Suletta and Miorine sharing a moment during their school youth in "Youth Frontier".
The acclaimed Mobile Suit Gundam franchise expands with the exciting announcement of a new manga series, titled "Mobile Suit Gundam The Witch from Mercury: Youth Frontier" (機動戦士ガンダム 水星の魔女 青春フロンティア). This anticipated project will present a completely renewed perspective of the beloved characters from the hit anime series "Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury", placing them in a fresh and different setting as a parallel story (spin-off). The serialization of this new manga is scheduled to begin in May 2025, generating great anticipation among Gundam and anime fans in general.
Official Launch Announcement and Publication Platform
Confirmation of the launch of "Mobile Suit Gundam The Witch from Mercury: Youth Frontier" comes directly from Gundam.info, the official news portal for the Gundam franchise. It has been announced that serialization will begin on Friday, May 23, 2025. The chosen platform for its publication is the web manga medium Comic Newtype, a strategic decision that aligns with the growing trend in the manga industry towards digital distribution. This will allow broader access and make it easier for Gundam followers from various regions to follow the new adventures of Suletta and Miorine. The prestigious publisher Kadokawa is in charge of this publication, ensuring quality and wide dissemination for this new manga title.
Synopsis: A New Frontier for Suletta Mercury and Miorine Rembran
The plot of "Youth Frontier" is presented as a "parallel story" that deviates from the main canon of the anime "The Witch from Mercury". In this new and refreshing narrative, Suletta Mercury is a transfer student to an institution in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, in the "near future," a significant change from the Asticassia School of Technology. There, she meets Miorine Rembran, described as the daughter of a local family, who, unlike her animated counterpart, does not seem to have a defined dream at the beginning. Suletta proposes they fill a "list of things they want to do" together, this becoming the central axis of the manga's plot. The series will focus on the "new beginning (frontier)" of these young women and their friends, who "bet all their youth" on these experiences. This narrative approach promises to explore personal development, interpersonal relationships, and everyday experiences, offering a contrast to the space opera and intense conflicts of the original Gundam series.
Suletta and Miorine star in the new manga series "Youth Frontier," an exciting addition to the Gundam universe.
The Creative Team Behind "Youth Frontier"
The script for this new Gundam manga is by HISADAKE, a member of the creator unit "Morion Aviation" (or "MORION AIRLINES"). HISADAKE has previous experience with the franchise, having participated in the production of the anime series "Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury" by contributing to scenario design. The art and costume design for the manga are by Hiro Hata, a talented illustrator and mangaka who has declared himself a big fan of "The Witch from Mercury". The combination of these talents promises a faithful yet novel adaptation for the characters.
First Look: Reimagined Characters and Design in the New Manga
The first revealed illustrations for "Youth Frontier" show the protagonists, Suletta Mercury and Miorine Rembran, along with other known characters like Guel Jeturk, Elan Ceres, and Shaddiq Zenelli. All of them have been adapted to a contemporary Japanese school setting. A notable change that has generated conversation is their attire: they now wear Japanese-style "JK" (high school girl) school uniforms, including "super-miniskirt" designs. This aesthetic choice aims to generate anticipation and debate among manga and anime followers, evoking themes of youth and school life, and signaling a significant tone shift from the original Gundam series.
Suletta ready for her school duties in "Youth Frontier," broom in hand.
Miorine, with her usual composure, taking a call in her new school life.
Guel Jeturk, with his characteristic confident and defiant pose, adapted to the school environment.
Elan Ceres, with his calm and formal demeanor, as a student in this new spin-off manga.
Shaddiq Zenelli, showing his charisma with a relaxed and confident pose in the new manga.
Expanded Context: The Phenomenon of "Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury" (Anime)
"Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury," the anime series aired between 2022 and 2023, is set in an era of advanced space development where giant corporations dominate the economy and politics. The plot follows Suletta Mercury, a young pilot transferred from the remote planet Mercury to the prestigious Asticassia School of Technology, managed by the influential Benerit Group. The series tackled complex themes such as school drama, sharp critiques of space capitalism, corporate manipulation, past traumas, and notably, the romantic relationship between Suletta and Miorine. The latter was particularly well-received for its queer representation, marking a milestone in the Gundam franchise. Despite some criticism that it was "80% school drama, 20% Gundam," the series was a resounding commercial and critical success, attracting a new generation of followers thanks to its stunning animation, a memorable soundtrack (featuring YOASOBI performing the first opening, "Shukufuku"), and the deep development of its protagonists. This success is likely the driving force behind the exploration of more relational and everyday aspects in spin-offs like "Youth Frontier."
"Comic Newtype": The Premiere Platform for the New Gundam Manga
Comic Newtype, the platform where "Youth Frontier" will be published, is a webcomics magazine belonging to Kadokawa. This digital platform is characterized by offering a wide variety of genres to appeal to "all tastes," including action series, mecha (as is natural for Gundam), romantic comedies, and fantasy. It is interesting to note that the name "Newtype" has a deep historical connection with the Gundam franchise. The term was introduced in the original "Mobile Suit Gundam" series of 1979 and extensively developed in "Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam" (1985). Furthermore, the original print magazine "Newtype," also by Kadokawa Shoten, was launched in 1985, cementing the name's legacy in anime and manga culture.
Words from the Creators about "Youth Frontier"
HISADAKE (script) expressed his enthusiasm for the project, commenting on his desire for "Suletta and the others to experience various landscapes of Japan" through this manga. This statement suggests a focus on cultural and personal exploration in a terrestrial setting. For his part, Hiro Hata (art) expressed his joy at "reuniting with the characters he loves so much" through this spin-off and pledged to draw "with all my heart and soul." These statements aim to manage fan expectations, emphasizing the change of scenery and the focus on the intimate and everyday experiences of the characters from "The Witch from Mercury," offering highly anticipated Gundam news.
Sources
- 「機動戦士ガンダム 水星の魔女 青春フロンティア」本日より…, Gundam.info, accessed: June 1, 2025, https://www.gundam.info/news/publications/01_17454.html
- Gundam: The Witch from Mercury Spinoff “Youth Frontier” Launches…, Oricon Group US, accessed: June 1, 2025, https://us.oricon-group.com/news/4517/
- コミックNewtype, ComicWalker, accessed: June 1, 2025, https://comic-walker.com/label/comicnewtype
- Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury (TV Series 2022…), IMDb, accessed: June 1, 2025, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15433166/
- Youth Frontier, a spinoff manga series of The Witch from Mercury, is coming on May 23rd, 2025 : r/Gundam, Reddit, accessed: June 1, 2025, https://www.reddit.com/r/Gundam/comments/1kiibei/youth_frontier_a_spinoff_manga_series_of_the/