Cowboy Bebop is regarded as one of the best anime of its era and remains a fan-favorite title. The space western benefits from a unique concept, strong characters, and an iconic soundtrack that perfectly fits the tone and mood director Hajime Yatate establishes throughout its run. With the Netflix show once again sparking interest in the series, plenty of people are about to enter the world of Bebop for the first time.
Despite its popularity, Cowboy Bebop didn’t spawn as many multimedia properties as some of its contemporaries. The series was an anime original and would get a movie two years after its conclusion. It also had two game adaptations, Cowboy Bebop for the PS1 and Cowboy Bebop: Tsuioku no Serenade for the PS2. Often forgotten are the short-lived Bebop manga adaptations.
The first of the two, Cowboy Bebop: Shooting Star was released in 1997 and ran until July 1998. Illustrated by Cain Kuga, Shooting Star was an alternate telling of the anime’s narrative that changed various plot points around.
The character designs were noticeably different, and while the anime seemed like it was more of a Seinen property, Shooting Star was aimed towards the Shoujo demographic. Most of the plot points introduced in the two existing volumes weren’t resolved, as the series was abruptly canceled early on in its run.
The second manga series, simply titled Cowboy Bebop, started serialization in 1998 would go on until 2000. Rather than retell the same story again, this series consisted of side stories and original adventures not seen in the anime.
Though slightly more successful than its predecessor, Cowboy Bebop still had a relatively short run, amassing a meager three collected volumes. Both manga series were published in English by Tokyopop, and since they’re well out of print, can be fairly expensive collectibles.
As the anime is a standalone product, the Bebop manga adaptations aren’t at all necessary to enjoy it. Like many adaptations, they’re additional content that gives fans the opportunity to delve deeper into a given world. Sadly, neither series seems to add anything substantial to the Bebop experience.
Shooting Star has some strange creative choices that might alienate fans of the original. The change in art style is notable, but to be expected when reading a manga adaptation. Seeing as it was prematurely axed, it doesn’t really have all that much to offer.
Things are a little different with the Cowboy Bebop manga since it’s basically just a collection of short stories. Seeing the Bebop crew interact and go on adventures is always fun, and while the manga can’t compete with the show in terms of quality, it’s still a fun – albeit brief – ride.
Ultimately, the Cowboy Bebop manga would probably only satisfy the more hardcore and invested fans of the series. Neither really adds or detracts from the quality and experience of the anime, but they're still enjoyable if readers don’t approach them with high expectations.