I’m rewriting an article I originally wrote back in 2011 about Mobile Fighter G Gundam (機動武闘伝Gガンダム). Even now, it remains one of my favorite alternate-universe Gundam series. Its uniqueness is executed remarkably well, essentially pure manliness taking physical form as a Gundam. Many Gundam fans treat G-Gundam as the franchise’s dark horse. But if you approach this series with an open mind, you might find it to be a surprisingly enjoyable ride.
Compared to Gundam series of its era and even many modern iterations, G-Gundam takes a radically different approach for its settings. Instead of the familiar total-war conflict between two superpowers, the war-torn world of G-Gundam evolves into a system where most nations become space colonies. Rather than fighting wars, countries now settle disputes through a tournament called Gundam Fight. Each nation sends a representative Gundam fighter, and the winning nation earns leadership over the space colonies for a predetermined period. The main storyline focuses on the appearance of Devil Gundam during the 13th Gundam Fight.
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The protagonist is Domon Kasshu, representing Neo Japan. At the start of the series, Domon travels the world searching for his older brother Kouji, battling other Gundam fighters along the way. Domon believes Kouji stole the Devil Gundam, causing their mother’s death and their father’s collapse into a comatose state. As the series progresses, Domon learns the truth behind the incident. The series is divided into six main arcs spanning 49 episodes.
The reason G-Gundam remains one of my favorite Gundam series is its overall strong character cast. Unlike most Gundam protagonists who usually fall into the “whiny emo teenager” stereotype, Domon Kasshu is one of the most hot-blooded and manly Gundam pilots, even if he is still slightly immature. My favorite characters are Schwarz Bruder and Master Asia. They are simply awesome, and easily the most memorable and likable figures in the series.
The character development in G-Gundam is very strong one. Domon starts as a relatively powerful fighter, but he is flawed as he struggles to control his rage. Later, he learns to overcome his blind anger and becomes the savior he was meant to be. The series also gives supporting characters more opportunities to shine, and the camaraderie between Domon and the Shuffle Alliance is among the best in the entire Gundam franchise.
The most obvious drawback of G-Gundam is the Gundam designs. Many of them are blatantly ridiculous and barely resemble traditional Gundams. Some fights can also become repetitive, especially since God Finger often resolves conflicts too quickly. Mobile suits like Nether, Merman and Skull Gundam being primary culprit
Still, it cannot be understated how well G-Gundam performs in the “manliness department.” It remains one of the most hot-blooded Gundam series to date.
A Gundam series isn’t complete without romance, and G-Gundam delivers, even including a love triangle. Personally, I prefer Allenby as Domon’s partner. However, Rain Murakami proves herself to be the perfect candidate as Domon’s eventual lover. The series does a good job with pairing characters, and each Shuffle Alliance member gets their own romantic subplot.
Overall, G-Gundam is a great series, even if it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. As the first Gundam series to use an alternate universe setting (later followed by Gundam Wing), director Yasuhiro Imagawa did an excellent job. He created an over-the-top Gundam series infused with Super Robot elements - memorable, bold, and rich in manliness.
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