Nether Gundam
The Nether Gundam (model number GF13-066NO) is a Mobile Fighter representing Neo Holland in Mobile Fighter G Gundam. Piloted by Rutger Verhoeven (also referred to in some secondary sources as Paul Verhoeven), the machine is famous for its unique strategy of disguising itself as a windmill to survive the 11-month long Survival Eleven prelims. Known in certain English localization media as the Hurricane Gundam, it features a prominent chest-mounted windmill utilized for flight and offensive techniques as well as camouflage.
Overview
The Nether Gundam (model number GF13-066NO) is a Mobile Fighter representing Neo Holland in Mobile Fighter G Gundam. Piloted by Rutger Verhoeven (also referred to in some secondary sources as Paul Verhoeven), the machine is famous for its unique strategy of disguising itself as a windmill to survive the 11-month long Survival Eleven prelims. Known in certain English localization media as the Hurricane Gundam, it features a prominent chest-mounted windmill utilized for flight and offensive techniques as well as camouflage.
Appearance
The Nether Gundam features a signature V-fin antenna on its head. Its most distinctive physical characteristic is a massive windmill propeller mounted on the center of its chest. In addition to its normal Mobile Fighter mode, it can reconfigure into a flight mode by folding its lower body and shifting the windmill to the bottom of the airframe, or transform completely into a windmill disguise mode that resembles a countryside building.
Personality
The pilot, Rutger Verhoeven, is depicted through voice lines alone without an onscreen physical appearance. As demonstrated by the strategy employed during the Gundam Fight, the pilot favors absolute self-preservation and minimal confrontation, opting to completely bypass combat throughout the preliminary period to reserve all strength for the finals.
Abilities
The machine's signature attack is the Nether Typhoon, which generates massive tornadoes by rapidly spinning its chest propeller. This same propeller functions as a propulsion system during its flight mode. Additionally, the Nether Gundam is equipped with integrated mega beam cannons located across various parts of its body.
Background
During the 13th Gundam Fight's Survival Eleven period, Neo Holland exploited the tournament rules by keeping the Nether Gundam disguised as a harmless windmill for eleven months, preserving its stamina and advancing to the finals without suffering combat damage. However, its lack of battle experience left it hopelessly outmatched against the hardened Mobile Fighters in the final tournament. Later, during the final battle against the Devil Gundam, Neo Holland deployed 39 identical mass-produced units (designated Mk-2 through Mk-40) from its space colony to join the Gundam Alliance.
Relationships
The Nether Gundam is piloted by Rutger Verhoeven. In the manga adaptation by Koichi Tokita, it encounters and is swiftly defeated by the Gundam Rose. During the final conflict against the Devil Gundam, it and its numerical sister units assemble alongside Mobile Fighters from around the globe as part of the World Gundam Alliance.
Trivia
The name 'Nether' is derived from Nederland, referencing the Low Countries and the official name of the Netherlands. The character name Rutger Verhoeven is believed to be a homage combining Dutch actor Rutger Hauer and Dutch film director Paul Verhoeven. When released in the MS IN ACTION!! figure line, it featured full transformation between its three modes via interchangeable parts and an integrated mechanism to spin the chest blades. In 2016, the character featured prominently in a real-world promotional hunt event held at Huis Ten Bosch.