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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
The Outpost at Last...,
By
This review is from: The Last Outpost, Book 1 (Mobile Suit Gundam G-Unit) (Paperback)
Released at roughly the same time as Endless Waltz in Japan, 'The Last Outpost' is a side-story to the popular Gundam Wing series. Recent legal issues meant that the title had to be changed from the original of "G-UNIT", but just about everything else has remained the same. The storyline picks up as OZ make their move to secure the colonies allegiance by claiming to want peace and equality. As Lady Une spreads this message across the stars, research is being conducted at the far off colony of MO-V on what could be the most powerful MS humanity has ever seen. Called G-Units, they resemble the infamous five Gundams in looks and armour but have a few tricks of their own... Test piloting the two prototype Geminass G-Units are brothers Odel and Odin Bernett. Older sibling Odel is a mobile suit ace whilst teenage Odin has fire in his eyes but not yet the skill to match it. Even the backwater MO-V colony can't resist the lures of OZ and the colonies leader soon eagerly signs his people up believing he is securing their future. But when the G-Units attract the attention of OZ's elite Prize unit, MO-V becomes a hunting ground and no treaty will save Bernett brothers, their G-Units or the other inhabitants of MO-V from the carnage which awaits...
G-UNIT is an interesting story from the After Colony world. For starters, Tokita pulls in inspiration from the ever popular UC. Whilst this is usually a cause for groans from fans as the same ideas continue to be rehashed over and over in the Gundam franchise, Tokita serves to use these inspirations only as slight homage and manages to keep the story feeling like it belongs in the AC timeline whilst inserting his own appealing and fresh ideas. Even Tokita's love for G Gundam's Allenby gets a nod (Prize pilot Kratz's custom Leo is clearly based on the infamous Nobel Gundam). About the only time this drawing on older works fails to work is for a certain character design- Prize pilot Broom Brooks is very clearly based on the look of G Gundam's Argo. This minor annoyance isn't enough to really spoil enjoyment however. As a sidestory, very few of the characters viewers will know from the Wing animated works appear. Lady Une and Lt Nichol appear briefly to set up why the events of this series were never mentioned in the show and a brief mention of the Gundam pilots and their aims are given to inspire Odin into what direction he will take with the conflict. Speaking of which, Odin is a decent character. He's slightly cliche' but alot more realistic and easy to warm to then the 5 Wing boys. Odel is a mentor to his brother, loving but not afraid to let his brother learn things the hard way as is some times the best in life. The rest of the MO-V 'family' consists of leader Roga Herman, his assistant/Odel's girlfriend Tricia, chief engineer and G-Unit designer Dr Berg, head mechanic Dick and his 'apprentice'/Odin's ocassional caretaker of sorts Lucille. On the reverse side of things we are introduced to another part of the mysterious OZ group in the shape of OZ Prize, a group of the finest OZ soldiers who receive their orders directly from Duke Dermail. Led by three bishounen pilots known as the Stardust Knights, Prize flaunt their advantage over MO-V and make a game of harassing the citizens and fighting the G-Units. The idea of Prize is a logical one and an interesting element to see played out. The UC influence on the story can be seen most clearly in the mecha designs. The Gundam Geminass G-Units are based on the Gundam Mk IIs from Zeta Gundam and their upgraded flight forms on the GP-01Fb from 0083. Prize also have some eyecatching designs in the form of the Stardust Knights' custom Leos, which have extra armour, weapons and various cosmetic details such as feminine frames and capes. They fit well with OZ's theatrical style and seem like exactly the MS you'd expect the elite wing of such a group to use. The first of three books in total, the book ends on a cliffhanger. But beyond that there's a treat in the form of more of Tokita's ever popular SD comics covering G Gundam, Gundam Wing, Gundam X, Endless Waltz and G-Unit itself. With just 4 panels at a time, Tokita manages to take some witty stabs at the show and his own work as well as humorous ideas which see the various casts interact. The fact that Tokita is welling to take shots at himself and his work makes the main story itself all the more enjoyable as you can see this is a man aware of the possible faults and that ultimately it's just entertainment. For a first volume, this book does pretty well. The book manages to draw you in and make you eagerly await the next two volumes. Whilst fans of the Wing world will definetly appreciate it, the story told here is perhaps richer which opens it up to a wider audience. Reccomended.
3.0 out of 5 stars
Gundam last outpost manga,
By edwin (quincy, FL, USA) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Last Outpost, Book 1 (Mobile Suit Gundam G-Unit) (Paperback)
Book showed signs of wear around all edges and one or two pages were stuck together, but in ok condition for my collection.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Brothers in Arms,
By J. Sherman "The Critic" (New York, USA) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Last Outpost, Book 1 (Mobile Suit Gundam G-Unit) (Paperback)
From manga publishing monster TOKYOPOP comes yet another entry in the Gundam frachise, the "Last Outpost" manga by Koichi Tokita. On a side note, it should be noted that Hajime Yatate and Yoshiyuki Tomino didn't write this manga (as written on the cover); they're always credited for the "Mobile Suit Gundam" TV series. Originally titled "Gundam Wing Dual Story: G-UNIT," this 12-volume manga has been released in 3 volumes for your convenience. It's an original story set in the same timeline as the "Gundam Wing" series. While the five Gundam pilots declare war on the Earth, the neutral MO-V asteroid colony secretly develops the G-Unit, an experimental mobile suit that can be modified for combat in any environment. Enter the Bernett brothers-the reckless Odin and the levelheaded Odel-who not only get to test drive this baby, but also join their colony in the independence movement started by the shadowy organization OZ. But the citizens of MO-V are in for a rude awakening when the elite "OZ Prize" unit attacks. When Odel, the colony's top MS pilot, gets shot down, Odin must master the G-Unit in order to protect his home.
While "The Last Outpost" is unlike anything seen in "Gundam Wing", throwing in a whole new setting, cast of characters, and mecha-the manga merely proves the adage: the more things change, the more they stay the same. You still have the same robot-on-robot action, the same high stakes, and at least one character from the TV series makes a cameo appearance. Also, like on the show, characters that get caught in explosions miraculously survive with minor injuries. On the plus side, character development and relationships both seem to be better focused here than in "Gundam Wing," as the trials that befall Odin force him to reevaluate his priorities. While it's too early to tell, "The Last Outpost" is sure to tickle the fancy of Gundam fan and average reader alike. As a bonus, Tokita includes "Go for It, Domon! Gundam Party," a series of four-panel cartoons featuring super deformed (Chibi) versions of your favorite Gundam characters. This comic is rated Y for Youth: Violence.
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