Grant White wrote:
> With the amount of work they're putting into building up this setting, I
> wonder how many years they'll stick with it. I've warmed to most of the
> characters.

A skeptic suggested to me that Sangokuden isn't very different from
all the previous SD series.  I am not knowledgeable enough on SD in
general.  But seems that, at least Liu Bei Gundam is a satisfactory
kit (not my experience with average SD kits).  The designs, manga and
backstories are extensive and perhaps there's still more to come.

How long it will last will definitely be determined by the number of
fans and the depths of their pockets. If fans keep buying them I am
absolutely sure even the very minor characters will be fleshed out
into kits and the manga can last, _easily_, as long as as Yas' Gundam
Origin comic.  The original ROTK novel run over 1000 pages, and was
written in a slightly archaic verse that would be about 30% longer in
modern languages.  So, story-wise, Bandai has a ton of free material
to plunder.

But I also have no doubt that Bandai will drop the line as soon as
sales flags a little bit.  Unlike a full-year TV series (G00), Bandai
never offered any long term commitment to either the artists or the
fans.

> The last chapter I read gave us Kanu's backstory. I'm not sure
> how true it is to the source material but in this Tallgeese attacked his
> village and Kanu tried to fight him off. His wife gave him her amulet, which
> saved his life when Tallgeese knocked him down with a single blow. However,
> everyone else was slaughtered whilst he was unconscious.

At this level of story details, Bandai can be excused for diverging
from both history and ROTK.  Especially, ROTK had a PG-13 episode
about Guan Yu (Kanu) and Cao Cao (Gundam DX) disputing over the
beautiful wife of an enemy they defeated together.

> However, the manga seems to be making the 3 'brothers' too samey. They all
> have the same general personality whilst in the kit comics they all have
> different personalities. Especially Chouhi, who's presented as something of
> a loner and the one least happy about teaming up.

Reviewing Wiki (both English and Chinese) of Guan Yu's backstory in
ROTK (regarding Sangokuden's version of Kanu's wife), I am reminded
that all three brothers had various shortcomings of their own.  Liu
Bei wasn't so righteous in deeds (even in the romanticized ROTK) as he
was in words.  Guan had too much pride and Zhang simply had too many
episodes of immaturity and recklessness.

In contrast, Cao Cao was a superior military and civilian leader, as
well as a ruthless killer.  The kingdom he founded defeated the other
two and was the foundation of a unified China.  (except Sima Yi
(Sazabi)'s grandson murdered Cao Cao's descendants and usurped power
from the Cao clan).


-- 
Dr. Core
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