Mailbag 5: Returned to Sender

Posted May 5, 2005

The Mailbag returns from the grave. Let's see if next time we can get some non-Gundam questions too, eh?

Luis Banuelos asks:
I have been fascinated by Gundam Wing's side story G-UNIT for quite sometime now. I really like Koichi Tokita's work - his mecha designs are almost 100% original.

However, I have been bothered by the origins of the names of the six Gundams that appear in G-UNIT. I have done some research and found the origins of some of the names; "Geminass" is obviously for Gemini; L.O. Booster is a no-brainer; Hydra is a mythological creature; Aesculapius is the name of a doctor/physician in Greek mythology. Despite research and stock knowledge, I still have to find the origins of two names: Griepe and Burnlapius. Can you help me?
Chris responds:
My search for Burnlapius returned no results, but there were many German results for Griepe. On a side note, TOKYOPOP renamed Burnlapius to Prometheus for the American version. In Greek mythology, Prometheus created mankind and stole fire from Mount Olympus so that people could stay warm.

Geoffrey Lim asks:
1. Has there been any news regarding Tomino's Turn A Space?

2. Is there any reason why SEED DESTINY has been reusing old designs like the Zaku, Gouf, and more recently, Doms (asides from annoying UC Fans)?

Chris responds:
1. There is no news on Tomino's Turn A Space. Given the non-commercial nature of Turn A Gundam and its small model line, it's not likely that Bandai will ever allow another series of its type to be created. If Tomino ever makes another Gundam series, it will probably have to be more in line with his past UC works.

2. As for SEED DESTINY, the main audience of that show wasn't even born when all these UC series were on TV. By introducing slightly modified versions of the Zaku and Gouf, Bandai wants to introduce kids to UC designs and hopefully get them to buy SEED and UC model kits.


J Park asks:
I was watching ZZ the other day, and I was wondering what happened to
a few of the characters. Specifically Judau, Mineva and Sayla. I heard somewhere that Judau has a cameo in Crossbone, but I haven't read that yet. Is this true and what is the cameo? Also, I was kind of wondering if Minerva is the same person as Berah Ronah's mother in F91, whose character seemed kind of too fleshed out not have a significant backstory. I've no idea what happened to Sayla.
Chris responds:
At the end of the anime, Judau and some of his friends leave the Earth Sphere and head for Jupiter. Sayla disappeared from the public eye and didn't do anything of note after ZZ. The Mineva seen in ZZ is later revealed to be a fake, and the commonly perceived notion is that Char spirited the real Mineva away somewhere. I haven't read all of Crossbone, but Judau does have a cameo in a Victory Gundam side story manga. I don't think Mineva could be Cecily/Berah's mother. That would be a bit too convenient, much like the fan theory that Uso Evin is the grandson of Char.

William Marmol asks:
What role has Jupiter played in the Universal Century? Have they been
financial backers of rebellions against the Federation in almost every
major conflict? Were they ever attempting to take political power
through the Federation's enemies? If not, then what reasons do they
have for their involvement with earth, if any such involvement
actually exists?
Chris responds:
Jupiter plays two roles in the UC world. Publicly, they run the Jupiter Energy Fleet which provides helium-3 to the Earth Sphere to power mobile suits. Privately, they've funded anti-Federation groups such as the AEUG and Crossbone Vanguard. The manga Crossbone Gundam focuses on the Jupiter Empire's attempt to conquer Earth. It's rumored that Jupiter Empire leader Crux Dogatie is somehow related to Fonse Kagatie, the head of the Gatie Party and the real power behind Victory Gundam's Zanscare Empire.

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