechs that fight, and that the older episodes of the show I saw were a bit campy and cheesy.
This manga; however, was not campy or cheesy! I liked the artstyle, it was a little gritty, with a bit of an old school feel. The story was compelling, thrusting the reader right into the action. It follows two main characters on opposing sides of a war, each representing the ace pilot for their side.
I really enjoyed the narrative, which twined together perspectives from both sides of the conflict, making each side appear sympathetic. This also demonstrated the horrors of this long term conflict, with many characters mentioning past casualties, or the hardships that had been caused by it.
If I am being picky I have 2 small complaints. One while I don't mind being thrust into the action, I like to have a bit more of the setting explained pretty early on. This still left a lot to hints and the imagination, which at times was a little confusing.
I also felt like it was tough at times to follow which characters were which, and on what side, due to the black and white illustrations. For the most part it is clear, but occasionally I had to relook over a panel to figure out what was happening.
Overall, this was really good start to a series and I am very excited to continue to read it! I may even give the Gundam anime a try :)!
This manga; however, was not campy or cheesy! I liked the artstyle, it was a little gritty, with a bit of an old school feel. The story was compelling, thrusting the reader right into the action. It follows two main characters on opposing sides of a war, each representing the ace pilot for their side.
I really enjoyed the narrative, which twined together perspectives from both sides of the conflict, making each side appear sympathetic. This also demonstrated the horrors of this long term conflict, with many characters mentioning past casualties, or the hardships that had been caused by it.
If I am being picky I have 2 small complaints. One while I don't mind being thrust into the action, I like to have a bit more of the setting explained pretty early on. This still left a lot to hints and the imagination, which at times was a little confusing.
I also felt like it was tough at times to follow which characters were which, and on what side, due to the black and white illustrations. For the most part it is clear, but occasionally I had to relook over a panel to figure out what was happening.
Overall, this was really good start to a series and I am very excited to continue to read it! I may even give the Gundam anime a try :)!
beorn_101's review against another edition
3.0
This volume moves the narrative out of the isolated Thunderbolt sector, and into the larger conflict in the galaxy.
The zeon forces have continued to be beaten back, despite victories in the Thunderbolt sector, and our two protagonists (antagonists?) appear during the conflict.
I really struggled to place the Thunderbolt conflict within the larger conflict depicted in this volume. Did the Thunderbolt sector really matter? What effect did that have on the larger conflict? These questions are not really answered.
About halfway thru this volume the war is ended and time moves ahead almost a whole year. We see both our main characters easing into different style of lives. This has an interesting effect of showing the characters in the sort of post war veteran status; however, it appears that violence is still brewing under the surface. I am curious to see where this narrative goes, but this volume suffered from sort of ending one story thread, and introducing hints of another, but not really starting one.
Worth reading, but not my favorite entry in this series.
The zeon forces have continued to be beaten back, despite victories in the Thunderbolt sector, and our two protagonists (antagonists?) appear during the conflict.
I really struggled to place the Thunderbolt conflict within the larger conflict depicted in this volume. Did the Thunderbolt sector really matter? What effect did that have on the larger conflict? These questions are not really answered.
About halfway thru this volume the war is ended and time moves ahead almost a whole year. We see both our main characters easing into different style of lives. This has an interesting effect of showing the characters in the sort of post war veteran status; however, it appears that violence is still brewing under the surface. I am curious to see where this narrative goes, but this volume suffered from sort of ending one story thread, and introducing hints of another, but not really starting one.
Worth reading, but not my favorite entry in this series.