Cowboy Bebop has been considered a classic anime series ever since it was first released, and the new live-action adaptation brought a renewed interest into the original anime. With an influx of new fans who might be taking a look back into this legendary show, some might be curious about its main character, Spike Spiegel. Many consider Spike to be one of the greatest anime protagonists of all time, but not everyone might be familiar with this iconic character.
Spike is primarily a bounty hunter, traveling through space with his partner Jet Black on the Bebop. As they travel through space, they gain new companions in the thief Faye Valentine and the hacker Ed. His laidback and indolent nature belies his dark past and painful history. Despite his goofy facade, Spike is a master gunslinger and a practitioner of Jeet Kune Do, both skills he uses to subdue his bounties and any other enemies he comes across. He is a classic anti-hero, motivated only by his own interests, with no desire to act as a savior to those around him. Nevertheless, he is occasionally prone to acts of charity and kindness.
Spike's Sordid History
Spike was born on Mars, where he lived a life on the streets. He was eventually taken in by Mao Yenrai of the Red Dragon Crime Syndicate, a powerful organization that taught Spike many of the skills he now has. During this time, he lost his right eye, getting an artificial one as a replacement. Spike quickly became one of the Syndicate's top members, to the point where he was considered to succeed Mao.
During his time in the Syndicate, Spike met two people who would become the most important people in his life; Vicious and Julia. Vicious was another member of the Syndicate, and similarly to Spike, was a high-ranking member in line for succession. Although the two were comrades, their difference in attitudes caused them to become bitter rivals. Many a time did Vicious' ruthless and ambitious nature clash with Spike's easygoing demeanor.
Spike and Vicious's relationship was further complicated by Julia, another member of the Red Dragon Syndicate that the both of them were romantically involved with. Tired of the Syndicate and its politics, Spike asked Julia to leave and run away with him. Julia accepted, and the two planned to fake their deaths to escape the organization. However, Vicious caught wind of the plot and threatened Julia, telling her to either kill Spike or die alongside him. However, Julia instead chose to run away alone, leaving Spike alone in the rain, waiting at their designated meeting place. This became a painful memory for Spike, especially since he was not aware of the events that led to Julia disappearing.
In the end, Spike and Julia left Mars separately, and their relationship ended. Spike eventually met Jet Black, and the two of them became bounty hunters. Although Spike does his best to leave his past behind, he cannot forget about Vicious or about Julia, who he still loves even years after her disappearance.
The Man Known As Spike Spiegel
Spike is lazy, slovenly, and impetuous; all characteristics which contribute to his and Jet's constant state of poverty. He shows little interest in most things, and he only seems to perk up when facing death-defying situations. Despite this, he is a man of many talents, such as sleight of hand, and is incredibly intelligent. He has a sarcastic and cynical demeanor, though he also has a charisma that endears him to others. Despite generally being laidback, Spike is also quite irritable, as shown with his many interactions with Faye and Ed.
Spike's relationships are defined by his general inability to be honest about his feelings. Although he constantly shows exasperation at the presence of Faye, Ed, and Ein on the ship, he still lets them stay and cares for them in his own way. Nevertheless, his closest relationship is clearly with Jet. The two of them could be considered best friends, and out of the entire Bebop crew, they have known each other the longest. Though they frequently bicker, the two of them have the utmost trust in each other.
Of the other members of the Bebop crew, Spike's most interesting and complicated relationship is with Faye. Though the two often butt heads, they slowly come to care for each other as they recognize each other's skills and get to know the other. Despite this, it's hard to say if there are any romantic undertones in their relationship. While the attraction is there, Spike remains in love with Julia and still aims to reunite with her someday. Faye's feelings towards Spike are also unclear; she often worries about him and nurses him when he's injured, but it's ambiguous whether it is out of love or out of friendly obligation.
While Spike might not be as heroic as other anime protagonists, he nevertheless has made an indelible mark on the medium as a whole. He has been a fan favorite of many anime fans over the past twenty or so years and hopefully newer audiences will continue to appreciate the character as time goes by.