Rockman Zero (manga)

Rockman Zero is a manga that initialy follows the plot of the Mega Man Zero game series, but soon cuts away and starts its own story that only loosely connects to the games, being more focused on humor than action. It was illustrated by Hideto Kajima and published by CoroCoro Comics in three volumes.

Part 1
The opening mirrors that of the first game, with some key differences. Zero is still found in a hibernation state, but is discovered by Lito and his friends. However, before he is reawakened, Fefnir arrives and attempts to destroy Zero, but not before he finally awakens and easily pushes him and his attacking force away. Shortly after, Zero collapses and when Lito goes to recover him, his helmet has mysteriously disappeared. Unlike the game, Zero suffers from a bi-polar disorder. As Zero, he appears virtually the same, but without his helmet, and appears to be comically frail, easily frightened by the slightest problems. However, when under extreme stress or when someone is in grave danger, he turns into his familiar self with his helmet returning, referred to as Rockman Zero. The Four Guardians of Neo Arcadia return, but are seen often bickering amongst one another. Ciel still serves as the female lead, but her attitude is radically different from that of her videogame counterpart. Here, she actively participates in battle with a fierce attitude. In the final chapters of Part 1, it is discovered that the mastermind behind the tyrannical rule is Cial, Ciel's older twin, whose ideals of a better world mirrored Weil's as she tried to eliminate all Reploids. Copy X appears in his Ultimate Armor only as the fusion between all four of the Guardians, but is not not named. He outmatches Zero who spent a great deal of time in his Rockman form before reverting back to his meek self, but manages to narrowly defeat him with the Z-Saber. Cial comes back to her senses and makes a truce with Ciel, as humans and Reploids can now reside together

Part 2
In part 2, a new Zero is created in a more child-like form with a ponytail, similar to his X counterpart, with a new 'Hero Chip' installed, giving him a brave attitude to contrast with the original Zero's frail nature. Unlike before, Zero doesn't actually transform, but runs into hiding and dons his helmet before rushing into battle. In addition, he appears to have poor accuracy with the Buster Shot Gun. The plot appears is somewhat similar to Mega Man Zero 3. Here, Omega appears as the 'antagonist'. However, he appears somewhat less frightening and. Omega is radically different from his videogame counterpart as he is no longer a gigantic armor inhabiting Zero's original body, but is his own Reploid. He appears without Weil, commanding a legion of Pantheons, still searching for the Dark Elf, but his obsession borders on humor as he eventually breaks down laughing just thinking about her. This part's fight scenes closely emulate that of the third game as Zero gains Chips for his EX Skills as well as weapons. Zero confronts Omega a couple of times before two together investigate an abandoned junkyard where Omega reveals his fear of zombies. The two eventually encounters the junkyard zombies and combats them together with the chapter entitled "Cooperating with Omega!? Zombie Battle!!" (オメガと協力！？ ゾンビバトル！！).

Under construction

Cast

 * Note: This list is incomplete.

Part 1

 * Zero/Rockman Zero
 * Lito
 * Ciel
 * Cerveau
 * Passy
 * Cial
 * Fighting Fefnir
 * Hidden Phantom
 * Fairy Leviathan
 * Sage Harpuia
 * Blizzack Staggroff
 * Aztec Falcon (Aztefalcon)
 * Pantheons (Pantheon Hunter and Pantheon Flyer)
 * Golem

Minor characters:
 * Manga only characters: Lito's two friends, Lito's grandfather, villagers that helps Zero against Blizzack Staggroff.
 * Resistance members
 * Four Cyber-elves
 * Carryarm and Spiking
 * Garm
 * Gli-Eye
 * Unnamed snake Mechaniloid

Part 2
This happens 50 years after the first part of the manga. Omega appears in Lito's village looking for the Dark Elf.
 * Zero (This is not the same Zero from part 1, this Zero was built by Lito)
 * Lito (and his two unnamed friends)
 * Omega
 * Kwappa (a frog Cyber-elf)
 * Pantheons
 * Dr. Weil (Dr. Vile)
 * Craft
 * Neige
 * Mino Magnus (Mino Magnaxe)
 * Noble Mandrago

Reception
Readers have mixed feeling toward the manga, as the plot is very different from the games. Some of the most notable changes include: Characters that were never heard in the game, like Lito, gain a great deal of importance in the manga. Zero has two personalities, one being cowardly and other resembling his game counterpart, and Lito created a Zero with a different personality.

Trivia
Sigma, Rockman X, Crescent Grizzly, and Spiral Pegacion makes a cameo appearance in the manga.

When Zero and Omega have to fight the zombies, Omega is scared because he isn't good at Resident Evil, a reference to another game done by Capcom.