What do you think?
Rate this book
機動戦士ガンダムTHE ORIGIN [Kidou Senshi Gundam: The Origin] #6
Mobile Suit Gundam: THE ORIGIN 6: To War
"Originally published in Japanese as Kidou senshi Gundam: the origin, volumes 11 and 12 in 2005, 2006 and re-issued in hardcover as Aizouban Kidou senshi Gundam: the origin VI -Jaburo- in 2010, by Kadokawa Shoten Co., Ltd."--Colophon.
440 pages, Hardcover
First published July 26, 2010
8 people are currently reading
274 people want to read
About the author
Yoshikazu Yasuhiko
368 books31 followersYoshikazu Yasuhiko (安彦良和) is a Japanese manga artist, animator, character designer, anime director, illustrator, and novelist. He was born in Engaru Town, Monbetsu District, Hokkaido, and currently resides in Tokorozawa City, Saitama Prefecture.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
June 17, 2014
The last volume ended by shedding a whole lot of light on the origin stories of Char Aznable, or rather Casval Rem Deikun, and Sayla Mass, or Artesia Som Deikun, and the origins of Mobile Suit technology. This volume bridges the gap between then and the very beginning of where Mobile Suit Gundam started, showing the reader the ascent of Char in the Zeon ranks and his pivotal role in the conflict between the Federation and the Colonies. It's very well paced and balanced, with about as many space battles as there are dramatic scenes between the humans in these gargantuan war machines and behind the socio-political curtain. Yasuhiko does very well to show the motivations of everyone in the war, even those who never really got much time in the first few volumes, like Amuro Ray's father, Dr. Ray and the various Zabi spawn. A notable relationship in this volume is that between Char and Garma Zabi, where the former's delicate manipulation of the latter underscores how dangerous Char was in the very beginning of the conflict. That said, it's a lot of backstory and only backstory. I'd honestly like to see what's happening to the cast and crew of White Base after the events of volume five! All in all, it's a marvelous read, doing a terrific job of continuing the Mobile Suit Gundam saga.
September 11, 2021
Warrant Officer Char Aznable is one serious troublemaker.
A great deal happens in MSG: THE ORIGIN #6. However, the most critical truths readers will take away from this volume are the not-so-distant echoes of egotistical chivalry and dark-willed connivances that constitute Char's beating heart. The contrast is welcome but strange. As an adult, Char is written as an aloof, unsympathetic war dog who single-handedly craves conflict; he's written as a flat character lacking room for development. Early-20s Char, by comparison, pushes himself to be tactically efficient, academically unparalleled, and impeccably morally flexible.
MSG: THE ORIGIN #6, thankfully, delights in the younger Char's exploits. The young soldier trains in Zum City and immediately rises to the top of his class. His usurpation of the life of the real "Char Aznable" fully in tow, the presumed dead Casval Rem Deikun now fully begins his quest toward destroying the Zeon empire from within. This volume is quite a treat. Char completes an array of military exercises, wins the respect of his colleagues, and comes into increasingly closer contact with Garma Zabi. There is something intensely sorrowful about Char's unblushing motivation for worming through the ranks, but the young man's intense gaze and resolve are so ferocious, it is, at times, comical he can pull off such a ridiculous feat.
Garma's pendulum of hatred and affection for Char finds its oldest, deepest seed in this volume. The spoiled scion of the Zabi family detests the brilliant, charismatic, and thick-skinned recruit with blonde hair. But as a moment of crises arrives, Garma comes to rely on Char's brilliance, his charisma, and his thick skin. For example, when Federation forces stationed in Zum City threaten martial law to quell rioting in pursuit of Zeon independence, it's an open question as to who will make the first move, the aggrieved people or the Fed military. Char takes the charge of the situation, convincing a cowering but later resolute Garma to "turn the gears of history with [his] own hand."
The kinetic intensity of Char's ill intentions reverberate throughout the whole volume. He does not care who he sacrifices to serve his ends and he does not care for the accolades that might matriculate his way. Nothing matters but the white-hot core in his chest, constantly aching for his own brand of justice. It's not always obvious Char is thinking several steps ahead, but he is. When he first witnesses the evolution of the mining mobile worker into a military mobile suit, readers can be sure he'll drop a few hints as to his viability as a future pilot. When he publicly questions authority or otherwise deliberately makes himself the center of attention, and is sure to meet a public reprisal, readers can bet Char is calculatingly lowering his own status so as to inflate the capabilities of others. Interestingly, just as Zeon Zum Deikun was a madman and a fool, the dead founding father's son, Casval, is one legitimately manipulative bastard.
The current volume also makes an earnest effort to weave into play all of the major facets of the coming war. Adolescents Amuro and Frau meet amid the fractious events of Side 7's development. Lieutenant Ramba Ral rebuilds his credibility through work as a test pilot for Zeon's first line of mobile suits. Lalah debuts, if on the run from all manner of thieves, gangsters and kingpins. Rear Admiral Kycilia proves she's spent the past decade honing her skills as a conniver of military and political will. And Tem Ray, Amuro's father, fends off his imposter syndrome by sinking deeper and deeper into his private obsession: the RX-78.
A great deal happens in MSG: THE ORIGIN #6. However, the most critical truths readers will take away from this volume are the not-so-distant echoes of egotistical chivalry and dark-willed connivances that constitute Char's beating heart. The contrast is welcome but strange. As an adult, Char is written as an aloof, unsympathetic war dog who single-handedly craves conflict; he's written as a flat character lacking room for development. Early-20s Char, by comparison, pushes himself to be tactically efficient, academically unparalleled, and impeccably morally flexible.
MSG: THE ORIGIN #6, thankfully, delights in the younger Char's exploits. The young soldier trains in Zum City and immediately rises to the top of his class. His usurpation of the life of the real "Char Aznable" fully in tow, the presumed dead Casval Rem Deikun now fully begins his quest toward destroying the Zeon empire from within. This volume is quite a treat. Char completes an array of military exercises, wins the respect of his colleagues, and comes into increasingly closer contact with Garma Zabi. There is something intensely sorrowful about Char's unblushing motivation for worming through the ranks, but the young man's intense gaze and resolve are so ferocious, it is, at times, comical he can pull off such a ridiculous feat.
Garma's pendulum of hatred and affection for Char finds its oldest, deepest seed in this volume. The spoiled scion of the Zabi family detests the brilliant, charismatic, and thick-skinned recruit with blonde hair. But as a moment of crises arrives, Garma comes to rely on Char's brilliance, his charisma, and his thick skin. For example, when Federation forces stationed in Zum City threaten martial law to quell rioting in pursuit of Zeon independence, it's an open question as to who will make the first move, the aggrieved people or the Fed military. Char takes the charge of the situation, convincing a cowering but later resolute Garma to "turn the gears of history with [his] own hand."
The kinetic intensity of Char's ill intentions reverberate throughout the whole volume. He does not care who he sacrifices to serve his ends and he does not care for the accolades that might matriculate his way. Nothing matters but the white-hot core in his chest, constantly aching for his own brand of justice. It's not always obvious Char is thinking several steps ahead, but he is. When he first witnesses the evolution of the mining mobile worker into a military mobile suit, readers can be sure he'll drop a few hints as to his viability as a future pilot. When he publicly questions authority or otherwise deliberately makes himself the center of attention, and is sure to meet a public reprisal, readers can bet Char is calculatingly lowering his own status so as to inflate the capabilities of others. Interestingly, just as Zeon Zum Deikun was a madman and a fool, the dead founding father's son, Casval, is one legitimately manipulative bastard.
The current volume also makes an earnest effort to weave into play all of the major facets of the coming war. Adolescents Amuro and Frau meet amid the fractious events of Side 7's development. Lieutenant Ramba Ral rebuilds his credibility through work as a test pilot for Zeon's first line of mobile suits. Lalah debuts, if on the run from all manner of thieves, gangsters and kingpins. Rear Admiral Kycilia proves she's spent the past decade honing her skills as a conniver of military and political will. And Tem Ray, Amuro's father, fends off his imposter syndrome by sinking deeper and deeper into his private obsession: the RX-78.
July 6, 2024
Sixth volume, the art continues to be at the same quality. Things are racing towards the beginning of the legendary One Year War.
Perhaps because it's not depicting the war, but the most immediate events leading up to the war, but this volume is significantly more tense. It's an excellent reflection on the difference between knowing you're hip deep into the mess, and the possibility still existing that you won't end up in the trenches. Char gets the most focus, but it's almost an ensemble cast episode instead. Garma takes a good amount of screen time, his father Degwin also reveals far more of himself than he does in even the previous volume. Amuro appears a little as well, and Lalah Sune is introduced.
Two of the most interesting things involve the Zabis. First is Garma's desire to be worthy of his family name, which pushes him to strive. Char's natural skill makes him superior to everyone, but Garma's determination not to fall behind keeps him right behind Char. It's very interesting how Char becomes friends with Garma, since he had every opportunity to doom Garma early on, but refrains. In fact, there are times where he takes care of Garma even when it won't benefit him. It makes all the more sad his future betrayal. The other interesting note is how Degwin is not what Char believes him to be. Degwin himself has no interest in war and still staunchly follows the ideals of Char's father, Zeon Zum Deikun. This further reinforces how Char is likely wrong to believe Degwin had Zeon killed, as even Kycilia was astonished when he accused her of it many years ago. Degwin's older children are a different matter. Dozle and Garma are both filial, but Gihren and Kycilia are both young and ambitious. Degwin knows them well, and frequently rebukes his eldest, Gihren, for his inability to stop scheming. The old man, however, is unable to control his son, who slowly outmaneuvers his father to the place Gihren wants him: war.
I continue to recommend this series and those who have gotten to this point should continue!
Perhaps because it's not depicting the war, but the most immediate events leading up to the war, but this volume is significantly more tense. It's an excellent reflection on the difference between knowing you're hip deep into the mess, and the possibility still existing that you won't end up in the trenches. Char gets the most focus, but it's almost an ensemble cast episode instead. Garma takes a good amount of screen time, his father Degwin also reveals far more of himself than he does in even the previous volume. Amuro appears a little as well, and Lalah Sune is introduced.
Two of the most interesting things involve the Zabis. First is Garma's desire to be worthy of his family name, which pushes him to strive. Char's natural skill makes him superior to everyone, but Garma's determination not to fall behind keeps him right behind Char. It's very interesting how Char becomes friends with Garma, since he had every opportunity to doom Garma early on, but refrains. In fact, there are times where he takes care of Garma even when it won't benefit him. It makes all the more sad his future betrayal. The other interesting note is how Degwin is not what Char believes him to be. Degwin himself has no interest in war and still staunchly follows the ideals of Char's father, Zeon Zum Deikun. This further reinforces how Char is likely wrong to believe Degwin had Zeon killed, as even Kycilia was astonished when he accused her of it many years ago. Degwin's older children are a different matter. Dozle and Garma are both filial, but Gihren and Kycilia are both young and ambitious. Degwin knows them well, and frequently rebukes his eldest, Gihren, for his inability to stop scheming. The old man, however, is unable to control his son, who slowly outmaneuvers his father to the place Gihren wants him: war.
I continue to recommend this series and those who have gotten to this point should continue!
July 27, 2020
Volume 8, in short, is a reminder of in order to know where you are going, you have to know where you have been.
Given that it has been a while since I dove into Yoshikazu Yasuhiko's, "Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin" series, I felt that I had forgotten key events, names, and situations that would help the flow of the story and series overall. Nevertheless, the choice of where to start or pick up the plot in Volume 6 not only helped to reroute my memory as to who is who, and where is where, in this universe, but to also understand why things are the way that they are.
Without too much spoiling of the events in this portion of the series, we find out more of the individual histories of those involved with the war between Zeon and the Federation. I enjoyed how the final chapters gave a bittersweet account of the key players up to this point, and showed more of their humanity when often we see their professional facades.
I know based on my retention of the series that watching the anime will help fill in the spaces that are missing or empty, and I plan to do as much of that as possible while waiting for Volumes 7 and 8 to arrive!
Given that it has been a while since I dove into Yoshikazu Yasuhiko's, "Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin" series, I felt that I had forgotten key events, names, and situations that would help the flow of the story and series overall. Nevertheless, the choice of where to start or pick up the plot in Volume 6 not only helped to reroute my memory as to who is who, and where is where, in this universe, but to also understand why things are the way that they are.
Without too much spoiling of the events in this portion of the series, we find out more of the individual histories of those involved with the war between Zeon and the Federation. I enjoyed how the final chapters gave a bittersweet account of the key players up to this point, and showed more of their humanity when often we see their professional facades.
I know based on my retention of the series that watching the anime will help fill in the spaces that are missing or empty, and I plan to do as much of that as possible while waiting for Volumes 7 and 8 to arrive!
April 18, 2021
This volume and the previous include a lot of new material that wasn’t in the original anime from 1979 or the original manga. I haven’t particularly enjoyed it because the focus has been on characters I don’t really care for, but I have appreciated the more in depth focus on the cause of the conflict and the rationale behind the action that kicks off the original series.
Contains: war (no civilian involvement in this volume), piranhas, a young woman being exploited for her telepathic skills so that she can feed her family, a beheading, implied assassination via car accident, and someone takes a bladed weapon to the chest. Also, the dean of a military academy asks the top female graduate to “bear him an heir” and she’s...happy about it?
Contains: war (no civilian involvement in this volume), piranhas, a young woman being exploited for her telepathic skills so that she can feed her family, a beheading, implied assassination via car accident, and someone takes a bladed weapon to the chest. Also, the dean of a military academy asks the top female graduate to “bear him an heir” and she’s...happy about it?
May 12, 2025
✨Writing a grouped review for the whole series and copy and pasting ✨
Mobile Suit Gundam is my first venture into more mechasuit sci-fi stories and to it I have had a rather mixed experience. I'm not the biggest of sci-fi readers in general but I now know this is not really my niche. I read it after multiple people had recommended to me both the manga and the anime and I am glad I have read it.
The series does an ok job at setting the plot and developing it's characters; with some satisfactory moral conclusions. However, a lot of it is pretty convoluted and hard to follow. I wouldn't say this is necessarily beginner friendly for readers not used to the genre.
If sci-fi and specifically mechsuits are more your thing, you could definitely find enjoyment here. Just not for me
Mobile Suit Gundam is my first venture into more mechasuit sci-fi stories and to it I have had a rather mixed experience. I'm not the biggest of sci-fi readers in general but I now know this is not really my niche. I read it after multiple people had recommended to me both the manga and the anime and I am glad I have read it.
The series does an ok job at setting the plot and developing it's characters; with some satisfactory moral conclusions. However, a lot of it is pretty convoluted and hard to follow. I wouldn't say this is necessarily beginner friendly for readers not used to the genre.
If sci-fi and specifically mechsuits are more your thing, you could definitely find enjoyment here. Just not for me
December 7, 2019
The Origin’s 6th installment continues to be nothing short of a vivid and stunning telling of the events leading directly up to the beginning of the One Year War. Full of gorgeous illustrations and a strong grasp on the plotting of events as well as depictions of its characters (namely giving more dynamic to Char and Amuro than you’d expect from a book focusing on the history leading into the One Year War), Volume VI is another solid entry in this series that I didn’t want to put down even after I finished it.
August 14, 2023
I’m happy these origin stories exist, I just wish they were structured differently. We really left off in a cool spot before this enormous flashback. I can see why it was placed here, and I’m not sure how I would have wanted it done differently, but it is a little long winded. I could only feel that way because I’ve seen the adaptation of this section though.
May 23, 2024
The origin subplot about the rise of Char and Zeon continues. Frankly the way Casval takes Char identity and keeps it is the less believable part of all the series, and the fact he is a sort of super-scary superhuman above anybody else is kinda cliche and goes against the adherence to verisimilitude of the original Gundam
April 27, 2019
Still think this prequel stuff is pointless and often undermines the characters, but this one was at least pretty gripping. Only one more volume until I get back to the superb retelling of the original series that I came here for.
January 11, 2023
This shows a lot more of the political reasons for the war and shows Char being possibly (?) genuinely caring toward Garma in military academy. Which makes his betrayal even worse.
I do wish Fraw got to be an actual character instead of a caricature but I’m happy see Lalah introduced earlier.
I do wish Fraw got to be an actual character instead of a caricature but I’m happy see Lalah introduced earlier.
June 4, 2025
The flashback continues. I was thinking it might get a little bit excessive at this point - ready to go back to the main story - but then Lalah showed up and that was something I absolutely wanted to hear more about.
June 30, 2022
Loved getting to know more about Char, especially in regards to his relationship with Garma.
December 5, 2023
This is so good
November 3, 2024
Another flashback volume on the march to war. Intrigue abounds as Zeon’s palace intrigue becomes the spark to light the colonies aflame.
August 11, 2024
Yet another volume of origin stories that is not so compelling. There were a few exceptional moments but that's mostly it.
July 10, 2025
Maybe I'm just a delusional Char Aznable fan, but Yoshikazu Yasuhiko's depiction of the lead-up to the war between Zeon and the Federation is one of the more interesting volumes in the manga series. Yes, Char is the Forrest Gump of the Gundam universe, and yes, the author doesn't quite know what his motivations are now that he's been given this fantastical golden boy backstory, and yes, this volume is full of unnecessary cameos from characters we've met and know the fates of, and yes, the author insists on carrying the extended flashback all the way up to the very moments that the series began for some reason... I forgot where I was going with this, but I still had a good time reading about Char's days at the academy and the summer he spent abroad in Jaburo.
October 15, 2016
I wrote a more comprehensive review of the first volume here.
This is the second volume in the flashback arc, which focuses quite a bit on Char on his rise to power, including his relationship with Garma, which only seems sadder for Garma in retrospect. There’s a lot of development for the whole Zabi family, actually, as well as for Dr. Ray on the Federation side of things. It’s also an introduction and backstory for Lalah, which I was not expecting and was very excited about! It also does quite a bit to highlight how absolutely savage Char can be in his quest for revenge, which in turn does a lot to explain his relationship with his sister. And how savage the Zabis themselves can be - the part with Kycilia and her spy was brilliantly done.
Also, again in this volume we get much more information on the history involved in the Gundam universe, which is always fun to read and gives an added depth to the rest of the series.
This is the second volume in the flashback arc, which focuses quite a bit on Char on his rise to power, including his relationship with Garma, which only seems sadder for Garma in retrospect. There’s a lot of development for the whole Zabi family, actually, as well as for Dr. Ray on the Federation side of things. It’s also an introduction and backstory for Lalah, which I was not expecting and was very excited about! It also does quite a bit to highlight how absolutely savage Char can be in his quest for revenge, which in turn does a lot to explain his relationship with his sister. And how savage the Zabis themselves can be - the part with Kycilia and her spy was brilliantly done.
Also, again in this volume we get much more information on the history involved in the Gundam universe, which is always fun to read and gives an added depth to the rest of the series.
September 5, 2014
This volume continues to fill the backstory for the original Gundam TV series. The first section depicts Char and Garma as cadets at the Zeon military academy, and Char's first encounter with power politics as the colonies begin their bid for independence from Earth. The second half of the volume shows the run up to the One Year War. The politics are still a bit sketchy, but the development of mobile suits in Zeon and the Federation gets a lot of details. Of course, in that regard, Origin engages in some revisionist history-- the Guncannon and Guntank are not part of the Gundam V Project, they are early unsucessful attempt by the Federation to catch up to Zeon's level of suit technology. Yet another version of the Gundam timeline...
July 1, 2014
All I can say is that Char is so gar when he puts on his Miami Vice style sunglasses and fights Arab gamblers. I have no idea what that has to do with the Zeon secession movement, the development of Mobile Suits, or the deteriorating political relationship between Earth and the colonies, but man it is awesome.
May 24, 2016
Really good volume. Interesting how Char is actually less sociopathic compared to his counterpart in the recent animated adaptation of this volume- Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin III - The Dawn of Rebellion.
The bits with Amuro and his friends being affected by the upcoming war were good too.
The bits with Amuro and his friends being affected by the upcoming war were good too.
March 1, 2016
The story continues into Char's past as he climbs the ranks as a cadet and befriends Garma. His strategy is set. Since we know where the story is going, it makes him a very conniving character. Garma is a soft, scared pretty boy. They are my favorite roomies! The art is ridiculously perfect in these books. The color pages are lovely and generous. This series is amazing.
October 7, 2015
The second volume to explore the events leading up to the One Year War portrayed in the original anime. These prequel stories are really filling in a lot of the background of both the political situation and the characters, and are the best part of the series so far.
June 20, 2014
of course Char Aznable is great at everything.
July 6, 2014
This incredible political dance going on is going to hurt a lot of people in the end, I think.
March 16, 2016
How the fuck do you keep getting better and better?
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews