Cowboy Bebop # 1 [Paperback]

Hajime Yadate (Author), Yutaka Nanten (Author)

Book Description

Series: Cowboy Bebop | Publication Date: April 23, 2002

What’s money between friends? But, wait who said they were friends?The lone wolf – the wizened vet – the femme fatale – the smart-mouth kid when Spike, Jet, Faye and Ed get together; it can mean only one thing: carnage is about to ensue. In keeping with the popular but off-beat anime, the manga begins a series of original stories that take the action to a whole new level. Spike, Jet and Faye all end up after the same bounty, Spike goes after a convict who’s already in prison, and Faye (the con-artist she is) ends up the victim of a con not once, but twice.

Product Details

• Paperback: 184 pages
• Publisher: TokyoPop (April 23, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1931514917
• ISBN-13: 978-1931514910
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #827,538 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #33 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Travel > Specialty Travel > Adventure > General

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Sorry to be Such a Downer..., December 7, 2002

By 

Tomato (Norristown, PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cowboy Bebop # 1 (Paperback)

Don't get me wrong folks, I am an avid Bebop fan, but I was a little disappointed in the first gaphic novel. After watching the television series and buying three soundtracks (all of which were amazing), I expected to be completely blown away by the comic books.
Unfortunately, the plots for the most part are pretty weak and do not really hold the reader's attention. I also noticed the character designs in the manga have changed, especially for Spike and Faye (not really for the better in my opinion). In addition, the story "We Will Rock You" is probably the only one in the book that remotely lives up to the name Bebop.
I would only recommend this graphic novel for die -hard fans who aren't likely to let it ruin their impression of Cowboy Bebop. Otherwise, you are better off spending your money on the second book of the manga series.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars In Search of a Payoff, March 22, 2003

By 

Marc Ruby™ "The Noh Hare™" (Warren, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Cowboy Bebop # 1 (Paperback)

It is no surprise that Cowboy Bebop refuses to die. Certainly one of the most successful action/comedy series of recent years, it really set a new standard for what anime is capable of when science fiction is focused on the characters rather than on giant mecha and evil aliens. Now that a new film is about to be released in the US, I though it would be interesting to read the manga.

Of course, I was hoping for a continuation from the spectacular ending, but that is not the case. These stories are set sometime after all the characters come together, but before the final five episodes of the series. In itself, this isn't a cause for disappointment. This volume contains four stories. The first is a classic comedy of errors when Faye, Jet, and Spike trip over each other on a trio of quests. The next sends Spike to jail in order to free a wanted man. Then an unhappy misogynist decides to take on all the female bounty hunters in known space. Finally, we get a classic bad cop story that echoes Jet's past.

This all sounds like fun, but I was honestly a bit disappointed. The stories are written for a younger audience (13+) and this weakens the narrative development. While Faye does some obligatory fan service, the truth is that the stories a mostly innocuous, lacking the biting dialog and styling of the original series. The illustration is a cut above average, but the vision is a bit claustrophobic. It is still fun to read, but I am afraid we are going to have to wait for the second TV series to get complete satisfaction.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stylistic Surprise, August 5, 2002

By 

Nelmaki Antix (Club Cyberia, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cowboy Bebop # 1 (Paperback)

I bought this volume of the Bebop manga at Anime Expo 2002 out of laziness since I didn't want to order online or go to a bookstore to get it. Go figure. ^_^ But anyway, most hardcore Bebop fans are in for a shocker since the artwork doesn't closely resemble that of the anime series, except for Jet, Ed, and Ein, who still look pretty much the same. Spike and Faye look a lot younger here, but who cares?!

Story and character-wise, the manga series stays true to the Bebop anime, retaining that "cool" style and humor. Plus, what makes the manga even more desirable is the fact that none of the stories in here are a retelling of the anime -- it's a collection of original side adventures that the Bebop crew embark upon.

In addition, since this is the translated, unflopped, Tokyopop release, I must say that they did an excellent job in the translations and comic wording department. It'll take newbies some getting used to since you have to read this book right-to-left, as goes with all Japanese manga. But after the first time around, you pick the reading format up easily, so it shouldn't be much of a problem afterwards.

In the end, is it a must for Bebop fans? Oh yes, most definitely.

*Side Note* I think this graphic novel is worth getting for the 2nd story alone, "We Will Rock You." Check out Spike trying to escape the clutches of a male-prisoner-turned-Marilyn-Monroe-wannabe. It's too hilarious to miss out on. Seriously.