▪	RELEASED BY:		DEL REY
		▪	AUTHOR / ART:		HAJMIE YATATE & YOSHIYUKI TOMINO MASATSUGU IWASE
		▪	FORMAT:		JAPANESE / BW
		▪	PAGES:		16+
		▪	RATING:		T
		▪	RELEASE DATE:		07/31/2007
		▪	REVIEW DATE:		07/25/2007
		▪	REVIEWED BY:		CHRISTOPHER SEAMAN

This is the end of GUNDAM SEED DESTINY, the latest incarnation of the popular franchise from Japan that redefined giant robot manga since appearing over 25 years ago.  Del Rey’s four volume adaptation of the popular anime is bursting with action and angst aplenty at the best of times, but in the final installment, emotions and explosions go into overdrive.   

We began with falling asteroids, changing alliances, and new intrigues tearing old friendships apart, making for new complications in the already complicated lives of our cast of characters.  Shin Asuka- Gundam pilot with a major vengeance complex, Princess Athha Cagalli- diplomat and pacifist working for the Earth Alliance, Chairman Dullindal- leader of the PLANTs, as well as Athrun Zala- Cagalli’s bodyguard living on Earth under an assumed name because of his connection to PLANT councilman Patrick Zala, his father, all bounce about the stars as their world shudders under the trauma of more war and factional violence.  In Volume Four, a number of these characters meet stunning defeat in pitched battle, and not all of them survive to reflect on what happened to them.  Vengeance for lost loves drives others into suicidal attacks and hopeless combat, and the whole vicious circle of pathos and pyrotechnics spins seemingly out of control as powerful new mobile suits and weapons of mass destruction are hurled headlong into the fray. 

Once again, Kira Yamato, piloting his way through the minefield of intrigue, finds himself present at the final reckoning, and must finally deal with the outstanding conflict between himself and Shinn.  Will it ever end?  Or once the foul plans of Chairman Durandal and his minions are foiled, will somebody else with dreams of peace through utter oppression step into the breach to keep the fires of war burning?  More reflection on the concepts of human enhancement, the nature of duty and loyalty pad the pages between the beam saber rattling exploits that effectively dominate this volume.  In the end, though, one knows that it’s not really over.  What seeds have been sown for future action, only the creators of this series know?  But certainly…watch this space.  You haven’t seen the end of Gundam.  

With the ending of the manga, it is time to take stock of the overall series.  DESINTY is problematic as Gundam adventures go, even if it is still a rich adventure for people looking for mecha manga.  The stylistic art, with the characters drawn in such a way that is hard to tell the male pilots apart once they are in their space suits, makes it confusing for the reader, unless they know automatically which mobile suit is which in external shots.  To the untrained eye, that could be a tall order, as these gnarly weapon festooned machines, as magnificent as they are, all begin to look the same after a while.  Also, the action seems a little stiff in places.  Having watched some of these shows on DVD, it seems a little something- I know not what- is lost in translation to the printed page in the final volume.  The battle scenes are mainly set in smallish frames, distancing readers from the action, instead of engulfing them in it.   There are some panels that fill half pages, or spread across the top of two, mounting the gutter space with ease.  But some shots with a lot of bang up stuff going on seem small by comparison. 

Yet it still engages this reviewer.  The desperation of the characters to end this fighting, whatever side they are on, is palpable.  War is never glorified in this story, and no one among the main cast of politicians and warriors ever dies alone.  There is always someone to say good-bye, hear the last words, and often, pledge vengeance.  Only in the end, when the moon dust has settled, do the survivors seem to believe, let alone understand that peace is not only possible, but imperative.  So GUNDAM SEED DESTINY, for all of its confusion, makes for a good moral lesson on conflict in the end.  

EXTRAS:
Del Rey provides no translation notes in this edition, but they are not really needed anyway because of the nature of the story.  However, a useful plot summary at the beginning is provided, along with a note from the author and a brief passage about the creative team behind this adventure story.

IN SUMMARY:
The starry skies blaze with the lights of exploding armor and burning political convictions as GUNDAM SEED DESTINY blasts its way to a fiery conclusion.  The power is up along with the action in this heavy metal adventure from Del Rey.  This is the final battle and destiny awaits!