OMG CRACK. TOTAL CRACK.

[kaigou]

I never would've known this had raletha not posted something about the Zeonic translations. A former head writer for the Wing series is doing a novelized 22-yrs-later continuation of Gundam Wing. I can't believe I thought for even a split-second that it'd make any sense, seeing how this is the franchise that released not one, not two, but three alternate-versions to explain the absolutely mind-boggling nonsensical leap between the end of the series and the OVA. And none of those in-between stories make any sense, which shouldn't be a surprise, seeing how neither does the OVA.

(Characterization? Consistency? We know not what those words mean. NOR DO WE CARE.)

Regardless, I followed the links and ended up on the (soon to be defunct) Zeonic site, where Deac apparently put out a call not long ago for editorial assistance. Novelization, much easier for me than dealing with manga scanlations; issues of voice and pacing, ah, that's in my realm; conflict and summary, doable after reading. Hmm. Then I reminded myself: self, you need another project like you need a FREAKING HOLE IN YOUR HEAD.

And then I went and read the summary of the general premise and character listings and where-are-they-now, via the Gundam wiki, and... wow. I like Deac, and Deac's team does good work for the Gundam world. But I'm afraid there's no way I could ever edit a series for which I can't even keep a straight face. I mean, really. No, REALLY.

Or to quote Raletha's much more succinct critique: it smacks of a fifteen year old fangirl's fifty chapter mpreg, Gundam Babies: The Next Generation.

There's crack, and then there's freaking crack, and I think Katsuyuki Sumisawa's Frozen Teardrop looks like it's going to hit a scale of freaking crack that we don't yet have the scientific means to measure. And once he's done, the fangirls and fanboys will descend upon it and add in all the smut that couldn't make it into a family magazine, the world will summarily implode for the sheer gravitational pull of so much crack in a single franchise.

Comments

[genarti]

This is one of those things which I think will be most hilarious for the joy of describing it straight-faced to people (uh, as best I can) and watching them make the @______________@ face of horrified bafflement.

I mean. Seriously. Just start with the name Frozen Teardrop, and it all goes downhill from there from everything I've heard about it. (I haven't been keeping up with it in any active way, but.)

That said, I totally don't count it as mental canon. For anything like this, I feel that if it has any good bits I may feel free to declare those bits only mental canon, and all else can be pitched into the AU of AHAHAHAHA WTF.

[kaigou]

if it has any good bits I may feel free to declare those bits only mental canon, and all else can be pitched into the AU of AHAHAHAHA WTF

I need to figure out a witty way to iconify that phrase: the AU of AHAHAHAHA WTF, because it's really the best explanation for just about everything that happens in canon, semi-canon, and ex-canon after the closing shot of the final episode of the actual series. (Actually, it could explain that happened in the series, too, but I won't go that far.)

[genarti]

There are so many things I consign to that mental AU.

I actually like certain parts of the OVA, and also like higher art budget, but... uh... there are many aspects of the politics and continuity and retcons there that I don't look at too closely for fear my brain will dribble out my ears. Why the feathers. WHY.

...Come to think of it, I think I can handily slot all of this Frozen Teardrop nonsense into the mental Land Where Gundams Have Sparkly Symbolic Feathers, which very clearly bears no resemblance to actual reality in any way, and carry cheerfully on thenceforth!

[kaigou]

I once found an entire GW apologia from a clearly long-term fanboy, regarding the purpose and intent of the feathers on the Wing redesign. It was freaking BRILLIANT. A total apologia, but still, brilliant! Not entirely hanging together there, because, hello, FEATHERS... but he tried his damnedest. I gave props for that... and then spent at least a week trying to figure out a way to work his suppositions into a story. JUST BECAUSE.