Gintama

After finishing the anime, I couldn't let the story end, so I took myself over to the manga; oh boy, was I not ready for the feels.

How can I sum up the entirety of Gintama? I really don't think it's possible. From comedy to drama to action to tragedy to triumph, this story and its characters have blown me away from start to finish. Not every chapter is perfect--some don't even come close--but the bonds that come out of this manga are an incomparable reward that I haven't found anywhere else.

It's well known that Gintama has set a never-before-seen precedent for comedy. Whether it's insulting the mangaka, parodying other stories, or breaking the fourth wall, Gintama has been able to meld them all into its own, special brand of comedy. No other medium has been able to pull off comedy like Gintama. There is so much care put into it, and at the same, it doesn't take itself seriously at all. I never got tired of experiencing it. And in that comedy, the manga allows the reader to become attached to the characters. It's able to make the reader love the characters beyond how funny they are.

And that makes the story of Gintama all the richer. Given that Gintama is comprised of comedy primarily, I am still and will forever be amazed that it was able to tell an entire story. Not only that, but the story didn't ever feel like it had gotten lost or was becoming nonsensical. The way the characters in Gintama were able to develop and change and have motivations that wavered and resolve that moved mountains was astounding. This story really did not leave any character out to dry; it used the time it had to build upon every character and make them into an invaluable member of the Gintama family. The characters you have to say goodbye to throughout the course of this manga were all sent off in the best ways they could've been. And through it all, the bonds only get stronger.

I really didn't expect this story and these characters to affect me as much as they have, but they've burrowed into me, and I couldn't be happier about it. If you need a story that's going to make you ache when it ends, and if you need characters that feel like family, Gintama is the best place you could go. Thank you, Yorozuya, for letting me into your family.

I cant express with words what Gintama means to me so i really don't know what to write i have so many things to coment, so many life lessons, but i have to write about it because of that.
Before I start I am going to leave a personal "complain", and this rewiew may contain spoilers,if you skipped gintama comedy arcs or chapters you will never understand the amount of 10/10 this manga has, Gintama is not a story driven manga, it is a character driven one, and the "not so serious part" develops greately the complex and human characters trough their many fails and personal problemens, witch reflect on the serious arcs, and to be more complete give them the emotional power they pose.
Gintama is not perfect and the show recognises it, and to me thats one of its points because that is really(for me ) one of the main themes, that in the end what realy maters is what you fell trought the series, and this shown does not fail in this aspect( it may sound like a heavy critic, but Gintama is exceptionally well writen and calculated) , the relation the characters have fell real, even if somethimes they do absurd or really stupid things, they still menage to reach you to the fulliest, hec the mistakes are probably the cause, quoting the manga Humans/Samurais are weak, coward, empty creatures whitch by "fighithing thenselves" aspiring to overcome thenselves, to became better persons give meaning to theirselves, become someone who own real strenght. What I've been trying to say the mistakes the autor and the character makes or their achievemenst give you a good laugh and imerge you deeper in that complex universe/world that many falled and still fall despite their age or knowlege in the area, just like the emotional stuf.
Im really not expressing my self well, but that is fine, because i dont need words to describe this manga, i enjoyed it to the end, it was a more than plasent and emotional journey, and in the end tearing myself up for the first time in my anime and manga history, with my silver soul, while the tears fell i was smiling, that is enough for me

*This review was originally for Bankara and has consequently been merged into Gintama*

This a one shot, that was like been written like one, so I will try to be fast.

Bankara is a parody of the society, and some other things, written from one my favorites mangakas Sorachi Hideaki. It talk about the way that our world is walking on and "growth" on. It's a society with many problems, more of them even the people don`t really understanding them. Most of the people are trying to find there way to the freedom, delinquents often are being seen like that. In this manga they are like the stupid rebels, the normal students are like the people of the grown society and someone, our girl, have the mission to protect the morals, the law and the peace of this society, but even she don`t really understand it, she is just force to do it. In society like that come someone like our hero. He is coming from the past, actually from a society with almost the same problems, they just become even bigger with the time. But even then he could become what he is... He is no really so great man, that is doing revolution to change the world or something like that... No, no... He is simple destroying with brutal strength. He is destroying everything that he one of this bullshits. And this is written to us, the young people, because we are the future and he want to tell us to stop believing in the hypocrisy of out society and to brake out of it's prison when our senses of real freedom (if we really one to call this freedom) are the best.

P.S. Sorry for my poor writing skills on this language, and of course you always have the right to think about me like an idiot, because i believe that this manga is actually good. But you are human too, therefore you are an idiot too.

I love everything about Gintama. From the way that gorilla jokes are somehow blended perfectly into serious moments; to the way that the series keeps ending, yet the ending never comes. And don't forget about the mosiac humor and dirty jokes. Those are all aspects that don't sound appealing at all, but somehow it all fits perfectly together and creates a series that you can become invested in emotionally.

I can't think of another manga that's had me laughing and crying within the same chapter. Gintama will have a dirty joke right in the middle of a serious tearjerking moment, and it won't ruin the mood at all. And somehow, it'll actually feel like it fits in.

The characters are wonderful and over time you can grow attached to them; even the minor ones. Everyone from Gin-san to our favorite gorilla is memorable and it's nice to see them make recurring appearances in different arcs.

I could keep going on and on about how much I love Gintama, but then I would be taking away from your experience. So if you haven't gone already, I highly recommend Gintama and I hope that you choose to read it.

I can´t express how much Gintama change me and my sourrounding. How much I LOVE this series from the VERY bottom of my heart. The characters were real, complete real persons in my eyes. heart and soul.
There is no series perfect in every aspect in every moment, and Gintama is no exception. Even thought is very close to that in so many times and aspects, and yet is not a series that apeal to the objective aspect of a Series. Gintama want to apeal to the heart and soul of a person. The meaning of Gintama as silver soul is no "joke".
As the same way that I can´t express myself about how change me, I can´t do it to an extent when I would get close to what Gintama is like as a series, as a whole.
I will only say that there is no series more real and at the same time absurdly crazy than this one, no other that make you react in so contradictory ways and plays with your own feelings as a reader. No series that get in your soul more than anything, than Gintama.

Ah, Gintama. One of the best and most complete current manga in Jump. Its premise is intriguing and unique (aliens in historical Japan? Who would have thought it?). It has great characters--ranging from the diabetic lazy samurai Gintoki to the samurai who has a mayo addiction Hijikata to the stalker ninja Sa-chan and so on. All of them blend together well without feeling out of place and flat. No matter where Sorachi puts them in, they always get at least one huge guffaw from me. Its brand of comedy doesn't consist only of repetitive and sometimes obscure references, but it's also a very satirical commentary on Japanese society reflected in feudal Edo. Though Gintama is first and foremost a gag manga, with all chapters merely snippets of the Yorozuya's different interactions with themselves and other people in the Amanto (Gintama's term for aliens)-filled Edo, Sorachi Hideaki manages to slip in a few serious action arcs to show a little semblance of an actual plot. And when he does, he brings his A-game. All serious arcs in Gintama are great, they either keep you on the edge of your seat eagerly anticipating what happens next or reduce you to a bawling little girl with every sudden sad twist. Sorachi Hideaki definitely is a master at balancing hearty laughs with testosterone-laden action and heartwarming drama without it feeling shoehorned in to the story. Gintama is already an awesome manga but it could use an improvement in the art department. Don't get me wrong, I'm no art connossieur, but sometimes the characters look stiff and hastily done but other than that there really is nothing to complain about. Comedy and action rarely mix together well, but in Gintama it does perfectly. With well-written storylines and almost uncanny comedic sense, Sorachi Hideaki's Gintama should not disappoint. GO. READ. IT. NOW.

*This review was originally for Bankara and has consequently been merged into Gintama*

A Spirited Youth does not perish so easily (Hans Carosa)

Sorachi Factory proudly presents yet another great magna filled with crazy humor, good action and a great cast.

PLOT:

Crazy Youth, a school full of delinquents, sci-fi era, great characters doing weird stuff, adult jokes, puns thrown at other series, and a comedy that conveys a serious but amazing message. If anyone can make a great dish out of these ingredients, it has to be the legendary Ape Man (Sorachi Sensei).

Bankara is a rebellion against a society where the grownups that don’t fear the change that youngsters can bring in the society, deprive those youngsters from their spring time of youths. The youth can only benefit if they follow their grownups but the social order doesn’t play fair. If you want someone to follow you, you have to lead them by example and not by putting chains around their neck. It is a fight against such adults who try to turn the youth into their pet dogs and a story of a hero who wages war against them.

Youth is an enigmatic yet charismatic time of our lives. Sorachi has highlighted the significance and beauty of this golden time and conveyed the message that the youth which believes in efforts to reach their dreams, friendship and trust in each other, will never go wrong. The usage of some mind-blowing quotes really makes it an exciting read.

CHARACTERS:

For a oneshot, Bankara has got one hell of a characterization. Especially the two lead characters are nothing short of superb.

The character of Gouda Takeru is something to watch out for. Sorachi has portrayed him as a true leader. Someone who doesn’t make people follow him with force but with his care and affection, Someone who is ready to protect the thing which are precious to him and someone who is willing to bear all sins of others on his back.

In such short space, Sorachi has managed to show a great relation between the two leads. Connecting their pasts with their presents and turning their friendship in to something exciting to look out for.

The rest of the cast may not be something special but certainly not ignorable. Especially Gundam Sensei :P

ART:

The art is traditional Sorachi style, full of dialogues boxes, weird and funny faces made by the characters, and some cool and exciting action.

TARGET AUDIENCE:

Bankara is for everyone who is in, haven’t reached or passed his/her spring time of youth i.e. from a 1 year old to a 100 year old. However the Gintama and Sorachi fans will like it more because they are used to his puns and sarcastic style.

TIPS:

* Since it contains extra amount of text in it, try not to rush it and read it slowly.
* Listen to the song “Sailor-Fuku” after reading this chapter. It is an 80’s era song. It will make you smile :D