Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Rebellion

Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Rebellion is an ongoing manga remake of Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory, penned by Takashi Imanishi and illustrated by Masato Natsumoto, known for his work on the Record of Lodoss War series. Serialized in Gundam Ace since June 2013, Rebellion goes a step further than simply retreading the trials of Kou Uraki and Anavel Gato or the wider conflict as seen in the 1991-92 OVAs. Rather, it reimagines and retells how those events played, resulting in something rather similar to Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin.

Thus, while those familiar with the OVAs may find much that's still recognizable, much has been added and changed that the manga can stand on it own even while remaining faithful to its source.


 * A House Divided: It's mentioned that the Earth Federation is experiencing corruption and a lot of political infighting. It's this mess that's opened a window of opportunity for Delaz and Gato to exploit for Operation Stardust.
 * Adaptation Expansion: The manga expands significantly on the OVAs, especially with regards to characterizations, backstory and other details. In fact, a major difference from the anime is how the story begins on New Years Eve 0082, the first chapter largely following Kou Uraki's time in the academy.
 * Broad Strokes: The overall plot is broadly still the same. The devil however, is in the details.
 * Characterisation Marches On: Kou is noticeably book smart this time around, further highlighting his Indy Ploy tendencies as in the anime. His hatred for carrots is still very much the same, though.
 * Continuity Nod:
 * Gato is shown using a customized Zaku II previously introduced in the MSV-R series.
 * In a flashback sequence and nod to Char's Deleted Affair, Delaz's forces rendezvous with other fleeing Zeon fleets, deliberating on whether to join Maharajah Karn or remain in the Earth Sphere.
 * The Albion is shown flying a crater near Torrington Base, marking where Operation British hit Australia.
 * One of Nina Purpleton's colleagues in Anaheim Electronics is shown making a suspicious comment about working on the La Vie En Rose.
 * Determinator: Kou Uraki, even as a cadet, is shown for the get-go as very eager to become a mobile suit pilot.
 * Follow the Leader: Of sorts to Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin. It helps as well that it's written by one of the key figures involved in the original OVAs.
 * Foregone Conclusion: As the manga, like the OVAs, still lead to the events of Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, it's a given.
 * Gundamjack: Like the anime, though it happens comparatively later on in the manga's story.
 * Idiot Ball: Invoked by Gato when he manages to slip into Earth as a tourist, noticing how the Earth Federation seems to have grown complacent if their immigrations check are that lax.
 * Mauve Shirt: The manga introduces more characters on both the Zeon and Federation sides. In the case of the Albion, it has a noticeably larger crew in part because of it stopping at Anaheim HQ and Jaburo before arriving at Torrington Base as in the OVA.
 * Mega Corp: Anaheim Electronics, which by this point is consolidating ever great power especially with the assets (and personnel) absorbed from Zeon's former companies.
 * Mildly Military: Cima and her men are shown to be this even in the flashbacks, which garners them disdain from the other Zeon forces.
 * No Social Skills: Kou is shown to get so engrossed with mobile suits and combat data that he sometimes forgets that there are people around him.
 * Noble Demon: Anavel Gato, with the manga giving more attention to this side of him. Also, Delaz is revealed to be this as well, given his sincere, borderline fanatical loyalty to Zeon and Gihren Zabi.
 * Paper-Thin Disguise: Gato manages to arrive on Earth disguised as a tourist...which is basically him wearing a beach shirt and Lennon Specs with his hair down. When he slips into Torrington Base to Gundamjack GP-02, he doesn't even bother hiding his appearance other than grudgingly wearing a Federation officer's uniform. It's justified however, given how it's established that no one in the Federation really knew what the "Nightmare of Solomon" looked like in the first place.
 * The Remnant: Delaz's fleet are mentioned as being the most powerful of the Zeon remnants in the Earth Sphere by UC 0083. Gato in particular rendezvous with a Zeon submarine crew at one point who've been stranded on Earth and in hiding.
 * Retcon: Inevitable, given the nature of the retelling. The most significant being the redesigns for the GP-01 and GP-02, which while still very recognizable look decidedly more updated. It also makes it clear that
 * Retraux: Sort of. The art style and atmosphere match the Top Gun and 1990s feel of the OVAs, though have been given more contemporary touches.
 * Roaring Rampage of Revenge: Operation Stardust, like in the anime, is this, in addition to being a propaganda moved aimed at reigniting Spacenoid "resistance" against the Federation.
 * Scenery Porn: Readers are treated to beautiful vistas, whether it's the classic architecture of Njimegen, African savannah or the quiet Australian coast.
 * Scenery Gorn: Said Australian coast also happens to be the site of Operation British. Not to mention scenes showing bombed-out warzones on Earth and space left over from the One Year War.
 * Tempting Fate: Kou, Keith and several other Feddie characters are shown in the early chapters expressing relief that the war's long over and that nothing could possibly go wrong.