Manga / Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Rebellion

Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Rebellion is a manga adaptation of the Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory OVA penned by the Takashi Imanishi, the director of the latter half of the anime with art and mech designs by Masato Natsumoto. It began in June of 2013 and ended in 2023 with 18 volumes published.

Three years after the conclusion of the One Year War, a shaky peace has come to the Earth Sphere. The peace does not last long as remnants of the Zeon fleet hatch a new plot and steal the GP-02, a powerful new Gundam armed with a nuclear warhead. It's up to Ensign Newbie Kou Uraki and the crew of the Federation ship Albion to track the thief, Zeon Ace Anavel Gato, down and recover the unit. Yet all is not as it seems; factionalism in the Federation threatens to boil over as the Zeon formulate their newest scheme: Operation Stardust.

This series contains examples of:

• Ace Custom:
  • The RGM-79N GM Custom is a high-performance Jack of All Stats upgraded form of the GM. It incorporated aspects of the Gundam Alex into its creation and sports great mobility and power. In space they're further upgraded with beam bayonets and claw shields.
  • The RGC-83 GM Cannon II is a powerful support unit with numerous verniers, beam cannons, and tough armor. It's a successor to the RGC-79 GM Cannon that incorporates aspects of the Gundam Alex and Mass Production Guncannon.
  • The RGM-79 Powered GM is a heavily armored, highly maneuverable upgrade to the RGM-79C GM Type C. The manga even shows it being upgraded from its original form. Though unlike many of the other custom models this one doesn't see much action.
  • The full range of Anavel Gato's custom suits are displayed in the manga before he trades up for the Super Prototype GP-02. He deploys in his MS-09RS Rick Dom for the battle of Solomon and then his custom MS-14A Gelgoog during the battle of A Baoa Qu. In the present he takes his MS-06R-1A Zaku II High Mobility Type into battle against the Immortal 4th Team. Much like Char's customs, Gato has his own painted in his personal colors (blues and greens).
  • As in the show, Cima has her custom Gelgoog Marine Commander painted in her unique purple and brown color scheme.
• Adaptational Context Change: In the OVA most of the Albion's crew signed onto the Titans willingly. In this version Bask tried to have them killed and they're all forced to join the unit so the Titans can keep an eye on them. In a small detail, Jacqueline is admiring her new uniform in the OVA while in the manga she's disgusted by it as if its stifling her.
• Adaptational Early Appearance: Several characters who were created much later in the OVAs are introduced earlier.
  • The story opens on the Battle of Solomon rather than A Baoa Qu. Karius and Kelly are seen assisting Gato in the defense of the base.
  • The other designers for the Gundams appear much earlier as well, seeing Nina off. Notably Lucette, shows up much earlier than her debut on the La Vie en Rose.
  • Cima and her pirates debut in the very first chapter whereas they were the last villains to be revealed in series and were only shown after Gato had fled Earth.
  • Yuri Hasler, the Axis Commander who lends support to Delaz in the latter half of the OVA, shows up at the beginning of the manga during the flashback. He's added to the material adapted from The Mayfly of Space where he, Delaz, Asakura, and the other commanders discuss what to do after the war. Hasler states his intention to flee to Axis.
  • The Immortal 4th Team debut a little earlier in the manga than in the OVA. They engage Gato in space for a short battle before being called to Australia.
  • Jamitov Hymen shows up a few scenes before his anime debut. During Kowen's manga only attempt to stop the Colony Drop with a group of Salamis-Kai ships, Jamitov appears in his control room to mock him. Kowen in turn accusing Jamitov of sabotaging the Federation support for his own ends.
• Adaptational Karma: The thugs that beat up Kou in the alleyway in Von Braun just kick his ass and walk away in Stardust Memory. In Rebellion, they're established to be Zeon remnants looking to meet up with other Zekes and after beating up Kou, they even consider shooting him to keep him quiet before they leave since they don't want to get public attention. The meet-up they attend is actually a trap set by the Feds who ambush and arrest them.
• Adaptation Expansion: Numerous examples. The manga spends the first five issues establishing the characters and the backstory before arriving at the OVA's beginning. The series has also continued past the original ending of the OVA, which involved Kou's release from his court martial, covering the Titans' ascendance.
  • Kou and Keith are introduced during their final year as cadets in Nijmegen. In addition to expounding more on their personalities and background prior to being sent to Australia, Kou's fascination with mobile suits and the One Year War's aftermath is explored further.
  • The creation of the Gundams is highlighted with it being revealed that they're the pet project of Admiral Kowen as a means to advance in the ranks of the Federation. Further more is gone into their development with the manga bringing up Unit 0 and it being scrapped for its four successors. Each of the GP units gets a bit more backstory such as GP-02's staff revealed to be ex-Zeon and the GP-04 being developed in competition with the GP-01.
  • Nina and Gato's past relationship is developed much more with flashbacks showing how they met and original scenes of her seeking him out. In Stardust Memory it only came up in the last third of the series and was clearly only thought up at that point, whereas Rebellion hints at it from the very first chapter.
  • Nina's arrival on Earth and visit to Jaburo are given a little more focus whereas the OVA simply began with them arriving in Australia.
  • The Mayfly of Space, detailing Cima's backstory, is integrated into the main narrative rather than being solely in side material.
  • Several minor Mobile Suits are given formal introductions and examined. Where the Dra-C came from is addressed as are the reasons why it's designed the way it is. The Powered GM is also shown being converted with its specifications being laid out.
  • Gato's escape from Australia to the Zeon base in Africa is expanded upon much more. The Albion even manages to intercept him during the journey and get into a fight with the Zeon Naval soldiers.
  • When the colony rotates around the moon a new battle is added. Kelly and Kou try to blast off the Colony Mirror to throw its path off while Admiral Kowen manages to throw a squadron at it complete with a nuclear capable GM. This also gives Cima a new manga exclusive fight where she engages the Nuclear GM and the Federation forces. The Federation destroys a mirror, but Cima has the other two destroyed to correct the Colony's balance.
  • The loss of data surrounding the GP Gundam project, mentioned in passing during the OVA's ending, is revealed to be the result of Nakato and the other Titans storming in to the records department so as to destroy Miller's case against their corruption.
  • Cima is revealed to have survived her fight against Bask Om (instead of fighting Kou, since she was no longer responsible for Lt. Burning's death and also had Kelly to reign him in to focus on the Neue Ziel) and is headed off to Jupiter under a different name.
• An Arm and a Leg: Lt. Allen blasts at the Kraken team with the G Armor II's cannon, lining the shot up so that an arm from both the Hy-Gogg and Z'Gok-E are taken off with the same shot.
• Arc Welding: The manga connects the events of 0083 with a number of elements from previous series, most notably the OVAs. Alice Miller from 08th MS Team is incorporated to find the spy onboard the Albion and Monique Cadillac and her team from MS Igloo are revealed to be the creators of Gato's Neue Ziel.
• Arm Cannon: The AHA-GM-C, the Federation's attempt at a nuclear-capable MS before contracting to Anaheim, has one. While the GP-02's nuclear launcher is a separate weapon, the entirety of the AHA-GM's arm is converted into a nuclear bazooka.
• Asshole Victim: Lieutenant Giskele is revealed to have planned a third Colony Drop onto Granada potentially killing thousands of innocent Lunarians. His plan falls apart and he's killed by Jamaican and the Titan forces. While the Titans target Spacenoids indiscriminately, Giskele was one of the few times they fulfilled their original purpose by eliminating dangerous Zeon terrorists.
• Bald of Evil: The most morally black members of the Federation and Zeon, Bask Om and Aiguille Delaz respectively, are the only major bald members of their factions. Bask wears a fed cap over his head while Delaz goes uncovered with a Beard of Evil pairing.
• The Bus Came Back:
  • Alice Miller returns, still working with the Intelligence Bureau. She's brought on to investigate the intel leak and report on the Albion's progress.
  • Terry Sanders Jr. shows up as a soldier at the Lhase Base in Central Asia; Bate gets into a fist fight with him.
  • Oliver May, Monique Cadillac, and Hideto Washiya are shown to have joined Axis Zeon after the war. They're the ones who designed the Neue Ziel and they deliver it to Gato.
  • After the Delaz Uprising is suppressed, the Immortal Fourth Team are transferred to a Titans group. In it they meet Ford Romfellow from Mobile Suit Gundam: Encounters in Space and Agar from Mobile Suit Gundam: Zeonic Front.
• Canon Immigrant: Several of the MSV suits are adapted into the manga.
  • Gato's Gelgoog was shown in series, the manga also shows his Rick Dom and High Mobility Zaku II.
  • The Zaku I Sniper is shown assisting in the Grand Theft Prototype. In response, the Federation deploy GM Night Seekers and a GM Sniper Custom.
  • When fighting in the Indian Ocean the federation deploys the Fish-eyes (Aquatic Ball units) and Aqua GM's.
  • The GP-04 Gerbera Gundam is shown off and has its backstory elaborated on. Stardust Memory only featured the Gerbera Tetra and the original Gerbera can only be found in side-materials and model kits.
  • Aristide Hughes, the Albion's gunner from the less well-known CD drama "Battle of Lunga Point", was incorporated in the story.
• Cavalry Betrayal: When the Cavalry in question is led by Bask this isn't that surprising. The Earth Orbital Fleet initially shows up as a final defense to stop the falling Colony. However, Bask's ruthlessness ends up spelling trouble for the protagonists as he fires the Solar System II at Kou, Cima, and Bask's own allies. When the Solar System is thwarted and the Albion tries to escape from the Colony, Bask has the fleet fire on them, intending to sink Kowen's forces and blame the whole incident on them.
• Chekhov's Gunman: As in Stardust Memory, during Delaz's broadcast, the familiar figure of Bask Ohm is easily spotted behind Admiral Kowen. He even gets a panel to himself as he contemplates on Delaz's speech.
• Composite Character:
  • At the Zeon Base in Africa Neuen Bitter busts out a Mobile Armor that combines the Adzam from the original Gundam with the Apsallus from 08th MS Team, with a Zaku I mounted on top.
  • The Konpei Island fleet never arrives in time for the climax or aftermath so their role in mopping up the Delaz remnants is handled by the Earth Orbital Fleet. As such Bask ends up combining his role with Admiral Hepburn's.
• Continuity Nod: Even moreso than the OVA. The series brings in references to tons of weaponry and MS Designs from previous series.
  • Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket
    • Unit 1 shows up decked out in its own suit of Chobham Armor, similar to the Alex.
    • Much like the Original OVA, the GM Cannon II and GM Custom were created from the Alex's data and its influences can be seen in both suits.
    • When Gato makes his escape aboard the captured Feddie Sub, they rendezvous with the Kraken team who field a Z'Gok-E and a Hy-Gogg.
    • When Gato engages the Federation on the moon, they deploy GM Command units equipped for space combat.
    • Carrying over from the OVA, the Delaz fleet has a number of Rick Dom II units in it. This is Karius's main mech in the series.
  • Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team
    • Torrington Base has several Hover Trucks stationed at it. Mora and Nina chase after the stolen Unit 2 in one instead of a jeep.
    • The GM Type-C's at Torrington make use of YHI FH-X180 180mm Cannon. Kou uses it to blow off the arm of Gailey's Dom.
    • The Apsallus project still has some spare parts lying around and the Kimberlite base integrated it into their Mobile Armor.
    • Ground Type GM's are seen patrolling Lhase Base. One of which is piloted by Terry Sanders Jr.
    • The construction work Zaku Tank featured in the series has a brief cameo during Delaz's speech.
    • Cima's Zaku I is shown in the manga's flashbacks. It's the same one that she flew in the colony gassing shown in 08th MS Team's flashback.
  • Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO
    • A variation of the RTX-440 Ground Assault Type Guntank is deployed on the moon in response to Gato's reappearance. It's later deployed to stop the Colony Drop when it approaches the moon.
    • One of the units attempting to run the blockade around Konpei Island is a MP-02A Oggo.
    • A HOTOL transport ship also appears during the blockade run, where it kamikaze's into a Federation ship.
    • The Federation manage to enter the Colony used for the drop and engage with several Hildolfr-kai units, the successors to the YMT-05 Hildolfr.
    • A trio of EMS-10 Zudahs are deployed by Cima's forces to defend the falling colony.
    • When a number of ships are shot into space from Jaburo, a successor to the MSM-07 Di Ze'Gok blasts them out of the sky as in Apocalypse 0079.
    • Monique Cadillac and the surviving members of the 603 Technical Evaluation Unit are shown to have not only been among those who retreated to Axis, but are also responsible for creating the Neue Ziel, implicitly based on the data gathered throughout the OVA.
    • An upgraded version of the QCX-76A Jormungand appears as the Jormungand Kai. It was built into the colony used for the drop as a secret weapon and it's used to destroy the command ship of the Solar System II.
  • Zeonic Front
    • The Zaku I upper body attached to the makeshift Apsallus Mobile Armor at the Kimberlite base, equipped with a bazooka and a commander's antenna, appears to be the one used by Gerhart Schmitzer.
    • Agar, the pilot of the Gundam Mudrock, makes an appearance in the epilogue storyline as does Ford Romfellow, pilot of the Gundam Unit 5.
• Cyber Cyclops: Zeon designed units as usual. Cima even criticizes the Gerbera Tetra for having two eyes though one is damaged during the colony battle around the moon. When the Tetra's head is rebuilt it incorporates parts from a Gelgoog and becomes a mono-eye.
• Cut Short: Following the end of the main story, the manga teased two new post-story arcs, focusing on Monsha and Cima. However, when Monsha's arc concluded in Volume 18, the last chapter was labelled as "final chapter", and the volume ended with an afterword section with no mention of the Cima arc, implying that it was cancelled.
• Dies Differently in Adaptation: Most characters barring Marney, Bob, Bitter, and Wyatt have different deaths.
  • Gaily is Killed Offscreen in the original, having died when Fed troops returned fire and his Dom was shredded. Here Lt. Burning stabs his mech in the back with a beam saber, killing him while he wrestled with Uraki.
  • Kalent is also Killed Offscreen by Gato, presumably with a beam sabre, in Stardust Memory. He's killed onscreen in Rebellion via Gato throwing a beam javelin through his cockpit.
  • Dick Allen survives getting blasted by the Dom and lasts much longer in the manga. He dies in a Heroic Sacrifice stopping Bitters's Mobile Armor by hitting its cannon in a kamikaze.
  • Kult was ordered on a suicide mission to kill Kelly with only a Zaku II (Kelly bisecting and destroying him with ease) in Stardust Memory. In Rebellion he doesn't survive the cave in when Kelly first launches.
  • South Burning is not wounded during the confrontation with Cima's fleet and makes it to the battle of Konpei Island. In it, Kelly's Mobile Armor smashes his suit and the impact kills him. In this adaptation, his comrades are able to take his body to rest while in the original it was destroyed in an explosion.
  • Downplayed with Delaz. The manner of death is roughly the same but it's Geil who shoots him not Cima.
  • Cima herself is killed during a suicidal charge at Bask's ship. It's the cannon on Bask's Salamis that impales her Gerbera Tetra and destroys her. ...Except it turns out the Gerbera Tetra was being remotely controlled.
• Enemy Mine: As in the OVA the Cima Fleet defect and ally with the Federation forces. Though in Rebellion the team up is more explicit; since Cima and Kou don't have any major antagonism they fight side by side against Gato.
• Flawed Prototype: The AHA-GM-C is a nuclear capable suit designed by the Federation that was shelved when it couldn't perform as expected. The GP-02 accomplishes what it was supposed to do and more, being able to launch a nuke much easier and perform as a battle unit beyond its nuclear launching function. The AHA-GM, by contrast, has its nuclear function first and foremost with its entire right arm replaced by a bazooka and its nuclear generator taking up a lot of its backpack. Compared to the GP-02, the GM takes much longer for it to charge and fire its weapon and beyond firing a nuke it's not built for combat nearly as well.
• Foreshadowing: To an even greater extent than the OVA, various events and hints are shown, driving home just how the Titans ultimately come into power.
• Grand Theft Prototype:
  • As in the original, the main conflict is kicked off with the theft of the GP-02.
  • Rebellion depicts the acquisition of the GP-04 as a theft but in a more roundabout way. Kelly's attack on Kou was used as cover to steal the suit with him killing its civilian pilot and Cima's faction making off with the MS. Though the suit is stolen from its designer, its actual owner, Director O'Sullivan, willingly gave it up but had to arrange the theft to avoid suspicion. He also has the armor reworked to disguise its identity as the Gerbera Tetra.
• Impaled with Extreme Prejudice: Gato throws one of the Beam Javelins from a defeated Fed unit right through Kalent's GM, killing him.
• Interservice Rivalry:
  • The Federation has descended into extreme factionalism with different groups vying for control. The entire reason that the Albion, Unit 1 and Unit 2 are commissioned are as a means for Admiral Kowen to make a name for himself and secure his standing in the hierarchy. General Marnery even admits that he's happy to be posted all the way out in Torrington so he can be away from the whole mess. Miller and Burning attribute the factionalism as to why the Albion receives so little support from the Federation, as if the other CO's simply want to see Kowen fail.
  • At Torrington Base there's a rivalry between Kalent's Line Troops and Burning's Test Pilots. Kalent seeing the Test Pilots as being paid to stand around and goof off and Burning seeing the Line Troops as posturing blowhards.
  • The landing at Lhase Base shows that there's a rivalry between ground and space forces in the Federation with the base staff taking the time to rub it into Monsha and Bate's faces that they don't get downtime.
• Killed Offscreen: In spite of Miller's best efforts Synapse's trial is sped through and he's sentenced to firing squad. Kou only learns about it after the verdict was carried out.
• The Man Behind the Man: As with the original Federation Admiral Gene Coliny is pulling the strings behind it all. Jamitov and Bask are working with him to disrupt the Delaz Fleet and the Federation's own power structure for their own benefit.
• Never Found the Body:
  • Though Kou manages to sink the submarine carrying Unit 2, he doesn't believe for a second that Gato died. Even with the recovery underway, Kowen seems inclined to believe him. Naturally Kou's proven correct.
  • After the Colony falls, Gato is unaccounted for. Kou had grabbed the enclosed cockpit he was in but lost it during reentry. The Federation publically writes him off as dead but starts a manhunt for him in secret.
• Nice Job Fixing It, Villain: Nakato and the other Titans end up destroying Miller's case against their corruption by storming in to the records department and deleting all evidence of the GP Gundam project. While that ends up clearing out the case against them, Miller acts quickly and uses this to get Kou out of prison. With records of the Gundams destroyed the case against him is gone and she managed to get him off the hook before they cook up new charges against him.
• Pet the Dog: After the battle of Konpei Island, Kou's lost a lot of blood. There's no donors on the ship for his rare blood type, but upon finding that out it's Monsha of all people who makes the save by finding out a prisoner has the blood type and demanding he save Kou. The prisoner is Kelly who upon realizing it's Uraki volunteers his blood willingly.
• Post-Script Season: Volumes 17 and 18 continues on with the story, focusing on the Immortal 4th Team (Bate, Adel and Monsha), the Side 3 colony "Amatarasu" and a mysterious man who claims to be the thought-dead Anaval Gato.
• Rewarded as a Traitor Deserves: In keeping with the OVA Cima and her marines betray Delaz and ally with the Federation. However it plays out differently in the manga. Cima allies with Bask like in the original but when she and her forces are engaging with Gato and his men, Bask has the Solar System II fired at them, incinerating the Zeon troops she had kept occupied and terminating the loose end that was Cima's own marines.
• Scenery Gorn: While Nijmegen (seen during Kou and Keith's last year as cadets) looks pristine, the surrounding countryside is shown as a battered, decayed ruin left over from the One Year War.
• Star-Crossed Lovers: Kou and Nina's love's fate: Nina disappears for parts unknown and the scene where Kou reunites with Nina following being released is actually an Imagine Spot by Kou.
• Shed Armor, Gain Speed: GP-01 is introduced with the Chobham Armor; said armor is for extra protection during the nuclear tests. As tough as it is, Uraki notes that it cripples the mobility and makes it less agile than a GM. Much like the original wearer of the armor, the Alex, Unit 1 purges it for better speed and agility.
• Shipper on Deck: Keith and Mora do what they can to push Kou and Nina towards each other.
• Spared by the Adaptation:
  • In the OVA, the Delaz Fleet ends up boxed in between the Earth Orbital Fleet and the Konpei Island fleet. They try to break through the latter but are all ultimately gunned down. In the manga, the Konpei Island fleet never makes it and the Delaz survivors have to run for the Axis fleet (which is acknowledged as a neutral party) with the Earth Orbital Fleet at their heels. Casualties are heavy but a number of them do make it to safety whereas in the original, only Karius did.
  • Kelley Layzner also survives the events of the series instead of dying at Kou's hands; he even gets his own Babies Ever After ending.
• Transforming Mecha: The Hildolfr-Kai is deployed to defend the Colony used in the drop. Though the Feds manage to cripple its treads it transforms into a bipedal MS much like the D-50C Loto from Unicorn. Its predecessor, the YMT-05 Hildolfr, could only partially transform (going from a tank to raising its torso and freeing its arms) while the Hildolfr-Kai is a fully transformable unit.
• Uncertain Doom: This is ultimately the fate of Anaval Gato. Instead of destroying himself in a kamikaze attack, he's defeated by Kou, who takes him and his escape pod prisoner. However, during the Colony Drop, Kou loses the pod and Gato escapes. Zeonic remnants find the pod but no body inside; they feel survival was slim but not impossible. Alice Miller keeps the case open, refusing to believe Gato is dead. Volumes 17 and 18 deal with a man who is presumed to be Gato, but as Monsha confronts him, we learn that is not the case.
• We Have Reserves: Bask has this attitude when he fires the Solar System II at both allied and enemy forces. That said, it's his own Federation forces he lists as the acceptable losses whilst the Cima Fleet and Gundam (both of which should be his allies) were deliberately targeted.
• Well-Intentioned Extremist: Jamitov has a little more light shone on his motives for doing what he did in the story. He's enabled the Delaz Fleet to become such a problem because he wants to restructure the complacent Federation military and unite them against Axis. His actions have allowed Operation Stardust to come much further than it should have, but he is correct in Axis being a threat especially since they're not only developing war machines but are willing to aid in an atrocity like a Colony Drop.
• What Happened to the Mouse?: Early on, Aristide Hughes, the Albion's gunnery chief from an obscure CD drama, was introduced. However, the manga never bothered to actually adapt the events of that CD drama, and he ended up just fading out of the story.
• Xanatos Speed Chess: The Titans and Alice Miller end up playing a game of this. Miller is attempting to gather evidence against the Federation for allowing Operation Stardust from happening. However, the Titans are one step ahead and have erased all the data on the Gundam Prototypes. Miller realizes, then, that without the data, then Kou no longer has a reason to be in jail and quickly orders Kou released before the Federation can toss on bogus charges.