Kazuhisa Kondo

Kazuhisa Kondo (近藤 和久) is a Japanese manga artist and mechanical designer best known for his long-running work within the *Mobile Suit Gundam* franchise. He gained prominence in the 1980s through his distinctive reinterpretations of classic Gundam mobile suits, often depicted in grittier, more militarized styles.

Kondo’s most notable works include the manga series *Mobile Suit Gundam 0079*, *The Revival of Zeon*, *The Return of Johnny Ridden*, and *Shadows of Axis*. His versions of mobile suits like the Zaku, Gouf, and Dom are characterized by heavy armor plating, exaggerated proportions, and a sense of battlefield realism. These designs helped establish the aesthetic of the so-called “real robot” genre within Gundam media.

In addition to manga, Kondo has provided mechanical designs for official model kits and publications, influencing side stories and alternate timelines in the Universal Century. His work is widely appreciated by fans for its raw, mechanical feel and grounded military tone.

Kazuhisa Kondo remains an influential figure in Gundam history, particularly in shaping how side stories and alternate continuities portray the One Year War and its aftermath, offering a darker and more tactical take on the original mecha concepts.