For decades, the world of Japanese manga and anime has been defined by giants. From Mobile Suit Gundam to Evangelion , the "mecha" genre is a crowded battlefield. Yet, hovering above this fray—like a divine, impossibly ornate Mortar Headd descending from the clouds—exists a legend known mostly to hardcore connoisseurs: .
But even within that niche fandom, a specific, controversial, and utterly fascinating artifact ignites endless debate. That artifact is referred to simply as .
While there is no official publication or media title specifically called The Five Star Stories Version 0.8 this likely refers to a specific experimental or transitional phase in Mamoru Nagano's legendary manga series. In the community and scholarly discussion of The Five Star Stories (FSS), "Version 0.8" often points to one of the following: 1. The Pre-FSS Concept Phase (1984–1985)
The mecha in this era maintain the classic "Mortar Headd" silhouette—bulky yet elegant—before the series underwent its radical 2013 shift to the Gothicmade (GTM) designs. The Five Star Stories Version 0.8
Do not be frustrated when you realize you cannot own all of Version 0.8. Do not be upset when you realize Amaterasu has three different backstories spread across three different ".8" updates. That is the point. In the Joker Star Cluster, even the version number is a Mortar Headd—beautiful, deadly, and forever waking up from a five-thousand-year nap.
Here’s a complete post for , written in the style of a fan release or update log for a mecha/modeling/wiki community.
Hyperlinked notes for every nation, star system, and Headd. Click “Amaterasu” and get a 3-generation family tree. Click “Buster Launcher” and see its thermal dissipation curve. For decades, the world of Japanese manga and
Serialized initially in Newtype magazine in the mid-1980s, Version 0.8 was the debut of Ladios Sopp, the Fatima Clotho, and the legendary Knight of Gold (KOG). When Nagano later compiled his works into the main tankobon (volume) releases, he famously re-edited, re-inked, and in some cases, completely redrew chapters. The "Version 0.8" designation has since become a colloquial term among collectors for these original magazine prints and the rare compilation book released by Toyoo Ashida and Nagano’s circle, often distinct from the main Kadokawa run.
Because Nagano releases so slowly (sometimes one volume every 3-5 years), Version 0.8 has effectively become the only version kept in print in Japanese. If you buy a new copy of The Five Star Stories today, you are buying Version 0.8 whether you like it or not.
To the uninitiated, the title "Version 0.8" suggests a software beta, an unfinished product. In the context of manga, it refers to a specific serialization and subsequent limited publication of The Five Star Stories that predates the more widely known Volume 1 released by Newtype (Kadokawa Shoten) in 1987. But even within that niche fandom, a specific,
is often seen as the "Version 0.0" or "0.8" of the series. It contains early designs for what would become the LED Mirage and the Knight of Gold, though they had different names then. The "L-Gaim" Connection:
This period highlights the strategic importance of mecha in the Joker System. As noted by reviewers at Naver Blog, Version 0.8 emphasizes that while armies may be vast, the presence of a single Mortar Headd can dictate the entire outcome of a war.