One of the more interesting Gundam manga that I’ve been reading has gotten its anime adaption and it’s pretty awesome. Kidou Senshi Gundam Thunderbolt (Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt) is an on-going manga series published since 2012 and set in the UC era. Basically the Federation forces are fighting against Zeon in an area of space known as the Thunderbolt sector which is named after electrical discharges proliferating that area coming from the debris of multiple space colonies.
Like any other Gundam anime/manga, it’s difficult to determine a clear cut protagonist/antagonist between the two main characters, the Federation ensign Io Flemming, and the disabled Zeon pilot Daryl Lorenz who is part of a larger squad filled with likewise disabled Zeon pilots, dubbed the Living Dead.
The first episode in this animated adaptation does not disappoint, as the graphics are, well, almost, jaw-dropping. The effect is kinda like watching Macross Frontier for the first time when it was released back in 2008. I believe the keyword was sugoi, in the awesome sense. Fans of Gundam Unicorn will feel right at home here.
The first sortie with the Zeon forces nearly ended up in defeat for the Federation forces but it was ended in a rather unconventional way, which ironically conveniently paves the path for revenge. Viewers are quickly introduced to the Full Armor Gundam but as to whether we get to see the full capabilities of the machine, the next episode beckons (with this series being an ONA, I’m not sure on when’s the next air date).
