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Yasuo Ohtagaki Ends Gundam Thunderbolt Manga, Plans New Manga for Next Summer
posted on by Rafael Antonio Pineda
The Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt manga's story is set in the same One Year War in UC 0079 as the first Mobile Suit Gundam anime series. It begins with the battles between two ace pilots of the Principality of Zeon and the Earth Federation at the "Thunderbolt Sector," a shoal zone with numerous wrecks of space colonies and warships.
Ohtagaki (Moonlight Mile) launched the manga in Big Comic Superior in March 2012. Shogakukan published the manga's 26th compiled book volume on August 29. Viz Media is publishing the manga in English, and released the 24th volume on September 16.
Ohtagaki had put the manga on hiatus in September 2018 due to tenosynovitis (inflammation surrounding the tendons), and resumed the manga in December 2018. In a message accompanying the manga's resumption, Ohtagaki noted due to the worsening symptoms, he has been unable to draw small details using his dominant left hand, and it may be difficult to maintain the quality level of the manga. He added he would change his drawing style so as not to worsen the condition of his left hand.
The manga celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2022. As part of the 10th anniversary, the manga had an exhibit at Gundam Base Tokyo from September to October that year. Ohtagaki revealed at the opening event for the exhibition that he planned to continue the manga for another five to six years.
The manga inspired two original net anime series, each of which received a compilation film. Ohtagaki also draws the Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt Gaiden spinoff manga.
Source: Big Comic Superior issue 20
