Commentary: Is the Thunderbolt Gundam the Thunderbolt version of ZZ?

The 27th and final volume of Yasuo Ohtagaki's manga Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt has been released. The series began serialization in Big Comic Superior (Shogakukan) in 2012 and reached its final chapter in September of this year, bringing the series to a close after 13 years of serialization. The appearance of the Thunderbolt Gundam in the final chapter also generated a lot of buzz, with the machine appearing on the cover of the final volume of the manga. We'll explain all about the Thunderbolt Gundam.

◇High-impact transformation

The Thunderbolt Gundam is a prototype heavy transformable mobile suit (MS) developed by Anaheim Electronics for Team Thunderbolt, a unit consisting of Io Fleming, Lily Sirena, and Callisto. It was created as the ultimate MS capable of competing with the Perfect Gundam and Perfect Zeong. Using the Perfect Zeong's Psycommu system, Io was in charge of basic piloting, Lily was in charge of reconnaissance and fire control, and Callisto was in charge of the Psycommu system and I-field.

It is equipped with 10 I-field generators, a main cannon, a shield gun, a head mega particle cannon, a linear railgun, and a beam saber. Although it is a machine exclusively for Newtypes, it is not equipped with weapons for all-range attacks.

Equipped with a large backpack inherited from the Full Armor Gundam and a linear railgun like the Atlas Gundam, it appears to be a continuation of the Gundams Io has piloted up until now. It is huge, standing at approximately 33 meters in height, and also has a gimmick that allows it to transform into Bomber Mode. The transformation scene was depicted on a double page spread in the final episode, leaving a huge impact.

◇A Thunderbolt-like "culmination"

Thunderbolt Gundam graced the cover of Big Comic Superior, where the final episode was published. The pose of Thunderbolt Gundam on the cover seems to be an homage to ZZ Gundam from Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ. Fans have been speculating that it might be a "Thunderbolt version of ZZ."

Appearing at a screening commemorating the release of the final volume, Otagaki explained about the Thunderbolt Gundam, "I decided to release it about a year ago, and started designing it. Up until then, we had briefly shown the Z, but having someone ride a Z at the end wasn't a very creative idea. If we were to go further, ZZ would be the only option. However, rather than leaving it as it is, I designed it as a culmination, retaining the same atmosphere. I thought it would be nice if the title was brought to fruition by having it appear at the end."

It seems that ZZ Gundam was also taken into consideration, but it is in the lineage of the Thunderbolt series so far, and is a design that is a culmination of the Thunderbolt style.

Regarding the transformation gimmick, he said, "The design took about a month. I built it with Lego and tested it. The Lego is in the complete setting materials." Details about the design are revealed in the "Thunderbolt Gundam Complete Setting Materials Book 'HOW TO BUILD THUNDERBOLT GUNDAM'," which comes with the limited edition of the final volume.

The complete design materials include a listing of the Thunderbolt Gundam part by part. Otagaki said he wanted the materials to be used as reference for the three-dimensional model, but looking at the materials, it looks like it will be made from scratch.

At the fan meeting celebrating the release of the final volume, a scratch-built Thunderbolt Gundam model created by modeler Yosuke Takeuchi was on display. The high quality of the model, which Ohtagaki praised as "a masterful piece," was convincing enough to recreate the complex shape.

The scratch model will also be featured in the February 2026 issue of "Monthly Hobby Japan" (Hobby Japan) along with a conversation between Otagaki and Takeuchi. (Anima Mitsuru/MANTANWEB)