The Last Outpost, Book 1 (Mobile Suit Gundam G-Unit)

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.