Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin is back in the spotlight with Kodansha’s new oversized deluxe editions complete with faux leather covers, embossed details, and a new presentation.
The series has seen several English-language releases over the years, but the Vertical hardcovers have long been considered one of the best. They’ve been a staple in collections, one’s we’ve praised for their quality and bonus content.
Now, with the arrival of the deluxe releae, how do these new editions compare to the Verticals? Are they really an upgrade? In this review, we’ll break down the key differences between the two releases and explore which version is the better pickup depending on what you value most.
Why the Vertical Hardcovers Stand Out
Right now, there are two in-print ways to collect Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin in English: the Vertical hardcovers or the new deluxe editions. I’ve showcased the Vertical set on the channel before, and they’re still some of the nicest manga hardcovers we own— we even included them in our best manga hardcovers list for that reason. They may be smaller in size, but they pack in a lot:
- Beautiful matte covers with Yoshikazu Yasuhiko’s artwork
- Sewn binding and glossy, thick white paper
- Color pages
- Extra content in the back of each volume, including essays, art galleries, and contributions from names like Hideaki Anno, CLAMP, Makoto Yukimura, and Makoto Shinkai. But here’s the thing—many of these are now exclusive to the Vertical hardcovers, since they were left out of the new deluxe editions, which I’ll get into later.
They’re also a complete set, the 12 volumes cover the whole story, which is first for an English release. Normally, we’d be all for a larger format. Bigger editions usually mean better print quality and nicer paper, like we’ve seen with Kodansha’s Vinland Saga deluxe releases. But with Gundam: The Origin, the original Vertical hardcovers were already such a beautiful, high-quality release that the deluxe really has a lot to contend with.
What’s New in the Mobile Suit Gundam The Origin Deluxe Edition
That said, what’s new in this Deluxe Edition? Kodansha’s release takes a different approach. Instead of the smaller hardcover size, these are oversized, giving Yasuhiko’s artwork more room to breathe. They’ve also gone with a faux leather cover, embossed details, and an overall more traditional “deluxe edition” feel similar to what they did with the Vinland Saga Deluxe Editions.
Size-wise, the deluxes match Kodansha’s Vinland Saga Deluxes, but the first volume is an absolute chonker. It’s probably the heaviest deluxe I’ve owned so far—even compared to the 5th Blade of the Immortal volume. At first glance, I was worried that would affect readability, and honestly, it’s not one you can comfortably hold in hand for long. These volumes have the same squared-off spines and oversized trim, and when you put them side by side with the Vertical set, the size difference is obvious.
I’ll also want to get into the extras, because interestingly, this new edition actually comes with less. To Kodansha’s credit, they made that clear in the original announcement. But the essays and bonus illustrations from other creators are gone—what you get here is only Yasuhiko’s own work, which to be fair, is beautiful to witness. The full color galleries at the end are great, but there is a lot excluded here. Here’s a quick rundown of what’s exclusive to the Vertical hardcovers. All the color pages are still here though, so that’s good.
The series is also being condensed into six oversized volumes instead of twelve, so we’re getting fewer volumes overall compared to the original set, which will presumably save on shelf space.
Design
The first volume features the RX-78-2 on the cover—also seen on the very first Vertical hardcover—but here it’s embossed black line work on a faux leather background, with the logo stamped in white. The spines carry that same look, with a caution-marker style decal at the bottom. Kodansha also seems to be going for a consistent blue color scheme, presumably to tie in with the RX-78-2 itself. The sewn binding is yellow, another accent color of the mobile suit. Deluxe volumes two and three, which have already been revealed, also stick with that blue theme.
For us, though, the color choices are a bit odd. The yellow accent works, but using blue as the dominant color doesn’t feel quite right. It appears the intention was to represent the RX-78-2’s colors, but its primary color is white. A white base with red, blue, or yellow accents would have made more sense and felt more iconic. It’s a nitpick, but as long-time fans, this stood out.
Stylistically, the Deluxe Editions lean into a clean, mechanical design. They have that uniform, collector’s look and fit right in next to other oversized editions like Vinland Saga. If you want consistency across your shelf, they definitely provide it.
The Vertical hardcovers, on the other hand, are more vibrant. Their galaxy-inspired color palettes, with characters and suits front and center, give them personality and presence. They stand out in a way that nothing else on the shelf really does. To us, they capture the “soul” of Gundam: The Origin more so than the Deluxes do. Design is subjective though. In the end, it comes down less to quality and more to style. Do you want something uniform and clean that fits with your other deluxes, or something colorful and striking that sets itself apart? That choice will most likely determine which version you prefer.
Print Quality
There’s still a lot to compare here, though—from print quality to readability and more—so let’s break it down further.
As mentioned, all the color pages are still here, only now at a larger size, which definitely makes an impact. The real difference is in the paper. In the Vertical hardcovers, the color pages were printed on glossy white stock, while in the deluxe they’re on matte white. The artwork still looks great blown up, but you lose a bit of that extra pop the glossy pages had.
The same goes for the black and white pages—glossy in the Verticals, matte in the deluxe. Personally, we like the feel of the matte paper, but visually, still prefer the look of the Verticals. Is the print quality bad in the deluxe? Not at all. But the paper choice makes each version feel different: the Verticals are punchier and more contrast-heavy, while the deluxes have a softer, more realistic tone where you can pick up on subtle color values you don’t always see in the Verticals. One isn’t strictly better than the other, they just present the art differently. That said, for black and white pages, the Verticals come out on top. Seeing the artwork blown up in the Mobile Suit Gundam The Origin Deluxe Edition is great, but I don’t want to buy something just because it’s bigger.
Reading Experience
As for readability, both editions seem to hold up really well. The oversized format definitely gives the artwork more presence. Yasuhiko’s detail looks great blown up, but the matte paper in the Deluxe means the art doesn’t pop quite the same way it does on the glossy stock in the Verticals..
The Deluxe Editions are thick—probably the heaviest we’ve read so far—which does make us wonder about their durability over time. Thankfully, they do use sewn binding, just like the Verticals. Both editions have a little gutter loss at the start of volumes, but the Deluxe Editions ease up in the middle thanks to their larger margins.
When it comes to comfort, the Verticals win. They’re sturdy, high-quality, and much easier to hold for long reading sessions. The Deluxe Editions, on the other hand, are best read on a table or flat surface.
Overall, the Deluxe looks impressive and gives the art more room to breathe, but the Verticals are still the more comfortable and practical edition to actually sit down and read. Both editions have their place, though, depending on what you value.
Value
On price, the Verticals retailed at $29.95 each (about $360 USD total), while the deluxes are $54.95 each (about $330 USD total).
So the Deluxe come in slightly cheaper overall, even though they’re larger. They are priced right in line with other Deluxe Editions like Vinland Saga and Blade of the Immortal.
With the Deluxe, though, you’re paying less but getting fewer extras and no glossy stock. With the Verticals, you’re paying a little more, but you’re getting essays, more extra material, and a premium feel.
So in terms of pure dollar value, the Deluxe wins. But if you care about extras, the Verticals are worth it.
Final Verdict: Are They Worth the Upgrade?
So now that we’ve gone over everything, what’s the final verdict? For newcomers, either edition is a good choice, it really just depends on what you’re looking for. If you want a larger format that fits in with other deluxe releases on your shelf, the new Kodansha editions make sense. Yasuhiko’s artwork does look great blown up, and they have that uniform oversized look some may prefer.
But if you already own the series, there isn’t a major reason to upgrade. The Vertical hardcovers capture the spirit of Gundam: The Origin with their colorful artwork, glossy paper stock, and all the extra essays and contributions. They feel like they have soul, and they still read and display beautifully. They hold up so well that we don’t feel the need to replace them, and that says a lot.
That said, the Deluxe Editions still have a place. If you want a uniform shelf, prefer oversized volumes, or are building out a deluxe library, they’re worth considering. But for us, the Verticals remain the definitive way to own this series.
Shop now
Looking for more amazing hardcovers you can shop? Check out the best manga hardcovers your money can buy. You can also check out our full review of the Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin Deluxe Edition on YouTube below for an all-around and inside look of the edition.
