Iino Abbav – MechaBay | Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ

Iino Abbav was a teenage junk dealer from the Side 1 colony Shangri-La who became a support pilot aboard the Anti-Earth Union Group battleship Argama during the First Neo Zeon War in UC 0088.

Biography

Early life

Iino Abbav grew up in the Side 1 colony Shangri-La, where he became friends with Judau Ashta, Leina Ashta, Elle Vianno, Mondo Agake, and Beecha Oleg. Together with this group, he made a living as a junk collector, scavenging space debris and salvaging materials from the aftermath of various conflicts.

In early UC 0088, Iino was present when Judau discovered and retrieved the escape pod of Titans pilot Yazan Gable who had survived the Gryps Conflict. The discovery of Yazan would prove to be a pivotal moment that drew Iino and his friends into the larger conflict.

Involvement with the Argama

When the damaged AEUG battleship Argama docked at Shangri-La for repairs, Yazan Gable coerced Iino and his friends into helping him steal the MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam. However, during the attempted theft, the group recognised that Yazan was too dangerous to work with and broke free from his influence.

Iino participated in multiple attempts by his group to steal the Zeta Gundam independently, hoping to sell it for money. However, these attempts repeatedly failed, and instead of profiting from theft, Iino and his friends often ended up inadvertently helping the Argama against attacks from Yazan or Neo Zeon forces.

Through these encounters, Iino and his companions gradually befriended the crew of the Argama and eventually joined the AEUG as members of what became known as the “Gundam Team” when the warship left Shangri-La.

Service aboard the Argama

Unlike his friends Judau Ashta, Beecha Oleg, and Elle Vianno, Iino did not serve as one of the regular mobile suit pilots aboard the Argama. Instead, similar to Mondo Agake, he primarily helped pilot support craft or served as a reserve pilot when one of the regular pilots was unavailable.

Despite his secondary role, Iino proved his technical capabilities when the Zeta Gundam lost its head during a battle against Mashymre Cello’s AMX-103 Hamma Hamma and Chara Soon’s AMX-104 R-Jarja. Due to a shortage of spare parts aboard the Argama, Iino ingeniously repaired the mobile suit by fitting it with a salvaged MS-06F Zaku II head, creating what became known as the “Zeta Zaku”. While this temporary repair worked, the old Zaku II head caused the cockpit screen to revert to an outdated, non-360-degree display, making the pilot vulnerable to attacks from blind spots.

Iino continued to serve with the Argama throughout the First Neo Zeon War and successfully fought until the end of the conflict.

Post-war

After the conclusion of the First Neo Zeon War, Iino joined his friends at Von Braun City on the Moon to see off Judau and Roux Louka, who were leaving for Jupiter to start new lives with the Jupiter Energy Fleet.

Personality and traits

Iino was characterised as mild-mannered and reserved, often described as the most soft-spoken and least confrontational member of his group of friends. Initially, his personality caused him to be overwhelmed when he tried to express his opinions to his companions. However, through his experiences during the First Neo Zeon War, he matured and grew up to be able to express his own opinions confidently.

Despite the challenges he faced, Iino remained very friendly and forgiving. He notably did not denounce Beecha and Mondo even though he knew they had tried to sell the Argama to enemy forces. This loyalty to his friends was one of his defining characteristics, and he was willing to disobey orders to help them when necessary.

Among the often bickering members of the Gundam Team, Iino served as something of the “only sane man”, generally staying above the frequent arguments and conflicts that arose between his more hot-headed companions.

Skills and abilities

While not possessing the advanced piloting skills of Judau Ashta or the technical leadership of Beecha Oleg, Iino demonstrated considerable mechanical aptitude. His ability to successfully repair the damaged Zeta Gundam with improvised parts showcased his practical engineering skills and resourcefulness.

Though he did not serve as a regular mobile suit pilot, Iino was capable of operating mobile suits when called upon, serving as a competent reserve pilot throughout the war. His experience as a junk dealer in Shangri-La provided him with valuable knowledge of mobile suit components and systems.

Relationships

Judau Ashta

Iino was Judau Ashta’s best friend and most loyal companion. Their friendship was built on their shared experiences as junk dealers in Shangri-La and strengthened through their adventures aboard the Argama. Unlike some of the other members of their group, Iino never wavered in his support for Judau.

The Shangri-La group

Iino maintained close friendships with all members of the original Shangri-La junk dealer group, including Elle Vianno, Mondo Agake, and Beecha Oleg. He also cared for Leina Ashta, Judau’s younger sister, treating her like a member of their extended family.

Mecha

MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam (Zeta Zaku configuration)

When the Zeta Gundam was damaged in battle and lost its head, Iino temporarily repaired it using a salvaged Zaku II head. This improvised repair created the distinctive “Zeta Zaku” configuration, which, whilst operational, reverted the cockpit to an older display system that lacked the 360-degree panoramic view of the original design.

Behind the scenes

Iino Abbav was voiced by Japanese voice actor Masami Kikuchi, who was born on 24 April 1960 in Nagano, Japan. Kikuchi is known for voicing characters such as Sonic the Hedgehog, Joe Kido from Digimon, and Tenchi Masaki from Tenchi Muyo!.

The character was designed as part of the ensemble cast of teenage characters in Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ, representing the more reserved and technically minded member of the group. His role in creating the “Zeta Zaku” became one of the more memorable technical solutions depicted in the series.

Appearances

Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ episodes 11, 14-16, 20, 22, 25-36
SD Gundam G Generation series
Mobile Suit Gundam: Encounters in Space
Gundam Battle Assault 3 featuring Gundam SEED

External links

Iino Abbav on the Gundam Wiki
Iino Abbav voice actor information on Behind The Voice Actors