Episode 22 of "Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury" aired this week, finally marking the official debut of the protagonist Suletta's highly anticipated new mobile suit, the Gundam Calibarn. This 20-year-old mobile suit not only boasts terrifying performance, but its main weapon is also a massive beam cannon resembling a witch's broom, which has been widely discussed since its appearance. However, the existence of a "broom-type weapon" was actually mentioned as early as last October, during the initial broadcast period.
This Gundam Calibarn is a mobile suit that was seized and sealed by the Space Assembly League 21 years ago during the Vanadis Incident. Its exceptional performance earned it the moniker "monster," but because it lacks a Data Storm filter, an ordinary pilot would be consumed by the Data Storm and die. Even though Suletta's body is a clone of the chosen one, Ericht, she still needs to overcome a Permet Score of 5 to barely fight.
The most distinctive weapon of the Gundam Calibarn is a large beam cannon resembling a "witch's broom," whose high-power beam can pierce through several GUND-Node units in a single shot. Its end is also equipped with four large thrusters for instantaneous high-speed propulsion. This design was actually mentioned in an interview with mechanical designer JNTHED in the Gundam-themed monthly magazine "GUNDAM ACE 2023/12," released last October, and it was even Gundam Aerial's initial design.
During the protagonist mobile suit design competition phase, although the production team set the requirement to "not overly emphasize witch elements," mechanical designer JNTHED went against this by drawing designs featuring witch hats, robes, and broom-type weapons, and these were ultimately successfully adopted, becoming a major mobile suit design for "The Witch from Mercury." However, in the final official stage, this witch-like appearance was not adopted, and various witch elements were largely removed, resulting in Gundam Aerial's current appearance. Yet, unexpectedly, this initial design reappeared as Suletta's new mobile suit at the end of the series.
Coinciding with Gundam Calibarn's official debut, Bandai also simultaneously announced that the previously discussed new Gunpla product "HG 1/144 New Item B (tentative)" will be released on July 15th. It seems this deeply hidden product is indeed the Gundam Calibarn. However, since it has already appeared in the show, why are the product images not yet revealed? Many keen-eyed viewers have noticed that Gundam Calibarn has numerous "Bit on Form" slots, identical to those on Aerial. Perhaps the reason for not revealing it is that it still conceals crucial expansion armaments.
【発売日決定������】
『機動戦士ガンダム #水星の魔女』より、「#新商品B」の #ガンプラ 発売日が決定！
☆☆☆7月15日(土)発売☆☆☆
☆機動戦士ガンダム 水星の魔女 新商品B(仮)https://t.co/XBqg1ghxSP pic.twitter.com/AQ9OKTcezh— BANDAI SPIRITS ホビー事業部 (@HobbySite) June 18, 2023
HG 1/144 Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury New Item B (tentative)
Reference Price: 2,200 JPY (tax included)
Estimated Release Date: 2023/07
Product Specifications: 1/144 Scale Assembly Model
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