Gundam Seed Destiny Vol. 1

The latest installment in the long running Gundam saga begins after the war between Earth and the Plant has been halted by a cease fire. The war was fought with space battleships and Gundams—enormous mechanized exoskeletons that can double as single-person massively-armed spaceships. The result hasn't been real peace, though. There's too much tempting, deadly technology available, so eager military research and development people start building more and more advanced Gundams, while fanatics plot to reignite the war. Series creator Tomino has been spinning increasingly elaborate plot webs since 1979, which shows how fascinating the basic concept has proved, but it also means that a new reader picking up a book like this is apt to feel a bit like a new viewer trying to appreciate the intricacies of a well-established soap opera. What may hold newbies' attention, though, is the continuing attraction of the Gundams themselves, all captured by the intricate art: it would be wonderful to shrug off the frustrating complications of our daily lives, climb inside a fantastically powerful machine and go out to fight for peace. (June)