Gundam: We're Federation Hooligans! The mystery manga

[manwiththemachinegun]

I found this manga on the Gundam wiki and I gotta say, I love the action and the exaggerated humor. Reminds me of a cross between Great Teacher Onizuka and the Dirty Dozen. Unfortunately, it's almost impossible to find out any information about it since there are no English translations, or ways to buy it that I've found. Gundam wiki doesn't even have a synopsis! So... has anyone actually read it? Where would you buy it? What's the basic plot, battles, etc?

[Zeonista]

Ah this one! I have volume 1, got it a few years back from a friend. It is not to be taken seriously, to say the least. The main "heroes" are a unit of Feddie MS pilots who all act like they are delinquents in a shounen manga. Sort of like a tabletop RPG group more intent on proving they are a bunch of tough-acting wiseguys instead of following the plot. Toss in an actress with a "been there, done that" attitude and you ahve a story that has 0% to do with winning the One Year War, but 100% dedicated to having a good time despite/because of it. It's a good story for fans of the GM Striker and other specialized Feddie MP MS.

[manwiththemachinegun]

Maaaan, that sounds super awesome and hilarious. I honestly wish there were more OYW stories like this. Less kid pacifists and angst, more idiot heroes out for babes and glory.

If I were to try to buy it, where would be a good place to look?

[Kratos]

If you have friends in Japan, I would turn to them first.

If not, Amazon Japan would be your first place. All 5 volumes are in-stock and go for ￥567 apiece. Shipping will probably cost you more than all 5 volumes combined, but I can vouch for its speed. Other than that...eBay?

[Zeonista]

I actually got my volume 1 off the shelf & seriously read it yesterday. Or at least I tried to, since there is not a lot of furigana, and the colloquial Japanese is confusing. The story is very amusing, very much like OYW Gundam a la Jump Comics. The intro page spread that is an obvious tribute to yakuza & Sonny Chiba movies doesn't dispel the notion either. I tell you, all we need is a pilot who ate a Zaku-Zaku fruit. I almost want for Sunrise to make a 12-part series for this manga, it would definitely be something different!

The story starts in November 0079 and centers on "Nemesis Team" (Nemesis is in katakana, so it's Engrish.), an advanced combat training unit tasked with turning n00b Jimmy pilots into pilots who can use the new MP Feddy MS to fight Zeon & win. They have their work cut out for them... Gundam Wiki page on this manga says they are an aggressor force, but Nemesis Team does a lot more than being the pseudo-Zeons in a "Top Gun" format. Indeed most of the Feddy punks here will be lucky to be Middle Guns, let alone Top Guns; page 5 features the term "zombie GM"!

Enter Our Hero, 1st Lieutenant Yuji Alkana of the EFF ground forces. An accomplished boxer, Yuji chu-i is an aggressive combatant who in only 3 missions has shot down 2 Zakus, 1 Gouf, and 1 Dom. So he was chosen to join the Nemesis Team. Yuji chu-i is the pilot of the GM Striker, the armored close-combat bruiser of the GM family. To further the Jump Comics feel, the current training class is assembled for a training mission by the base commander, who looks like the usual inoffensive old principal. The actual lesson-mission is conducted by 1st Lieutenant Elinst Ponowa, who comes across as Emma Sheen's no-nonsense big sister, (Cue "Take My Breath Away" here. ) After that fiasco, Captain Hawk Roizer (a badass lecherous mechajock who is also lactose-intolerant) takes over as head instructor, using Yuji as his favorite "volunteer". Lieutenant Jean de Bebe also appears as a foil for Yuji as well. Do your best, Yuji chu-i! Later on there is some agreeable foolishness concerning a propaganda movie shoot to gather popular support for the final round of fighting to come. Actress Sherry Ford (daughter of bigwig Colonel Peter Ford) turns out to be a real hassle, but then decides she likes Yuji after he saves her from an "accident" during filming. The subsequent big-event premiere of the completed movie gets extra excitement when the local ZMF forces tunnel into the event site to contribute some extra pyrotechnics.

The manga is a MP enthusiast's dream, especially for an EFF MP enthusiast. GM(G), GM D, GM C, MP Guncannon, MP Guntank, GM Sniper II, GM Striker, and that's just Volume 1! Everything is lovingly detailed, even the battle damage. There are some variant paint versions for the name characters, and all you modelers & artists out there. Katoki Hajime even contributes a 2-page sketch of the GM Striker in the back. The Zeon side has the typical Zaku-J, but also features a Zock, and the screwball Jaburo assault MSV-MSM types.

[Xenosynth]

Hrm, this is starting to sound interesting. I had originally heard lots of disparaging remarks regarding the sequel manga, Katana, and from what I saw of the MS in it and whatnot, it did seem really odd and off-putting. However, I didn't realize it was supposed to be a more light hearted series. Maybe I should give it a try if I can find it.

[manwiththemachinegun]

It sounds like the Kelly's Heroes to regular Gundam's Saving Private Ryan. Which is awesome.

Thanks for the Volume 1 info! I wish there was a more detailed story summary of the later collections somewhere, I don't mind reading it untranslated as long as I know the big picture.

[Zeonista]

Some further info on the manga, mostly volume 1: events, details, story outlines. I am not really able to do an actual translation right now, although there are some furigana in places to help with definition. (Or maybe not; it would be amusing to get Deacon blues' opinions on Yuji's use of "DEAD!!" as a catch-all phrase in the story. )

The overarching story is the capture of California Base by the EFF during late 11/79. So the events of this manga story take place in only a few weeks. Either that or someone is taking some liberties with the official timeline!

Round 1: Break on Through to the Other Side
The first page shows the commander of the Nemesis Team telling his subordinates about a promising young pilot. In the previous month of October, a "zombie GM" returned to base after a difficult mission, having rescued three comrades in the process. The pilot, one Yuji Alcana, merits further attention, so he will be transferred in from Vancouver. (Yuji's character info listed above.) Yuji duly arrives, feeling glad about obtaining a Maui Nut Bar from Japan. (Even in the future Doraemon will be hawking candy in Japan! ) The introductory class and evaluation mission described above takes place, with the trainees being air-dropped in their Gms to take a position defended by two Nemesis Team members. The trainees land withing shooting range, and the evaluation becomes a shambles. Yuji tries to help a fellow transferred pilot who has succumbed to a fear of heights at an awkward time, but is shot while doing so.

Captain Hawk Roizer (having earlier endangered then saved the scared pilot) arrives during the review session, and insults the trainees for being useless, Yuji in particular. Yuji objects to the "critique", provoking Roizer; Lieutenant Jean De Bebe prevents a Brightpunch incident, saying that one can't teach the "E" class anything. Yuji takes umbrage at that description, and he & Jean are soon engaged in a GM sword match to prove his worth, cheered on by the other regular pilots. Yuji proves his worth (sort of), and gets introduced to Major Saki Dessau, the Nemesis Team's leader. Saki says he can join the team, but he has to take training as well because he isn't fully ready yet. Yuji is surprised, to say the least.

Round 2: We Will Rock You
Yuji grumbles about his lack of respect from the Nemesis Team, even as he argues with Major Saki and fights with Jean. Jean is a French pricklepuss because the Zeons gave him a dunking at sea in the early part of the war.) The Nemesis Team then receives order to sortie. A Medea transport headed for their base was shot down by a Zeon sniper MS, so they have to find and eliminate it. A regular GM platoon has already located the sniper's Zaku J escorts by fire, so Nemesis Team will retrieve the cargo and defeat the sniping team. (The map & briefing given by Erinst makes it very much like a game scenario. No problem, right? The team deploys Roizer in a GM Kai, Jean in a MP Guncannon, and Yuji in the GM Striker.

Roizer & Jean lay down covering fire for Yuji while he makes a run for the downed Medea. He reaches it and receives the beam spear from an EFF technician while the firefight rages outside. Jean gets his legs shot out form under him by the Zaku I Sniper, and Yuji goes to intercept it. He evades the rifle beam, but the last escorting Zaku J suddenly appears with a bazooka,
and nails him dead center! After a grim moment, the GM Striker charges out of the fireball intact! As it turns out, the Gm Striker is equipped with "wearable armor", a sort of reactive armor in the shoulders & torso, which is definitely useful. Yuji wields the beam spear in "rod mode" to neatly trisect the Zaku Sniper. The final escort Zaku J is taken out by a member of the regular platoon before it can back-shoot Yuji. Yuji congratulates the pilot, a very unassuming sort named Tara I. Kikero, who supposedly from Augusta Base.... Tara responds to Yuji's thanks by barfing on him. (Post-mission stress, we hope....) Afterwards Jean leaves the unit and joins other pilots who have finished training as they head out to other assignments.

Round 3: Bolan's Zip Gun
Yuji is complimented on his training by Erinst chu-i, so the other trainees give him crap for it and call him "teacher's pet". Roizer uses his Brightpunch to stop trouble before it can start, and give a lesson on GM armament by comparing it to women's underwear as a mnemonic device. For hand-to-hand training Roizer gives Yuji & Tara his personal attention, which they do not enjoy! Yuji stomps off to the ready room afterwards, and discovers Erinst taking a shower. Stopping on the road of life to admire the pantsu, he flees when she inquires if anyone is there. Yuji runs along to Roizer, and finds his captain also stopping on the road of life to read, relax, and admire his collection of lingerie. Erinst shows up to accuse Yuji of being a peeping underwear thief. She knows it's him because he left his Mam Cola behind him! (Yuji is apparently the only guy there who drinks the stuff.) Roizer lets Yuji take the scolding, and throws in a few remarks of his own.

Yuji then drags Tara along to help him prank Roizer in revenge when Captain Top Gun tries to pick up a woman in a bar. Naruto at agge 8 was better at pranks than Yuji, so he gets found out, and a beatdown is only avoided by the sudden appearance of a Zock! After a couple of pathetic attempts by local forces to stop the Zock (a pit & power lines) Nemesis Team goes into action and destroys the Zock in melee combat. Roizer walks away with the glory and the girl, to Yuji's disgust. Roizer's glory subsequently flees him when the girl serves him cheesecake. (What's a shounen story without a little toilet humor? )

[Zeonista]

Continuing the summary sharing of what I know, in a second post so I don't max out.

Round 4: The Gift and the Curse
A platoon of GMs carry out a street fight in a city against Zeon MS...who turn out to be other GMs disguised as Zeon MS! (Jimzaku, Jimgouf, and Jimdom, customize your HG models today! ) It runs out the "city" is a movie set, and the battle is being staged for the cameras. Erinst is asked by the director to go easy on the starlets who are playing hawt GM pilots in the "cherry program" training for realistic acting. Star actress Ensign Sherry Ford appears, obviously not interested in realism, and determined not to be impressed by anything or anyone. (She and Erinst are not going to be friends!) We learn along with Yuji that Erinst is a stickler for proper training & preparedness because as a former sonar truck operator, she's had too many little-trained comrades die on her already. Meanwhile Nemesis Team leader shares a confidential report with Erinst, which states that all the survivors of the Medea crash were killed 3 days after the rescue. Something is going on...

The movie director goes for some extra realism by having Sherry do some exterior scenes escaping from a damaged GM on a battlefield. However, the Zeons had mined the battlefield, and some of the mines are still there, and active! Yuji of course gets picked to rescue Sherry from further acts of "realism", and is guided past the mines by Erinst. He activates the damaged GM being used as scenery, and lifts Sherry up to carry her to safety. (What a scene!!) Erinst is relieved and Roizer is proud, as per the old boxing coach shtick.

Round 5: Riders on the Storm
The chapter starts off with the trailer for the movie. (Say the following in your best action trailer voiceover.) TERRORISM, DEADLIEST NEW WEAPON, INVASION, MOTHER LAND CONQUERED, WE WILL NEVER GIVE UP!! SEATTLE, ODESSA, TIME TO FIGHT BACK, WE WILL TAKE BACK CALIFORNIA TO WHOM IT BELONGS!

The base is being used as the site for the movie premiere. and a festival mood prevails. Yuji, present with the GM Striker as eye candy, watches a film clip of him raising the GM as per Round 4, and is impressed. (For you MS nerds, it is armed with the 105mm MG with the beam spear out of sight.) The movie director appears and gushes praise for Yuji's help, embarrassing him in aw-shucks fashion, and then dreams of becoming a movie star. General Guen Bao and his staff (and his little dog too) are also attending the festivities, and the EFF brass is smugly confident as only Gundam brass can be. Major Saki turns up with some concerns over safety, but the monkey-faced toady officer tells him that they've taken precautions with sensors and aircraft and guns, so there's no way the Zeon scum could approach without being noticed. Sherry Ford appears in full "star mode" and is happy to see "Yuji-chan". Yuji is not happy to see her, since he is still sore about the minefield. The two hang out a bit, and witness the crowd-pleasing event at the Bally's Boot Camp Stage. (The chicks are wild about Bally, especially a workout led by studly Suhan Jannsen! ) Sherry is not impressed by Suhan, which Yuji ignores because he is a clueless shounen hero. Yuji & Sherry split up for other engagements, and Yuji develops a dislike for Suhan when he takes the last Mam Cola in the soda machine.

There is a big parade of EFF forces, followed by a GM combat demonstration with paintball ammo for safety reasons. Erinst breaks into the GM comm frequency with a warning; a large underground signal is approaching the GMs! The underground whatever approaches with Tremors style imagery, while the monkey-faced toady is surprised that could happen, and Major Saki gets to say "I told you so". Suddenly a strange MS bursts out of the ground in front of the GMs! It is a EMS-05 Agg drilling assault MS, and a Zaku platoon appears behind it! (Two-page illustration for the Zeon boys! ) After a pause for a big WTH reaction, a Zaku opens fire, and pandemonium ensues. The GMs quickly move away to reload with live ammo, while the artillery & fighters hold the Zeon MS at bay. Two more Agg-led groups burst through to the surface, and the situation hits the FUBAR level. An Agg destroys the GM in front of Yuji, and he goes into combat mode. He parries the Agg's drill with the GM Striker's shield, then shows us how the extending claws work, taking out the Agg! Erinst reports that teh Zeon MS groups are orienting on the central HQ building. She notes to herself that the HQ is built on an old missile silo complex; might something be there that the Zeons want? Yuji meanwhile taunts the Zeon force, saying he will stomp the next one like a cockroach! They will all be DEAD!! He does not notice the MSM-04N Aggugai sneaking up on him from behind. (His proximity detector must have malfunctioned, right? )

That's the end of Volume 1 folks! Hope you liked it!

For subsequent material, I had Rounds 22 & 23, Disintegrator Rising & Comme a la Radio, in a couple of Gundam Ace issues from April & May 2009. Being near the end of the story, I want to avoid story spoilers as a courtesy. OTOH I can sa the shounen aspect is alive & well, and the mid-season upgrades were pretty good. The eventual Nemesis Team is composed Is: Gundam Ground Type Custom, GM Kai, GM Striker, GM Ground type, GM Sniper II, MP Guncannon, and Guntank II. If you can't win a fight with that team, OYW Feddy fans, what can you do? After a big practice round, the team heads off to attack California Base. Meanwhile at California Base the Zeon garrison is quite deliberately divided between those who get to board the Zanzibar-class transport and leave, and those who get to stay behind in heroic defense against the EFF. Naturally those who are picked to stay behind feel they ought to get some consideration, so tempers rise, a body hits the floor, and we have a Zaku donnybrook, followed by te intervention of the leader's girl, and then the leader himself arrives (in Garma Zabi's old FS Custom, no less. ) Yuji's attack comes just in time to prevent ZMF fratricide. Who says it's not a shounen manga?

[manwiththemachinegun]

Awesome!

[Deacon Blues]

Oh god, I can't even figure that crap out... I gave up on it long ago. Haha

[Zeonista]

Oh god, I can't even figure that crap out... I gave up on it long ago. Haha

Ah, so you got DEAD on the translation then, eh?

[manwiththemachinegun]

So are the products like Mam Cola real products in Japan? Or are they just space age replacements?

[Zeonista]

Mam Cola, "mame koora" in Japanese text, is not an actual product, but it is a familiar concept with some actual Japanese sodas that I know of from past experience. Japanese soda pop is its own topic, really. The stupid looking "cute" mascot helps make it genuine too. It's meant to be a specific Japanese-made product, both for reader identification and to give Yuji something more to his character than "I can haz Zeekburger?" or "DEAD!!"

[manwiththemachinegun]

I take it the dumb design is intentional then? The Pepsi man of the U.C. era?

And the DEAD! translation is being used as an exclamation point? A curse? We are so DEAD! You're so DEAD! Etc?

[Zeonista]

I take it the dumb design is intentional then? The Pepsi man of the U.C. era?

And the DEAD! translation is being used as an exclamation point? A curse? We are so DEAD! You're so DEAD! Etc?

The DEAD/DEAD!! that occurs in our hero's speech to such amusing effect is as I have written it. The block letters are quite distinctive among the kanji and script writing. However, different furigana appear alongside the block writing, conveying different meanings as they are written. (For the unenlightened, furigana are small hiragana script written next to kanji that allow the writer to indicate a specific meaning.) It can mean "good","awesome", "wha-a-at", "chikushou" (rather rude ), and in one case there is no furigana, so the English meaning is quite literal! Verbal shenanigans of this sort are probably why Deacon gave up on translating it.