Back to ArcherSaysI's Profile ArcherSaysI's Profile

I read this series before watching the anime; to this day, it is one of my favourites. It differs from the anime in many ways, but as a standalone manga it is one of the best (even at only 2 novels) in my opinion.

A good story premise, a solid quest with three mismatched characters in a fun setting and snappy dialogue. The artwork is really something else; I've not found a match for the artists ability to capture movement quite like he does here, yet still make it easy to read and fast-paced without any obviously "slow-mo" shots which I find really take from the ... pacing.

The characters designs are basic, but effective; they are expressive, with clear characters in their mannerisms and a sense of movement unique to each character which is clever for a manga. The three characters are not stereotypical tropes, which is refreshing, and they have obvious backstory which is hinted at but not revealed in full which leaves a lot of tension to drive the plot.

The story obviously leaves something to be desired (as it ends after 2 volumes and is never resolved) but even so, each chapter can be enjoyed as an individual tale with a new cast of extras and a new location for mischief.

One of the most important things about Samurai Champloo (the manga) is the humour. These two books will make you laugh out loud, even now when I return to them after rereading them countless times. The humour is subtle and witty, with some slapstick thrown in for relief, but clever and truly amusing in a way so many mangas fall flat at.

There are problems with this manga; the story never progresses (for obvious reasons) and some of the artwork could be considered simplistic for one more adjusted to popular big name artists. In this way, I like how the story never gets dragged out or overdone; it doesn't suffer the fate of so many wonderful premises which get massively popular and extended beyond their natural lifetime.

All in all a truly enjoyable read with wit, action, gore, slice-of-life and most importantly sword-fights!