by Bettum on January 25th, 2006, 8:49am

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User rating of this review - 2.92 out of 5
Story/Plot - 3 out of 5
Characters - 5 out of 5
Drawing Style - 3 out of 5
Enjoyment - 4 out of 5
Overall - 4 out of 5

Click here for series information

Plot/Story

Gintama is an action comedy manga. The edo era have returned to Japan in a futuristic world, where the amanto (aliens) have invaded. The main character, Sakata Gintoki, is a freelancer with a natural perm, a lone samurai with a sweet tooth and glycosyria. Years ago he fought with the Jyoi (the ones who fought the amanto), and is still a man who believes in the ways of the samurai, though he left Jyoi.

He lives with his "apprentice" Shimura Shinpachi, after saving his sister, Otea, from a no-panties danger. Gintoki also indirectly helps a cute, strong alien, (with human appearance and an aggressive appetite),Kagura, from a small yakuza gang. The group of freelancers are living off the generosity of an old and cranky shop owner, Otose, with significant difficulty paying their rent.

An old friend of Gintoki, Katsura Kotaru, tries to convince Gintoki to join Jyoi again to liberate Japan from the amanto. Eventually the freelancers get mixed up in the fight between the Jyoi and the amanto, with the sword swinging police force, shinsengumi, on their necks.

However, gintama is mainly a manga with episodic stories so far. A story yet to develop.

Characters

The main character, Sakata Gintoki, is a freelancer with a natural perm, a lone samurai with a sweet tooth and glycosyria. Somewhat childish. He lives by his own rules, and wield a wooden Samurai sword, though there is a sword ban. He once fought the amanto with the Jyoi, and his friend Katsura Kotaru. Eventually he left the Jyoi, but he still believes in the ways of the samurai. Drives a scooter.

Along with Gintoki, Shimura Shinpachi and Kagura makes up the freelancer-group. Shinpachi joined Gintoki after he saved his Sister, Otae, from an perverted cruise owner, who demanded her "service" after she failed to pay her loan back. Shinpachi lived with his sister in their late father’s dojo, but decided to follow Gintoki after the rescue-act, to learn the ways of the samurai. Senpachis beautiful sister Otae, is on the contrary short tempered.

The yato (the strongest alien race), Kagura, was lured in a small yakuza league. Her family is poor, and all they ate was hurikake (Japanese topping to put on rice). She was told she could eat sakchasuke (a bowl of rice with salmon and tea poured in) every day if she joined them. Naive as she is she accepted. In an attempt to escape she crashed with Gintoki on his scooter. With his "help" she managed to beat the gangsters. She is aggressive appetited, Naive and has super strength.

Katsura Katora is a survivor of the Jyoi and Gintoki's comrade. Has the nickname "Zura". He is determined to liberate Japan from the amanto. He doesn't mind blowing up a building or two in the process.

The Shinsengumi is the police force wielding samurai swords. Consists of the free-spirited boss Kondou, the cool 2nd commander Hijakata, the simple minded but dangerous slacker Okita, the badminton loving Yamazaki, and a bunch of lunetics.

There are other worth mentioning as the victim of late payments from the freelancers, Otose. But we'll leave it for now...

Drawing Style

The drawings are good. Not great but good. Not the normal style shounen manga, in other words, somewhat creative. The drawings isn't over-detailed, and are easily "read". A simple style, and... That’s it I guess. Nothing revolutionary, nothing bad. The drawings are all together very fitting to the story.

The drawings have lots of character, except some of the main characters, who is somewhat standard. The artist is good at capturing the moods of the characters as well.

Gintama have few front-pages and bonus drawings, but the artist draw these mini stories based on himself as a monkey, reflecting his thoughts concerning the manga. Entertaining indeed.

Enjoyment

As a fun factor and time killer Gintama works well. At some parts it's extremely funny, and other parts is action packed, and a mix of both in other parts. If you're into shounen comedy mangas, you'll find Gintama entertaining as well. Even the chapter names can be extremely funny in Gintama. And the name Gintama itself, is a play with Japanese words. Gin = Silver, Tama = Soul. So gintama is read Silver soul in Japanese, but in speech, when you can't see the title written out, it could be interpreted as "Silver Balls", the word for balls being "Kintama". Something that indicates this is a comedy show.

Overall

As expected from a jump comic, Gintama doesn't disappoint. The manga is fairly "young" (11 volumes out in Japan). I haven't read enough to fully judge the story-plot, but it has great potential. Many dark pasts to discover... he, he... Nothing to whip at the character design. The drawings are good, but could be better.

On the other hand, if you don't like jump comics, chances are big you won't like this one too. But if you are into comedy, Gintama stands out from the bunch of half vitty comedy mangas. Something to consider.

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