Part of the reason the original Gundam series is so compelling are its villains. While the alternate universe series are known for a handful of great villains like Master Asia and Zechs Marquise, the Universal Century had an entire military force full of them.
The Principality of Zeon started out as a republic, with the simple aim of gaining more rights and respect from the Earth Federation. But after the Principality of Zeon was formed by Degwin Solo Zabi, it brought with it a reinforced sovereignty, social straitification..and some of the most memorable villains in anime history. This list will take a look at some of the best of the worst, the biggest thorns in the sides of decades worth of teenaged Gundam pilots.
10 BLACK TRI-STARS
The Black Tri-Stars appeared in the middle of the original Gundam series. Granted powerful new suits known as the MS-09 Doms, their ability to work in perfect sync with one another gave Amuro some real trouble. Their “Jetstream Attack” even led to them capturing a general in the Earth’s Federation Forces.
Their biggest claim to fame was killing Matilda Ajan, the first lieutenant in charge of keeping White Base supplied. The Black Tri-Stars didn’t last an especially long time, but killing the agent responsible for keeping White Base afloat after suffering countless attacks at the hands of the Zeon is enough to land them here.
9 DEGWIN SOLO ZABI
It’s difficult to place Degwin Zabi especially high on the list. He certainly deserves his spot because a large part of the reason the Zeon as a military force even exists is because of his machinations. He was responsible for having Char’s father Zeon Zum Deikun murdered, and even attempted to wipe out his children to cement his power and form the principality.
But in the end, after his son Garma was killed he gradually began to see the cost of war and wanted to pull back. He winds up getting killed by his eldest son, Gihren.
8 CROWLEY HAMON
Let’s show some respect to Crowley. A first lieutenant who served as Ramba Ral’s aide, she was both his lover as well as one of his most important members. She remained outside of the field of combat, but advised him from their ship, coordinating their tactical maneuvers which inevitably lead to victory.
After Ral died, she was distraught and made an attempt to destroy the Gundam herself. She nearly succeeds, but the efforts of Ryu Jose wound up wiping them both out. Ultimately, Hamon was a tragic figure who showed that war doesn’t only affect the soldiers on the battlefield.
7 ANAVEL GATO
The One Year War put an end to the Principality of Zeon...or so everyone wanted to believe. But a grudge born out of war is not one easily surrendered. Anavel Gato was a member of the Delaz Fleet, working to carry out one last mission against Earth’s Federation Forces to get revenge for his comrades.
Though he worked with the Zeon, he was always a respectable man, upholding his own code of honor on and off the battlefield.
6 KYCILLIA ZABI
Degwin Zabi’s family is huge, but Kycillia is the only daughter with military designs. Perhaps the most ruthless member of the Zabi family, she’s responsible for the death of her older brother Sasro and her brother Gihren (more on him in a bit).
She’s also meant to go after the children of Zeon Zum Deikum, but unfortunately for her this proves to be her downfall. Without realizing it, she winds up training Char, serving as his mentor in the time leading up to the war. Before eventually dying at Char’s hands, she briefly manages to lead the Zeon forces during the crucial final battle at A Baoa Qu.
5 GIHREN ZABI
Gihren is one of the most dangerous members of the Principality. Though the entire movement is founded under false pretenses, on the face of things they have a pretty understandable motive. As “Spacenoids," they simply want to be free from the rule of the Earth government, essentially pushing for the right to govern themselves and be left alone.
Gihren pushes beyond this, insisting that the Zeons are a part of some “Master Race." He’s so despicably evil he even murders his own father, only to later suffer a similar fate of being murdered by family when his sister finds out.
4 HAMAN KARN
Yes, she’s a member of the Neo-Zeon but that’s still just a reworking of the Principality. She’s actually a direct result of the conflict occurring during the One Year War, as the actions of the Zeon led to harsher treatment by the Federation on anyone living on the Axis colony. She went from a kind girl to one hungry for power, manipulating her way into her current position in the Neo-Zeon forces.
And of course, she maintains the same view as the Principality on Earthnoids—beings who are weighed down by gravity. Double Zeta showing the duality between her old and current self make her one of the more compelling villains both in that series and in the Gundam franchise.
3 NORRIS PACKARD
The appeal of Gundam 08th MS Team is that it’s a series that tries to be realistic, focusing on jungle guerilla warfare. Even better, it's completely lacking in any NewType nonsense. But while there might not be any NewTypes, there’s still ace pilots to be found.
Norris Packard was a loyal follower of the Sahalin family, helping their daughter Aina to grow up and even following her into battle when she joined the Zeon forces. He’s not only a decent person caught on the opposite side of a war, he’s also an excellent mobile suit pilot, literally toying with the entire 08th company while managing to complete his mission to destroy three Guntanks.
2 RAMBA RAL
Ramba Ral is perhaps the most relatable villain on this list. He sheltered Char Aznable and his sister for a time, then later went on to become a complete legend in the One Year War. Ral’s a genius tactician, and he was so good he was awarded the MS-07 Gouf to try and bring down Amuro.
Though Amuro would eventually learn that Ral was piloting no mere Zaku, ultimately his skill in combat isn’t what makes him so great. It’s that he’s fundamentally a good man, fighting for a cause he believes in even if he doesn’t always believe in the people in charge.
1 CHAR AZNABLE
It’s impossible to do this list without mentioning the Red Comet. Char was such a good villain because he wasn’t really on anyone’s “side” besides his own. The Zabi family’s machinations ruined his life and nearly killed him, so he was out for revenge against everyone else.
One of his most evil moments in the original series is when he gets Garma Zabi killed then tells him to blame it on being born a Zabi. But Char’s legacy lasts far beyond the original series, as he makes appearances in Zeta and Char’s Counterattack, as well as being the inspiration for Neo-Zeon’s Full Frontal in Gundam Unicorn years later.
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