Cowboy Bebop

Spike Spiegel character Spike Spiegel is a bounty hunter on the spaceship Bebop and travels through space with his crew. Before becoming a bounty hunter, Spike was a member of the Red Dragon Crime Syndicate. Spike displays many talents and abilities, including being skilled in hand-to-hand combat and martial-arts fighting.

Spike was partnered with Vicious in the Red Dragon Crime Syndicate criminal organization, and the two garnered a reputation as the Syndicate's strongest fighters. But all that changed after Spike started a romantic affair with Vicious' girlfriend Julia, causing the two to become bitter enemies. After finding happiness outside violence, Spike tried to leave the Syndicate, and was then forced to fake his own death and separate from Julia in order to leave. After Spike fakes his death to escape the Syndicate, Julia never arrives to rendezvous with him — instead she goes into hiding to avoid betraying him or being killed herself.

Spike eventually met and teamed up with former Inter-Solar System Police (ISSP) officer and bounty hunter Jet Black, the captain of the Bebop. Spike also became a pilot and flew a converted Asteroid racer called the Swordfish II. As legal bounty hunters, Spike and Jet traveled the inhabited worlds hunting bounty heads across the populated planets and moons of the solar system. They were later joined by Faye Valentine, Edward, and Ein. During his adventures on board the Bebop, Spike confronted various bounty heads and had interactions with other people, including a terrorist, a deranged serial killer, and a bounty hunter styled after an American Western cowboy. Date of Birth June 26th, 2044 Estimated Age 27 Height 6'1" (185 cm) Hair Color Dark Green Eye Color Right- Light brown Left- Brown Planet of Origin Mars Known Aliases Swimming Bird Spaceship Swordfish II Weapon of Choice Jericho 941 Blood Type O Spike is tall and lean in appearance; he has dark green hair and brown eyes, one of which is later revealed to be artificial and lighter than the other. In a flashback in Session 6 it's revealed that his right eye was surgically replaced by a fully-functioning cybernetic eye. Spike himself may not have conscious recollection of the procedure since he claims to have lost his natural eye in an "accident".

Spike is usually dressed in a blue leisure suit, with a yellow shirt and Lupin III-inspired boots. He also occasionally wears a long brown trench coat. He's often seen with a cigarette between his lips, even if it's raining or there's clearly a 'No Smoking' sign where he is sitting, standing, or passing through. Personality "Look at my eyes, Faye. One of them is a fake because I lost it in an accident. Since then, I’ve been seeing the past in one eye and the present in the other. So, I thought I could only see patches of reality, never the whole picture." Spike's personality Spike is a nonchalant, indifferent, and lazy character. He passes the vast majority of his time on the Bebop lounging, watching TV, or sleeping. On a few rare occasions, he is also seen practicing Jeet Kune Do, a martial arts practice he's very skilled in, being among other things passionate about Bruce Lee and his philosophies (for example, he follows Lee's "water" analogy for his style of fighting). He is a hardened smoker, shown with a cigarette in his mouth in practically every shot. Although he rarely acknowledges it, Spike has very little patience. He repeatedly states he hates dogs, children, and women with attitudes, and is anything but happy when each one of the three joins the Bebop. On the other hand, as the series progressed, he warmed up to Edward, Ein, and Faye, all three of which fall in the category of the three things he particularly hates. He also claims to dislike cats. Spike is rarely seen excited about something and, even less frequently, says he likes something.

He usually behaves phlegmatically and walks slouching almost as if he is sleepwalking. He appears to be tormented by the ghosts of his past and has frequent nightmares of his life in the Syndicate. He considers he already died once and therefore doesn't often show fear at the possibility of being killed, often acting as if to challenge death, as stated in a famous clip on his Swordfish II ship saying ¨Whatever happens, happens.¨

One of the recurring themes surrounding Spike's character is how he views himself and his life. Following the implant of an artificial eye, he says his left eye, the real one, sees the past while the synthetic right eye sees the present. This makes the past indelible in his mind, not allowing him to get rid of or forget about it. Despite that, he usually encourages others to forget the past as "not important." Spike's star sign is Cancer, which fits with his inability to let go of the past.

When he is not working, Spike is very laid back, sarcastic, and lively, to the dismay of his crewmates. He is typically found either resting on the couch or reading magazines. Spike's philosophy seems to be based on the ancient samurai ideals of immediacy, such as considering oneself as dead and the idea of death as being an awakening from a dream. Both of which are elements of bushido illustrated in the Hagakure.

Although people often talk about cowboys in an almost heroic sense, his image is far from the idea of one and, on the contrary, has characteristics typical of an antihero. He never acts to protect anyone, but only for interest, so he often has to be persuaded to commit himself to a hunt he considers only a little exciting, has a rather sharp and cynical sense of humor; when he pursues a bounty, he throws himself head-first into action, regardless of the damage caused to people and buildings. Spike also doesn't have the slightest moral scruples of having to kill someone. In the movie, he even tells an old woman that he and the Bebop crew don't serve and protect and that their work is strictly business, though Jet doubts that he actually means that.

In spite of all this, Spike still has a good heart and, whether he admits it or not, is more caring than he lets on and more than willing to help others without expecting anything in return. This is rather ironic considering his line of work. A good example of this is in Session 7, when Victoria Terpsichore offered him a wad of cash, and he only took a single note while saying the rest was for her husband. He has also shown compassion for Rocco's blind sister in Session 8, even buying flowers when he went to visit her in hospital and being saddened and sympathetic by the loss of her brother. He treats Ein as an emergency food supply and Ed as a burden, but in reality, despite never showing his companions appreciation. Spike nurtures an obvious affection for each of them and often seems willing to help them. This affection is shown through his constant choice to not interfere as they face their past, even if meaning he has to pass up a bounty. In particular, Spike shares a genuine brotherly affection with Jet, and it is safe to say that they consider each other their best friend. In fact, they are often seen talking together like two old friends. Although they often fight because of the excessive stubbornness of Spike, occasionally resulting in him being banned from Bebop, these arguments are always resolved in a short time. Jet is also the only person to whom Spike confides about his past.

One of the most complex relationships Spike has in the series is the one he has with Faye. Most of the time they usually bicker like siblings, however, in moments of danger Faye has always shown concern for Spike. He has also shown some empathy for Faye's situation, but perhaps due to their stubborn natures, they can't outright admit to this. Faye has also always taken care of Spike when he was injured, although she still kept a bitter attitude. The affection between them is obvious, and many people have speculated that Faye could be in love with Spike and desires to find a connection with him. Watanabe has addressed the subject saying, "Sometimes I'm asked the question, 'What does Spike think of Faye?' I think that he likes her quite a bit. But he's not a very straightforward person and makes sure not to show it." Watanabe also said, "But, I think Jet understood and loved Spike more than Faye did." This is due to Jet finally coming to understand the depth of Spike's love for Julia after Spike confesses to Jet that Julia is his other half. In Session 26, during their final scene together, Spike ignores Faye's pleas to remain on the Bebop. He walks away from her without looking back. He is never shown thinking of Faye or any other member of the Bebop crew again but is instead shown repeatedly thinking about his lost love Julia.

When it came to matters of romance, Spike had a fascination - some might say obsession - towards women who were naturally strong in both mind and body. In his fight with Elektra, after seeing how good she was in combat he outright confesses that he loves the type of women who could easily beat him in a fight even going so far as to making a bet with her that if he won she would have to go on a date with him and later on further confirmed his attraction to her to Jet calling her "beautiful" in an unusually dreamy tone. Spike's love interest Julia was also shown to be extremely competent when it came to being able to handle herself in a fight. spike's Abilities "Bang." ―Spike Spiegel's final line Spike has many talents and abilities, including very sharp eyesight, abnormally acute perception, and extraordinary luck. It's implied he has little trouble recovering from even fatal injuries after a few days and usually has strong endurance against pain during fights.

Spike makes use of sleight-of-hand techniques to win card games, pickpocket, and even to slip things onto other people unnoticed. He's well-versed in weaponry (such as his personal Jericho 941, or Ruger P85, as well as other guns and explosives). The guns on the show were chosen by the director, Watanabe, and in discussion with set designer, Isamu Imakake, and mechanical designer, Kimitoshi Yamane. Setting producer, Satoshi Toba said, "They talked about how they didn’t want common guns, because that wouldn’t be very interesting, and so they decided on these guns." He is skilled in martial arts fighting and hand-to-hand combat skills due to his past employment with the Red Dragon Crime Syndicate and occasional training on the Bebop. He follows Jeet Kune Do, the mindset developed by Bruce Lee, though he has a penchant for high kicks of French boxing.

Spike is also a pilot and flies a converted Asteroid racer called the Swordfish II, which is armed with four machine guns, multiple missile launchers, and a single plasma cannon. Spike has repeatedly demonstrated an exceptionally sharp intellect, although he has a habit of neglecting to plan ahead, as noted by Jet. Spike has repeatedly been able to outwit the entire Red Dragon Syndicate, predict the moves of his opponents (whether in combat or in the casinos), and use lateral thinking to get out of virtually every situation life throws at him. Spike can also regurgitate objects he swallows at will, like a casino chip or cigarette, and spit them back out.

Jet Black character Jet Black, also known as "Black Dog", is a former officer of the ISSP and later bounty hunter. He partnered with Fad until losing his arm in the mid-2060s. Jet then captained the Bebop and led a bounty-hunting crew including himself, Spike Spiegel, Faye Valentine, Edward, and Ein. Date of Birth December 3, 2035 Estimated Age 36 Height 6'2" (188 cm) Planet of Origin Ganymede Known Aliases Black Dog Spaceship Hammer Head Weapon of Choice Walther P99 Blood Type A Jet's Appearance Jet possesses a tall, broad, and muscular appearance. He is balding and only the sides and back of his head have hair. His sideburns continue down his cheeks to form a beard. He has a love for wielding a Katana but very rarely does. His left arm is a synthetic, robotic limb that seems to heighten his strength. His original limb was lost when he was ambushed by a syndicate assassin and his crooked cop partner. The metallic piece under his right eye has no known purpose, but it is not likely a cosmetic choice.

He wears a flight suit most of the time but has been known to dress up for trips to a nightclub or casino. The scar on his face may imply that he has been in some fights as a cop and bounty hunter. The scar is directly over his eye, but the eye itself is apparently unharmed. Jet's Personality Jet, as the senior member of the Bebop, is presented as mature, wise, and austere. He often gives wise advice to his companions and always shows great patience for their over-the-top attitudes. In particular, he's very patient with Spike. On the other hand, due to Spike's excessive exuberance when chasing after bounties, often prevents them from collecting the total reward due to refunds caused by damage. Although everyone on the Bebop considers him kind of a father figure, a situation proved by his occasional scolding for some of his companions' attitudes and him being the ship's cook; Jet proves to be considerably offended by this association as it makes him look older than he actually is.

Although he may look gruff and sometimes has rude attitudes; Jet is basically a good-hearted, caring, and thoughtful man who, while hiding his feelings, has a great affection for his own companions and thinks of them the same way as a family. Undoubtedly the most reliable member of the crew, Jet proves to be very apprehensive, proud, and capable of great fidelity. For some of his attitudes, he could be considered a control freak, but it's not intentional, and all the other characters recognize his choices as the most right.

Jet has a great passion for bonsai - likely a testament to his nurturing side - and cooking (although his dishes are harshly criticized by his companions). He adores jazz and blues music (Bebop, the given name of his starship, is a type of jazz) particularly the songs of Charlie Parker, and also highly appreciates the works of Goethe. As captain of the Bebop, he's very fond of his ship and greatly worries about the damage it could receive in firefights.

Jet shares a particularly paternal relationship with Ed and for most of the series is the only member of the crew to take care of Ein. He dislikes Faye, whom he treats more like a burden than as a partner, but the relationship between them changes in the course of the series, coming to be a reluctant friendship. Differently from Spike, who behaves lazily and indifferently, Jet is always shown as busy and maintaining the Bebop and finding work. Despite the many differences in character and ideology, Jet and Spike share a genuine brotherly affection and it is safe to say that they consider each other their own best friend. Occasionally they are seen talking together like two old friends. Jet often fights with Spike over his excessive stubbornness, occasionally ending with Spike being banned from the Bebop, but never for long. Jet is in every way the only person whom, sometimes, Spike confides openly about his past.

Ed Character Edward Wong Hau Pepelu Tivruski IV, born Françoise Appledelhi and colloquially known as Radical Edward, was a child prodigy skilled in hacking originally from Earth. Her father was the cartographer Mr. Appledelhi. Date of Birth January 1, 2058 Estimated Age 18 Height 5'2" (157.48 cm) Hair Color Red Eye Color Amber Planet of Origin Earth Known Aliases Françoise Appledelhi; Edward Wong Hau Pepelu Tivruski IV; Edward Wang Hwe Pepel Cybulski 4th (opening titles); Radical Edward Computer Tomato Blood Type AB Criminal Records Hacking Ed's Appearance Ed is a skinny copper-colored 18 year old with tufts of bright red hair. She is still looks slightly young. Edward wears a loose midriff-baring sleeveless white shirt, showing her belly button, dark compression shorts, and never wears footwear of any kind. Once she attempted to wear socks in Mushroom Samba but she immediately lost her balance, suggesting she may have never even worn shoes. She permanently wears a pair of large green goggles on her head or dangling from her neck. The goggles hook up to her computer and allow her to "net dive". she has medium sized breasts, nice hips, nice ass Ed's Personality Ed is an eccentric, resourceful, giggly, childlike, odd, curious, happy-go-lucky and extremely intelligent 18 year old. Ed has many attitudes, typically manifested by eccentric geniuses, such as a great susceptibility to distraction, and a tendency to talk to herself aloud and sing nursery rhymes or other literature popular among children. She often repeats the last words of the people who spoke before her and answers questions with seemingly meaningless phrases and sometimes real nonsense.

She frequently spaces out, similar to a trance, which seems to withdraw her from reality. She almost always refers to herself in the third person and rarely interacts with other characters in a real conversation.

She could be considered sort of a "free spirit", very fond of nature and open spaces. Her eccentric behavior is the primary source of humor in the anime.

Ed also shares numerous behavioral characteristics of a wild animal. In particular, in regards to her tendency to bite people and her way of walking, in fact, She is always barefoot and shifts to four-legged, rolling, or on the palms of her hands. She even uses her feet for tasks that would normally take place with the upper limbs. On one occasion, She proves to be unable to walk wearing a pair of shoes (Session 17: Mushroom Samba)

She likes to sleep at least twelve hours a day, has an incredibly fast metabolism and seems to prefer the company of animals, as seen with her rapport with Ein.

Despite her many oddities, Edward is very likely to be one of the most intelligent characters in the series. This is hinted at in the episode Bohemian Rhapsody, in which Ed was able to hold her own in a game of chess against Chessmaster Hex, who had dominated chess championships for decades. In fact, she evidently came one move away from checkmating Hex but deliberately played a different move to prolong the match. Had she went for checkmate right then and there, she would have won.

Faye Valentine character Faye Valentine is a former wanted bounty head who later became a member of the bounty hunting crew aboard the Bebop. Although appearing to be no more than 23 years old, Faye is actually around 77 years old due to her being previously put into a cryogenic freeze after a space shuttle accident, wherein she spent fifty-four years in suspended animation. she doesn't know this right away.

During her adventures on the Bebop, Faye crosses paths with Spike Spiegel and Jet Black twice and makes herself at home aboard their ship the second time around, much to the consternation and disapproval of the two men, both of whom have their own reservations about women in general. Date of Birth August 14, 1994 Estimated Age 22-23 physically, 77 chronologically (54 years spent in suspended animation) Height 5'6" (168 cm) Hair Color Violet Eye Color Green Planet of Origin Earth Known Aliases Poker Alice Queen Of Hearts The Romani Spaceship Red Tail Weapon of Choice Austria .45 (Glock 30) Blood Type B ID X12345SSY Criminal Records Grand Theft Faye's appearance Faye is a young woman of Singaporean descent with chin-length angular dark purple hair and green eyes. Her frame is tall and slender, and her skin is pale. She has big breasts, slender waist, wide hips, and a nice ass

Her standard outfit consists of yellow shorts, a matching buttoned shirt, white ankle boots, flesh-colored stockings, and a loose red jacket.

The Beta tape found in "Speak Like A Child", suggests that Faye has changed a lot from the innocent girl she used to be. As someone who constantly lives in an environment where she must seize every opportunity to find money, dressing revealingly makes people pay more attention to her and also distracts them long enough for her to take advantage of them. She is seen doing this in many instances throughout Cowboy Bebop, with the first being her first appearance in "Honky Tonk Women". Faye's Personality "You know the first rule of combat? Shoot them before they shoot you." Faye is an arrogant and lazy character. She's often seen lying around while the others work on a bounty and spends a majority of her time taking care of her appearance. She presents a long series of bad habits such as pathological gambling, alcoholism, excessive consumption of cigarettes and cigars, unwarranted violence, and forcing work on others. Because of her abrasive personality, she often clashes with her companions.

She's often seen flirting with and seducing men to further her goals, but she hates feeling desired and is rarely seen romantically interested in someone.

Faye avoids trusting anyone and is used to never staying too long in the same place because of her creditors. Although Faye tries to remain strong, in reality, she hides a deep emotional vulnerability and often is seen to nourish a great deal of sympathy and empathy for her traveling companions in spite of herself.

Although for the entire duration of the series the distinctive characteristics of Faye are her sarcasm and presumption, her character noticeably develops. In fact, she begins to trust her companions, understands the value of friendship, and even learns to love Jet Black and Edward in her own way. On different occasions, she runs away from the Bebop frightened by her affection for her companions (having become used to the idea of "leaving before being abandoned"). However, she always duly returns, the Bebop being the only place she can consider her "home." This attitude, as noted by Jet, seems to stem from a need for attention and is an attempt to prove her companions' affection for her.

Her relationship with Spike Spiegel is the most complex of the series. Most of the time they do nothing but bicker, but, in moments of danger, Faye has always shown concern for Spike, and Spike has shown some empathy for Faye's situation. Faye has also always taken care of Spike when he was injured, but she still kept a bitter attitude. The affection between them is quite obvious.