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Revision as of 02:42, 17 November 2007 by A Man In Black (talk | contribs) (Reverted edits by MalikCarr (talk) to last version by A Man In Black)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Template:Infobox MS Gundam The RX-178 Gundam Mark-II is a fictional weapon from the Universal Century Gundam anime series. A collaborative design created by Kunio Okawara, Mamoru Nagano, and Kazumi Fujita, it is featured prominently as protagonist Kamille Bidan's mobile suit in the first half of Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, and used by various secondary characters throughout the rest of that series and its sequel, Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ. It has appeared in a number of other media, including the PlayStation 2 title AEUG vs. Titans, the PlayStation 3 title Dynasty Warriors: Gundam, the Super Robot Wars series, and PSP title Gundam Battle Royale (in a rather prominent appearance on the cover), among many others others.
In Zeta Gundam
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The RX-178 Gundam Mk-II are three prototype mobile suits developed by the Titans, an elite special unit of the Earth Federation forces, in UC 0087. Aside from a new paint job of dark blue and black with red and yellow highlights, the Gundam Mk. II bears great aesthetic similarities to its One Year War-era predecessor, the original RX-78-2 Gundam from Mobile Suit Gundam. The Mk. II represented a small increase in mobility compared to the original, and with the deletion of the cumbersome and expensive core block system, room was freed upon for a more modern panoramic cockpit setup (a more or less standard accoutrement for mobile suits in the same series and time period), which is designed to offer increased situational awareness to the pilot. Armaments are fairly standard Gundam fare, including a beam rifle (chronologically speaking, the Mk. II's beam rifle was the first of such weapons to be powered by a replaceable e-pac device; this was later retconned with Gundam 0083) and twin beam sabers. Vulcan guns are not installed in the Mk. II by default, unlike previous models; however, an optional set can be added as an ejectable pod. The Mk. II may also arm a "clay bazooka" weapon, which is capable of disabling a mobile suit's mobility (though it can blow it up just as well if desired). Aside from the aforementioned mundane enhancements, the Mk. II's most substantial contribution to mobile suit technology and largest upgrade over its predecessor is the then-revolutionary movable frame construction, which later inspired the designs in the novel Gundam Sentinel. Paradoxically, the Gundam Mk. II is not armored with the wonderfully durable Gundarium alloy material, first introduced in the series on the original RX-78 Gundam, making it no more or less physically durable than mass-production mobile suits of the era (the term Gundarium is a creation of the Zeta Gundam series; formerly, the same material was known as "Lunar Titanum" in Mobile Suit Gundam, and was renamed (or retconned from a meta standpoint) in honor of the original Gundam).
Further development by the Titans was delayed indefinitely following a raid by AEUG operatives (led by the incognito Zeon One Year War ace Char Aznable, alias Quattro Bajeena) where all three units were stolen from the Titans' headquarters at Green Noa II (effectively kicking off the Gryps Conflict that forms the background plot of Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam). Launched from the carrier warship Argama, this "Gundam Heist" also netted the AEUG the powerful Newtype Kamille Bidan, who would become the Mk. II's chief operator, as well as initiating the series-long conflict between Kamille and Titans pilot Jerid Messa. Of note, this act marked the first "Stolen Gundam" plot event in the franchise, which has become more common in recent years (e.g. the RX-78GP-02A in Gundam 0083 or nearly the entire starting Gundam cast in Gundam SEED).
Though an initial boon against Titans mobile suits (as well as even more outdated Earth Federation designs, some of which were One Year War-era Zeon models confiscated after the war), the Mk. II's limited capabilities become quite apparent by the time the plot develops to the Jaburo drop operation (starting in episode 11, Entering the Atmosphere), where even the Titans' new mass-produced RMS-108 Marasai mobile suits featured Gundarium alloy armoring. The Mk. II's shortcomings are mitigated, to an extent, by the attachment of the G-Defenser armor booster, constructed by Anaheim Electronics. When combined with the G-Defenser, the Mk. II's mobility is increased via numerous additional thrusters, its vulnerabilities are somewhat reduced with additional armor plating, and its offensive capabilities are boosted significantly - new weapons include a heavy beam rifle and a battery of missile launchers, among others. Additionally, the G-Defenser itself is constructed with Gundarium alloy armor, boosting the protective value of the areas covered on the Mk. II's body. This configuration, known as the "Super Gundam", enables the Mk. II to remain relatively competitive against all but the highest-performing Titans mobile suits, such as the RX-193 Hambrabi.
Kamille would eventually abandon the Mk. II (episode 21, A Sign of Zeta) when the titular MSZ-006 Z Gundam, which Kamille helped design, is completed and delivered to the Argama (this also marks the first "mid-season upgrade" in the protagonist's mobile suit selection, which has since become a staple of the Gundam franchise). The Mk. II then be used by former Titans pilot Emma Sheen, who defected episodes earlier, before the Jaburo drop operation. Katz Kobayashi takes up operating the G-Defenser, and the two form a competent and effective team in utilizing the "Super Gundam". Both are finally destroyed near the very end of the Gryps Conflict (episode 49, Casualties of War) by psychotic Titans pilot Yazan Gable and the high-performance RX-193 Hambrabi.
In Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ
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Following the end of the Gryps Conflict, the Mk. II is rebuilt using spare parts obtained from the remaining two stolen prototypes, and pressed into service by the haggard AEUG to continue the fight against the newly-arrived Axis/Neo Zeon forces under director Haman Khan. The unique G-Defenser is never put back into action, effectively terminating the "Super Gundam" configuration permanently.
Other appearances and beyond
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The concept of Izusu VX 2 official link is inspired by RX-178 Gundam Mk-II as concept design arts released in the Jan/Feb 1998, as seen in issue no. 71 of the magazine Axis published in Japan.
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Outside of fansubbed videos on the internet and (often bootlegged) Video CDs, the Mk. II received its first widespread appearance in North American media on the talk show Late Night with Conan O'Brien in a commercial bump. Featured around May 2000, the curious depiction of the Mk. II, with O'Brien's face and hands (and a cartoon-like head on the shield) sparked significant interest in the then-fledgling North American fan community (such as the Gundam Mailing List, or GML). Regardless, Zeta Gundam was not officially released in the North American market by Bandai until 2004.
As with most mobile suits from Zeta Gundam, the Gundam Mk. II (and its Super form) received 1/144th and 1/100th scale model kits in 1987, along with a 1/220th scale "pocket model" (scaled to match large Z Gundam mobile suit kits, such as the MRX-009 Psyco Gundam. In 1994, the Mk. II was featured in the limited-run 1/144th High Grade series (not to be confused with the later HGUC, or High Grade Universal Century, series), along with the original RX-78 Gundam and successor MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam.. With the 1/144th-scale HGUC lineup, launched in 2000, the Mk. II has seen very heavy coverage. The Mk. II was released as a standalone model in May 2002 (in AEUG and Titans colors), with the G-Defenser in "Super Gundam" configuration in November 2002, a limited production (now discontinued) collector's "extra finish" version in May 2005, with the Flying Armor re-entry vehicle later that month, and as part of the "Gryphios War" 3-pack with the Zeta Gundam and MSN-00100 Hyaku Shiki in March 2006. The Mk. II joined the 1/100th-scale Master Grade lineup in August 1998, in both AEUG and Titans colors. A Master Grade "Super Gundam" kit with the G-Defenser was issued in January 1999, Totally re-designed versions of the Master Grade Mk. IIs were released in October 2005 (AEUG version) and March 2006 (Titans version), concurrent with the releases of the second and third Zeta Gundam movie compilations respectively. Finally, the Gundam Mk. II was inducted into the enormous 1/60th-scale Perfect Grade line in November 2001, and again in Titans colors in July 2002.
References
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- "Mobile Suit Gundam: AEUG versus Titans". IGN.com. Retrieved October 31.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - "Dynasty Warriors: Gundam Official Game Site". Namco Bandai Games. Retrieved October 31.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - "Super Robot Wars Robot Series Guide". GameFaqs.com. Retrieved October 31.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - Entertainment Bible II, Bandai, 1989
- (2002-5-6) Gundam: The Official Guide. Mark Simmons. ISBN 1569317399
- "Z Gundam: Entering the Atmosphere". MAHQ.net. Retrieved October 31.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - "Z Gundam: A Sign of Zeta". MAHQ.net. Retrieved October 31.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - "Z Gundam: Casualties of War". MAHQ.net. Retrieved November 1.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - Gundam Mailing List Archive, AEUG.org
- "1/144th Gundam Mk. II". HobbyLink Japan. Retrieved November 1.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - "1/100th Gundam Mk. II". HobbyLink Japan. Retrieved November 1.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - "1/220th Gundam Mk. II". HobbyLink Japan. Retrieved November 1.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - "1/144th Gundam Mk. II (HG)". HobbyLink Japan. Retrieved November 1.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - "1/144th HGUC Gundam Mk. II (Titans Version)". HobbyLink Japan. Retrieved November 1.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - "1/144th HGUC Super Gundam". HobbyLink Japan. Retrieved November 1.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - "1/144th HGUC Gundam Mk. II Extra Finish". HobbyLink Japan. Retrieved November 1.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - "1/144th HGUC Gundam Mk. II + Flying Armor". HobbyLink Japan. Retrieved November 1.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - "1/144th HGUC Gryphios War Set". HobbyLink Japan. Retrieved November 1.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - "1/100 Gundam Mk. II (MG) AEUG Version". HobbyLink Japan. Retrieved November 1.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - "1/100 Gundam Mk. II (MG) Titans Version". HobbyLink Japan. Retrieved November 1.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - "1/100 Super Gundam (MG)". HobbyLink Japan. Retrieved November 1.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - "1/100 MG Gundam Mk. II Ver.2.0 AEUG". HobbyLink Japan. Retrieved November 1.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - "1/100 MG Gundam Mk. II Ver.2.0 Titans". HobbyLink Japan. Retrieved November 1.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - "1/60 Perfect Grade Gundam Mk. II "AEUG"". HobbyLink Japan. Retrieved November 1.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - "1/60 Perfect Grade Gundam Mk. II "Titans"". HobbyLink Japan. Retrieved November 1.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help)
Source
- SD Gundam G Generation F's database entry on Gundam Mk-II, Super Gundam and Full Armor Gundam Mk-II.
- Super Robot Taisen Alpha 3's database entry on Gundam Mk-II and Super Gundam.
External Links
- Gundam Mk. II at GundamOfficial.com
- Super Gundam at GundamOfficial.com
- Gundam Mk. II at MAHQ
- Super Gundam at MAHQ
- Zeta Gundam episode guide at MAHQ
- Zeta Gundam plot synopsis at GundamOfficial.com
- Zeta Gundam at the Gundam Project (archive courtesy of the Wayback Machine).
- (2002-5-6) Gundam: The Official Guide. Mark Simmons. ISBN 1569317399
- (2002-5-10) Gundam Technical Manual #3: Stardust Memories. Yoshiyuki Tomino. ISBN 1931514062