Gundam Deathscythe

Infobox Mobile Suit
Suit

Suit caption=Gundam Deathscythe, Hajime Katoki design
Suit universe=Gundam Wing
Suit name=Deathscythe
Suit designation=XXXG-01D Gundam Deathscythe
Suit type=Gundam Mobile Suit
Suit manufacturer=Professor G (with assistance from the Scavenger Group)
Suit main pilot=Duo Maxwell
Suit height=16.3 metres
Suit empty weight=7.2 metric tons
Suit full weight=
Suit sensor range=
Suit generator=ultracompact fusion reactor
Suit armor=Gundanium alloy
Suit weapons=2 x vulcan gun, fire-linked, mounted in head; 2 x machinecannon, fire-linked, mounted on torso; beam scythe, stored in recharge rack on rear waist armor, hand-carried in use; buster shield, equipped with beam blade, can be launched at a target and retrieved
Suit tech=2 x hyper jammer ECM suite on backpack; self-destruct system

XXXG-01D Gundam Deathscythe ref|name1 (also referred to as Gundam Zero-Two ref|name1) is one of the five fictional Gundam mobile suits appearing in the "Mobile Suit Gundam Wing" anime series and derivative works. Over the course of the series, Deathscythe is piloted by Duo Maxwell, and is upgraded to the XXXG-01D2 Gundam Deathscythe Hell ref|name1. The Deathscythe suits are noted for their design resembling the personification of Death.

The original Deathscythe suits were designed in 1995 by Kunio Okawara, along with many of the other mobile suits in the anime. The five 'second-stage' Gundams were later redesigned by Hajime Katoki for the 1997 OVA "". As the new designs became canonical, Katoki also created retcon designs for the original five Gundams, which were published in "Newtype" magazine. [cite web |url=http://www.geocities.com/lord_satorious/gw_katoki.html |title=Hajime Katoki Gundam Wing Redesigns |accessdate=2007-01-28]

Role in plot

Deathscythe is one of the five mobile suits sent to Earth as part of Operation Meteor; a plan whereby rebels would be able to weaken the controlling influence the United Earth Sphere Alliance and the Organization of the Zodiac (OZ) held over the orbital colonies. Deathscythe was launched from the cluster of orbital colonies located at the L2 Lagrange point at the beginning of the series.

Deathscythe was piloted by Duo Maxwell from the start of the series until his capture by OZ in episode 19. Duo was one of only two Gundam pilots to take their Gundams into space in episode 17, along with Chang Wufei and the Shenlong Gundam. Duo was defeated because Deathscythe was not designed for space combat, and his self-detonation device failed. The damaged suit was retrieved by OZ, studied to provide the basis of the Vayeate and Mercurius prototype mobile suits, and then destroyed as pro-OZ propaganda. The five rebel scientists responsible for building the Gundams (who are at this point captured and forced to work on the two prototype suits), retrieve the components and begin to rebuild and upgrade the Deathscythe.

The partially completed Deathscythe Hell first appears in episode 23, and is activated in episode 25, when Duo and Chang Wufei escape OZ. Deathscythe Hell is involved heavily in the fighting leading up to the conclusion of the series, is used in the manga set between Gundam Wing and Endless Waltz, and at a point prior to the OVA, is sent to Quatre Winner for disposal along with three other Gundams.

During the events of "Endless Waltz", the sun-bound satellite carrying the four Gundams must be recovered. Duo and Deathscythe Hell are reunited during the third episode of the OVA, and the Gundam is used during the battle against the Mariemeia Army in Brussels. At the end of the OVA, Deathscythe Hell is destroyed by self-detonation.

Variants

Deathscythe Hell

Infobox Mobile Suit
Suit

Suit caption=Gundam Deathscythe Hell, Hajime Katoki design
Suit universe=Gundam Wing
Suit name=Deathscythe Hell
Suit designation=XXXG-01D2 Gundam Deathscythe Hell
Suit type=Upgraded Gundam Mobile Suit
Suit manufacturer=Professor G (with assistance from Doctor J, Doktor S, Instructor H and Master O)
Suit main pilot=Duo Maxwell
Suit height=16.3 metres
Suit empty weight=7.4 metric tons
Suit full weight=
Suit sensor range=
Suit generator=ultracompact fusion reactor, output rated at 3,009 kW
Suit armor=Gundanium alloy
Suit weapons=Gundam Wing: 2 x vulcan gun, fire-linked, mounted in head; 1 x beam scissors, equipped with rocket engine for additional swinging force, stored in recharge rack on rear waist armor, hand-carried in use; buster shield, equipped with beam blade, can be launched at target and retrieved
Endless Waltz: 2 x vulcan gun, fire-linked, mounted in head; 1 x beam scythe, stored in recharge rack on rear waist armor, hand-carried in use
Suit tech=cloak beam deflection barrier and stealth system; 2 x hyper jammer ECM suite on backpack; self-detonation system The Deathscythe Hell ref|name1 is the upgraded version of the Deathscythe seen from episode 23 onwards. Among the upgrades are maneuvering thrusters for space combat, a double-bladed beam scythe (referred to as a beam scissors), and an active cloaking system which masks the suit from both visual and sensor detection. A carapace is added to the suit, which can fold out to form bat-like wings and assist in propulsion. While closed that carapace aids the cloaking ability and provides extra armor which could stand up to Virgo I's cannon without flinching

The Deathscythe Hell was redesigned for the "Endless Waltz" OVA. Referred to as the Deathscythe Hell Custom ref|name1, the suit receives numerous technical and cosmetic changes, including the re-addition of a single-bladed beam scythe and a more stylised carapace.

Notes

* Deathscythe goes under several names throughout its involvement in the "Gundam Wing" associated works. Deathscythe is the name of the original Gundam in the anime, while Gundam Zero-Two is the designation given to the Gundam by its opponents. Deathscythe Hell is the name of the upgraded Gundam in the anime, and Deathscythe Hell Custom refers to the Gundam seen in "Endless Waltz". No set name is used for the original retcon design, although Deathscythe Ver. Ka. (Deathscythe Version Katoki) is used.
* Merchandise and supporting products released to accompany the English-dub releases of "Gundam Wing" and "Endless Waltz" refer to the upgraded Gundam as Deathscythe H and Deathscythe H Custom respectively. [cite web |url=http://www.gundamofficial.com/www_ac/gw/mecha/mecha_gundam_H.html |title=GundamOfficial.com - Deathscythe H |accessdate=2007-02-12 |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |format= |work=GundamOfficial.com |publisher=Bandai America |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

References

Technical data taken from
*cite web |url=http://www.gundamofficial.com/www_ac/gw/mecha/mecha_gundam_death.html |title=Gundam Official - Deathscythe |accessdate=2007-02-05 |work=GundamOfficial.com |publisher=Bandai America
*cite web |url=http://www.gundamofficial.com/www_ac/gw/mecha/mecha_gundam_H.html |title=GundamOfficial.com - Deathscythe H |accessdate=2007-02-12 |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |format= |work=GundamOfficial.com |publisher=Bandai America |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote=
*cite web |url=http://www.mahq.net/mecha/gundam/endlesswaltz/xxxg-01d2.htm|title=Mecha Anime HQ - Deathscythe Hell (OVA version) |accessdate=2007-02-12 |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher= |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote=