SD Gundam Force Gaiden is a promotional manga released alongside SD Gundam Force's run in Japan. Written by Yuuji Hosoi and published by Kodansha, it presents untold stories of the characters. While two occur during the first half of the series, most take place in the past, covering events alluded to in the series proper.
The stories are as follows:
- "The Bond of Warriors"— While the Gundam Force tries to iron out their teamwork problems, Zapper Zaku and his Zakos attempt to hijack a plane.
- "Yesterday's Friend, Tomorrow's Enemy"— Bakunetsumaru tells the story of why he and Kujakumaru fought long ago in Ark.
- "The Secret Origin of Zapper Zaku"— The story of how Zapper Zaku became a commanding officer in the Dark Axis, and the reason behind his trigger-happy persona.
- "The Winged Knight And The Sword of Destiny"— How Zero became one of Lacroa's Royal Knights, met Princess Rele, and found his Vatras Sword.
- "The Knight of the Tempest and the Power of the Griffin"— How Tallgeese joined the Dark Axis and captured the Griffin spirit.
- "Idiots of the Dark Axis!"— Annoyed with their slow progress, the Commander of the Dark Axis offers a statue as a reward. Zapper, Grappler Gouf, and Destroyer Dom get into an argument over who should get a statue and go to Neotopia to hash it out.
Tropes
- All There in the Manual: At the end of the collection is a "Top Secret Data Room", a chapter full of trivia that never made it to the show;
- Immune to Mind Control: Apparently, Control Horns won't affect Gundams, which explains why the Dark Axis never used them during the show's run.
- Mechanical Life Forms: Apparently, the Dark Axis robots are more like this than actual robots.
- Multinational Team: The Royal Knights of Lacroa all come from a different area of the kingdom.
- Brainwashed and Crazy: The Royal Knight Gundams besides Zero and Deed become this thanks to the Cancer Beast.
- Disney Death: Zapper's friend Mini-Zako is killed by Solitary Gyan, causing much angst and anger in Zapper...but at the end of the story Gerbera fixes him.
- Dirty Coward: Solitary Gyan, after killing a Zako, begs for mercy when Zapper has him on the ropes. Zapper is outraged someone who committed murder would beg for his life.
- Expy: The Cancer Beast Zero battles is one of Mobile Suit Gundam Wing's OZ-08MMS Cancer.
- Power Of Hate: This is how Tallgeese got the Griffin; by getting the spirit so angry with his actions that Tallgeese is able to use that hatred to forge a bond that ensnares the Griffin.
- Pure Is Not Good: Inverted. Kujakumaru has good intentions, as noted by Bakunetsumaru, but cannot wield a Sacred Sword because of his selfishness.
- Sealed Evil in a Can: When the Dark Axis arrived in Lacroa, Tallgeese had already been imprisoned via magic for his previous attack on the Kingdom. He was able to free himself by tapping into the evil of the Dark Axis.
- Some Kind Of Forcefield: Zapper does this when the Mangamusai hits the protective barrier surrounding Lacroa.
- Start of Darkness: For Zapper Zaku and Kujakumaru/Ashuramaru. Tallgeese was already evil by the time the Dark Axis arrived.
- Took a Level in Jerkass: Zapper was much nicer before his promotion, but went berserk when Solitary Gyan killed a Zako he befriended.
- Villain Episode: chapters 3, 5, and 6.Zako: Lord Zaku is the hero, Zako!
