Samurai Champloo, Vol. 1

Samurai Champloo Manga #1

by Masaru Gotsubo

Based on the hit anime! In a world filled with evil, three strangers meet and suddenly find themselves on the run from the law. A hardworking waitress, an arrogant mercenary, and a mysterious samurai form an uneasy alliance. They are searching for the enigmatic Sunflower Samurai, but along the way they come across a collection of deceptive and insidious ninjas, assassins, and even a prince in disguise. The journey proves to be nothing less than a roller coaster ride of battles, danger, desperation and companionship! Finally, here is a fresh spin on the samurai genre, based on the hit anime that Anime Insider calls, "The spiritual sequel to Cowboy Bebop!"

Genres: Manga, Comics, Graphic Novels, Historical, Comics Manga, Historical Fiction, Humor

170 pages, Comic

First published November 8, 2005

Reviews

[Jocelin Willshaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a huge fan of the anime I was bound to either love or hate this manga adaptation, depending on how the source material was treated. Turns out it's great!

It has a similar tone to the show, although it has a larger emphasis on the comedic elements I found. It still has the iconic mix of edo period Japan fused with hip hop and modern pop culture. It often references things that would have no place in the era but it just works somehow.

It follows similar story beats to the anime although characters and plot lines seem condensed or changed in certain places, sometimes for the better, sometimes at a detriment to it. For example Mugen and Jin are convinced to travel with Fuu purely because they ruined the tea house she was working at and so they owe her a debt, which is honestly out of character. In the anime she literally blackmails them, she breaks them out of prison on the condition that they travel with her which makes more sense to me. It's only a small detail and I'm not actually that bothered about it but I digress.

Some of the positive changes/additions include characters that were never in the anime, including a female assassin called Natsu that Jin bonds with and a Shogun Royal that Mugen befriends. They only appear in a single chapter each but are memorable none the less. Much like the anime each story is the trio travelling to a new location/prefecture and is often a stand alone story of how they help or interact with the people there. Each main character tends to get their moment in the spotlight too with each one having at least one chapter revolving around a story involving them.

I'll probably pick up the 2nd volume, if you enjoy Samurai manga or liked the anime I'd highly recommend it!

[Nicolo · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is better enjoyed as an anime.

I was never fond of reading only one chapter of this story, another way the TokyoPop implosion messed up the way I enjoyed my manga.

This lone book has been too lonely on my shelf, to the Culling with you!

[Azure · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an avid manga reader I've read many manga in many different styles but I've never come across one manga that is as entertaining, as hilarious, as wonderful as Samurai Champloo.

The first thing that caught my attention was the art-style. They're not the usual big-eyed, bishounen male characters that we find in some manga but rather rough around the edges characters that are somehow attractive in their own way.

As for the characters themselves, there is Fuu, the little, dumb waitress that somehow manages to snag two very different men to look for a Samurai that smells like Sunflowers through a guilt-trip and sheer stubbornness. Then comes Mugen, never-do-well, irresponsible, criminal, always looking for a fight thrown in together with a crude, vulgar personality. Finally there's Jin, refined, composed, elegant Samurai with no Lord searching for a reason to keep drawing his blade.

This is their story mixed with leading the life of a criminal, A wayward Shogun, A Ninja's untimely love story, a playboy magistrate and... well lots more.

An enjoyable read and recommended specially for those who watched the Anime and fell in love with it.

[Nick F · Rating 4 out of 5]

Samurai Champloo follows a group of three people two of which are samurai(Mugen and Jin) the other is a girl named Fuu. Fuu was working as a waitress when a group of samurai attack the shop she works out. She gets saved by Mugen and Jin but Mugen and Jin get arrested and sent to get executed. However, Fuu saves them but in return they help her find the samurai who smells of sunflowers. This Manga takes place in the Edo-era of japan which means it takes place anywhere from 1603 to 1868. This manga highlights points in life in Japan during the Edo-era of Japan. I really enjoyed this comic it kept me interested throughout the entire time reading.

[Omar Villafane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Flippin sick 🤩🥷🏼⚔️

[Illy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adored the anime, so when I found out there was a two volumes out I had to get them. Plus, the fact I found both at the same time on clearance at half price books made it even better. I feel as if you are the fan of the anime then you should really get these two volumes. One is novelization of the first episode and the other is a few short stories which really kinda goes an extra step for fans to have.

[Mary Grace Nakao · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Read the whole series

Ya'll should just do yourself a favor and go watch the anime. The manga, though a great read, could not really match to its anime counterpart. But we have to take into account though that this is one of those rare instances wherein the manga is based on the anime instead of the other way around.

Jin, my love, I cant forgive myself for forgetting about you! X)

[Irma Pérez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una adaptación bastante decente del anime, que sigue siendo mi obra favorita de Shin'ichiro Watanabe y a la que le guardo un cariño enorme.

[Marco Vale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Перший том «Самурай Чамплу» вражає поєднанням історичного сетингу та сучасного стилю. Манґа вдало передає атмосферу епохи Едо, додаючи до неї хіп-хоп настрій і гумор. Герої — Муґен, Дзін і Фу — відразу запам’ятовуються завдяки своїй харизмі та контрастним характерам. Битви динамічні й видовищні, а малюнок енергійний і живий. Загалом це яскравий і нестандартний старт історії, що захоплює з перших сторінок.

[Mario · Rating 3 out of 5]

انیمه اش از خیلی سال پیش تو لیست مورد علاقه ترین هامه و قطعا برای همیشه جایگاه خاص خودشو در قلبم حفظ میکنه
اما نمیتونم همچین چیزی رو درمورد مانگاش هم بگم

این ایده و داستان توی مدیوم انیمه خیلی درخشان تر و به یاد ماندنی تر از آب دراومده اما در قالب مانگا کاملا معمولی و فراموش شدنی به نظر میرسه

[Абрахам Хосебр · Rating 4 out of 5]

Самураї Чамплу - улюблений аніме серіал всього життя, який передивлявся безліч разів. Звісно, коли дізнався, що є манґа, яка розкриває додаткові (необов'язкові, але такі бажані) епізоди подорожі, то відразу ж накинувся на неї!
Це, звісно, повністю фанатський продукт дещо вторинний до аніме, але фанат я є і це те шо треба.

P.S. Читати тільки після аніме.

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this because I was so engrossed with the anime :-)
There are some scenes that are here in manga and not in anime.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is pretty funny. I like all the pop culture references despite it being in the Edo era.

[Tina Olah · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was alright, though really can't compare to the anime. A nice return to the story and characters, in any case!

[Mary Shyne · Rating 3 out of 5]

So dated! So glad this early-aughts kind of “we’re funny and relatable because we drink a lot and anachronistically reference pop culture!!!!” comic is gone.

[Nedam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad but anime is so much better

[Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

it's not the destination that matters, but the journey itself

[Kurtis Burkhardt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really love the anime!! Unfortunately the manga wasn’t that great! Really love Mugen😁😻⚔️

[kai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anime was definitely better

[Liam Strong · Rating 3 out of 5]

dear gee zus christmustard on a cheez it why is there so much dialogue in this book

[Ariana Deralte · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the fact that this manga only barely touches on issues of depth and is instead just an excuse to rampage through the past, make silly anachronistic jokes, and kill lots of people:D You've got to love a samurai manga where a girl puts up a poster for a bodyguard with a note on it that says, "Must be as cool as (Toshiro) Mifune." Hee!

Jin actually did get a bit of depth in the first volume trying to decide what he should fight for, but I was more amused by how much trouble (and help) his pretty boy looks were. Usually, you only see people exploiting bishounnen like that in fanfic and doujin... Also, ninjas! Yes, there was even a Naruto parody:) My only complaint would be that they could have included a few more cultural notes. I knew that the ninja/shogun chapter was a parody of an old samurai show (I have forgotten the name as usual...) but there was nothing mentioning it in the book.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This manga, based off the anime of the same name, follows an unlikely trio on an odd quest as well as on the run from the law. There's Fuu, a young waitress; Mugen, an arrogant criminal; and Jin, a refined samurai. Together the three are searching for a samurai that smells like sunflowers, no problem right? Along the way they run into many hardships including, samurais, ninjas, monsters, more samurais, and friendship?

I really enjoyed this, especially as a fan of the anime. The two start off similarly and do cross paths every once in a while, but it feels more like th stories within could easily be episodes that you missed. The characters have the same behaviour, the art is lovely - especially with so many action scenes. Quite pleased.

[Zack Patten]

This is one of my favorite mangas. The story follows 3 people named Mugen, Jin, and Fu. Mugen is a kind of street thug sword toting samurai who invented his own type of breakdancing-like fighting style. Jin is a traditional samurai who is accused of killing his master. Fu is a young ditsy girl who get these two guys to help her find someone. Throughout the whole story they are looking for a man who is known as 'The Samurai who Smells of Sunflowers'. It was an amazing book, the art was really well done and the plot was pretty unique. I would highly recommend you read this if you get the chance, or even watch the Anime adaptation of it as well.

[Sparrow · Rating 2 out of 5]

Having watched the anime first, the manga of Samurai Champloo does not live up to the former. This type of manga needs the vivacity that an anime can produce. The storyline is somewhat lacking in comparison as well. I am aware of differences between the manga and anime of a similar name, but the difference is decidedly lacking in this manga. However, beautiful art.

[Jacob · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has certainly been an interesting manga...but there was too much cussing to get a full five stars from me. I was fine with the violence, i mean hey, it's a samurai manga, but the terrible ammount of cussing brought it down.

[Santi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Muestra una historia distinta a la del anime y en general es entretenido, pero obviamente sin la calidad audiovisual de la serie no es lo mismo a la hora de disfrutarlo. Asi que diría que es mejor ver el anime directamente.

[Pedro Espada · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uno de mis favoritos.No le doy 5 porque está inconcluso,el final se revela en el anime,más extenso y por el cual descubrí la magnífica música del joven y talentoso Nujabes. Lo importante es el viaje,no el destino.

[diesel squirrel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the book But then I got angry because when I finished it the library moved the manga section Now I dont know where it is. NOO!

[Paul]

I love this book its awesome you guys should read this book

[Viridian5 · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow, I really disliked its tone, characterization, plotting, and art. It's so smug and satisfied with itself. So now I have yet another case where I far prefer the anime to the manga.