Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt: Volume 11 manga review

Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt Graphic Novel Volume 11 cover image

The science fiction manga, Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt, is set in the classic anime universe of Mobile Suit Gundam.  It apparently takes place simultaneously with the events depicted in the original “Mobile Suit Gundam” anime.  Created by mangaka Yasuo Ohtagaki, this manga focuses on two rival mobile suit (MS) pilots, Io Fleming of the Earth Federation and Chief Petty Officer Daryl Lorenz of Principality of Zeon, each bent on destroying the other.

As Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt, Vol. 11 (Chapters 89 to 97) opens, the Principality of Zeon's most feared pilot and sniper, Chief Petty Officer Daryl Lorenz, is no more.  Enter Daryl Lorenz of the Nanyang Alliance, and now, he leads the Alliance forces that will destroy the remaining Zeon forces on Earth.  Something greater is coming for him.  First, is a reunion with Professor Karla Mitchum, the scientist who created the “Psycho Zaku” mobile suit, and who is also now in a child-like mental state.

When Daryl and Karla meet the man himself, Sojo Levan Fu, the leader of the Nanyang Alliance, all will change for both of these damaged people.  And what is Anaheim Electronics?

THE LOWDOWN:  The Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt manga is a fantastic read.  I say that as someone who has had very little experience with the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise.  Reading this series makes me want to get my O.G. Gundam on.

Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt Graphic Novel Volume 11 is super-f*****g good.  It is one of this series very, very best volumes.  There are so many shockers that it is almost as if this is a new series or as if there were some kind of big time jump.  But Vol. 11 is a blast to read.  It seems that a long, devastating war will drive people crazy, and this lovely volume is chock full of nuts.

I had fun reading this volume, but all is not battle manga and cool mecha.  Creator Yasuo Ohtagaki knows how to deliver the war-torn heartbreak.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Readers looking for classic mecha manga will want the VIZ Signature title, Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt.

A+
10 out of 10