US Pre-Orders Reopen for Gundam SEED FREEDOM’s Exclusive Gelgoog Menace Gunpla Kit
Bandai has officially reopened US pre-orders for its exclusive Gelgoog Menace Gunpla kit from Gundam SEED FREEDOM, giving fans another chance to build the standard-production Mobile Suit as part of a major promotional event.
The “HG 1/144 GELGOOG Menace” joins a large selection of exclusive Gunpla kits, figures and other collectibles returning for Premium Bandai Week 2026, which also offers a temporary reduction to the usual free-shipping threshold.
Image by Charlotte DavisGelgoog Menace appears in Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM, the 2024 animated movie that continues the Cosmic Era storyline following the events of Gundam SEED Destiny.
The movie follows Kira Yamato, Shinn Asuka, and their allies as members of COMPASS, an international peacekeeping organization established to help resolve conflicts between Earth and the PLANT colonies.
Developed by ZAFT as a successor to the ZAKU Warrior, the Gelgoog Menace is a next-generation Mobile Suit equipped with advanced weapons and interchangeable equipment designed for different combat environments.
The standard-production machines are piloted by Mars Simeon and Herbert von Reinhard, two experienced COMPASS pilots who previously operated DOM Troopers alongside Hilda Harken during Gundam SEED Destiny.
Lunamaria Hawke also operates a customized red Gelgoog Menace, which features a different equipment configuration and coloring based on her previous Gunner Zaku Warrior.
Bandai originally released the exclusive High Grade kit in October 2024, following the March debut of the standard retail “HG 1/144 GELGOOG Menace (LUNAMARIA HAWKE CUSTOM)”.
Based on Lunamaria’s earlier model, the kit replaces its red armor with the standard-production machine’s lavender-purple coloring, dark greenish-gray torso sections and orange accents.
Another major difference is the inclusion of a space-use backpack, replacing the atmospheric equipment supplied with Lunamaria’s version.
The backpack’s wing sections can be repositioned to recreate different flight and combat configurations, giving the completed Mobile Suit several display options.
The model incorporates Bandai’s SEED Action System, a specialized internal joint structure designed to reproduce the dynamic poses and movements seen throughout Gundam SEED FREEDOM.
Its shoulder and torso articulation allows the arms to move through a wide range of positions, making it possible to display the Gelgoog Menace holding its larger ranged weapons with both hands.
The kit’s main close-combat weapon is the Beam Naginata, a double-ended energy weapon that gives the Gelgoog Menace a direct connection to the original Gelgoog design from Mobile Suit Gundam.
A dedicated storage grip allows the Naginata to be mounted on the rear waist when not in use, with the weapon also capable of being held in different attack positions.
Additional equipment includes a Beam Rifle and Railgun, providing the completed model with a selection of ranged weapons that can be combined with the articulated backpack for combat displays.
The kit also features a Beam Shield reproduced using polarized molding, which creates a changing color effect across its translucent surface depending on the viewing angle.
Its deployed and stored configurations can be recreated using interchangeable components, allowing builders to display the shield activated or folded away.
Additional joint parts and a sheet of stickers are also included, providing the components needed to complete the standard-production Mobile Suit’s appearance.
Another of Gundam SEED FREEDOM’s next-generation ZAFT machines has recently returned to the US, with Hilda Harken’s exclusive “HG 1/144 GYAN Strom (HILDA HAKEN CUSTOM)” also reopening for pre-orders during Premium Bandai Week.
The Gyan Strom was developed alongside the Gelgoog Menace as a successor to the GOUF Ignited, with Hilda’s customized machine featuring standard-production colors, an atmospheric-use backpack and an extensive selection of close-combat weapons.
The earlier ZAKU series has also received another US re-release through the “MG 1/100 BLAZE ZAKU PHANTOM / BLAZE ZAKU WARRIOR,” an exclusive Master Grade kit that allows builders to choose between two Mobile Suit configurations equipped with the powerful Blaze Wizard backpack.
Premium Bandai Week 2026 runs from October 8 at 10:00 AM EDT until October 13 at 11:59 PM EDT, with registered Premium Bandai US members able to qualify for free shipping on eligible orders of $50 or more instead of the usual $100 minimum when using the no-signature-required shipping option.
Pre-orders for the “HG 1/144 GELGOOG Menace” reopened through Premium Bandai US on October 8, with the exclusive kit priced at $38 and the ordering period scheduled to close on October 14 at 2:59 AM EDT, leaving less than a day for builders to secure their orders.
Shipping is currently scheduled for February 2027.
If you enjoyed this article, you can see more from us directly in your Google feed by adding us as a preferred source.
This post may contain affiliate links, and Essential Japan may earn a commission if you purchase through them.
