Gin Tama, Vol. 1

銀魂 / Gin Tama #1

by Hideaki Sorachi

Samurai Gintoki Sakata works in a freelancer business, Odd Jobs Gin, after Edo was conquered by aliens named Amanto in order to pay the monthly rent from where he lives. In his days, Gintoki is joined by Shinpachi Shimura, a teenager son of a samurai who wants to learn about him, and Kagura, an alien girl who went to Earth to earn money for her poor family, but is unable to return home and threatens Gintoki to let her live with him. While Kagura and Shinpachi live with Gintoki, they meet a terrorist named Kotaro Katsura who participated alongside Gintoki in the war between samurais and aliens, and lost. Odd Jobs is forced to help Katsura escape from the Shinsengumi, a police force working for the Bakufu, after they accidentally perform a terrorist attack. The volume ends with a one-shot from Sorachi named "Dandelion", which explores the work of a pair of exorcists.

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Humor, Comics, Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Comedy

216 pages, Paperback

First published April 2, 2004

About the author

Hideaki Sorachi (AKA 空知英秋 or Sorachi Hideaki) is a Japanese manga artist best known for his work Gintama.

Reviews

[Ilias · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's just amazing. I don't know of any other manga that can make you laugh like a lunatic and sob like a baby, all in the same chapter.

[Elena Rodríguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5
+Nah, a man wil act like a kid for as long as he lives…
-Excuse me, keep embarassing comments to yourself.

Cuando me preguntan sobre el argumento de este manga-anime, sinceramente no sé qué responder porque no tiene un objetivo final, sino las aventuras o mejor dicho desventuras diarias de los personajes, a esto le añades un humor muy absurdo y una ruptura de la cuarta pared y tienes Gintama.

Me saca una sonrisa y eso es lo único que pido.

[Elizabeth (Elzburg) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gintama is one of my favourite anime so, naturally, I wanted to try out the manga as well. Seeing as, you know, I like reading and all. I actually don’t have that much to say about this… It was… Gintama all right. This volume was basically just an introduction to the characters, and even in the anime it doesn’t really get good until past episode 30, so I really don’t think I can talk about this volume in an unbiased way that isn’t tainted by my having had 191 episodes of exposure to this series and its characters. This is a comedy series, but I’m not sure if this first volume made me laugh (I don’t remember since I read this over a month ago as of writing), but it was definitely enjoyable. I am completely sure I enjoyed it solely because I’m already very well acquainted with these characters, so I have no idea how a newcomer would feel about this.

All I can really say is that I’m a big fan of the anime, so yes, I do recommend this series. Beware, though, I guess, that this series stopped being translated in English... At some point, though I don't know when. I'm sure that they've probably continued in e-book format or something, but as far as physical copies go they stopped at some point. However, seeing as I have physical copies of the first few books these are at least still in print (unlike School Rumble...), which is good.

Now that the formalities "review" is over, time to get ranty.


Anime Watcher vs. Manga Reader Rant
Did you notice anything about how I started off this review? Specifically, when I said, “I wanted to try out the manga … seeing as … I like reading.” I don’t know if you’ve ever had this experience, but for me, this is something anime fans don’t seem to understand, and they get super defensive when I talk about reading manga.

I think it’s because of some sort of inferiority complex, or something which acts as a defence mechanism against their perceived notions that manga readers think they’re better than anime-only watchers. They’ll act out super harshly like, “Agh, no, what the heck? Manga?? Why would I ever waste my time with manga, something obviously inferior to anime in all aspects due to its lack of animation, colour, sound, yada yada yada…” and it’s like… dude… calm down. I don't care. That's not the point. The point is that I like reading. And guess what? Manga=Reading.

I’ve liked reading longer than I’ve liked anime. It’s only natural that once I started watching anime that my interests would also shift to wanting to read manga as well. I don’t use manga as a tool to gain leverage or to feel superior over anyone else, it’s just another format in which I pursue my longtime hobby of reading. This is very probably the case for the majority of manga readers.


Relatable meme, am I right fellas?

This same thing is also present with movie/TV watchers and book readers, where both parties overcompensate for their inferiority complexes by getting all elitist about why their choice of medium is superior to the other. It’s pretty dumb. Everyone’s just trying to elevate themselves, but they chose to purposely push others down in the process.

In conclusion: Nerds are dumb and need to be stopped.

Please consider giving this review a "Like" if you've made it this far, it helps me out a lot! And follow me if you want more!

[Subham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reread: 05/03/2024

This was a fun read seeing how Gintoki and all came together, I really like the opening with Shinpachi and his sister, its so funny and a tragic story and then one off stories set in this edo period. Aliens and all. Kinda fun element and there are some hilarious situations and the Kagura story is so funny lol and her over the top strength and all. The police stuff is good too, I really like how wild they are and how the gang is always trying to run from them haha! Great 1st volume and that extra story in the back was.. good too!
__________________________________________________________________________
Aliens called Amanto have taken over earth and we pick in Edo-era Japan and our main character is Gintoki. This book is so much with this setting and era. You got Aliens, samurai and crazy alien characters. The first story is with Shinpachi and Gin has to solve that problem as he was the one who got him fired from the job and his sister is well scary and then its standard villain vs hero fight. Next is Kagura's origin and we learn she is from another planet and from YATO CLAN. The next one is showing how their Land lady is such a good woman helping others until she gets duped by Catherine, her new hired. And the next 2 chs are big one as we meet the rebel group led by Katsura Kotaro who want to overthrow the aliens and restore Edo to its glory and he is also a friend of Gin and we learn more about his past. We also meet up with the Shinsengumi (police). This series is so fun and has serious comedic moments but when it comes down to it, its just too good.

[Prachi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edo period Japan has been taken over by aliens and the once-strong Samurai lie defeated, their swords now outlawed under the new regime. That is the setting in which our heroes – Gin, a former Samurai with a love of sweets and manga (a drop in his blood sugar levels means trouble for everyone), Kagura, a crazy (and) strong umbrella-weilding mercenary chick who can't stop eating, and Shinpachi, the one (and possibly only) sane man around trying to find the long lost Samurai spirit – do odd jobs to make ends meet. It doesn't always work out for them.

The first volume is a collection of six chapters, each featuring one or another (mis)adventure this crazy trio goes on. Weaving in and out of the plot are the Shinsengumi, the elite police of Edo, Gin's landlady, the anthropomorphic Amanto (aliens), Kotarou 'Cough Syrup' Katsura and various other oddballs. The storytelling is solid, hilarity ensues at the drop of a hat (or a bomb), fourth wall references are peppered throughout. The year has barely begun and I think I've already found out what's going to be the best part of my reads this year.

[Yue · Rating 2 out of 5]

Umm... wot? For a parody manga, I did not laugh at all much. I did not care for the characters, the plot was all over the place (historical fiction but set in the future; monsters, UFOS, katanas)... the good stuff is the artwork, which reminded me a little bit of Gokusen. I've read that it is the same with the anime... the first episodes isn't much but you have to persevere to understand the hype.

[clea · Rating 1 out of 5]

it gets better after this, right? hfhdjs it took me how many days to finish this bc i dont vibe e d humor :( but a friend told me its good so ok ill still continue the series

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

La obra es genial, de diez. Pero la traducción da vergüenza ajena. Si no se puede transmitir el acento chino de un personaje, no se traduce y ya. Pero que en pleno 2024 se siga transcribiendo el acento chino sustituyendo las r por l es de traca. Palabras como "legaliz", "lepetil", "atlopelle" a parte de repetir estereotipos racistas, dificultan la lectura de la obra.

[Harish Ari Haran · Rating 4 out of 5]

So close to a 5 star review! This might be the most ambitious mainstream manga to every be put on page. Yes, more than that endless abyss of a pirate story we all love (or loved at one point... When we were young and didn't understand what death and the limitations of time were) . It's a comedy, it's an action story, it's a melodrama and everything else you can think of. It covers the entire spectrum and the sub-spectrum! If this amount of raving is not enough for you start this amazing manga let me set up the story.
In the future our civilization is colonized by an alien race. Earth is connected to other planets thanks to the colonization and Edo is a multi-species metropolitan- yes I said Edo! Because we were colonized at a point in our history when the Samurai were still around! Yep, our protogonist is a Samurai. Not just any samurai, the coolest of them all, a rogue samurai. Together with his friends, a brother trying to free his sister from the clutches of a brothel, and an alien girl belonging to a mysterious warrior race and a big ass dog this anachronistic-scifi-samurai-satire epic starts its show. Get on, buckle up and brace yourself! It's gonna be a bumpy ride.

[Brian 9 ¾ ⚡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it!

[♡︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

omg i’m obsessed. this series is going to be such a fun read for when i’m in the mood for something light. the anime should have followed the way the manga began!

[peach · Rating 5 out of 5]

first ever manga.. literally awesome & i laughedddd. giggled!

[J Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lot more comedic than I was expecting, but I enjoyed it! I really like Kagura, she’s my sweet lil baby

[Hella · Rating 4 out of 5]

خدا رو شکر ما تو دنیای گینتاما زندگی نمیکنیم وگرنه فکرش بکنید بعد از مرگ فرشته های یاکوزایی با ماشين و دوچرخه می افتادند دنبالتون که بفرستندتون اون دنیا 😂😂😂
حقا که وقتی پای گینتاما وسط باشه هر چیزی میتونه تباه بشه😂😂😂😂

[Sesana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gin Tama is hard to describe without sounding like you're mashing together half-remembered pieces of several, very different manga. It's set in the Edo period, that's been taken over by aliens. The technology and culture is mostly modern (at one point, the main character cuts out of the storyline to buy the new Shonen Jump) but with a few SF-ish touches here and there for the sake of the storyline. And it's the sort of comedy series that will throw everything at you in the hopes that something will stick. And the art? Quite good, detailed, with some imaginative twists. All that said, I'm still not sure what I think of it. I'm pretty sure Sorachi has done exactly what he set out to do here, and it's certainly unique. I think I'll stick with it, at least for a few more volumes.

[Lilly [Hiatus due to School] · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series left a deep impression on me as a teen.

[Anirudh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A manga set in two worlds. It's funny but not as amazing as some other manga I've read.

Adding another star as I begin to appreciate how funny this series is!

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

The greatest Manga ever written!

[Damián Lima · Rating 4 out of 5]

Llegué a ese nivel de fanatismo por el animé de Gintama en el que a uno le dan ganas de volver a las fuentes y leer el manga. Suele pasar que los mangas salen perdiendo comparados con su versión animé, sobre todo aquellos con increíble animación, voces y/o música. En el caso de Gintama, si bien las voces de los personajes son buenísimas y la música es increíble, siendo que lo más importante es la inventiva, lo irreverente y el humor de su historia, se puede decir que el manga y el animé son igual de geniales. Es más, resulta muy interesante la forma en que cada uno de los medios condiciona el humor, sobre todo la ruptura de la cuarta pared, en un caso recordando al espectador que está mirando un animé, en otro mostrando al lector que está leyendo un manga (¡lo hicieron, Macedonio, lo hicieron!). La parte de la ucronía histórico-política de Gintama es increíble: aliens llamados amanto invaden el Japón feudal, arrasando con la cultura nativa y terminando con el estilo de vida de los samuráis, algo así como una parodia de la restauración Meiji y la invasión occidental-yankee a Japón. En ese contexto, los tres protagonistas, un samurái retirado aficionado a los dulces, el heredero de un dojo caído en desgracia y una extranjera con increíble fuerza que no para de morfar, aceptarán cualquier tipo de trabajo ocasional para subsistir, mientras se ven arrastrados en tramas absurdas, paródicas e irreverentes. Este primer tomo reúne los primeros seis capítulos de la historia y cuenta, básicamente, el encuentro de los tres personajes: es el punto de partida, lo mejor está por venir.

[Ondřej Halíř · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gintama byla výjimka u které jsem prvně viděl anime a až teď jsem si dal mangu a je to skvělý. I když si začátky pořád pamatuji u anime, tak tady jsem vůbec neměl pocit že bych četl to samé či se nudil, i když struktura je stejná, tak dost věcí se tu buď uděje lehce jinak, či se tu objeví několik nových super vtípků nebo tu některé scény nejsou vůbec.

Gintama je opravdu jeden z nejlepších shonenů co existuje, i přes ujetý parodizující humor, je tu pořád velká hloubka, hodně dojemných a citlivých scén a svět plný geniálních postav (Po asi dvaceti stranách jsem brečel). Doporučuji, Gintama je opravdu žánrová klasika kterou by si měl přečíst každý kdo to myslí s mangou vážně a má trochu více načteno.

[Nushia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gintama es esa serie que me vi a principios de la veintena y me encantó. Creo que nunca me he reído tanto con un anime. Al ver que la habían traído de nuevo en papel no pude resistirme a comprarla.

La verdad es que me he reído bastante, aunque no llegue a la altura del anime sigue teniendo un filón gracioso maravilloso. Se me hace un poco rara la forma de traducir a Kagura pero al rato ya no me daba no cuenta.

Quizás no es un manga para todos los gustos pero si te mola el humor absurdo, adelante.

[Koichi Mashita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have seen this anime of this manga before. I am a fan of this. I like this manga' s setting. This manga is related to history, so it set in Edo period in Japan. Venues attacked this country, of course this country was lost by them. This manga' category is gag manga, so you feel so interesting when you read this manga. Please enjoy reading and think about what Samurai is.

[Issei Miyata · Rating 4 out of 5]

This manga is “Gintama”. This manga is so funny. And the battle scenes are good. The characters are so attractive. The setting is interesting. The time is Edo era but there are many alien on the earth.

But there are many many words in one page. So it takes long time to read this manga. I was so tired.

If you read this manga, be careful

[Brendan Hough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eye read 2023
10/10 What can I say, it is as good as the anime it influenced. The laughs, the characters are all bang on. Buying this on a trip to japan got my wife and I back into rewatching the anime. :)
I think now I'll have to get more volumes :3

[sherie · Rating 5 out of 5]

grabe ampopogi pa rin nilang lahat 😭 i missed u toshi

[squirtle · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing debut volume, omw to watch the anime

[Lightwhisper · Rating 2 out of 5]

The art is ok, but the story not to my liking, because it wants to be funny but I just find it, a bit dumb. The second main character tries to do right, that’s the only thing I liked.

[Chihiro Ito · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actually "Gintama" is my most favorite series of manga. I read it when I was 10 years old and I noticed a fascination of manga. I think the gap of joke's stories and serious stories are interesting. Also every characters are sooo funny. I want to read next one as soon as possible!! If you like a "gag manga" you will be a fun of "Gintama".

[Gene · Rating 5 out of 5]

This manga series is amazing, mostly because it has so many levels. It's an entertaining read to begin with, because it has some Shonen-style action sequences and lots of wacky humor. Sometimes it's a little sophomric, but most of the humor comes from pure randomness. Even the premise is sort of random. It's set in an alternate reality Japan, where instead of just foreigners breaking in at the end of the country's long isolation, it's aliens! So we have samurai vs. alien battles, space-drug trafficking, Robots at a festival, and many more history/future crossovers (though not all in the first volume).

Though you probably shouldn't study Japanese history just to read a silly manga like this, knowing about it will help you appreciate some of the stories more. For example, in a famous incident, my favorite Japanese army (the Shinsengumi) attacked a meeting of radical samurai who were planning on burning down the capital city. In real life this meeting was at an inn in Kyoto. But Gin Tama's Shinsengumi burst in on a meeting of bomb-slinging terrorists at a high-rise hotel. The revamped historical events are entertaining for those who know about them. But history isn't even the deepest layer of this manga. There are some serious stories beneath all the craziness.

The hero of this series - Gintoki - is a joker on the outside, but inside he has the unflinching soul of a true samurai. The whole manga is somewhat the same. The story isn't always a joke: every chapter has some sweet or serious moments in it, sometimes enough to make me cry (not that that's saying much). There's a bit of a commentary on the time period in real history, the way Samurai and others adapted to changing times. Some former samurai become thugs, some become policemen; some switch occupaitons entirely. Some modernize along with their country, some try to change it back to the way it was, and some, like Gintoki, just sort of keep doing what they're doing and somehow get along.

In conclusion, Gintama is AWESOME, with a historical commentary, lots of humor and wackiness, and a few sweet life lessons. At least that's how I see it.