As ive noted throughout my reviews of Gundam Wing, while
it is a show still dear to my heart, it is a show filled with incomplete
stories and missed opportunities. There
is no section of this shows legacy that fits that desctiption than Episode
Zero. Originally, these tales focusing
on the origins of the main Gundam pilots were meant to be included at the mid
point of Gundam Wing. However, due to
schedule and production issues, these were shelved indefinitely…and instead we
got 2 unecessary clip shows (good compromise).
Well, there missing tales were eventually manga-nized into a single
volume entitled Gundam Wing: Episode Zero.
And, let me tell you, you probably cant say you’re a true Wing fan if
you haven’t read these stories. Ok
that’s a little harsh. However, if you
want the full Wing experience, Episode Zero is a must read and these are my Top
5 favorite stories from that miniseries…spoilers ahead obviously.
#5-Preventer 5
After Colony 197.
Four months after the events of Endless Waltz, Wufei brings Heero, Duo,
Trowa and Quatre together again to settle a hostage situation in the Sanc
Kingdom. There isn’t any action here and
it’s all just the planning of the eventual rescue mission. The author of Episode Zero, Katsuyuki
Sumisawa has purposefully omitted the actual rescuing of the hostages (Relena,
Lady Une, Mariemea Kushrenada and Doroty Catalonia among them) for the single
reason that…well he knows that we all know the plan would work. That’s pretty clever. Honestly, there weren’t too many scenes of
the central boy band quintet acting so casual and right at home with one
another in crisis mode. So just for
their interactions alone, Preventer 5 is a worthy addition to the Gundam Wing
mythos.
#4-Quatre
AC 193. Two years
before Operation Meteor, Quatre Reberba Winner…couldn’t care less about the
Earth or peace. However, when the
Maguanac Corp takes him and his father resource satalitte hostage, his outlook
on life changes forever and forges Quatre into a soldier of peace. We only heard bits and pieces about Quatre’s
past when he visited home. This whole
chapter could have fit into that episode perfectly before Quatre lost his
dad. Exploring Quatre’s resentment at being
just another “test tube baby” is solid work…especially considering he is actually
the only natural born child of the Winner family, though this cost him his
mothers life. DAMN that’s heavy. As mentioned, the Maguanac Corp features
heavily and we get to see how they became so indebted to Quatre that they were
ready to help him on his missions when he got to Earth. Aside from one other story on this list, I
think Gundam Wing could have benefited greatly from having this story included,
especially if it happened right before Quatre’s psychotic break following his
fathers death.
#3-Duo
This is probably the hardest chapter to read. Not one of the core five Gundam Pilots has
had an easy life but Duo’s might be the most tragic. The origin of his priest like attire, his
kick ass ponytail, his association with “The God of Death”, it’s all here. As a child, Duo is an orphan living on the
streets until he is taken in by a beautiful and kind Nun and her church. Unfortunatley, the Alliance comes calling and
Duo’s decision to try and help save the church costs it dearly. Duo’s anguish at losing the only home and
family he’s ever had is so…oh God you just want to hug him. Even sadder is that all this turmoil comes
after Duo happily answers a questions asked to him by the Nun and the Head
Priest about Duo’s belief in God. “I’ve
never seen any miracles. But I’ve sure
seen lots of dead people.” Only an
adorable Duo could say something so grim and sound so cheerful about it…and get
the church to laugh along with him.
#2-Wufei
One year before Operation Meteor, Wufei…was studying to
be a scholar? Yeah, Wufei was a kick ass
nerd…oh and he had a wife WHAAAA????? And said wife, Meilan, was meant to be
the original pilot of the Shenlong Gundam, before she died defending Wufei and
their colony. Anyone who’s always
wondered why Wufei doesn’t call his Gundam by it’s proper designtation (Shenlog
or Altron), is in for a treat. Once you
find out that Meilan was his “Nataku”, your whole understanding as to why he
handles his suit with such delicate care becomes all the more shocking. I would have nitpicked the fact that there
was a Gundam sighting prior to Operation Meteor. But they also tie up that loose end by having
Treize cover it up…cause he wants to fight them himself one day, probably well
aware of the events to come. Interesting
considering he becomes Wufei’s chief rival.
This added backstory could have made Wufei a more tolerable character…or
a more infuriating one considering he still turns to the side of evil in
Endless Waltz.
#1-Heero
Oh boy. Upon
finishing reading this chapter, my head was spinning. Of all the awesome stories in Episode Zero,
THIS is the one that should have been included in the show. Seven years prior to Operation Meteor, the
young man who would go on the become Heero Yuy joins his mentor, Odin Lowe, on
a mission that will set more things in motion than either man could have
dreamed. And it’s a lot, A…LOT. Let me try to list everything out: Odin Lowe
killed the Pacifist Heero Yuy (supposedly on orders from General Septum-the guy
Lady Une threw out of a plane and then shot); Quinze and Endless Waltz villain
Dekim Barton were both part of Heero Yuy’s cabinet and therefore, revealed as
potential architects for the original Operation Meteor; Quinze is the one in
charge of Odin’s latest mission, which helps establish how he began working on
his White Fang movement plan when the mission fails. But the biggest shock of all, Treize leads
the base defense and is injured by a rocket from little would be Heero, saving
the life of Lucrezia Noin in the process.
Treize winds up in a hospital…where he meets Leia Barton, the mother of
his future daughter, Mariema Kushrenada…HOLY F***. With this chapter alone, you’ve set up the
final act of Gundam Wing and Endless Waltz so much better than the actual TV
show ever did. In fact, Heero’s side of
the story feels so minimal compared to all the lingering TV series questions
that finally get answered. One episode,
one little episode that could have easily remedied any story telling problems
Gundam Wing was having in it’s final act.
Sigh…I guess we all have to live and learn.
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