Garma (Mobile Suit Gundam The Origin #2) (Manga Monday)

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Title: Garma
Series: Mobile Suit Gundam The Origin
Author & Artist: Yoshikazu Yasuhiko
Rating: 4 of 5 Stars
Genre: Manga
Pages: 432



Synopsis:
White Base and crew make it to earth. An earth which appears to be as divided between Zeon and the Federation as space is.
Due to military incompetence by those in overall charge, White Base is sent on a mission to Los Angeles instead of heading to South America to deliver the new Gundam.
The Zeon leader in L.A. is named Garma and he is a close friend of Char, thus ensuring that Amuro and Char will meet again.

My Thoughts:
Amura does a lot of growing up in this book. Being a 15 year old and suddenly thrust into a spot of huge responsibility, he reacts. At first he pouts, sulks and throws a tantrum. Then he begins to realize just how much and how many people's survival is depending on him and he begins to mature and take on that responsibility instead of shunning it.

Char is shown for the cold hearted, long planning son of a gun that he is. He maneuvers Garma to his death even though he is Char's friend. And all we know about it is it is based on something that Garma's father has done in Char's past.

War, with a capital "W", is shown as something manly, necessary and yet oh so easily manipulated by the Politicians. Politicians, from high to low, are shown as the scum most people believe them to be. A very interesting mix of viewpoints and ideas.

I'm still confused as to why White Base hasn't booked it to South America. I know the lame excuse given, but don't you think that with all the effort that went to develop this gundam and to get it to earth, that the top military brass would have that much more of an incentive to get it to their stronghold so they could begin mass production?