Line #3 Manga/MetroidManga


1	[[quoteright:280:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/metroid_ch1.png]]
2	->"When we had to run from Zebes and defeat the Space Pirates alone, I decided what I was to be from then on. And I am... a warrior!"
3	-->--'''Samus Aran''', Chapter 14
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5	When the Galactic Federation mining colony K-2L is attacked by Ridley and his Space Pirates, the only survivor is a 3-year-old girl named Samus Aran. Rescued by two members of [[BenevolentPrecursors the declining Chozo race]], Samus is raised as one of their own. Infusing her with Chozo DNA to survive the harsh conditions of their home planet Zebes, and equipping her with an advanced suit of PoweredArmor, the Chozo raise Samus as a warrior who will follow in their duty as protectors of the galaxy. Then a Space Pirate mothership appears in orbit above Zebes, and everything goes to hell...
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7	Titled simply ''Metroid'', this ''Monthly Magazine Z'' {{manga}} from writer Kouji Tazawa and artist Kenji Ishikawa is the official BackStory of Samus Aran and the ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}'' video game series. Produced alongside the games ''VideoGame/MetroidFusion'' and ''VideoGame/MetroidZeroMission'', it draws heavily on concepts introduced by the former and is referenced via Ishikawa-drawn FlashBack images in the latter; both games also include an unlockable art gallery with scenes from the manga. ''VideoGame/MetroidOtherM'' would include heavy ties to some events of the manga while {{Retcon}}ning others (most notably the nature of Samus's relationship with Adam Malkovich), though much of the manga was already retconned upon the release of "Zero Mission" itself.
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9	The series would later be [[{{Omnibus}} collected in two volumes]], published in 2003 and 2004, and the first two chapters were also converted into an online "e-manga" with colour, simple animation and sound effects. [[https://metroiddatabase.com/comics/ The Metroid Database has English translations of both volumes, as well as the pages from the e-manga]].
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11	For the ''other'' Metroid manga which ran in the kids-oriented ''Bom Bom Comics'' around the same time, see ''Manga/MetroidSamusAndJoey''. For the 1993 ''VideoGame/SuperMetroid'' adaptation illustrated by Benimaru Itoh (which loosely inspired some elements of this manga), see ''[[ComicBook/SuperMetroid Super Metroid Comics]]''.
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13	----
14	!! This manga provides examples of:
15	* AIIsACrapshoot: Fearing that they would die before they managed to bring peace to the galaxy, the Chozo tried to speed up the process by creating Mother Brain, a computer with the sum total of their knowledge. Unfortunately, as they continued to age and become more reliant on Mother Brain, she developed a [[AGodAmI god complex]] - deciding that the Chozo had become a mere shadow of [[{{Precursors}} their former selves]], Mother Brain attempted to become the Space Pirates' HiveQueen in order to take over the galaxy herself. [[spoiler:And that's not even getting into the Mawkin Tribe still embodying their old war ways to this day, which may have spurred Mother Brain's way of thinking...]]
16	* AdaptationOriginConnection: This is the first piece of ''Metroid'' media to establish that Ridley was part of the Space Pirate attack that killed Samus's parents. It also was the first to show that Mother Brain was a Chozo artificial intelligence, who Samus had known when she was growing up on Zebes.
17	* BaitTheDog: Ridley does seem to be moved by Samus offering him friendship in spite of his monstrous appearance. Unfortunately for Samus, Ridley is monstrous to the core and he attempts to incinerate her for fun.
18	* BigBad: Mother Brain is ultimately the main antagonist of the manga, manipulating events behind the scenes to build up power for herself and replace her Chozo creators with her armies and bioweapons for galactic conquest. And just to hammer in her status, it's revealed that she now commands the Space Pirates, including their leaders like Ridley.
19	* BioAugmentation: Samus is infused with Chozo DNA to allow her to survive on Zebes. Later, Mother Brain repeats this process on Space Pirates.
20	* BreakOutTheMuseumPiece: [[spoiler:When Gray Voice betrays Mother Brain he does so using ancient armor and weapons, knowing that she has no data on them.]]
21	* BroadStrokes: While some details contradict the games, other elements such as Samus being raised on Zebes by the Chozo from a young age (''[[VideoGame/MetroidZeroMission Zero Mission]]''), having a deep admiration for the commanding officer she had during her short stint in the military (''[[VideoGame/MetroidFusion Fusion]]''), and her birth parents being killed by the Space Pirates (''[[VideoGame/MetroidPrimeTrilogy Prime]]'' games) -- Ridley in particular (''[[VideoGame/MetroidOtherM Other M]]'') -- would be confirmed as canon in later series entries. That last one even had child Samus [[https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/metroid/images/9/9e/Samart6.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/1000?cb=20100911142451 wear similar clothing]] as she did [[https://www.metroiddatabase.com/old_site/manga/official_vol_1_en_color/ch_0001/scaled/sc_MM_Ch1_Page08.jpg in this manga]].
22	* BrokenBird: Samus gets through her traumatic experiences by clinging to her sense of duty, deciding that she is not a human but "a warrior" who focuses exclusively on the mission. However, her ability to maintain this persona is not perfect. In her narration at the start of the manga, Samus admits that [[HeroicFatigue she sometimes wishes she could give it all up and live a normal life, but cannot allow herself to]].
23	* CanonImmigrant: Old Bird, Chairman Keaton and Chief Hardy originated in the ''Nintendo Power'' ''[[ComicBook/SuperMetroid Super Metroid]]'' comic.
24	* CooldownHug: When Samus is having a FreakOut and at the lowest point in her life, a group of Chozo gather around to hug her, telling Samus that [[TryingNotToCry she has more than earned the right to cry]], and that [[FamilyOfChoice they're her family]] who have always been proud of her. [[HesBack The name of the chapter in which this happens? "Phoenix".]]
25	* CowboyCop: In her time with the Galactic Federation police, Samus was quick to defy orders and charge into hostile terrain guns blazing. [[spoiler:Gray Voice later exploits this reputation in order to trick Mother Brain into ignoring Samus's friends coming to help, blaming their attacks on bombs planted by Samus as she came in.]]
26	* DiscOneFinalBoss: Initially, Ridley is the leader of the Space Pirates going around terrorizing planets and trying to take over the galaxy. Halfway through, he is DemotedToDragon to Mother Brain, the rogue Chozo intelligence who has decided to become ruler of the universe herself.
27	* EtTuBrute: Samus is [[FreakOut deeply shaken]] when Mother Brain makes it look like [[ParentalSubstitute the Chozo]] only raised her so that they could [[{{Tykebomb}} turn her into a bioweapon for destroying their enemies]], which leaves her emotionally vulnerable enough that [[TraumaCongaLine further trauma]] is able to send her into a HeroicBSOD.
28	* EvilDetectingDog: Samus only notices the Mimic trying to assassinate Chairman Keaton due to Pyonchi's strange reaction.
29	* FakeDefector: [[spoiler:Gray Voice pretends to betray the Chozo and become one of Mother Brain's new Space Pirate commanders, as part of an attempt to destroy her.]]
30	* FantasticRacism: A captured Space Pirate claims that the Federation aren't so different, pointing out that only a small number of species hold power, and that two of Samus's teammates in the police force are still widely discriminated against.
31	* FeelingOppressedByTheirExistence: Ridley's hatred of Samus is utterly petty. It's not because she would be [[CreateYourOwnHero the bane of his existence for years to come]], but rather for being the sole survivor of the K2-L colony massacre he personally led. During his first battle with Samus, he proclaims that she is like a bad dream that must be erased from existence.
32	* FoodChainOfEvil: The Metroids were created by the Chozo to prey on the X Parasites of SR-388. While Metroids are incredibly deadly life-draining monsters, the X Parasites are something [[ExplosiveBreeder even]] [[TheAssimilator worse]]. [[spoiler:Unfortunately for the Chozo, the creation of the Metroids would also lead to a kind of evil way worse than both the aforementioned X Parasites and the Space Pirates who would later exploit them: [[VideoGame/MetroidDread Raven Beak, who wanted the Metroids for his plans of galactic domination and massacred the Thoha tribe when they suggested blowing up SR-388 rather than keeping the planet intact]].]]
33	* ForTheEvulz: The Space Pirates are often shown committing horrific acts and all manner of atrocities for pure sadistic fun. Best displayed in chapter 3: "First Battle," where a group of them is about to execute Damara purely because she's too short for them to put to work. When the other slaves object, pleading for them not to do so, the Pirates freely admit that it's not really about whether or not they can use Damara; on such a distant planet, killing slaves is their only source of amusement. Ridley is the worst of them all; during the K2-L raid, he gleefully gives his soldiers free reign to destroy whoever and whatever they want.
34	-->'''Ridley''': Kill as much as you want! Have fun!
35	* TheGoodChancellor: The Chozo collectively perform this role for the Galactic Federation's leaders, to the point where Samus refers to Zebes as "the true heart of the Federation". Chairman Keaton is seen turning to Old Bird for advice, and Mauk claims that Platinum Chest was responsible for his species being accepted into the Federation.
36	* HappilyAdopted: While she never forgets her birth parents, Samus considers the Chozo to be just as much her family, coming to see Old Bird as a DotingGrandparent and eventually even Gray Voice as a [[ToughLove stern but caring father]].
37	* HateSink:
38	** Ridley, the ArchEnemy of Samus Aran, is at his most despicable in this story. Instead of feeling remorse, Ridley relishes the fact he massacred the K-2L colony and killed Samus's mother, using these memories to [[HeroicBSOD mentally break Samus]] on their second encounter. Later on, he murders her adopted family, the Chozo, on Zebes at Mother Brain's command; all while [[KickTheDog beating up and mocking Samus]] for being a weak human. It becomes satisfying to see Samus kick Ridley's ass by the end of the manga.
39	** As the manga progresses, it becomes clear that Mother Brain isn't much better. She starts out as a {{Jerkass}} who coldly writes off a young Samus as a weakling and is perfectly willing to torch a field full of animals. Then she betrays of the Chozo and rounds them up for a FinalSolution, and when Gray Voice points out that she's nothing but a delusional, jealous narcissist, Mother Brain lashes out [[IResembleThatRemark by proclaiming herself to be superior to every living thing in the galaxy]] and [[KickTheDog watches with glee as Ridley torches him to death]]. Her utter LackOfEmpathy and spiteful motives shine an even worse light on her already detestable game counterpart.
40	* HeWhoFightsMonsters: In chapter 3: "First Battle", Samus comes dangerously close to crossing this line when she nearly guns down an already defeated Space Pirate commander who was [[VillainsWantMercy begging for mercy]]; only hearing the crying of Damara, the little girl she just saved from them, stops her from doing so. When the crisis is over, Samus thanks Damara for saving her, reflecting that if she had gone through with it, she would have been no better than the Pirates.
41	* HeartwarmingOrphan: Samus was an extremely CheerfulChild before [[OrphansOrdeal the loss of her family]], and while she may have become more aloof with age, [[HiddenHeartOfGold it's made clear that she never lost the kindness which lead the Chozo to place their faith in her]].
42	* HeinousnessRetcon: Ridley started as one of the many SpacePirates bosses of the original games, and this remained unchanged for a time. There wasn't any connection between him and Samus. However, due partially to his popularity as his role expanded two adaptations rewrote him to give him a [[YouKilledMyFather much more personal connection]]. Here, Ridley murdered Samus's mother and is the cause of her father's sacrifice. Not only that, many years later Ridley kills Gray Voice, Samus's adoptive parent. The manga is stated as canon, thus later installations such as ''Videogame/MetroidOtherM'' and ''Videogame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate'' would openly acknowledge Ridley as responsible for leaving Samus an orphan and killing her parents, giving them [[ItsPersonal a deep connection]] for their enmity.
43	* HeroicBSOD: Chapter 8: "Scar". Samus is already in the middle of a FreakOut due to the events of the last chapter (where she [[EtTuBrute suffered massive personal betrayal]], and Mother Brain [[BreakThemByTalking convinced her that the Chozo never loved her]] and thought of her only as a [[{{Tykebomb}} "bioweapon"]]). Then Ridley shows up for the second time in Samus's life, and begins describing how he [[ToServeMan ate the three-year-old Samus's parents]] and [[LovecraftianSuperpower integrated their flesh into his body]] while [[ForcedToWatch forcing her to watch]]. Samus is left so overwhelmed by RepressedMemories and [[TomatoInTheMirror existential dread]] that her Power Suit shuts down and she starts screaming.
44	** This scene is likely [[AdaptationDisplacement better known for]] its {{Homage}} in ''VideoGame/MetroidOtherM'', which became [[MemeticMutation infamous]] due to the TraumaCongaLine context being replaced by Samus simply going into panic at the sight of Ridley.
45	* HeroicSacrifice:
46	** Rodney Aran sacrifices himself to blow up K-2L's supply of afloralite, both [[NoMacGuffinNoWinner preventing the Pirates from stealing it]] and giving his daughter Samus a chance to escape.
47	** [[spoiler:Gray Voice attempts to kill Mother Brain, which will cause his mental blocks against violence to destroy his mind. [[DiabolusExMachina However, he is interrupted by Ridley before he manages to do so.]]]]
48	* HeroismWontPayTheBills: Samus saves the day out of a desire to help others, but that doesn't mean she expects to do it for free.
49	-->'''Samus:''' ''(manifests her suit's Arm Cannon)'' "Adam, the Mimic is a banned biological weapon. I expect 3500 seguru for this."\
50	'''Adam:''' "Wh- [[ShockinglyExpensiveBill You can't be serious, that's three times the market price!]] We can take it ourselv-"\
51	'''Samus:''' "Too late, I'm already done!"
52	* HiveDrone: The Space Pirates are revealed to be near-mindless without the presence of a [[HiveQueen strong commander]](though the interrogation scene [[PlotHole in this very manga contradicts that]]), with potential candidates including Ridley, Mother Brain, [[spoiler:Gray Voice, and Samus herself]].
53	* HollywoodMidLifeCrisis: {{Exaggerated}}. ''The entire Chozo race'' effectively went through a mid-life crisis when they realised that over-reliance on life extending technology had caused them to become sterile, and that their [[{{Precursors}} once-godlike]] technological abilities had started to fade. As a result they went from [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy a race of warriors]] to a PerfectPacifistPeople with mental blocks against any form of violence, obsessed with helping other species and bringing about galactic peace.
54	* TheIdealist: Samus starts off as this, before developing into a KnightInSourArmor after the assault on Zebes.
55	* IntriguedByHumanity: Old Bird seems to be:
56	-->'''Teen Samus:''' "Sorry about before. I know I have a 'duty', it's just... it makes me uneasy sometimes. I'm not really sure how to explain it."\
57	'''Old Bird:''' ''(smiles)'' "You worry despite knowing what must be done? Hmm... It is words like that which make humans such a fascinating species."\
58	'''Teen Samus:''' "Oi, Gramps. There you go making everything complicated again..."
59	* LukeIAmYourFather: Mother Brain claims that, because she designed Samus's Power Suit and oversaw her training, this makes her Samus's mother. Later it's revealed that [[spoiler:Gray Voice was the donor for Samus's Chozo DNA, in effect making him a second father to her.]]
60	* NervesOfSteel: Few can take a gun pointed at their face like [[http://www.metroiddatabase.com/old_site/manga/official_vol_1_en/ch_0005/scaled/sc_metroid_v01_ch005_134.png General Adam Malkovich]].
61	* NoMacGuffinNoWinner: Once they learn that Space Pirates have located the Chozo homeworld and it is under attack, the Galactic Federation want to burn it to the ground, fearing that Chozo technology would make the Pirates unstoppable.
62	* NoManShouldHaveThisPower: The Chozo concealed the existence of the X Parasite (a [[ExplosiveBreeder fast-reproducing organism]] which can KillAndReplace any creature with [[TheyLookLikeUsNow perfect accuracy]]) from the Galactic Federation because they feared that corrupt elements within the Federation would [[JustThinkOfThePotential try to weaponize it]]. In ''VideoGame/MetroidFusion'' this fear proved entirely accurate.
63	* NotSoWellIntentionedExtremist: Mother Brain insists that her goals are benevolent for the galaxy and just requires morally ambiguous actions, but [[spoiler:Gray Voice]] sees through her lies and accuses her of being a rogue creation who reprogrammed her directive out of jealousy and contempt towards life itself.
64	* OneWordTitle: "Metroid".
65	* PracticallyJoker: Ridley is given a personality akin to the Joker. He's a sadist who enjoys killing innocents ForTheEvulz and is the personal ArchEnemy of Samus Aran, who lost her parents to Ridley at the age of three. Ridley also has a sick sense of humor, taunting Samus of how the cells of her mother is incorporated into his body and doing his best to destroy her psyche before he goes for the kill. And that's not going over the fact that Ridley has a [[SecondaryColorNemesis lanky purple body with green glowing eyes]] and is notorious for his JokerImmunity.
66	* PsychologicalProjection: [[spoiler:Gray Voice]] accuses Mother Brain of this, claiming that she seeks to control life only because she fears its potential, and to control Samus only because she's jealous of the Chozo choosing her as their successor.
67	* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: General Adam Malkovich. When Samus looks set to go vigilante after hearing her home has been attacked (and is about to be razed by the Galactic Federation [[NoMacGuffinNoWinner to prevent its technology falling into the wrong hands]]), DaChief orders her to stay put and let the army handle things. Adam on the other hand steps after Samus, despite having known her for less than a day:
68	-->'''Adam:''' "So you're letting emotions cloud your judgement and abandoning your duty?"
69	-->'''Samus:''' "Don't try to stop me! I'm going to Zebes."
70	-->'''Adam:''' [[ChewOutFakeOut "You have 48 hours."]]
71	-->'''Samus:''' "...huh?"
72	-->'''Adam:''' "The army will foray in 48 hours, Federation Time. That is all." ''(leaves)''
73	* RousseauWasRight: The first time Samus meets Old Bird she is frightened of his appearance. Old Bird tells her that while they may look different, they are the same on the inside, [[ArcWords words which Samus repeats throughout the story]]. However, [[SubvertedTrope this doesn't work on the Space Pirates]], who seem to be [[AlwaysChaoticEvil just genuinely evil]].
74	* SecretIdentityIdentity: Samus's introductory narration has shades of this, suggesting that she has come to feel like two different people depending on whether or not she's wearing her Power Suit.
75	* SkywardScream: A cathartic version from Samus when she finally defeats Ridley.
76	* StartOfDarkness: Besides being an origin story for Samus, the manga also provides one for Mother Brain.
77	* SuddenlySpeaking: While both Ridley and Mother Brain had been described as highly intelligent, they never made any sounds in-game beyond a bestial roar. Here, they manage to deliver a ''BreakingSpeech''.
78	* TraumaCongaLine: During the Space Pirate assault on Zebes, Mother Brain, Ridley and [[spoiler:Gray Voice]] repeatedly hammer Samus with dark secrets that make her question her own identity and everything she believed in, while also forcing her to relive RepressedMemories of Space Pirates killing and eating her parents, which culminates in Samus having a HeroicBSOD.
79	* {{Tykebomb}}: Mother Brain claims that this is the only reason the Chozo raised Samus, which is one of the factors leading to her HeroicBSOD.
80	-->'''Mother Brain:''' "The results were satisfactory: you grew to become a spectacular bioweapon. [[YourApprovalFillsMeWithShame As your parent, I am proud.]]"
81	* VillainsWantMercy: In First Battle, Samus takes out several Space Pirates on Jigrad before facing their ringleader P-1. Despite having gleefully sentenced a [[WouldHurtAChild young Damara]] to death simply because she was too young to be put to work, P-1 throws himself at Samus' feet and begs for mercy. This only pisses Samus off even more, and she's only stopped from shooting him in the face with a point-blank Charge Beam by hearing the terrified crying of Damara herself at the sight.
82	* WickedStepmother: Mother Brain designed Samus's first Power Suit and some of her combat training, though her emphasis on cold efficiency sat poorly with Samus's bleeding heart. By the time of her FaceHeelTurn she had become jealous of Samus for stealing her place as the Chozo's last heir, and sought to force Samus into becoming one of her lieutenants so that she could assert power over her.
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Context Manga / MetroidManga