KIDOU SENSHI GUNDAM: SENKOU NO HATHAWAY
STATUS
COMPLETE
VOLUMES
3
RELEASE
April 11, 1990
CHAPTERS
55
DESCRIPTION
In Hathaway's Flash Hathaway Noa, still haunted by his past actions (not to mention the spirt of deceased Newtype Quess Paraya), joins a terrorist organization called Mafty and adopts the false name "Mafty Navue Erin". The organization Mafty is fighting a terrorist campaign against the Earth Federation government, and they are eventually able to acquire the incredibly powerful prototype Ξ Gundam, which Hathaway becomes the pilot of. Using the Ξ Gundam Mafty attempts to attack a meeting of high-ranking Federation cabinet members in Adelaide, Australia to force them to vote down a provision which would strengthen the Federations already considerable powers.
As a point to note, this novel focuses on a version of events chronicled in creator Yoshiyuki Tomino's novelized form of Char's Counterattack, rather than his animated movie version, and as such, several discrepancies can be found between the animated work and this novel, making it more of a semi-canonical UC storyline, rather than 100% official canon.
(Source: Wikipedia)
CAST
Hathaway Noa
Gigi Andalucia
Kenneth Sleg
Bright Noa
Mirai Yashima
CHAPTERS
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REVIEWS
Haru19
The ultimate testament on how resilient human will is, even in a painfully corrupted and hopeless worldContinue on AniListThe Greatest Possible Conclusion to the Universal Century
Char's Counterattack's final moments are and forever will be stuck in my mind; the very testament of how immeasurably powerful human will is, a light to look up to. The premise of putting an end to the UC once again, is perhaps what made me feel so drawn towards Hathaway's Flash since the first movie was announced, ultimately bringing me to read the original novels. Now I can confidently say that indeed, this is the ultimate conclusion to that story, and perhaps my favorite instalment in the franchise.
I don't intend this to be a "classic" in-depth review of the Hathaway's Flash novels, but rather a collection of my feelings about it and what it ultimately means to me.
Starting from the setting, especially on a sociopolitical standpoint, one could argue it's the most compelling entry in the whole UC; Zeon has been disbanded and now the only party in opposition to the Earth Federation Government is a terrorist group carrying on the very ideals that led to the space immigration program at the beginning of the Universal Century in the first place: Earth's nature restoration from all the pollution humanity had caused. And having a character like Hathaway to be the protagonist here sets a direct correlation to the last major conflict, Char's Rebellion.
The idea of an ideology being carried on through time is very dear to me, and the contrast between ideals and reality has always been a major theme in Gundam; from the Newtype ideology itself, to showing the whole world what it means to use one's own potential to guide humanity towards a better future. The existence of even the smallest hope is what prevents humanity to be led to ruin, and maintains the balance between reality and the ideal.
It's very clear by the end of the novel how central this theme is in Hathaway's Flash as well, and it's precisely in the third volume, in the final chapters, that this core message shines the most. (Spoilers ahead!)
The feeling of a -somewhat foreseen- disappointment after the outcome of the last clash between Mafty and the Circe Unit, leaves space for an unbelievable mix of emotions thanks to the brilliant character writing up to this point; the last few chapters focusing solely on the aftermath of the conflict, with Kenneth, Gigi and Hathaway himself dealing the looming consequences of their actions, are capable of fully delivering the hopelessness that permeates reality.
The pain and sorrow you feel as you go through Hathaway's last hours in the hospital are truly heart-wrenching, but even so, somehow, even in those moments, and perhaps, especially in those moments, you can feel how resilient the hope for a better future is. It's something so deeply human, something that will never cease to exists as long as there's someone willing to take on that legacy, to live by the ideal and fulfil their purpose of leading others towards that goal.
Once ignited, the flame of hope will always raise from within, and a new Mafty Navue Erin, the Just King of Prophets, will always emerge and carry on that ideal, no matter how harsh a direct confrontation with reality will be, he will be showing the world the light of the human heart. That is the true, timeless, strength of a Newtype.
Hathaway becoming a martyr and leaving his own legacy behind to the world is ultimately the embodiment of hope itself, a testament of how ideals are essential for change, and will always be carried on through time, no matter how hopeless and corrupted reality is. Hathaway was one of the steps of this chain of hope, solely moved by human will itself, the greatest strength humanity posses, capable of overcoming even time
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Ended inApril 11, 1990
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