July 30, 2003

Web Comics & Pics by Chris 5:40 P.M. EST
I've got a few items on today's update. First, the Features section has been re-organized to include a new section for Neo-Era's Gundam web comics. They're quite funny, so please check them out. Also, I've put up a few sample pictures from YasumiCon, so check them out. A full report is coming soon. Check out these:

Gundam Ground Type guy
The mecha panel with myself, Sam, Ben and Angel
Tanya with a cosplaying *male* Asuka from Evangelion

July 27, 2003

Reflections on YasumiCon by Chris 11:58 P.M. EST
Well, YasumiCon has come and gone, and I have to say I enjoyed the whole experience. With over 1200 people in attendance, it was definitely a success, and I'm sure there will be another in 2004. Anyway, a full report will be coming soon, but for now I'll post some brief thoughts on the convention. A lot of work went into this mecha panel, although most of it was last minute. My early Saturday morning consisted of organizing clips in a frenzy, which Dale was in charge of getting onto a big projection screen. The panel began late and started off a bit rough, but we eventually all got into it and briefly discussed mecha from the 60's up to now and played clips from various Gundam and Macross series. We also answered a lot of questions, and I'm glad to see there were some MAHQ fans in attendance. As for the rest of the day, well, you'll have to wait for the full report. If you want to see some pics, some of them are already up on YasumiCon's website and Wasabi Anime as well. Of note on Wasabi Anime's site is a guy who came to the mecha panel dressed as Gundam Ground Type. The full con report will also include lots of pictures taken by myself, Dale and Tanya.

By the way, here's some shout outs: If you're reading this, and you're the girl who cosplayed as Edward, please e-mail me. Also, if you cosplayed as Gundam Ground Type, please contact me also.

July 25, 2003

And We Would Also Like To Thank... Dale 4:28 P.M. EST
We would like to thank AGA for elevating us up to the main attraction for the mecha panel. We are now listed as one of the official guests of the convention. They have also helped in promoting MAHQ by placing my first ever MAHQ flyer on the YasumiCon website. Printed copies of the flyer will also be distributed by Tanya at the convention. As for me, I will be operating the projector as well as snapping pictures. We will be easy to spot since we will have on MAHQ badges.

Convention Reminder by Chris 1:13 A.M. EST
Updates here have been a bit slow in preparation for YasumiCon, but they'll go back to normal once it's over. Don't forget, if you're in the South Floirda area and want to check it out, be sure to be there before 11:30 A.M. to see the mecha panel. After the mecha panel, you'll find all of us on the floor playing games, watching anime, or checking out some cosplay. And no, if you see some dork in a cheap Gundam outfit, it's not me.

July 21, 2003

Deranged Lineart Insanity by Chris 10:52 P.M. EST
For today's update, Mark064 and I have cleaned up lots of new lineart to replace old pictures. First, I'll start with Mark's stuff. There's new pictures available for: Efreet, Gundam Pixie, Ez8 High Mobility Custom, Efreet Custom, Blue Destiny Units 1-3, Gundam Deathscythe, Deathscythe Hell, Gundam Heavyarms, Heavyarms Kai, Gundam Sandrock, Sandrock Kai, Shenlong Gundam, Altron Gundam, Gundam Epyon and finally Tallgeese.

As for my stuff, I've got lineart for: Zaku II F2 (three types), GM Kai (ground colors), Powered GM, Gerbera Tetra, Dom Tropen, Dra-C, Xamel, Jegan, Re-GZ, Geara Doga, Jagd Doga, Sazabi, Alpha Azieru and finally Hobby Hizack. Also, RancorClaw has created new custom lineart for the RX-79[G] (GM Head).

July 18, 2003

The SEED Continues by Chris 11:07 P.M. EST
Awhile back it was reported that Sunrise is planning a Gundam series for 2005 that goes back to the style of the original series. Well, according to a report from AnimeonDVD at the San Diego Comic Con, it seems another TV series is coming in October 2004, and it is tentatively referred to as Gundam SEED 2. While Bandai hasn't made an official announcement, the news comes from Matsumoto Satoru, a director from Sunrise. Since Gundam SEED still is on the air, the fate of the characters is unknown. Therefore, it's impossible to say whether this will be a second season with the same characters, or rather a sequel that picks up the story with a new cast like Gundam ZZ. Whatever it is, stay tuned to this page for more news as it develops. If you want to read the original report, you can find it here.

July 17, 2003

More of the Same by Chris 3:55 P.M. EST
I've got even more lineart for today's update. First is some stuff related to the last which wasn't ready in time. They are: Wing Gundam Zero (Neo Bird mode), Full Armor Enhanced ZZ Gundam, and V2 Gundam (all Core Fighter modes). Here's the rest of the new stuff: Gundam Alex Full Armor, GM Cold Climate Type, GM Command, Kampfer, Z'Gok-E, Hygogg, GM Ground Type, Guntank Mass Production Type, Ball, Apsalus 3, Zaku II Prototype, Gouf Custom, Gouf Flight Type (08th MS version), Zaku Tank (08th MS version), Acguy (08th MS version), Topp's Zaku I and finally Gundam Astray FAP. There's plenty more, but this time from Mark064, starting with the Turn A Gundam and including all these from G-UNIT: Gundam Geminass 01-02, Gundam L.O. Booster, Gundam Griepe, Gundam Aesculapius and Hydra Gundam. Finally, Dave Skinner sent in a new Strike Dagger (including its beam rifle), along with weapons lineart for the Calamity Gundam and GuAIZ.

In other news, I'm happy to announce that I'll be attending Miami's YasumiCon on July 26 and will be co-hosting the mecha panel. Dale will be in charge of technical duties, such as operating the projector and selecting the video clips, and Tanya will be our promoter handing out MAHQ flyers :) If you're in the South Florida area, be sure to drop by because admission is free. If you would like more information, visit the YasumiCon website. A full report will be posted later on after the con.

July 14, 2003

Lineart Overdose by Chris 12:10 A.M. EST
I've got loads of new lineart today that replaces a lot of old pictures that we've been using up to now. All scans come courtesy of Neo-Era. Check out new pics for the following: Gundam Ground Type (including Ez8), Gundam GP01, Gundam Mk II (AEUG & Titans colors), Super Gundam, Zeta Gundam (including Waverider), Hyaku Shiki, ZZ Gundam (including Core Fighter and Core parts), Nu Gundam (including fin funnels), Gundam F91, Victory Gundam (including Dash and Hexa and all Core Fighter combos), V2 Gundam (including Assault and Buster), Shining Gundam (including Super Mode), God Gundam, Wing Gundam (including Bird Mode), Wing Gundam Zero, Gundam X, Gundam X Divider, Gundam Double X, GINN (including new weapons lineart), CGUE (same as GINN), Mobius, Mobius Zero and finally Strike Gundam (Launcher and Sword). Also, Mark064 cleaned up some lineart for Sentinel, including S Gundam, Gaza-E, Zeta Plus A1 and C1.

July 13, 2003

New Profiles by Chris 12:15 A.M. EST
For today's update, the following profiles from Gundam SEED and SEED MSV have been upgraded to Burke's Mobile Weapons type profiles:

AMF-101 DINN
TFA-2 ZuOOT
TMF/A-802 P-Mod.W BuCUE Waltfeld Custom Improved Type
UMF-4A GOOhN
UMF-5 ZnO

Thanks go out to Shohei Takaya for his help in translating the BuCUE text, which was scanned by exZERO. There's also some new lineart for the Strike Gundam IWSP, which was scanned by exZERO and cleaned up by Psycho_Al.

July 11, 2003

Lineart & More by Chris 11:38 P.M. EST
There's quite a lot on today's update. First, there's more SEED lineart courtesy of exZERO which Psycho_Al cleaned up. Also, Mark064 has sent in lineart for the following: Core Booster, Zogok, Juagg, White Base, Public class, Chivvay class, Dolos class, Gattle, Jicco, Zanzibar class, Saberfish and Lili Marleen. Also, Al has cleaned up lineart for the following: Crossbone Gundam X-1 and X-2 (Katoki section), Zeta Plus Hummingbird (MS & Waverider mode), both of which can be found in Sentinel Variations. I've lost the e-mail of the person who originally sent these and to what website they're supposed to be credited to. You know who you are, so please e-mail me so I can place the proper credit here.

In other news, the forums over at Toonzone feature a link to a promotional video from Superior Defender. It's got everything you could want...shaky video (since it's taped off a TV), lots of Gundams, and a horrible announcer who sounds like some WWE reject. I've taken some screenshots of this video, and you can see them here: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

July 7, 2003

Gundam & More by Chris 11:54 P.M. EST
Let's get started with today's updates. First, there's reviews (with screenshots) for episodes 25-26 of Gundam SEED, which places me at the halfway mark of the series. Next up are various new pieces of lineart for the SEED mecha section which were scanned by exZERO and cleaned up by Psycho_Al. Also, the Gundam Side Story: Space, To the End of A Flash section has been updated with help from RGZ-91.

On another note, though I usually don't use this space to editorialize, this time I will. ADV has just released the first volume of the classic Aura Battler Dunbine, and I can't help but nitpick their marketing decisions. The cover features a large sticker that reads the following: "From the creator of Gundam and the architect of Robotech comes the greatest anime series you've never seen!." Now, as we all know, the creator of Dunbine and Gundam is Yoshiyuki Tomino, and the so-called architect of Robotech is Carl Macek. My problem here is that this sticker gives the impression that Macek was involved in the show's creation, which he most certainly was not. All he did was direct the dub featured on the DVD. Shame on you, ADV, for using false marketing as an excuse to plaster the Robotech name on it and draw in fans. What, the Gundam name isn't strong enough to bring in people on it's own, so you have to make up these credits and make it seem like Macek did something special? Macek did nothing more than any other dub director would have, so why does he get a special mention and they don't? Next time, ADV, advertise a series on it's own merits and not this sort of nonsense.

July 4, 2003

Independence Day Gundam by Chris 5:30 P.M. EST
Anime on DVD has posted coverage of the Gundam panel at Anime Expo. Of note is that Zeta Gundam will be released next year in a DVD box set followed by individual volumes. Also, Gundam F91 will have a theatrical release in conjunction with the DVD. Other Gundam news can be found here in the full report.

July 2, 2003

The Next Gundam by Chris 8:40 A.M. EST
With Gundam SEED approaching its end, a new series will inevitably appear. Neo-Era has posted on article on the GML with the first tidbits on the next series. It reads as follows:

In a July 1 article from Nikkei MJ on Bandai, it's mentioned that while Gundam SEED's main theme of friendship works well for parents watching the show with kids, hardcore Gundam fans are generally dissatisfied with it. Bandai President Takeo Takasu is quoted making comments about plans for the *next* Gundam series. He says something to the effect that the next Gundam tv series, planned for 2005, will go back to the "original theme" in order to recapture 1st generation Gundam fans.

What exactly this means is unclear at the moment. Links to the original article in Japanese can be found here.

On a Different Note by Chris 12:33 A.M. EST
This is the kind of update no one wants to make. If like myself you visit the website RPGamer, you might have read the news that one of their staff members by the name of Tony Green (aka DragoonT) took his own life last week. Aside from that, Tony was a Gundam fan and visited our IRC channel several times and spoke to many people. Even as you read this you may remember having seen him or read his articles on RPGamer. In any event, this is sad news, so on behalf of the MAHQ staff I offer my condolences to the Green family, his friends and the staff of RPGamer.

July 1, 2003

Lineart Attack by Chris 3:19 P.M. EST
For the first update of the month I've got a new mecha section and loads of new lineart. First, this new section is for the new Gundam Ace manga Mobile Suit Gundam Side Story: Space, To the End of A Flash. My thanks go out to Hi Nu Gundam for the mecha scans, Psycho_Al for cleanup and RGZ-91 for translation. Next, there's quite a bit of new Gundam SEED lineart, which was scanned by exZERO and cleaned up by Psycho_Al. First up is new lineart for the LaGOWE and the Combat Heli. The rest of the lineart covers new weapons for the Strike Gundam, Freedom Gundam and Justice Gundam. Finally, RancorClaw has sent in custom lineart for the RX-78's rollout colors. UPDATE: On a second minor note, I've put up new specs for various ZAFT suits all courtesy of Mark Simmons.

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