Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway’s Flash is a rare Gundam novel that has yet to make an appearance in bookstores outside of Japan. Those not familiar with the earlier Gundam series (specifically the 0079 timeline), Hathaway is the child of two underrated Gundam characters, Bright Noa (Captain of the White Base in the first Mobile Suit Gundam) and Mirai (Yashima) Noa. The story of Hathaway’s Flash takes place after the end of Char’s Counterattack. Hathaway Noa makes his first appearance in the Char’s Counterattack movie He actually appears in Z Gundam, but only appeared once with his sister, Chiemin Noa.

Taking place 12 years after the events of the movie, Hathaway is a now Gundam Pilot, using the skills he obtained going on a mobile suit spree, ala Amuro in the first Gundam, when he was younger, and with additional training. Of course, Bright objected him from getting involved with such weapons of mass destruction, but eventually he gave in. A lot of things happen in the story one of which will have a huge impact on the Noa family. Amuro being a Gundam Pilot and making his mother cry is very different compared to what happens in Hathaway’s Flash.

Reading the plot, the story appears to be a dark one. Especially the ending, involving Bright and his son…but it’s just too much to give away, even from a Wikipedia entry. It’s a shame that potential publishers haven’t taken the time to release this one since novel versions of anime and manga series have been doing well over the past year and a half. This would have been a good follow up story along with Char’s Counterattack. May be it’s because the Gundam franchise isn’t as great as it was back when Gundam Wing aired, and that Gundam Seed for the most part, ruined it. Fortunately, there’s still plenty of Gundam to go around, but the stash of non-canon Universal Century material is running on empty…