Artista - @nizisousakudayo

Artista - @nizisousakudayo

Kilian Eng, Silver Surfer

Sanjulián, wraparound cover illustration for Starstrike, by W. Michael Gear (DAW Books, July 1990). Oil on canvas, 19.5 x 28 inches. (Heritage identifies this painting as Treasure of Light, but that appears to be an error; see the page at the isfdb, https://bit.ly/3BvfH7Y.)

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So I talk a lot about the Calamity War. About what it must’ve been like, about the sheer scale and size of it. About how it wrecked the moon, and grants the Gundam frames this near-mythic significance.

I also know that we’re never gonna get a proper understanding of what happened in it, and that’s ok.

But Y’know what I’d currently settle for?

Knowing just what the hell the Gundam Seere’s about.

What we know:

It’s the ASW-G-70 Gundam Seere, and was completed just prior to the Dantalion. From this, we know it was deployed in the calamity war fairly late. It was active in P.D. 323, whereupon it attacked a civilian craft, resulting in the death of Argi’s family. It’s presumably connected to Ville Klassen (who’s maddeningly difficult to find a picture of when you don’t have the original manga to hand) and therefore the Warren’s (and maybe the Zalmforts?).

Because, while I’m sure that the only picture we have of it (above) is supposed to represent Argi’s perception of it during the event, and may not accurately represent what it looks like, part of me wants to try and kitbash it. But other than it’s hunched pose and clawed hands, I wouldn’t really know where to go. The head does resemble that of the Astaroth, but again, that could be artistic licence to tie it in better when Argi pilots the Astaroth later.

Thing is, it doesn’t otherwise show up in Iron-blooded orphans Gekko, nor does Ville Klassen get his comeuppance. Which makes me think the manga was originally supposed to have another Arc, but I can’t really find anything on this to suggest either way. I don’t think the manga ended poorly, I just think that there were a lot of loose ends, the Seere being one of them.

I’m seeing a lot of takes about Witch From Mercury’s ending (specifically about it feeling rushed since we only got 25 episodes), so I’m just gonna throw my two cents in now, maybe do a proper analysis of the actual ending at one point.

I quite like the ending of Witch From Mercury. I’ll admit I expected to get more out of it, but what we got was really good.

But the whole line about “the execs didn’t have faith in it, that’s why it’s only 25 eps” I’m seeing……. I’m not so sure about it.

Like yes, it’s not typically Gundam’s demographic (it normally leans more towards male demographics) and yuri is typically seen as something enjoyed by female ones, so obviously they didn’t expect it to blow up as it has……

But I’m given to understand that Yuri is an absolute *powerhouse* in Japan, so them not having faith seems like a weird take.