Garma Zabi

Garma Zabi was the youngest son of Degwin Sodo Zabi and commander of the Principality of Zeon’s Earth Attack Force during the One Year War. Known for his elegant appearance and natural charisma, Garma was extremely popular among the people of Zeon but was ultimately betrayed and killed by his former military academy classmate Char Aznable.

Biography

Early life

Garma was born in UC 0059 to Degwin Sodo Zabi and Naliss Zabi. Since his mother died when he was young, he was particularly doted upon by his father, who favoured him amongst his children. The youngest of the Zabi family, Garma grew up in a privileged environment but carried a strong inferiority complex due to constant comparison with his older siblings.

In UC 0075, at age 16, Garma entered the Zeon Military Academy, where he became classmates and close friends with Char Aznable. Despite his efforts in academics and athletics, Garma consistently found himself second to Char in most endeavours, creating both rivalry and genuine friendship between them.

Military academy

During their time at the academy, Char orchestrated what became known as the Dawn Rebellion in UC 0077, manipulating Garma into leading third-year cadets in an attack against the Earth Federation garrison at Guardian Banchi. Though initially reluctant, Garma’s desire to prove himself to his family and make them proud ultimately led him to take the leadership role.

The rebellion was successful, with Garma and the surviving cadets being paraded across Zum City as heroes. However, the incident created tensions with the Federation, leading to Dozle Zabi being dismissed from his position as academy superintendent and Char being expelled as a scapegoat, though Garma was protected from serious punishment due to his family connections.

Earth Attack Force command

Following the outbreak of the One Year War on 3 January UC 0079, Kycilia Zabi reorganised the Mobile Assault Force 1st Mobile Infantry Division into the Earth Attack Force. Despite his young age and relative inexperience, Garma was appointed as its colonel and commander, a position that further fuelled his need to prove himself worthy beyond his family name.

On 11 March UC 0079, Garma led the Second Landing Operation, an Earth invasion operation aimed at conquering North America and advancing towards the Federation headquarters at Jaburo. After Zeon forces captured New York through extensive carpet bombing by Gaw attack carriers, Garma established the Earth Attack Force headquarters there, using the former mayor’s official residence as his own quarters.

Romance with Icelina

During his time commanding North American operations, Garma became romantically involved with Icelina Eschonbach, daughter of the former mayor. Despite the political complications of their relationship—she was an Earthnoid whilst he was a Spacenoid—Garma genuinely loved her and even promised to abandon Zeon if his father disapproved of their union after his military successes.

Their relationship represented Garma’s more human side, showing his capacity for genuine emotion beyond his military ambitions and family obligations. He invited Icelina to dinner parties and promised to bring her to the Zeon homeland once he captured the Federation’s new weapons.

Battles with the White Base

Garma’s military career was defined by his encounters with the Federation assault carrier White Base. When the ship was forced to crash-land in Zeon-controlled North America during atmospheric re-entry on 6 October UC 0079, Char Aznable contacted his old friend for assistance in capturing this valuable prize.

First engagement

Garma deployed from his headquarters aboard a Gaw attack carrier, eager to prove himself to his sister Kycilia and earn the prestigious Zeon Cross. He personally led the Garma Squadron of Dopp fighters alongside the Guevil Squadron in aerial attacks against the White Base.

During the battle, Garma engaged the RX-78-2 Gundam directly in his personalised Dopp fighter, demonstrating considerable tactical skill by attempting to lure the mobile suit within range of his Gaw’s beam cannons. However, the Gundam sliced off his Dopp’s left wing with its beam saber, forcing him to withdraw. Despite the setback, Garma showed strategic acumen in pulling back his forces to reassess the situation.

Final battle and betrayal

Determined to redeem himself, Garma prepared another assault at S-3 Point (formerly Seattle), deploying three Gaw attack carriers and numerous Dopp fighters to corner the White Base in the ruined city. Unknown to him, Char had decided to use this operation to eliminate Garma as part of his revenge against the Zabi family.

When the White Base hid within a half-destroyed baseball stadium dome, Garma grew anxious as his patrols failed to locate the enemy vessel. Char volunteered to scout on the ground with a mobile suit team, but deliberately misled Garma by reporting that the Gundam was moving towards the White Base when it was actually leading Zeon forces away from the ship’s hiding place.

As Garma’s squadron pursued the false target, the White Base, RX-75-4 Guntank, and RX-77-2 Guncannon launched a devastating rear assault, heavily damaging Garma’s Gaw and much of his force.

Death

Realising his aircraft was critically damaged and unable to gain altitude, Garma ordered his pilot to attempt a ramming attack on the White Base. At this moment, Char contacted him via radio and revealed his betrayal, telling Garma: “You should blame this on the misfortune of your birth. Char then stated that whilst Garma was a good friend, it was his father who was at fault,” before laughing mockingly.

Finally understanding Char’s treachery, Garma threw away his headset in anger and took personal control of the Gaw, declaring: “I am a man of the Zabi family, too. I won’t die in vain!” As Bright Noa ordered the White Base to ascend while continuing to fire, Garma’s final words were “Glory to the Principality of Zeon!” His last thoughts were of Icelina running towards him with a smile.

Personality & traits

Garma possessed an elegant appearance and natural charisma that made him extremely popular among the people of Zeon. Beneath his charming exterior, however, he was plagued by a constant need for validation and acceptance from his family, particularly his elder sister Kycilia. This insecurity drove him to work intensely towards furthering Zabi goals and proving his worth beyond his family connections.

Despite his military position, Garma demonstrated considerable naivety and immaturity befitting his young age. His sheltered upbringing left him ignorant of the deeper machinations of war and politics, making him vulnerable to manipulation. His genuineness and inability to recognise ulterior motives in others, particularly regarding Char, ultimately proved fatal.

Garma’s single-mindedness towards tactics and dependency on friendship made him prone to exploitation. His rush to make on-field decisions without careful examination of situations often stemmed from his desperate need to prove himself to his family members. However, he also showed genuine decency and honour, being considered alongside Dozle as one of the more humane members of the Zabi family.

Skills & abilities

Garma’s abilities as a military commander were competent though unimpressive. His multiple failed engagements with the White Base led him to doubt himself, though he demonstrated personal courage and willingness to sacrifice his life for his beliefs. His tactical skills showed promise, particularly in aircraft operations and environmental strategy, as evidenced by his use of combined air and ground forces.

As a pilot, Garma was confirmed capable of operating both aircraft and mobile suits. He regularly flew Dopp fighters in combat and had access to a customised MS-06FS Zaku II, though his mobile suit piloting skills were never fully demonstrated in combat.

His strategic understanding of Earth’s environment was notable, particularly his effective coordination of aircraft and ground unit deployments. However, his constant need to prove himself to his family often led to hasty decision-making that compromised his tactical effectiveness.

Relationships

Char Aznable

Garma’s relationship with Char Aznable was central to his story and ultimate downfall. The two became close friends during their time at the Zeon Military Academy, where Char consistently outperformed Garma in academics and training. Despite this rivalry, Garma genuinely admired and trusted Char, considering him his closest friend.

Unknown to Garma, Char harboured deep resentment against the Zabi family for their role in his father Zeon Zum Deikun’s death. Char deliberately cultivated their friendship whilst planning his revenge, ultimately using Garma’s trust to orchestrate his death. Even in his final moments, Char’s comment about Garma being “a good friend” suggested some genuine affection, though it was overshadowed by his quest for vengeance.

Icelina Eschonbach

Garma’s romantic relationship with Icelina Eschonbach revealed his capacity for genuine love and human connection. Despite the political complications of their relationship, Garma was prepared to defy his family and even abandon Zeon for her. Their romance provided him with emotional validation separate from his military and family obligations.

Icelina reciprocated his feelings and was willing to betray her own father to be with him. Garma’s final thoughts being of her demonstrated the depth of his feelings and suggested that his relationship with her represented his truest self, free from the pressures of being a Zabi.

Degwin Sodo Zabi

Degwin, Garma’s father, clearly favoured his youngest son, doting on him after his mother’s early death. Garma desperately sought his father’s approval and recognition, hoping to prove himself worthy through military achievement. In his final video message to Degwin, Garma expressed his desire to “claim one decisive triumph” to show he hadn’t become an admiral simply due to family connections.

Degwin’s reaction to Garma’s death—his cane slipping from his grasp in grief—demonstrated the depth of his love for his youngest son. The loss devastated Degwin and marked the beginning of his disillusionment with the war.

Kycilia Zabi

Garma’s relationship with his sister Kycilia was complex, marked by his desperate need for her approval and validation. As the one responsible for assigning him command of the Earth Attack Force, Kycilia represented both opportunity and pressure for Garma. He constantly sought to impress her with military victories, often making hasty decisions in his eagerness to prove himself.

Kycilia used Garma’s popularity for propaganda purposes whilst maintaining careful oversight of his operations. Their relationship exemplified the utilitarian nature of Zabi family dynamics, where personal bonds were subordinated to political objectives.

Dozle Zabi

Of all his siblings, Garma was closest to Dozle, who looked forward to the day when Garma would become a general capable of commanding him. Dozle’s reaction to Garma’s death was one of genuine grief and anger, contrasting with Gihren’s cold pragmatism. Their relationship represented one of the few genuinely warm family bonds within the Zabi household.

Equipment

MS-06FS Zaku II

Garma’s personal mobile suit was a customised MS-06FS Zaku II, specifically modified for his role as Earth Attack Force commander. This machine featured enhanced communication systems and command equipment that allowed him to coordinate large-scale operations across the North American theatre. The FS designation indicated field specification modifications optimised for extended Earth-based campaigns, distinguishing it from standard space-use Zaku II units deployed by regular Zeon forces.

The mobile suit was equipped with the standard Zaku armament including a 120 mm machine gun, heat hawk, and defensive systems appropriate for ground combat operations. Garma’s unit incorporated additional command and control capabilities that reflected both his strategic role and his position within the Zabi family hierarchy. The customisations ensured he could maintain battlefield communications with subordinate units whilst engaging in direct combat when necessary.

Despite having access to this advanced mobile weapon, Garma rarely deployed it in combat, preferring to command from his Gaw carrier or engage enemies directly using Dopp fighter aircraft. His mobile suit training from the Zeon Military Academy provided him with the skills necessary to pilot the machine effectively, though his tactical approach favoured aerial coordination over ground-based mobile suit operations.

Dopp

Garma regularly piloted Dopp fighter aircraft during his campaigns against the White Base, demonstrating considerable aerial combat skills developed during his military academy training. His personal Dopp featured command modifications that allowed him to direct squadron operations whilst engaging enemy forces directly, reflecting his hands-on leadership style during the North American campaign.

Gaw

As Earth Attack Force commander, Garma operated from a Gaw atmospheric attack carrier that served as his primary command vessel and mobile headquarters. This massive aircraft carrier provided him with the strategic mobility necessary to coordinate operations across the vast North American continent whilst offering substantial firepower through its mega particle cannons and mobile suit deployment capabilities. His final battle occurred aboard this vessel during the engagement at S-3 Point, where he chose to attempt a direct assault on the White Base rather than abandon his mission.

Behind the scenes

Creation and development

Garma was designed by Yasuhiko Yoshikazu as part of the original Mobile Suit Gundam cast. His character served as a representation of the more human side of the Zabi family, contrasting with his more ruthless siblings whilst still maintaining the tragic nobility that characterised Gundam’s approach to its antagonists.

The character’s popularity with female viewers during the original broadcast was unexpected but significant, leading to his continued presence in Gundam lore despite his early death. His elegant design and tragic fate established him as one of the franchise’s most memorable characters.

Voice acting

Japanese voice actors:

• Katsuji Mori: Original series, compilation films (1979-1982)
• Takumi Yamazaki: Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin OVA (2015-2018)

English voice actors:

• Kirk Baily: Original English dub
• Christopher Niosi: Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin English dub

Cultural impact

Garma became arguably the most iconic villain character of 1970s mecha anime, despite his relatively brief screen time. His death scene, particularly his realisation of Char’s betrayal and final defiant words, became one of the most memorable moments in Gundam history.

The character’s popularity led to the creation of “Garma Day” amongst international fans, who create artwork and memorabilia to commemorate his death anniversary. His influence extended beyond Gundam, helping establish the template for tragic antagonist characters in anime.

Design evolution

In Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin, Garma’s character design was updated by Yasuhiko Yoshikazu to provide more depth to his personality, showing both his privileged background and underlying insecurities. The manga and OVA adaptation expanded significantly on his relationship with Char and his family dynamics.

Appearances

Anime

• Mobile Suit Gundam (episodes 5-10)
• Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin (OVA and TV recompilation)

Films

• Mobile Suit Gundam I
• Mobile Suit Gundam II: Soldiers of Sorrow

Manga

• Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin (2001-2011)
• Mobile Suit Gundam: The Battle Tales of Flanagan Boone

Games

• Mobile Suit Gundam: Journey to Jaburo
• Mobile Suit Gundam: Gihren’s Greed series
• SD Gundam G Generation series
• Mobile Suit Gundam: Gundam vs. Zeta Gundam

External links

• Garma Zabi on the Gundam Wiki
• Garma Zabi on Wikipedia
• Garma Zabi on the Villains Wiki