Spike Spiegel and Jet Black
Created by Yutaka Nanten
SPIKE SPIEGAL
and JET BLACK are bounty hunters in the future on the hit
TV show Cowboy Bebop, found on Cartoon Network's Adult
Swim time slot. There's a difference between them and most bounty
hunters. These guys are animated. But don't make the mistake
of thinking it's just another cartoon. This is anime, or Japanese
animation. Of course, anime has a reputation for being ultraviolent
and ultracool, and Cowboy Bebop is no exception.
Spike is a lanky, cool-as-all-git-out twenty-something slacker with the kung-fu skills of Bruce Lee and the gun-slinging skills of Chow Yun-Fat in his movies directed by John Woo. Those skills allow him to take on even the most dangerous opponents without breaking a sweat. Spike is the field man, who goes out to catch the big-money criminals.
Jet is a beefy retired cop from the ISSP (Inter-Solar System Police). He's a middle-aged grouch who conceals his gentle heart with a gruff exterior. He holds down the fort at their home, the spaceship Bebop, and collects information to help Spike catch the bad guys. He provides backup when necessary.
Along for the ride more often than not is their spunky wouldbe partner Faye Valentine.
But that doesn't really begin to capture the wonderful perfection that is Cowboy Bebop. It's become one of the most popular anime shows in Japan and among anime fans in America. And it's easy to see why: it's an amalgamation of the best of Western and Asian culture in one dazzling package. There's also plenty of little pop culture allusions thavery similar to the American buddy movies and 70's cop shows. There are episodes that reference Quentin Tarantino, Alien, blaxploitation movies, Batman: The Animated Series, Akira Kurosawa, hard-boiled noir, Hong Kong heroic bloodshed, and, of course, the American cowboy, just to name a few.
The show's also very accessible to the non-anime fan. Many anime shows, like Dragon Ball Z and Gundam Wing, are seemingly endless serials which demand the viewer to watch every episode to understand the storyline. But Cowboy Bebop's episodes are self-contained 25-minute stories, so a viewer doesn't have to start at the beginning to become a fan. Okay, there is a set of five episodes that explore the dark past of Spike that are sprinkled throughout the series. But these episodes are masterpieces of storytelling, character, and art. They raise an otherwise smart, slick show to heavenly entertainment.
Fans call this show a life-changing experience. And judging from all the merchandise cluttering the marketplace, they are a devoted bunch. Besides manga comics scripted by creator Yutaka Nanten, there are also numerous episode guides. And there was even a full-length feature film, Cowboy Bebop: Tengoku No Tobira, released in 20901. There is something in this show that is truly is something for every adult, whether they're looking for exciting action, cool sci-fi technology, comedy, or heart-breaking drama. Just watch it!
TELEVISION
- Original U.S. Broadcast Dates
- "Asteroid Blues" (September 2, 2001)
- "Stray Dog Strut" (September 2, 2001)
- "Honky Tonk Women" (September 9, 2001)
- "Gateway Shuffle" (September 9, 2001)
- "Ballad of Fallen Angels" (September 23, 2001)
- "Heavy Metal Queen" (September 23, 2001)
- "Jamming with Edward" (September 30, 2001)
- "Ganymede Elegy" (September 30, 2001)
- "Toys in the Attic" (October 7, 2001)
- "Jupiter Jazz" (Part 1) (October 7, 2001)
- "Jupiter Jazz" (Part 2) (October 14, 2001)
- "Bohemian Rhapsody" (October 14, 2001)
- "My Funny Valentine" (October 21, 2001)
- "Black Dog Serenade" (October 21, 2001)
- "Mushroom Samba" (October 28, 2001)
- "Speak Like a Child" (October 28, 2001)
- Wild Horses" (November 4, 2001)
- "Pierrot Le Fou" (November 4, 2001)
- "Boogie Woogie Feng Shui" (November 11, 2001)
- "Brain Scratch" (November 11, 2001)
- "Hard Luck Woman" (November 18, 2001)
- "The Real Folk Blues" (Part 1) (November 18, 2001)
- "The Real Folk Blues" (Part 2) (November 25, 2001)
- "Sympathy for the Devil" (December 16, 2001)
- "Waltz for Venus" (December 23, 2001)
- "Cowboy Funk" (February 15, 2002)
FILM
BOOKS
DVDs/VIDEOS
RELATED LINKS
Respectfully submitted by our man in Hawaii, Bluefox. Thanks, Marcus...
