Long-Running Mobile Suit Gundam MSV-R Manga Wraps Up After 13 Years

(Last Updated On: July 28, 2023)

In the latest September edition of Kadokawa’s Gundam Ace magazine, readers bid farewell to Ark Performance’s Mobile Suit Gundam MSV-R: Johnny Ridden no Kikan (The Return of Johnny Ridden) manga, as it concluded its run with the final chapter. On September 26, fans can anticipate the release of the manga’s 26th and ultimate compiled volume.

Set in U.C.0090, the story commences with a Federation investigative committee exploring obscure mobile suits used in the latter stages of the One-Year War and the pilots behind them. Among these pilots stands the renowned Zeon ace, Johnny Ridden.

This manga beautifully showcases mobile suit designs from the Gundam franchise’s MSV-R (Mobile Suit Variations R) project, a collection of captivating variations on existing U.C. mobile suit designs, or imaginative creations by the esteemed mecha designer Kunio Okawara. These striking designs have been compiled in sourcebooks and featured in various spinoff manga, with Johnny Ridden no Kikan being a notable part of this narrative exploration.

Having launched in Gundam Ace back in April 2010, the manga has captivated audiences for over a decade. The 25th volume was published on March 25 earlier this year.

Ark Performance, in collaboration with Koujirou Nakamura, also made its mark with the Mobile Suit Gundam Twilight AXIS novel under Sunrise’s light novel imprint, Yatate Bunko, in November 2016. This engaging novel later inspired a series of six net anime shorts, with the first episode delighting viewers with English subtitles in June 2017. Additionally, the novels found further expression through a manga adaptation.

It’s worth noting that Ark Performance is known for their ongoing Arpeggio of Blue Steel manga, which first debuted in Shonengahosha’s Young King Ours magazine in 2009. The manga’s success has transcended borders, as Seven Seas Entertainment publishes it in print in North America, while Crunchyroll releases it online.

Furthermore, this captivating manga served as the inspiration for a television anime, which Crunchyroll streamed during its Japanese airing in 2013, in addition to two compelling anime films.

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Monika Chopra

Monika Chopra is a Mumbai-based anime writer from a wealthy background. An open lesbian, she advocates for #LGBTQ+ rights through her globally loved narratives. Her work focuses on inclusivity and the slice-of-life anime genre, finding extraordinary in the ordinary.