Heavy Object is a Japanese light novel series, written by Kazuma Kamachi and illustrated by Ryō Nagi. ASCII Media Works have published seventeen volumes since 2009 under their Dengeki Bunko label. It has received three manga adaptations. A 24-episode anime television series adaptation produced by J.C.Staff aired from October 2, 2015 to March 25, 2016.
Plot
In the future, the development of massive war machines with spherical main bodies called Objects, due to their firepower and, most important of all, their integrity, have rendered all manner of conventional warfare, and even tactical nuclear weapons seemingly obsolete. As a result of this military upheaval, all of the nations of the world have fractured into four coalitions which constantly wage war on each other; the "Legitimacy Kingdom", focused on tradition; the "Capitalist Corporation", which values profit; the "Information Alliance", focused on knowledge; and the "Faith Organization", which values religion above everything else. With the perception that Objects can only be destroyed by other Objects, modern-day warfare has been virtually reduced to duels between Objects, resulting in shorter, cleaner, and safer wars. However, two regular soldiers from the Legitimate Kingdom, Qwenthur Barbotage and Havia Winchell, change all of this when, convinced by Qwenthur, they use their smarts and their ingenuity to successfully destroy the "Water Strider" Object of the Faith Organization all by themselves. Having now proven Objects created by man can also be destroyed by man and not just by other Objects, Qwenthur and Havia are thrown into a new world of harrowing adventures and dangerous suicide missions, with Qwenthur also befriending the Legitimate Kingdom's Elite Melinda Brantini, pilot of the Object "Baby Magnum", having saved her during the events of which resulted in the destruction of the Object of the Faith Organization.
The first light novel volume was published on October 10, 2009 by ASCII Media Works under their Dengeki Bunko imprint. As of October 2019, seventeen volumes have been published.
Volume list
Manga
A manga adaptation with art by Shinsuke Inue was serialized in ASCII Media Works's seinen manga magazines Dengeki Black Maoh and Dengeki Maoh from 2009 to 2011. A single tankōbon of Heavy Object was released on May 27, 2011. A second manga adaptation, with art by Sakae Saitō and titled Heavy Object S, was also serialized in Dengeki Maoh from 2011 to 2013. Three tankōbon volumes of the manga were released between August 27, 2012 and July 27, 2013. A third manga adaptation titled Heavy Object A, also by Saitō, was serialized in Dengeki Maoh from 2015 to 2016. It also received three tankōbon volumes, released between February 27, 2015 and October 27, 2016.
Anime
An anime television series adaptation by J.C.Staff was announced at the Dengeki Bunko Fall Festival event on October 5, 2014. Twenty-four episodes aired between October 2, 2015 and March 25, 2016, with the CG being handled by studio Sanzigen.
Video games
Several Heavy Object characters appeared in the sequel to , a fighting game by Sega featuring various characters from works published under the Dengeki Bunko imprint. Qwenthur is a playable character, assisted by Milinda and Havia, and Frolaytia is a support character.
