Gundam: Iron Blooded Orphans - Episodes 1-13 Spoiler Free Retrospect

While I mentioned some of my opinions on Iron Blooded Orphans on my review of the first episode of Thunderbolt, I think IBO deserves some time of it's own. We've reached about the middle point of the series, so now I think is as good a time of any to look back at the past 13 episodes and share my opinions on the setting, it's characters, and just the overall feelings I have for the show.

While Gundam has always set a precedent for showing showing brutal, unglamorous depictions of war. Iron Blooded Orphans does not let up, showing a brutal depiction of the lives of child soldiers in various different sides of the conflict, along with the consequences of a order that watches over both the poverty stricken Mars and Earth population.

One of the first things to talk about when talking about Iron Blooded Orphans is the characters. I'm going to try my best to be spoiler free, but the majority of the story follows the titular Iron Blooded Orphans, mainly the Gundam Barbatos' pilot Mikazuki Argus, his friend and the defacto leader Orga Itsuka. The story kicks off with the security company that houses Mikazuki and his comrades being tasked to move Kudelia Aina Bernstein to Earth, so she can campaign for Martian independence. The main antagonist is an organization called Gjallarhorn.

Gjallarhorn is introduced to us through through various characters. But the main characters we follow for the most part is McGillis Fareed and Gaelio Bauduin, both members of respected families inside of Gjallarhorn, and quickly start to show themselves as being not quite the same most of the fodder of Gjallarhorn. Gaelio is hot headed and temperamental while McGillis is calm and collected, and seems to come off as having greater plans beyond just killing Kudelia. I suppose we will have to see if he gets a hold of a mask, or if his soul is weighed down by gravity.

Along with Gjallarhorn and our protagonists, we're introduced to multiple supporting characters, all of which help flesh out the world of Iron Blooded Orphans, the Turbines, the Brewers and the families of Biscuit all help show the gravitas of Mars and the environment of Space.

In terms of the designs of the Mobile Suits for Iron Blooded Orphans, I personally think they're absolutely gorgeous. The Graze and it's variations look awesome, not traditionally Gundam, but they still have that Zakuesqe grunt suit feeling. The Barbatos captures the essence of what is expected from a traditional Gundam, while still giving it a unique feel in-line with the aesthetic that Iron Blooded Orphans show. Even the controversial Gundam Gusion looks fantastic.

Over all, If you haven't seen Iron Blooded Orphans, or if you've been on the fence on deciding whether or not you should start, or if you've never seen Gundam before. Iron Blooded Orphans is an awesome, brutal and at times, heartwarming series, that I would recommend to anyone. And remember to raise your flag.

- JC