Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt (機動戦士ガンダム サンダーボルト) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yasuo Ohtagaki.It was serialized in Shogakukan's manga magazine Big Comic Superior from March 2012 to September 2025, with its chapters collected in 27 volumes.Set in the Universal Century era, the manga presents an alternate "world line" that diverges from the official timeline established in Mobile Suit Gundam.The manga is licensed in English Viz Media in North America and by Shogakukan Asia in Southeast Asia.
An original net animation (ONA) series adaptation by Sunrise was released between December 2015 and April 2016. A second part was released between March and July 2017. Each part was re-edited into a theatrical compilation film: December Sky (June 2016) and Bandit Flower (November 2017). The series is distinguished within the franchise by its high-detail mechanical artwork, a jazz score supervised by Naruyoshi Kikuchi, and a mature, stylistically bold tone.[4]
By December 2025, the manga had over 6 million copies in circulation.
In U.C. 0079, the Earth Federation's Moore Brotherhood and the Principality of Zeon's Living Dead Division engage in a fierce battle in the "Thunderbolt Sector" (サンダーボルト宙域), a shoal zone littered with debris from destroyed space colonies, named for its frequent electrical discharges.
Since the outbreak of the war, Zeon forces have secured the Thunderbolt Sector as it is a vital supply route to the Zeon-aligned A Baoa Qu asteroid fortress.
The story focuses on Federation soldier Io Fleming as he battles Zeon's best sniper, Daryl Lorenz.
Characters
Earth Federation
Moore Brotherhood
The Moore Brotherhood (ムーア同胞団) is an Earth Federation squadron consisting of former residents of the space colonies of Side 4: Moore, with the intent of punishing the Principality of Zeon for destroying their homeland.
Io Fleming (イオ・フレミング)
Io Fleming is a Federation ensign and mobile suit pilot known for playing free jazz over his radio during combat. Before the One Year War, he competed in air racing events on Side 4 with friends Claudia Peer and Cornelius Qaqa. After his father, Side 4's mayor, dies during the war's outbreak, Io joins the Moore Brotherhood fleet. During a mission in the Thunderbolt Sector, he commandeers a Zeon Rick Dom and later pilots the Full Armor Gundam against the Living Dead Division. Captured and beaten, he escapes during the Battle of A Baoa Qu. Seven months post-war, he pilots the RX-78AL Atlas Gundam aboard the Spartan.
Claudia Peer (クローディア・ペール)
Captain of the Beehive. Claudia finds her position uneasy, especially with Io as her lover. She is further disgusted when the Earth Federation sends teenage pilots to her fleet as reinforcements. The war takes a huge toll on her, as she resorts to taking depressant drugs before Io snaps her out of an overdose. During the last leg of the Moore Brotherhood's operation, her fleet is destroyed and she is shot by her XO Graham, who blames her and the Brotherhood elites for the death of his family. Eight months after the One Year War, Claudia is revealed to have survived the gunshot and is currently a commander in the South Seas Alliance.
Cornelius Kaka (コーネリアス・カカ)
An engineer aboard the Beehive and Io's best friend. As Io seemingly has an allergic reaction that causes him to sneeze in the hangar, Cornelius often lends him a pack of tissues. Following the events of the One Year War, Cornelius is reassigned to the Spartan as the ship's engineer.
Graham (グラハム)
A Federation XO aboard the Beehive. He is uncomfortable with serving under Claudia. After the Beehive is severely damaged by the Psycho Zaku, Graham shoots Claudia before he is consumed by the ship's final explosion.
Spartan crew
The Spartan (スパルタン) is a Pegasus-class warship that serves as the protagonists' base in the series' second season.
Bianca Carlyle (ビアンカ・カーライル)
A Federation Ensign who initially pilots an RGM-79 GM during Operation Star One. After the One Year War, she is assigned the Guncannon Aqua aboard the Spartan. Like Io, Bianca is a jazz enthusiast. She sports several tattoos on her body that represent her numerous battles during and after the One Year War.
Vincent Pike (ビンセント・パイク)
Captain of the Spartan.
Monica Humphrey (モニカ・ハンフリー)
A Federation Captain aboard the Spartan. During Operation Star One, she led a special forces team to capture the Flanagan Institute labs and acquire Zeon's psycommu technology.
A bridge operator aboard the Spartan. She is ranked as a Sergeant in the Federation Army.[7]
Moore Brotherhood
The Moore Brotherhood (ムーア同胞団) is an Earth Federation squadron consisting of former residents of the space colonies of Side 4: Moore, with the intent of punishing the Principality of Zeon for destroying their homeland.
Io Fleming (イオ・フレミング)
Io Fleming is a Federation ensign and mobile suit pilot known for playing free jazz over his radio during combat. Before the One Year War, he competed in air racing events on Side 4 with friends Claudia Peer and Cornelius Qaqa. After his father, Side 4's mayor, dies during the war's outbreak, Io joins the Moore Brotherhood fleet. During a mission in the Thunderbolt Sector, he commandeers a Zeon Rick Dom and later pilots the Full Armor Gundam against the Living Dead Division. Captured and beaten, he escapes during the Battle of A Baoa Qu. Seven months post-war, he pilots the RX-78AL Atlas Gundam aboard the Spartan.
Claudia Peer (クローディア・ペール)
Captain of the Beehive. Claudia finds her position uneasy, especially with Io as her lover. She is further disgusted when the Earth Federation sends teenage pilots to her fleet as reinforcements. The war takes a huge toll on her, as she resorts to taking depressant drugs before Io snaps her out of an overdose. During the last leg of the Moore Brotherhood's operation, her fleet is destroyed and she is shot by her XO Graham, who blames her and the Brotherhood elites for the death of his family. Eight months after the One Year War, Claudia is revealed to have survived the gunshot and is currently a commander in the South Seas Alliance.
Cornelius Kaka (コーネリアス・カカ)
An engineer aboard the Beehive and Io's best friend. As Io seemingly has an allergic reaction that causes him to sneeze in the hangar, Cornelius often lends him a pack of tissues. Following the events of the One Year War, Cornelius is reassigned to the Spartan as the ship's engineer.
Spartan crew
The Spartan (スパルタン) is a Pegasus-class warship that serves as the protagonists' base in the series' second season.
Bianca Carlyle (ビアンカ・カーライル)
A Federation Ensign who initially pilots an RGM-79 GM during Operation Star One. After the One Year War, she is assigned the Guncannon Aqua aboard the Spartan. Like Io, Bianca is a jazz enthusiast. She sports several tattoos on her body that represent her numerous battles during and after the One Year War.
Vincent Pike (ビンセント・パイク)
Captain of the Spartan.
Monica Humphrey (モニカ・ハンフリー)
A Federation Captain aboard the Spartan. During Operation Star One, she led a special forces team to capture the Flanagan Institute labs and acquire Zeon's psycommu technology.
A bridge operator aboard the Spartan. She is ranked as a Sergeant in the Federation Army.[7]
Principality of Zeon
Living Dead Division
The Living Dead Division (リビング・デッド師団) is a Principality of Zeon squadron made of amputee pilots fitted with metal prosthetic limbs. The division is assigned to defend the Thunderbolt Sector from the Federation.
Daryl Lorenz (ダリル・ローレンツ)
Daryl Lorenz is a Zeon Chief Petty Officer and ace sniper who carries a vintage radio playing oldies music. During the early stages of the One Year War, he loses his legs to mortar fire in a colony raid. While fighting Io Fleming in the Thunderbolt Sector, his Zaku I is destroyed, costing him his left hand. To better interface with the experimental Psycho Zaku, he voluntarily amputates his right hand. After a fierce battle with the Full Armor Gundam, he escapes and later receives a Gelgoog, though his prosthetics hinder its operation. Post-war, he joins a Zeon remnant group in the South Pacific.
Karla Mitchum (カーラ・ミッチャム)
Karla Mitchum is a Zeon scientist involved in the Reuse P. Device (リユース・Ｐ・デバイス) project, developing prosthetics for the Living Dead Division. Hoping to secure her dissident father’s release, she serves Zeon with dedication. After Io Fleming kills pilot Hoover, she urges Daryl Lorenz to retaliate. Traumatized after witnessing allies die during the Dried Fish’s destruction, she falls into a catatonic state. She awakens post-war, but her mental state regresses to adolescence due to the psychological toll.
J. J. Sexton (J・J・セクストン)
Living Dead Division
The Living Dead Division (リビング・デッド師団) is a Principality of Zeon squadron made of amputee pilots fitted with metal prosthetic limbs. The division is assigned to defend the Thunderbolt Sector from the Federation.
Daryl Lorenz (ダリル・ローレンツ)
Daryl Lorenz is a Zeon Chief Petty Officer and ace sniper who carries a vintage radio playing oldies music. During the early stages of the One Year War, he loses his legs to mortar fire in a colony raid. While fighting Io Fleming in the Thunderbolt Sector, his Zaku I is destroyed, costing him his left hand. To better interface with the experimental Psycho Zaku, he voluntarily amputates his right hand. After a fierce battle with the Full Armor Gundam, he escapes and later receives a Gelgoog, though his prosthetics hinder its operation. Post-war, he joins a Zeon remnant group in the South Pacific.
Karla Mitchum (カーラ・ミッチャム)
Karla Mitchum is a Zeon scientist involved in the Reuse P. Device (リユース・Ｐ・デバイス) project, developing prosthetics for the Living Dead Division. Hoping to secure her dissident father’s release, she serves Zeon with dedication. After Io Fleming kills pilot Hoover, she urges Daryl Lorenz to retaliate. Traumatized after witnessing allies die during the Dried Fish’s destruction, she falls into a catatonic state. She awakens post-war, but her mental state regresses to adolescence due to the psychological toll.
J. J. Sexton (J・J・セクストン)
A Zeon scientist in charge of the RPD project. He treats the Living Dead Division pilots as lab rats. During the evacuation of the Dried Fish, Sexton sneaks through a pile of injured soldiers and jumps into an escape pod. He was later seen as a member of the South Seas Alliance.
Zeon Remnants
Billy Hickam (ビリー・ヒッカム)
A Zeon Newtype pilot who served during the last days of the One Year War and is part of the Zeon Remnant army alongside Daryl and Fisher.
A Zeon Gogg pilot and a crew member aboard the submarine Mad Angler (マッド・アングラー).
Bull (ブル)
A Grublo mobile armor pilot and baseball enthusiast who collects bobbleheads of baseball players. During the Antarctica skirmish, Bull faces the Atlas Gundam underwater. Despite heavily damaging his opponent, he is defeated by the Gundam's agility, and his mobile armor is crushed by the pressure of the deep sea.
South Seas Alliance
The South Seas Alliance (南洋同盟) is a Buddhist radical cult faction aligned with the Earth Federation until U.C. 0080, when it calls for independence. Its military consists primarily of mobile suits cobbled together from Federation and Zeon units from the One Year War. Intelligence reports reveal that the South Sea Alliance possesses the remains of Daryl's Psycho Zaku and plans to mass-produce its Reuse P. Device technology.
Levan Fuu (レヴァン・フウ)
The Reverend and leader of the South Seas Alliance. He was once a test child for the Principality of Zeon to develop the perfect Newtype until the experiments damaged his brain. Following the One Year War, he converted to Buddhism and used his Newtype abilities to create his cult.
Chow Ming (チャウ・ミン)
A Gouf pilot in the South Seas Alliance.
Production
In November 2011, Yasuo Ohtagaki announced that he would put his other manga series, Moonlight Mile, on hiatus to start a new project,[8] which was later revealed to be a (originally planned) Gundam mini-series.[9] Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt started in Shogakukan's manga magazine Big Comic Superior magazine on 23 March 2012.
Ohtagaki described the manga as a realistic war story for adults, employing a harsh tone, mechanical realism, and a jazz motif that dictates its rhythm and atmosphere. His goal was to create a work "adult fans can empathize with," using cinematic techniques for pacing and sound on the page.[10][11][12][13] The series was later stated to occupy its own separate "worldline", distinct from the main Universal Century canon.[14]
In September 2018, it was announced that Ohtagaki would place the manga on hiatus due to tenosynovitis.[15] Upon its return in December, he announced a permanent change to his drawing style to accommodate the condition in his dominant left hand, acknowledging that this might affect the series' visual quality and receive a mixed response from fans;[16] the manga has had other hiatuses since then.[17][18][19] In June 2025, it was announced that the manga would end in eight chapters.[20] The series finished on 26 September 2025.[21][22]
Media
Manga
Written and illustrated by Yasuo Ohtagaki, Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt was serialized in Shogakukan's manga magazine Big Comic Superior magazine from 23 March 2012 to 27 September 2025.[23][24][21] Shogakukan collected its chapters in 27 volumes, released from 30 October 2012 to 19 December 2025.
The series is licensed for English release in Southeast Asia by Shogakukan Asia, which released the first volume on 22 April 2015.North American publisher Viz Media announced its English-language license at Anime Expo in July 2016;[25] the first volume was released on 15 November of that same year.
Volumes
Volumes
Original net animation
A four-episode original net animation adaptation, produced by Sunrise, was announced in October 2015.[83] Directed and written by Kō Matsuo, it features character designs by Hirotoshi Takaya, mechanical designs by Morifumi Naka, Seiichi Nakatani, and Hajime Katoki, and a score by jazz musician Naruyoshi Kikuchi.It premiered as a pay-per-view in Japan on 25 December 2015 (with early access for the Gundam Fan Club on 11 December),[84] concluding on 22 April 2016 (with early access for the Gundam Fan Club on 8 December).[85] A second four-episode season was announced in November 2016.[86] The episodes were released from 24 March to 14 July 2017.[87][88]
Episodes
Compilation films
A director's cut edition of the first season, titled Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt: December Sky (機動戦士ガンダム サンダーボルト DECEMBER SKY), was screened at selected 15 theaters in Japan from 25 June 2016 for a limited time of two weeks. A first-press "Complete Edition" Blu-ray/DVD set was available at screenings, with a regular edition following in stores on 29 July;[90] A theatrical compilation film of the second season, titled Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt: Bandit Flower (機動戦士ガンダム サンダーボルト BANDIT FLOWER), was screened in Japanese theaters between 18 November and 1 December 2017.[91]
An English dub from NYAV Post was included on the December Sky Blu-ray; Right Stuf released an import edition on 5 July 2016.[92][93][94] The film's English dub was screened at Tokyo's Shinjuku Piccadilly theater on 15 August 2016, as part of the annual Sunrise Festival.
Reception
By February 2025, the Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt manga had sold over 5.5 million copies.[96] By December 2025, it had over 6 million copies in circulation.[97]
The anime film compilations were praised for their audiovisual quality and bold tonal approach. Forbes characterized December Sky as a great but quite dark film that appealed to fans of the franchise's grittier elements, and described Bandit Flower as impressively animated, noting its Blu-ray release effectively highlighted its visual and musical strengths.[98][99] Anime UK News similarly lauded December Sky as an exciting and emotionally powerful war film with exceptional action and music.[100]
The magazine-style portal AnimeHack highlighted the intentional musical contrast between Daryl's oldies and Io's aggressive free jazz, noting that this created an emotional counterpoint and heightened the intensity of the battle scenes during the film's opening night event.[101]
A Federation XO aboard the Beehive. He is uncomfortable with serving under Claudia. After the Beehive is severely damaged by the Psycho Zaku, Graham shoots Claudia before he is consumed by the ship's final explosion.
A Zeon scientist in charge of the RPD project. He treats the Living Dead Division pilots as lab rats. During the evacuation of the Dried Fish, Sexton sneaks through a pile of injured soldiers and jumps into an escape pod. He was later seen as a member of the South Seas Alliance.
Burroughs (バロウズ)
Captain of the Dried Fish, the Living Dead Division's flagship. Like the division's pilots, Burroughs is an amputee, sporting a prosthetic right arm. He and his main crew are killed after the Full Armor Gundam fires at the Dried Fish's bridge.
Sean Mitadera (ショーン・ミタデラ)
A Zaku pilot with prosthetic arms. He is seemingly killed by Io when the latter uses his Zaku as a shield against Daryl, but in fact survives and relocates to Earth after the war concludes, working as a member of an independent salvage company.
Hoover (フーバー)
A Rick Dom pilot with a prosthetic left arm, he is described by Daryl as a "playboy-wannabe". Hoover is shot in the head by Io, who then hijacks his Rick Dom to leak the Living Dead Division's sniper positions to the Moore Brotherhood.
Fisher Ness (フィッシャー・ネス)
A Rick Dom pilot with prosthetic legs. During the final battle between the Moore Brotherhood and the Living Dead Division, he retreats to rendezvous with Zeon reinforcements to rescue his comrades. Fisher and Daryl become part of a Zeon Remnant army in the South Pacific after the One Year War.
Layton (レイトン)
A Gattle pilot and Daryl's close friend. After firing a direct hit on the Beehive with a Big Gun, he is killed by the Moore Brotherhood fleet's countering fire.
Keith Meyers (キース・マイヤーズ)
Denver Roche (デンバー・ローチ)
A Zeon soldier who wears a black face mask and has a prosthetic leg. During the Moore Brotherhood's takeover of the Dried Fish, Denver detonates a suicide bomb in the vessel's armory.
Zeon Remnants
Billy Hickam (ビリー・ヒッカム)
A Zeon Newtype pilot who served during the last days of the One Year War and is part of the Zeon Remnant army alongside Daryl and Fisher.
A Zeon Gogg pilot and a crew member aboard the submarine Mad Angler (マッド・アングラー).
Bull (ブル)
A Grublo mobile armor pilot and baseball enthusiast who collects bobbleheads of baseball players. During the Antarctica skirmish, Bull faces the Atlas Gundam underwater. Despite heavily damaging his opponent, he is defeated by the Gundam's agility, and his mobile armor is crushed by the pressure of the deep sea.
Burroughs (バロウズ)
Captain of the Dried Fish, the Living Dead Division's flagship. Like the division's pilots, Burroughs is an amputee, sporting a prosthetic right arm. He and his main crew are killed after the Full Armor Gundam fires at the Dried Fish's bridge.
Sean Mitadera (ショーン・ミタデラ)
A Zaku pilot with prosthetic arms. He is seemingly killed by Io when the latter uses his Zaku as a shield against Daryl, but in fact survives and relocates to Earth after the war concludes, working as a member of an independent salvage company.
Hoover (フーバー)
A Rick Dom pilot with a prosthetic left arm, he is described by Daryl as a "playboy-wannabe". Hoover is shot in the head by Io, who then hijacks his Rick Dom to leak the Living Dead Division's sniper positions to the Moore Brotherhood.
Fisher Ness (フィッシャー・ネス)
A Rick Dom pilot with prosthetic legs. During the final battle between the Moore Brotherhood and the Living Dead Division, he retreats to rendezvous with Zeon reinforcements to rescue his comrades. Fisher and Daryl become part of a Zeon Remnant army in the South Pacific after the One Year War.
Layton (レイトン)
A Gattle pilot and Daryl's close friend. After firing a direct hit on the Beehive with a Big Gun, he is killed by the Moore Brotherhood fleet's countering fire.
Keith Meyers (キース・マイヤーズ)
Denver Roche (デンバー・ローチ)
A Zeon soldier who wears a black face mask and has a prosthetic leg. During the Moore Brotherhood's takeover of the Dried Fish, Denver detonates a suicide bomb in the vessel's armory.
Matsuo and producer Naohiro Ogata discussed the adaptation's aims and rollout, while Kikuchi and Matsuo explained their musical concept: Io Fleming is associated with modern, often violent free jazz to power battle scenes, while Daryl Lorenz is contrasted with “oldies” vocals. Creator Yasuo Ohtagaki added that he wanted songs to convey character feeling beyond dialogue.[89]
Episodes
Compilation films
A director's cut edition of the first season, titled Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt: December Sky (機動戦士ガンダム サンダーボルト DECEMBER SKY), was screened at selected 15 theaters in Japan from 25 June 2016 for a limited time of two weeks. A first-press "Complete Edition" Blu-ray/DVD set was available at screenings, with a regular edition following in stores on 29 July;[90] A theatrical compilation film of the second season, titled Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt: Bandit Flower (機動戦士ガンダム サンダーボルト BANDIT FLOWER), was screened in Japanese theaters between 18 November and 1 December 2017.[91]
An English dub from NYAV Post was included on the December Sky Blu-ray; Right Stuf released an import edition on 5 July 2016.[92][93][94] The film's English dub was screened at Tokyo's Shinjuku Piccadilly theater on 15 August 2016, as part of the annual Sunrise Festival.[94] The inaugural Anime NYC convention hosted the second film's premiere screening on 19 November 2017.[95]
