Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt vol. 19

I said last time that I was ready for some actual movement on the conflict between the Nanyang Alliance and the Federation after the last few volumes of ping-ponging setup between both sides.  Vol. 19 has this to offer instead:  More setup!

While I should complain about it, what we get here is actually quite good.  In addition to some much-needed backstory regarding Io’s new tween Newtype partner, Lily, we find out more about the man himself.  Specifically, about his late father and the role he played in the first manned trip to Jupiter and how it changed his perspective on humanity’s future and what needed to be done to preserve it.  Io hears this from Andy Wellington, his dad’s old friend and the head of Anaheim Electronics.  

You’ll recall that AE is the biggest arms manufacturer in the Solar System and the target of the Nanyang Alliance as a result.  What you don’t know is that they’ve also set up multiple terrariums on the Moon that are acting as preserves for multiple species of plant and animal life from Earth, some of which have already gone extinct on the planet itself.  It’s Andrew’s belief that these preserves are a time capsule that can be used to restore Earth when the time is right and spread out this life through the universe.

Noble sentiments from an arms manufacturer.  The contradiction between Andrew’s high aims and what he’s doing to help achieve them is not lost on Io and the rest of the main cast.  Yet now they have a good reason to fight for AE where they didn’t before.  I like the way that mangaka Yasuo Ohtagaki is playing with your sympathies here, and what he’s doing makes everything feel more well-rounded and believable.  Though, I’d feel better if I could shake the nagging feeling that by introducing the preserves here, he’s set up a big metaphorical fish tank to be smashed in the upcoming conflict with the Alliance.

All the focus isn’t on Io and his young co-pilot, though.  We get to see the rest of the crew enjoy some R&R on the Moon, and Ohtagaki even brings back some of the bit characters from the previous volumes to show that they’ve got a little more depth to them than we initially saw.  It’s quality work that makes me anticipate, and a little anxious for the upcoming conflict.  While I’d like to see it finally resolved, I’m now a lot more worried about what’s going to be lost as a result of it.  Which means I can say that I’m genuinely invested in where the story is going to go from here.