I love them both, and I love both series, so ultimately I'm deciding based on the other characters that they represent.
Both casts of both shows are amazing, but One Piece has no Edward equivalent, so Cowboy Bebop has to take my vote here. Sorry, Luffy. Your crew is crazy, but it takes a special kind of crazy to get what Spike's allies have.
Taking into account personality and such, it's Spike all the way. In addition to be an all around great character, he is a rarity in the anime world - a character who pulls of being FUNNY without being outlandishly ridiculous and goofy. How often do we see that?
Spike (Cowboy Bebop) has a deeper back story, more complex personality, better physical characteristics, a better thing he was driven for than just "Pirate King", handled difficult situations in a better, more entertaining way, Grew immensely as a person (The first few episode he said he hated women, dogs, and kids and yet ended up with all of them on the ship. Plus before the anime he was kind of a bad person), Got me interested in guns, space, computer hacking, and ships as well as bounty hunting (I know that last one is kind of funny), and has influenced the anime world immensely in all the countries it's been shown in, not to mention even though it's a decade old people are still talking about and trying to make a live-action movie about it. Spike hands down.
I have to go with Spike for obvious reasons, but Luffy is a good character none the less, although flawed and plagued with Shonen Main Character traits common amongst most of the characters whom share is archetype.
This one is difficult. I have heard nothing but good things about One Piece though I've only watched, like, ten episodes. All in the first season. However, I am going to have to say Spike. Spike did everything in twenty-six episodes. He was the protagonist of one of the three best animes of Western audiences (the other two being the Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise and the Ghost in the Shell franchise). Many people claim that anime can be seperated into before/after NGE, before/after GITS and before/after Bebop. The series was one of those pieces of perfection that comes once in a while and Spike was one of those characters. He was imperfect, he was goofy sometimes, he was downtrodden and he was downright dangerous. Though you can describe Luffy in these adjectives, Spike ramped each of these to eleven. I vote Spike.
Last edited by Hisaishi at 12:17:25 PM CDT on May 18, 2011.
No contest. Spike ^^ Cowboy Bebop is another fav from when I was younger. I even got the movie! And he beats Luffy in the criteria for who is better ;)
I love Spike Spiegel. Truly, I do. And at first look, it's incredibly easy to assume he'd be the logical choice here. But I just can't. Taking each bullet point into consideration and adding them up, for me it comes out Luffy 5 to 4. If you honestly take him seriously (and factor in some of the later stuff that happens in the series) he is a wonderful character and absolutely one of my favorites.
LUFFY Dammit!!! and i better not be the only one who votes for him...
Don't get me wrong spike is awesome and classic and all, but compared to Luffy he's a freakin limp noodle, yea i said it!! i have a feeling this is gonna be slightly one sided
Like the other two comments have said: Spike, without a doubt. His character depth is astounding and his personality is extremely realistic and not so tightly bound to character archetypes. So, that's where my vote went.
Spike has more of a depth to him so I'm voting spike., I love Luffy he's hilarious but something missing from his personality that keeps me from voting for him sorry DX!
This, if really taken into consideration, should be a landslide victory for Spike. His character depth and personal story are more complexly built, and in only 26 episodes. As a character, he just has much more "super!special!awesome" to spare than Luffy.
shinigami117
Otakuite++ | Posted 06/16/11 | Reply
@wingedshadowwolf:
lol
cougarsama
LDS Fangirl! (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 05/20/11 | Reply
Ooh, tough one. I reserve my judgement. Though if anyone were to ever turn Luffy in for the bounty, Nami would've beaten Spike to the punch long ago.
wingedshadowwolf
Otaku Eternal | Posted 05/19/11 | Reply
@shinigami117:
Exactly what I was going to post!
Kokoro Chikori
Otakuite+ | Posted 05/19/11 | Reply
Crap i missed the vote. In mt opinion Spike wins he seems more level headed and showed a sane version of anime.
shinigami117
Otakuite++ | Posted 05/19/11 | Reply
Crap, I missed out on voting for this one.
I like both of them, but I like Luffy better. He's really funny.
The Shirt
Otaku Eternal | Posted 05/18/11 | Reply
@cannon21:
Damn skip!
Spiegel baby..
cannon21
Otakuite+ | Posted 05/18/11 | Reply
Spike wins all, One Piece may be popular,
but Cowboy Bebop DEFINED A GENRE.
Last edited by cannon21 at 9:05:35 PM CDT on May 18, 2011.
DimDota
Otakuite | Posted 05/18/11 | Reply
Spike is my role model... what else is there to say. I'm just wandering waiting to die as it is, might as well go out in style:)
Ace
Senile Hipster (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 05/18/11 | Reply
I love them both, and I love both series, so ultimately I'm deciding based on the other characters that they represent.
Both casts of both shows are amazing, but One Piece has no Edward equivalent, so Cowboy Bebop has to take my vote here. Sorry, Luffy. Your crew is crazy, but it takes a special kind of crazy to get what Spike's allies have.
aminesick
D (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 05/18/11 | Reply
@wingedshadowwolf:
luffy... =P
Angel
Chat Guardian (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 05/18/11 | Reply
spike takes the cake no doubt
star petals
Otaku Eternal | Posted 05/18/11 | Reply
Taking into account personality and such, it's Spike all the way. In addition to be an all around great character, he is a rarity in the anime world - a character who pulls of being FUNNY without being outlandishly ridiculous and goofy. How often do we see that?
dfdfdfdf
Otaku Eternal | Posted 05/18/11 | Reply
i go for spike. luffy we love ya but not enough
BloodyKiss14
Otakuite+ | Posted 05/18/11 | Reply
I love luffy and spikes fine and all but luffy whens when you actually think about it. Also when you learn his past and staff its really kind of easy.
red tigress
Raid Boss (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 05/18/11 | Reply
Spike was basically my gateway drug into the anime world. I love Luffy, but he didn't fight the Space Mafia.
Grayfire
Otakuite++ | Posted 05/18/11 | Reply
Spike (Cowboy Bebop) has a deeper back story, more complex personality, better physical characteristics, a better thing he was driven for than just "Pirate King", handled difficult situations in a better, more entertaining way, Grew immensely as a person (The first few episode he said he hated women, dogs, and kids and yet ended up with all of them on the ship. Plus before the anime he was kind of a bad person), Got me interested in guns, space, computer hacking, and ships as well as bounty hunting (I know that last one is kind of funny), and has influenced the anime world immensely in all the countries it's been shown in, not to mention even though it's a decade old people are still talking about and trying to make a live-action movie about it. Spike hands down.
AmazingDanni
Otakuite+ | Posted 05/18/11 | Reply
Spike.
No competition, in my opinion.
wolf of sorrow
JMusicGuru (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 05/18/11 | Reply
Crap. Hardest decision ever.
jeweloflife
Afrofantastic (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 05/18/11 | Reply
D:
Luffy hands down.
Both are awesome, but Luffy overwhelms.
Hisitaka
Otakuite+ | Posted 05/18/11 | Reply
No competition here, Luffy straight up is the most crazy and epic character ever drawn
wingedshadowwolf
Otaku Eternal | Posted 05/18/11 | Reply
OMG this is sooooo hard! I can't decide right now, I'll come back later today.
64oldman
Otakuite+ | Posted 05/18/11 | Reply
I have to go with Spike for obvious reasons, but Luffy is a good character none the less, although flawed and plagued with Shonen Main Character traits common amongst most of the characters whom share is archetype.
Ducky
Imaginary Duck (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 05/18/11 | Reply
@Shinmaru:
Word.
Team Plasma N
Sinbad of Sindria (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 05/18/11 | Reply
Hmm this is just as difficult like the Goku and Vash one....but I think I know where I vote for this one!
Hisaishi
News Correspondent (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 05/18/11 | Reply
This one is difficult. I have heard nothing but good things about One Piece though I've only watched, like, ten episodes. All in the first season. However, I am going to have to say Spike. Spike did everything in twenty-six episodes. He was the protagonist of one of the three best animes of Western audiences (the other two being the Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise and the Ghost in the Shell franchise). Many people claim that anime can be seperated into before/after NGE, before/after GITS and before/after Bebop. The series was one of those pieces of perfection that comes once in a while and Spike was one of those characters. He was imperfect, he was goofy sometimes, he was downtrodden and he was downright dangerous. Though you can describe Luffy in these adjectives, Spike ramped each of these to eleven. I vote Spike.
Last edited by Hisaishi at 12:17:25 PM CDT on May 18, 2011.
Eiri Yuki s Lover
YukiFangirlSupreme (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 05/18/11 | Reply
No contest. Spike ^^ Cowboy Bebop is another fav from when I was younger. I even got the movie! And he beats Luffy in the criteria for who is better ;)
darknessslayer
Awesome dude (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 05/18/11 | Reply
This is a hard choice. I love both of these characters since they are phenomenal, but I think I may have to go with my personal bias.
-Darknessslayer
KisukeUrahara
Senior Otaku | Posted 05/18/11 | Reply
I love Spike Spiegel. Truly, I do. And at first look, it's incredibly easy to assume he'd be the logical choice here. But I just can't. Taking each bullet point into consideration and adding them up, for me it comes out Luffy 5 to 4. If you honestly take him seriously (and factor in some of the later stuff that happens in the series) he is a wonderful character and absolutely one of my favorites.
Romanos Vixen
Grand Otaku | Posted 05/18/11 | Reply
LUFFY! :D Best pirate in da world! Better then Jack Sparrow. Yes I said it.
SolemnSerpent
Cupcake Constable (Moderator) | Posted 05/18/11 | Reply
@Shinmaru:
That pretty much sums everything up.
Sage of Magic
Moe Foxgirl (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 05/18/11 | Reply
Spike. Oh gosh...I love ya Luffy, I really do...but Spike was just WOW.
SunfallE
Nyaa~ (ZE MEANIE) | Posted 05/18/11 | Reply
@Shinmaru:
Well said.
*nods*
In the name of the tune I will punish you!
Shinmaru
Baron of Terribad (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 05/17/11 | Reply
Bang.
Love thy Evangelion.
aminesick
D (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 05/17/11 | Reply
LUFFY Dammit!!!
and i better not be the only one who votes for him...
Don't get me wrong spike is awesome and classic and all, but compared to Luffy he's a freakin limp noodle, yea i said it!! i have a feeling this is gonna be slightly one sided
aminesick
D (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 05/17/11 | Reply
@TimeChaser:
Blasphemy... so wrong... but we are all entitled to our opinions
TimeChaser
Madman With a Box (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 05/17/11 | Reply
Spike is a character, he's a human being with a past and foibles.
Luffy is just a Japanese Stretch Armstrong.
Bazinga!
LilyGinnyBlack
Otakuite+ | Posted 05/17/11 | Reply
Like the other two comments have said: Spike, without a doubt. His character depth is astounding and his personality is extremely realistic and not so tightly bound to character archetypes. So, that's where my vote went.
Bluemoon Halo
Otakuite++ | Posted 05/17/11 | Reply
Spike has more of a depth to him so I'm voting spike., I love Luffy he's hilarious but something missing from his personality that keeps me from voting for him sorry DX!
SolemnSerpent
Cupcake Constable (Moderator) | Posted 05/17/11 | Reply
This, if really taken into consideration, should be a landslide victory for Spike. His character depth and personal story are more complexly built, and in only 26 episodes. As a character, he just has much more "super!special!awesome" to spare than Luffy.