What do you think?
Rate this book
Lupin III: World's Most Wanted / 新ルパン三世 #1
Lupin III: World's Most Wanted, Vol. 1
Monkey Punch's classic super-spy, Lupin III, returns in an all-new series of action, adventure and intrigue. Join Lupin and his fellow partners-in-crime, Jigen, Goemon, and Fujiko for a whirlwind, thrill-a-minute world tour filled with bombs and bombshells, lovers and liars, high crimes and misdemeanors, and the rest of the usual suspects that create the lunacy that is Lupin III.
240 pages, Paperback
Published September 7, 2004
56 people want to read
About the author
Monkey Punch
214 books43 followersKazuhiko Katō known by the pen name Monkey Punch (モンキー・パンチ) was a Japanese manga artist, best known for his series Lupin III.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 16, 2024
Just realized that I rated the wrong volume (:
Ah, the infamous Lupin III, where the suave, debonair gentleman thief first springs to life—except "suave" translates to "unhinged sleazeball" and "gentleman" translates to "barely coherent chaos merchant." If you're diving into this expecting the charismatic brilliance of the later anime adaptations, brace yourself: this is a Lupin who lives on raw adrenaline, unchecked libido, and the thinnest excuse for plot.
The "stories" (if we’re feeling generous) are strung together like a series of fever dreams where Lupin and his gang chase treasure, women, or both, while dodging Inspector Zenigata's inept attempts at justice. The art? Let’s call it boldly experimental—with characters' expressions oscillating wildly between "Saturday morning cartoon" and "I just stubbed my toe while holding in a sneeze." Monkey Punch, the pen name of the creator, is clearly having a blast, but sometimes it feels like you're the punchline.
The highlight is undoubtedly Lupin’s complete lack of shame. His antics are so over-the-top, you almost respect the audacity. Almost. But when entire chapters are dedicated to Lupin being an absolute menace to women everywhere, the humor veers from "absurd" to "uh, should I call someone?"
Still, credit where credit is due: the manga captures the untamed spirit of the late '60s, a time when rules were mere suggestions, and storytelling was, apparently, optional. There’s a charm to its unapologetic absurdity, a kind of car-wreck fascination. You know you should look away, but you can’t help turning the page to see what outrageous thing happens next.
In short, Lupin III Vol. 1 is like a chaotic first heist: messy, brazen, and not entirely successful, but you can't help but admire the guts it took to pull it off. Whether that’s worth your time depends on your tolerance for utter nonsense and a Lupin who’s more criminal than gentleman.
Would I recommend it? Sure, if you're in the mood to witness the origins of an icon—or if you want to feel better about your own writing. Otherwise, skip ahead to the anime where this maniac finally gets a shred of dignity.
Ah, the infamous Lupin III, where the suave, debonair gentleman thief first springs to life—except "suave" translates to "unhinged sleazeball" and "gentleman" translates to "barely coherent chaos merchant." If you're diving into this expecting the charismatic brilliance of the later anime adaptations, brace yourself: this is a Lupin who lives on raw adrenaline, unchecked libido, and the thinnest excuse for plot.
The "stories" (if we’re feeling generous) are strung together like a series of fever dreams where Lupin and his gang chase treasure, women, or both, while dodging Inspector Zenigata's inept attempts at justice. The art? Let’s call it boldly experimental—with characters' expressions oscillating wildly between "Saturday morning cartoon" and "I just stubbed my toe while holding in a sneeze." Monkey Punch, the pen name of the creator, is clearly having a blast, but sometimes it feels like you're the punchline.
The highlight is undoubtedly Lupin’s complete lack of shame. His antics are so over-the-top, you almost respect the audacity. Almost. But when entire chapters are dedicated to Lupin being an absolute menace to women everywhere, the humor veers from "absurd" to "uh, should I call someone?"
Still, credit where credit is due: the manga captures the untamed spirit of the late '60s, a time when rules were mere suggestions, and storytelling was, apparently, optional. There’s a charm to its unapologetic absurdity, a kind of car-wreck fascination. You know you should look away, but you can’t help turning the page to see what outrageous thing happens next.
In short, Lupin III Vol. 1 is like a chaotic first heist: messy, brazen, and not entirely successful, but you can't help but admire the guts it took to pull it off. Whether that’s worth your time depends on your tolerance for utter nonsense and a Lupin who’s more criminal than gentleman.
Would I recommend it? Sure, if you're in the mood to witness the origins of an icon—or if you want to feel better about your own writing. Otherwise, skip ahead to the anime where this maniac finally gets a shred of dignity.
March 30, 2008
Read entire series...Volumes 1-13
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews