SD Gundam Force Emaki Musharetsuden (SDガンダムフォース絵巻 武者烈伝 武化舞可編, alternatively SD Gundam Force Emaki Musharetsuden Bukabuka-hen) is a Manga series written by Masato Ichishiki, published by Kodansha, and serialized in Comic BomBom in 2004. It is the second separate SD Gundam manga series written by Ichishiki. A prequel, SD Gundam Force Emaki Musharetsuden Zero, was written and illustrated by Susumu Imaishi (best known as BB Senshi Comic World Artist, MARSHI) and serialized in Hobby Japan. Musharetsuden Zero can be considered Imaishi's first full-on manga work, and is illustrated in full color.
After the war against Yamikoutei had concluded, the nation of Ark is assaulted by evil forces. Desecendents of the legendary Seven of Light defenders scatter across the land, in search of the Bukabuka armour that can bring peace to the world. Retsumaru, the son of the legendary hero Rekka Musha Gundam, sets out to form a new band of heroes and restore Ark's former glory.
Tropes associated with SD Gundam Force Emaki Musharetsuden and SD Gundam Force Emaki Musharetsuden Zero are:
- Androids Are People, Too: Saizou is a mechanical Musha in the form of a young child, but Retsumaru treats him as a person instead of a robot.
- Cerebus Syndrome: The work shifts to a much more serious tone once Soaring Hunter Mark Two is revealed to be a traitor.
- Chekhov's Gun: When Retsumaru's team meets with Dragon Monk Nu, he brings up that there's a traitor within the Seven of Light, but it's never touched upon after that moment. Guess what the second arc is about...
- Dead Person Impersonation: The truth behind Soaring Hunter Mark Two is that the original Mark Two had died in Musha Retsuden Zero. The Mark Two seen in the series is actually his younger brother, Titan, the main villain of the second half.
- Disk-One Final Boss: Cap-Turn is revealed to be this after Chapter 12, when the traitor within the Seven of Light is revealed to be Soaring Hunter Mark Two.
- Empathic Weapon: Goutou, the scabbard of Retsumaru's sword. He is usually seen giving Retsumaru advice throughout the series.
- Exotic Eye Designs: Teppanmaru has target reticles in his eyes.
- The mysterious young mechanical Musha, Saizou, has mechanical gears in his eyes.
- Fusion Dance: A central father and son pair can fuse together to become a Dai-Shogun.
- Heroic Lineage: The entire story revolves around this, with the sons of the Seven of Light joining forces to stop Capiturn.
- In Name Only: The series has nothing to do with SD Gundam Force. The title was just an attempt to cash in on the series, which was airing at the time.
- Wham Episode: The entire beginning of Chapter 13. To say that the entire revelation that Mark Two is a traitor shakes up the Seven of Light pretty badly would be an understatement. The icing on the cake? The other member's of the Retsumaru's Rekka Squad begin mysteriously vanishing. The impact of all this can best be summarized by Onmitsu Ninja Noomaru as he fell off the airship during The Reveal.Onmitsu Ninja Noomaru: My brother...Gundam trusted you...so why...? WHY DID YOU BETRAY US!? MARK TWO?!
- World of Ham: While more subdued than Ichishiki's other two Musha Gundam works, all the characters in the series still can't help but chew the scenery. One example of this is Retsumaru's mother, Kishiria, Flipping the Table after Retsumaru refuses to finish his dinner at the beginning of the manga.
