One Piece fans looking for a manga to read during the hiatus should check out Gintama, a series that shares many elements with the pirate epic.
While the A play the manga is on hiatus, fans of the series should check it out Gintamaanother one Shounen jump series that shares many elements with Eiichiro Oda’s massive pirate epic. Superficially, it might seem that the main characteristic that manga share is their epic length, with Gintama having 701 chapters and A play having 1053 chapters and counting. But on closer inspection, the two series have a lot more in common, sharing a somewhat similar structure and tackling similar themes.
Readers love A play for various reasons. Oda is a masterful storyteller, slowly unraveling the many elements and mysteries of his world over hundreds of chapters. No detail seems lost and even the most minor characters reappear at some point. The manga’s themes also strike a chord with many fans. In the center of A play is the idea of ​​inherited will, the Will of D. compelling many characters to struggle against the tyrannical rule of the World Government and the Celestial Dragons it serves. But more importantly, the manga is about the found family of the Straw Hat Pirates and how they constantly help the downtrodden and downtrodden on the islands they visit. Although few manga manage to include these elements, Gintama manages to do it with aplomb.
Gintama is a manga by Hideaki Sorachi set in a science fiction reimagining of Japan’s Bakumatsu period, which lasted from 1853 to 1867. The series features the Yorozuya trio consisting of the samurai Gintoki, the alien Kagura, and Spectacles sensitive. the various inhabitants of Edo with their problems. Although the series is primarily a comedy, it has a great overarching plot that unfolds over a long period of time, much like A play Is. Without going into spoilers too much, this plot is heavily concerned with the theme of inherited will, just like A play is and features nearly every character and plot point introduced in the series returning in significant ways.
The similarities go beyond the overall plot structure. The Yorozuya Trio operate very similarly to the Straw Hat Pirates, being closer than family and always ready to help those in need. Because of this, their antics and interactions can seem very similar to those of the Straw Hat Crew. The tone of the series also mixes comedy and tragedy very well, much like A play albeit in a different ratio. The best bows in the series can even match A playbest arcs in terms of emotional impact.
Despite its many strengths, Gintama is not a perfect match for A play. The series has a lot more chapters focused on the Yorozuya trio hanging out and interacting with their supporting cast, which might feel like filler if you only read the series for the overall plot. The series also features a few jokes and plot lines that haven’t aged well. But for fans looking for a Shounen jump series to fill the void left by A play during his break, Gintama is an excellent substitute.
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