Gaia Gear

A resistance group named Metatron opposes the oppressive Earth Federation and its Man Hunting Attachment police force in the year UC 0203. To strengthen their efforts, Metatron develops a memory clone of Char Aznable, who becomes Char Afranche, a 19-year-old leader who takes command and pilots the Gaia Gear Alpha after discovering his true identity. The work was written by Tomino Yoshiyuki, with mechanical designs largely by Ito Mamoru, known for their originality and departure from the established "Gundam Look." The story first appeared as a serial in the Japanese Newtype Magazine from April 1987 to December 1991, followed by a five-novel series and a radio drama released on five CDs between November 1992 and July 1993. Two soundtracks accompanied the radio drama. Ito's designs were also published in Hobby Japan Magazine in early 1991. The story was intended to depict the third century of the Universal Century but was later disregarded in favor of other works, becoming a minor side story in the UC timeline.