Gundam Legacy

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Gundam Legacy is a three-volume anthology manga set in Gundam's Universal Century timeline written by Tomohiro Chiba & Koujirou Nakamura and illustrated by Masato Natsumoto that ran from 2004 to 2009; the series was originally serialized by Gundam Ace. Set largely before, during and between the events of Mobile Suit Gundam and Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack, the various short stories cover events in the Universal Century through the perspective of various characters (mostly soldiers) and their own struggles. While many of these are one-shot affairs, later on they start becoming interconnected. Especially as a plot is discovered in UC 0084 to attack Side 3 and reignite war.

In addition to putting a spotlight on sidestory protagonists, minor characters and Muggles in general as opposed to rehashing Amuro or Char's perspective, Gundam Legacy is notable for the attention placed on various other works set in the Universal Century. This is particularly evident in the focus on characters from Gaiden Games such as Zeonic Front, Lost War Chronicles and Encounters in Space.

Tropes used in Gundam Legacy include:

• Ascended Extra: Happens on more than one occasion. Captain Gadem in particular has his own story, revealing his role in the rise of Zeon's mobile suit forces before the One Year War.
• Badass Pacifist: Matt Healy from Lost War Chronicles is this by UC 0084. This is also in part why he left the Federation military after the war to become a civilian in Australia. Eventually, he helps Ford and Agar stop the plot to destroy Side 3.
• Bridge Bunnies: Noel Anderson and Miyu Takizawa, who end up assigned to Augusta Base after the One Year War for their expertise. Though it's strongly implied that their one-upmanship on who's the better tactician winds up getting them Reassigned to Antarctica.
• Continuity Cameo:
  • Desert Rommel, who eventually becomes a leader of the Zeon Remnants in Africa by the time Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ takes place, is shown alongside his Rommel Corps during the end of the One Year War as he meets up with the Midnight Fenrir.
  • A picture of Kamille Bidan winning a Junior MS competition appears in "Little Wars, A Certain Small Fight," which originally showed up in Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam.
  • General Revil makes an appearance in one story, set during Zeon's failed attack on Jaburo.
  • Blex Forer from Zeta Gundam also makes a cameo, albeit as an Earth Federation officer.
• Enemy Civil War: How the Earth Federation comes to view the growing discord between the Zeon Remnants and the "legitimate" Republic of Zeon by UC 0084. Which suits the Titans and other anti-Spacenoid elements just fine.
• Fallen Hero: Some Zeon characters who wind up with the Remnants end up becoming so blinded by rage that they consider destroying their homeland acceptable. This includes some former members of the Midnight Fenrir from Zeonic Front.
• Government Conspiracy: A rather benevolent example; it's revealed that after the war, elements of the Republic of Zeon are secretly colluding with a high-ranking Earth Federation officer. Who's revealed to be Blex Forer, the future leader of the AEUG as he and his allies in Side 3 try to find evidence of the Titans' involvement in the plot.
• The Greatest Story Never Told: Arguably the whole point of the manga and especially the later stories, as it covers events and tales that would either be forgotten if not erased by history or otherwise ignored.
• The Gump: Yuu Kajima continued serving in the military for years after the One Year War. Eventually becoming part of Londo Bell and one of those who tried pushing back Axis in Char's Counterattack.
• Les Collaborateurs: Subverted with the "legitimate" Republic of Zeon that came into being in Side 3 after the One Year War ended. While the Zeon Remnants tend to dismiss the Republic as little more than "Federation dogs" and traitors, at least some in the Republic still resent the Earth Federation (and increasingly, the Titans) and long to bring the Remnants home, but otherwise would rather not spark another conflict.
• Older and Wiser: Ford Romfellow shows this, especially in contrast to his more brash, careless antics in Encounters in Space.
• Reassigned to Antarctica: This is ultimately Ford Romfellow and Agar's fate at end of the manga, as they're demoted and sent off to the ass-end of Earth for their defiance against their Titan superiors in stopping the attack on Side 3. Despite their predicament, they take consolation in the fact that they did the right thing, as well as their company including Noel Anderson and Miyu Takizawa.
• The Remnant: There are still many Zeon Remnants fighting the Federation, though some of them are also bitter at the Republic of Zeon for betraying them.
• Little Hero, Big War: Happens in more than a few stories, as they involve small battles or crises in the wider context of events like the One Year War.
• Sanity Slippage: Zeon mobile suit pilots Lilia Flaubert (from Encounters in Space) and Jake Guns (from Lost War Chronicles) have gone off the deep end by UC 0084 and have become so obsessed with exacting revenge that they're not above blowing up their homeland to make their point.
• Slice of Life: A few of the stories are basically this.
  • "Little Wars, A Certain Small Fight" follows a group of kids trying to win a Junior MS competition in their space colony, shortly before the events of Zeta Gundam. In addition to being one of the only stories in the manga about everyday civilians in the Universal Century, it's also one of the most light-hearted entries..save for the fact that the competition is sponsored by the Titans.
  • "The Hottest Day in Augusta," which follows the antics of Noel Anderson and Miyu Takizawa (and their growing rivalry) in UC 0082. Complete with fanservice, with both Bridge Bunnies even showing off their swimsuits at one point.
• Stealth Sequel: Of sorts to a number of sidestories. This is most notable in the cases of Lost War Chronicles and Encounters in Space, PS2 games which Tomohiro Chiba and Masato Natsumoto previously made manga adaptations for.
• War Is Hell: The various stories don't shy away from showing the more brutal aspects of war.