Gintama, one of the most popular manga in history, has been published in a new edition by Planeta Comic
At the beginning of this century, manga had a big boom thanks to three major series, One Piece, Naruto, and Bleach. Known as the Big Three, these three luminaries have gained unprecedented popularity in the media. If Shingeki no Kyojin, My Hero Academia or Blue Lock is the event you are today, it is thanks to these three manga.
Although the three works mentioned above are the biggest exponents of the vibrant genre that emerged in the early 2000s, other works have evolved over time. The two greatest examples would be Death Note and Fullmetal Alchemist, the latter of which is one of the best manga in history. However, there is another shiner that many people seem to forget and that doesn’t appear on many lists, Gintama. Hideki Sorachi’s work is one of the greatest manga illustrators in Japan and abroad, yet one of the most popular works in history and one that always seems to be overshadowed. Manga.
Planeta Comic is the publisher of the rights to this work that mixes samurai with aliens. To everyone’s delight, Sorachi’s work is one of those chosen to be published in the publisher’s new “3 in 1” format, like Naruto (review here), One Piece or Eyeshadow 21. This new edition, compiles three classics. Planeta “Toms” in one volume, in a more economical way, is the perfect opportunity to enter the Gintama universe.
Samurai, aliens and lots of laughs
The play takes place in Edo (the name Tokyo held until 1868), which has undergone a major change due to the arrival of foreigners known as Amanto. The great influence of these foreigners led to the passing of disarmament laws, where they took away weapons from everyone, including the samurai, leaving them unable to make a living in their normal ways and survive at all costs. In addition to being highly influential, aliens are also despised by many of the human race.
In this world we follow the adventures of Gintoki Sakata, a young man who acts as an “everyman”, accepting any request, no matter how absurd. Along with their friends, Shinpachi Shimura, a young man who wants to learn the ways of the samurai, Kagura, a young alien with superhuman strength, and the “big dog” Sadaharu (please don’t let anything happen to him). They give their days to do all kinds of work.
Gintama’s story is difficult to summarize because there is no common thread. Each of the characters’ adventures is almost self-contained. Continuity is true because someone who loses their job in chapter 3 can find it in chapter 10 but continue to read it separately. The lack of an overarching story may put you off reading this work, but thanks to it, it is possible to create incredible and absurd adventures. Another advantage of this format is that you can continue reading from any point or just read the chapter you like the most.
Humor and humor are not just another input, they are an integral part of the work. Many adventures lead to chaotic and absurd situations that make it impossible not to have a good time. To give you an idea, the characters break the fourth wall more than once, referring to their presence in the manga itself, even accusing a character who does not oppose an enemy for more than one page. This and many other factors have made me enjoy reading in a way I haven’t in a long time.
Humor doesn’t stop it from being action moments, serious or dramatic. Sorachi naturally does a great job of going from comedy to serious subject matter and back. One of Gintama’s (and the author’s) great virtues is his ability to organically introduce deep moments, making the reader reflect or feel. Jin may seem like a complete fool, but he follows the path of the samurai and has a good heart, something he has shown us more than once. No matter who is in front or the consequences, it works like the “Samurai Code”.
Another great attraction of this work, secondary characters. Sorachi takes care of these characters well for the secondary and tertiary roles. With little touches here and there, these characters are built to enrich the work and ensure great moments. In addition to their characteristic design, their personalities are unique and it is difficult not to connect with any of them, especially the most frequent ones.
I’ve talked a lot about drawing, one of the most important aspects of manga. Although over twenty years old, Sorachi’s art has aged well. It is true that many vignettes are very simple, but considering the theme of the work, it is not lacking. The designs of the characters, human and non-human, are fantastic and very different. And even though action and fighting aren’t Gintama’s mainstays, fighting fans won’t be disappointed.
Gintama issue nº 01/26 Planeta Comic
The Planeta Comic 3-in-1 volumes were a great idea, especially for previously completed collections due to the timing of the publication. Despite its thick size, it is still manageable and never uncomfortable to read. The separation between pages is sufficient for proper viewing and reading. The first volume of this series, which is 12.8 × 18 cm in size and has a total of 560 pages (22 chapters and two special stories), is sold for € 18.95.
The price is undoubtedly the most negative aspect of the publication, as other works with similar formats, such as Naruto or One Piece, have more pages. Even so, this version of Gintama is still cheaper than if the publisher had released the usual cost.
The new version of Gintama is a great opportunity to experience one of the most exciting shonen you will ever find. Absurd and hilarious stories come together with amazing characters to create moments that never cease to entertain us. And between comedies and comedies, don’t worry, because Sorachi can organically introduce other stories that can make you emotional. In short, a well-written and well-illustrated work, due to its quality, should be placed on many shelves, especially now because of this new edition.
Gintama nº 01/26
Author: Hideaki Sorachi
Publisher: Planeta Comic
Format: Blank Cover with Sols
Dimensions: 12.8 x 18 cm
Pages: 592 pages
Price: 18,95 €
Summary: Don’t miss one of the most popular series in Japanese manga history.
In half-medieval, half-future Japan, Amanto is an alien land on Earth. Based on their technological superiority, they impose their rules: all samurai must remove their swords… so this is where the samurai warrior’s soul ends! But that’s not counting Gintoki Sakata! Armed with his training sword, he will be the last defender of Bushido, the samurai code, and will not lose his sense of humor during his tragic mission!