Mobile Suit Gundam: Char Contre-Attaque - Beltorchika's Children #1

Beltorchika's Children #1 serves as the debut of a manga adaptation of Yoshiyuki Tomino’s rejected draft for the 1988 film Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack. Originally serialized in Kadokawa Shoten's Gundam Ace magazine starting in 2002, the work was illustrated by Kouichi Tokita. It was conceived to provide fans with an alternative version of the final confrontation between Amuro Ray and Char Aznable, incorporating unique mobile suit designs like the Hi-Nu Gundam that diverged from the final theatrical release.

The narrative tone of the manga leans heavily into the darker, more mature themes present in Tomino's initial literary drafts, specifically focusing on the complex interpersonal dynamics involving the character Beltorchika Irma. By presenting a 'what-if' scenario, the series allowed Tokita to reinterpret iconic mechanical designs under the supervision of the Sunrise studio, ultimately becoming a staple for Gundam enthusiasts interested in the evolution of the franchise's expansive lore beyond the canonical film.