Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway's Flash (機動戦士ガンダム 閃光のハサウェイ), also known as Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway, is a trilogy of Japanese novels written by Yoshiyuki Tomino and published by Kadokawa Shoten under the Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko imprint from February 1989 to April 1990, totaling three volumes.[1] Part of the Gundam media franchise and set in the Universal Century timeline, it follows Hathaway Noa, who assumes the alias Mafty Navue Erin and leads an anti–Earth Federation movement.
A three-part theatrical film adaptation was announced by Sunrise as part of the "UC NexT 0100" project during the franchise's 40th anniversary presentation in November 2018.[2] The first film premiered in Japan on June 11, 2021,[3][4]
The second film released theatrically in Japan on January 30, 2026.
Plot
In Universal Century 0105, twelve years after the Second Neo-Zeon War, the Earth Federation remains deeply corrupt, and environmental degradation continues unchecked. A terrorist organization named Mafty emerges, targeting privileged officials through acts of political violence. Its leader, Mafty Navue Erin, is revealed to be Hathaway Noa—son of Federation officer Bright Noa—who pilots the prototype RX-105 Ξ Gundam in his campaign against systemic corruption.[6]
The Federation responds by forming the “Circe Unit,” commanded by Colonel Kenneth Sleg, with Lane Aim piloting the RX-104FF Penelope to stop Mafty's insurgency.[6]
During Mafty's hijacking of Haunzen Flight 356, Hathaway encounters Gigi Andalucia, who quickly discerns his identity despite his alias—an encounter that deeply affects his path.[7]
The son of the famous Bright Noa and a veteran pilot when Char tried to crash the Axis into Earth (see Char's Counterattack). However, Hathaway also happens to be Mafty Navue Erin, an infamous anti-Federation terrorist. He came down to Earth with permission to stay for the treatment of depression and training of botanical observer candidates, thanks in part to his father's fame.[9][10] During the training, he learned about Mafty from an elderly man who visited his supervisor, Professor Amada Mansan, under the alias "Quack Salver", and decides to join the group.[10] As its current leader, he pilots the RX-105 Ξ Gundam.
Gigi Andalucia (ギギ・アンダルシア)
A mysterious, eccentric, and wealthy young woman who seemingly has the ability to see through lies.
Kenneth Sleg (ケネス・スレッグ)
A Federation captain and the chief of security for Davao. He forms the Circe Unit whose sole purpose is to hunt down Mafty.
Mafty
Iram Masam (イラム・マサム)
A member of Mafty as part of its technical staff.
Emerelda Zubin (エメラルダ・ズービン)
A member of Mafty and one of the group's Mobile Suit pilots.
Gawman Nobil (ガウマン・ノビル)
A member of Mafty and one of its pilots.
Fencer Mayne (フェンサー・メイン)
A member of Mafty and one of its pilots.
Golf (ゴルフ)
A member of Mafty and one of its pilots.
Raymond Cain (レイモンド・ケイン)
A member of Mafty and one of its pilots.
Civet Anhern (シベット・アンハーン)
A member of Mafty and one of its pilots.
Hendrix Hiyo (ヘンドリックス・ハイヨー)
Maximilian Nikolai (マクシミリアン・ニコライ)
Kenji Mitsuda (ミツダ・ケンジ)
Earth Federation Forces
Lane Aim (レーン・エイム)
Leader of the Earth Federation's Circe Unit, who pilots the RX-104 Penelope.
Ray Lagoid (レイ・ラゴイド)
Minacce Questarghino (ミネッチェ・ケスタルギーノ)
Earth Federation government
Hiram Mescher (ハイラム・メッシャー)
Eyinstein (エインスタイン)
McGovern (マクガバン)
Davao Criminal Police Organization
Hundley Yeoksam (ハンドリー・ヨクサン)
The chief of the Davao Criminal Police Organization.
Geise H. Hugest (ゲイス・H・ヒューゲスト)
Others
Amuro Ray (アムロ・レイ)
A decorated war veteran and mobile suit pilot of the Second Neo Zeon War, who disappeared in the conflict's final battle fighting Char.
Quess Paraya (クェス・パラヤ)
Hathaway's former love interest, who defected to Neo Zeon. She died during the Second Neo Zeon War when Hathaway attempted to confront her to stand down.
Mace Flower (メイス・フラゥワー)
A flight attendant.
Bright Noa (ブライト・ノア)
Hathaway's father and a high-ranking Earth Federation military official working for the Londo Bell task force, whom he has a strained relationship with.
Mirai Noa (né Yashima) (ミライ・ノア)
Hathaway's mother.
Media
Novel
Hathaway's Flash was first conceived by Yoshiyuki Tomino in 1988 following the production of Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack film.However, Hathaway's Flash is meant more as a sequel to the novel Beltorchika's Children, the second/third novel version of Char's Counterattack.[15] Moriki Yasuhiro provided the mobile suit designs while character illustrator Haruhiko Mikimoto joined the project as character designer.
The three novels of the series were released between February 1989 and April 1990 under the Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko label.The novels were later rereleased by Kadokawa under the Kadokawa Comics Ace Label in 2021.
Manga
A manga adaptation by Uroaki Sabishi, that serves as a sequel to Uroaki's manga adaptation of Beltorchika's Children, began serialization in Gundam Ace on April 26, 2021, after the prologue was released on March 26, 2020.[17] The series ended its first part on June 26, 2023.[18]
Films
A three-part film adaptation by Sunrise was first teased back in April 2018 upon the unveiling of Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative.[19] The film was later formally announced during the Gundam 40th Anniversary press conference in November of the same year.[20][21][22][23]The first film was originally scheduled to be released on July 23, 2020,[24]
Video games
Hathaway's Flash first appeared in the SD Gundam G Generation series of games by Bandai starting with SD Gundam G Generation F.The series later made its Super Robot Wars debut in Super Robot Wars V in 2017.
Merchandise
The eponymous character's mecha (Ξ Gundam) was released as part of Bandai's Gundam Fix Figuration line of toys starting in 2005. The title later got its own Gunpla debut, with the BB Seishi No.386 Ξ Gundam in December 2013, the High Grade Universal Century Gustav Karl in February 2019, which were released under the Gundam Unicorn line, the High Grade Universal Century Penelope, released in November 2019, the High Grade Universal Century Messer Type F01, released in July 2020 and the High Grade Universal Century Ξ Gundam, released in April 2021.
Reception
Richard Eisenbeis of Anime News Network gave the first film a B, citing the film's "beautiful but hampered by some of its creative choices" and criticizing its overall plot saying that "with a bit more finesse in execution, it could have been a far better adaptation than what it has turned out to be."[42] In its first theatrical release, the first film earned more than 524 million yen in its first weekend.[43] It later earned 1,016,249,400 yen, making it the first Gundam film to top the 1 billion yen mark since Char's Counterattack 33 years before.[44]
Hathaway's girlfriend. She devoted herself to his rehab and even became Mafty's district supporter to be by his side. However, ironically, as he became a core combatant and immersed himself in Mafty activities, she gradually became estranged.[10]
Quack Salver (クワック・サルヴァー)
An elderly man who goes by the codename "Quack Salver". He is a supporter of Mafty and is the mastermind behind the formation of an anti-Earth Federation organization calling for the purge of the privileged classes and the preservation of the Earth's environment, centered on a fictional figure named Mufti Navue Erin.[12] He provides logistical support to the execution teams led by Hathaway, who continues to carry out terrorist attacks as he moves across the Pacific.
He was once a general in the Earth Front of the Earth Federation Forces.[12][10] He is now rumored to be a key figure in the Earth Federation government.[13]
A quack-salver is a false name synonymous with a bogus doctor or other fraudulent person.[12][10]
A second film in the series was teased after the first film's release, but production had stalled due to the pandemic.[34] The film, subtitled as The Sorcery of Nymph Circe (キルケーの魔女), was released on January 30, 2026.[35]
The films are directed by Shūkō Murase, with Yasuyuki Mutou writing screenplays.[Alexandros] performed the first film's main theme "Senkou" (閃光).[36] Yōhei Kawakami and SennaRin performed the second film's insert theme "ENDROLL".[37] The second film's opening theme is "Snooze" by SZA,[38] while the ending is "Sweet Child o' Mine" by Guns N' Roses.[39]Hiroyuki Sawanocomposed the music for all three films.[40]
Yoshiyuki Tomino stated on an interview, "30 years after I wrote those novels, they are finally being adapted into film. As the author, I am so happy". He also noted that "[t]he real world hasn't progressed, and may even have regressed. Because of all the Gundam fans who gave this story the chance to reemerge, its themes can pierce through society today."[41]
