Mobile Suit Spotlight: Wing Gundam

Welcome to our new blog series: the Mobile Suit Spotlight. In this series, we delve into the background of the featured mobile suit and its pilot. And naturally, we cover the range of Gunpla kits that are available for this mobile suit. In this first edition, we take a closer look at the Wing Gundam and all of its variants. Because the Wing Gundam is featured in 15 different Gunpla kits (excluding P-Bandai models), we have our work cut out for us. So let’s get started, shall we?

As for its backstory, the Wing Gundam is definitely an icon for the western audience. Although it first aired in Japan back in 1995, Mobile Suit Gundam Wing was the first Gundam series to be broadcast on television in America and Europe. This means that for many, Mobile Suit Gundam Wing and its titular mobile suit were the first introduction to the franchise. It featured a cast of pilots that are remembered fondly by many, such as Duo Maxwell (Gundam Deathscythe), Trowa Barton (Gundam Heavyarms), Quatre Raberba Winner (Gundam Sandrock), and Chang Wufei (Gundam Shenlong).

In Heero Yuy we find the pilot of the Wing Gundam. Although he was only 15 years old at the start of Mobile Suit Gundam Wing, Heero appeared to be build for war. His demeanor is often cold and ruthless. His attitude is that of a stoic. And most importantly, Heero is purely driven by his mission: completing Operation Meteor. As for why he turned out to be this way, we have to turn to Jay Null – more commonly known as Doctor J.

Aside from being the mentor of Heero Yuy, Doctor J was also the creator and engineer of the Wing Gundam. Before building that specific mobile suit, however, he collaborated with other scientists to build the Wing Gundam Zero. This version featured the Zero system, featuring unprecedented combat abilities. Its strength in combat, however, comes at a cost. Specifically, the Zero system can cause irreversible mental damage to those who attempt to use it. During combat, it can also result in pilots going temporarily rogue as they are unable to deal with its inputs.

If we take a look at the Wing Gundam Zero, there are plenty of variations to consider. For those looking for its vanilla version, there is a High Grade kit that dates from 2014. Additionally, there is a Master Grade variant available of the kit, although its visual differ slightly due to it being the Endless Waltz version (a sequel movie which was released after the initial success of the TV series). We’ve also got the High Grade Wing Gundam Sky Zero from Mobile Suit Gundam Breaker Battlogue and the Wing Gundam Zero Honoo from Mobile Suit Gundam Build Fighters, offering interesting variations of the original design.

After developing the Wing Gundam Zero, Doctor J moved on to the development of the Wing Gundam. Although it doesn’t feature the Zero system due to its drawbacks that we discussed prior, the Wing Gundam is still an extraordinarily strong mobile suit. It is armed with a buster rifle and beam saber, as well as a shield made of Gundanium Alloy. Moreover, it can transform into Bird Mode, which offers unprecedented levels of mobility on the battlefield. Its iconic design was conceived by famous mecha illustrator Hajime Katoki, who is also the designer behind the Ver. Ka range of Gunpla.

If you’re in search of a Gunpla kit of the Wing Gundam, consider yourself fortunate as there are a lot of strong options to pick from. If you’re interested in a version that represents a faithful representation of the TV series, there is a High Grade kit, a Real Grade kit, and a splendid Master Grade. And if you prefer the Endless Waltz design of the Wing Gundam, one can go for the Real Grade, the Master Grade, or even the MG Ver. Ka edition of this mobile suit. Last but not least, there is also the HG Wing Gundam Fenice from Gundam Build Fighters in an alternative green color scheme.

As we described above, the commercial success of the TV series resulted in a sequel move called Endless Waltz. Releasing two years after the end of the TV show, it reunited the cast in a battle against Mariemaia Khusrenada, the daughter of Treize Khusrenada – who served as the primary antagonist in Mobile Suit Gundam Wing. For me personally, the definite highlight of this movie comes in the form of the Wing Gundam Zero Custom. Its angelic wings perfectly contrast its otherwise mechanical design, resulting in a truly divine combination. The only downside is that it didn’t get any more screentime than it did.

Concerning the range of Gunpla kits that are available for those who love the Wing Gundam Zero Custom as much as I do, I have to say that my feelings are kind of a mixed bag. To start on a positive note, there is a great RG edition available of this mobile suit. And in my opinion, the MG Ver. Ka of the Wing Gundam Zero Custom is definitely one of the best Gunpla kits of all-time and a must-have for any Gundam fan. However, the vanilla MG kit feels kind of outdated, as does the Perfect Grade version of this mobile suit. So in this case, I’d definitely recommend to go with either the RG or the Ver. Ka options of the Wing Gundam Zero Custom.

Alright, so that’s it for this first edition of the Mobile Suit Spotlight. Hopefully you’ve enjoyed reading this article and maybe you even learned a thing or two about the Wing Gundam and its variations. And if you’re looking to purchase one (or if you’re like me, maybe a few more) of the many Gunpla kits available for this mobile suit, be sure to check out the prices we track on our website and save over 10% on average.