Gundam Sentinel
ガンダム・センチネル

Author: Masaya Takayashi
Character and Mechanic Design: Hajime Katoki

Publisher: Dai Nippon Kaiga
Serialization: Model Graphix
Release Period: 1987-1990
Compilation: 1 Volume

OUTLINE
【概要】

The stage of this work is set during the final part of Gundam ZZ. The event that would later be called the “Revolt at Pezun” takes place from January 25th UC0088 to April 5th of the same year. At the asteroid base of Pezun, Federation Forces officers stationed there revolt against the pro-AEUG Federation leadership. They declare themselves the “New Desides” and swear to continue the fight for Earthnoid supremacy. Dispatched to suppress the rebellion is Taskforce Alpha, a small collection of Federation Forces, AEUG and Karaba war vets. Also at their hands is the S Gundam, the latest advance mobile suit equipped with an artificial intelligence system codenamed ALICE…

CHAPTER SUMMARY
【チャプターあらすじ】

Part.01…………………………………………………………………………Upheaval

Prologue – The Guys
Chapter.01 – Revolt at Pezun
Chapter.02 – Skirmish
Chapter.03 – Sally Forth, S Gundam!
Chapter.04 – Conquest of Pezun

Part.02…………………………………………………………………………Battle on the Lunar Surface

Chapter.05 – Dream on the Moon
Chapter.06 – Logistic Bomb
Chapter.07 – Eagle Fall
Chapter.08 – Battle of Ayers
Chapter.09 – Mass Driver
Chapter.10 – Shadow of the Neo Zeon

Part.03…………………………………………………………………………Return to Earth

Chapter.11 – Target, Penta
Chapter.12 – Pursuit
Chapter.13 – Triple Attack
Chapter.14 – Earth Light

CHARACTERS
【登場人物】

【α任務部隊】
【TASK FORCE ALPHA】

Ryuu Roots
Shin Crypt
Tex West
Sigmun Shade
John Grisom
Robert Aldrin
Chung Yung
Stole Mannings
Eton F. Heathrow
ALICE

【地球連邦軍】
【EARTH FEDERATION FORCES】

Dr. Mizu Roots
Dr. Caroll

【ニューディサイズ】
【NEW DESIDES】

Brave Cod
Tosh Cray
Josh Offshore
Fast Side
Drake Pashley
Mike Saotome

【連邦軍宇宙艦隊】
【FEDERATION FORCES SPACE FLEET】

Brian Aeno

【エアーズ市】
【AYERS CITY】

Kaizer Pinefield
White Force

【NEO ZEON】
【ネオ・ジオン】

Twanning

COPYRIGHT
【版権】

Model Graphix magazine tackled the controversial suspension of Gundam Sentinel garage kit sales at the JAF-CON V event in their October 1996 issue. The publication took a firm stance, asserting that they held certain rights to Sentinel based on an agreement with industry giant Bandai. The roots of this “incident” could be traced back to the murky waters of verbal promises and undocumented copyright boundaries surrounding the property, further compounded by the absence of key Bandai personnel due to internal reshuffling. Though the matter was eventually settled with Bandai’s Hobby Division through a series of magazine correspondences, a crucial detail was notably absent: any mention of Sunrise, the ultimate gatekeeper of the Gundam series’ copyrights, being privy to or approving any transfer of rights.

Bandai, meanwhile, seemed to play by its own rules, as evidenced by the launch of the “GUNDAM FIX FIGURATION” toy line by their Character Toy Division (now known as the Collector Division). This move brazenly disregarded the “verbal agreement” that had been the crux of Model Graphix claims, casting doubt on the magazine’s influence within the Bandai Group. In a surprising turn of events, the March 1997 issue featured a “Correction and Apology” article, backpedaling on their previous assertions. The piece unequivocally stated that the copyrights for the entire Gundam Series, Sentinel included, rested solely in the hands of Sotsu Agency and Sunrise, rendering any notion of Bandai paying royalties to Art Box (Model Graphix planning and editing team) an impossibility.

At C3×HOBBY, the exclusive event where same-day licenses for Gundam-related products could be obtained. Sentinel items were conspicuously absent from the list of approved properties. However, in 2005 and 2010, Wave and Volks respectively managed to secure official permission to sell the Gundam Mk-V, albeit under the SD Gundam GGENERATION banner rather than the Sentinel name. Studio RECKLESS, on the other hand, had their dreams of selling the Z Plus in 2006 dashed after failing to pass the secondary screening process. Undeterred, they later included the head as a bonus part with the reissued Z Gundam kit, while the Mass Production Type Z Gundam kit cannibalized the head, arms, and legs from the original design. The Nouvel GM III also received a similar treatment, with Nouvel parts included as extras in the GM III kit.

By the 2014 C3×HOBBY event, studio RECKLESS and other dealers triumphantly released S Gundam and Z Plus garage kits, signaling a shift in the Sentinel licensing landscape (permissions for bust figures, which are more difficult to obtain under the SD Gundam GGENERATION copyright, have been granted).