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Mobile Suit Gundam: THE ORIGIN Volume 1: Activation (2013)

by Yoshiyuki Tomino(Favorite Author)

4.35 of 5 Votes: 4

ISBN

193565487X (ISBN13: 9781935654872)

languge

English

genre

Science Fiction

publisher

Vertical

series

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin (Aizōban edition)

review 1: Although this version of MSG is very similar to the original TV series, it does have a few differences. Most of them are explained in a short essay included in the book. The differences aren't good or bad, they are just different, like there's a different lens on the camera.The artwork in this volume is gorgeous, and the book itself is a hefty hardback with thick, glossy pages that any collector would be proud to own. The only other thing I could wish for is full color throughout (but it is a collection of a serialization in a mostly black and white magazine).If you're not familiar with Gundam, this would be a great place to start. No, it's not the original form of the story, but it's a fantastic retelling. For those of us who prefer books to TV and movies, this is a great... more (beautiful) way to take in the awesomeness of giant robots fighting in space.
review 2: When I first heard about The Origin, I was ecstatic. It took a few years for it to come to the US, when VIZ released them in magazine format. I collected every single expensive issue. They were well read and some didn't quite hold up after years of reading them.Enter the hardcover collection by Vertical.Probably one of the best presentations this book could have gotten. Activation collects most of the VIZ run (which got to Ramba Ral, I believe). The translation is new, the pages are crisp and glossy, and the colors pop from the pages. There are even interviews and essays in the back of the book which are very interesting.About now you're probably asking about the story and art. Now I'm going to be a bit bias, because I've been a Gundam fan since the early 90s. Yaz did a fantastic job making the interactions with the characters and their world more realistic. (As a matter of fact, one of the essays focuses on this concept.) The story follows the general plot of the original Gundam series, which was very gritty for it's time. I was glad that the kids and their cute expressions were kept in the comic. Also, speaking of expressions, pay particular attention to the subtleties that are drawn in each panel.The artist has a very old school style, which may turn off a lot of newer manga readers. Nothing is drawn completely straight, the characters are sometimes ugly, no fan service, etc. Yaz's comics tend to be very fluid. The art style may not be your cup of tea, but give it a shot and enjoy the composition and story on each page.Overall I'm very pleased with this release. Great job, Vertical! You gals and guys rock. (And while we're releasing Yaz's comics, a rerelease of Joan would be great.) less

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