Gintama
The title "Gintama" (or "Gin Tama" in the west) literally means "silver soul" which may sound like a standard cool title, but it plays with a more common vulgar slang in Japan when spelled slightly differently—kintama, or "golden balls"... another way of saying family jewels.
The land of the samurai. There was a time, long ago, when our country was called by that name. Those dream-filled blue skies upon which the samurai once gazed are now filled with ships from strange worlds...
The series is set in an alternate Edo period where the country had been taken over by aliens called Amanto, an allegory to the real life event where the Black Ships of the Bakumatsu years forced open Japan's doors for trade. Technology advanced greatly as a result, creating a juxtaposition between the Edo period and the modern period where current trends and people (at the time of writing) could be a part of the story.
Should I get into Gintama?
Gintama may not appeal to everyone. While it does have an overarching plot that leans more on the serious side, its true strength lies in its comedy. Since humor is subjective, many of the puns and references to real-life events and figures in Japan might go over your head. Its crude humor can easily put you off.
If you enjoy the more traditional series that's common in Shonen Jump, then this might not be for you. One of its major selling points is actually how unconventional it is.
But Gintama is much more than just comedy and its parodies—it stands on its own legs and offers tender moments, life lessons, and personal insights from the author, conveyed through the characters and universe he created. Being familiar with other Shonen Jump series and knowing some Japanese culture, or at least having an interest to learn it will enrich your experience. It's not the 3rd* longest running Shonen Jump series for nothing!
*Technically tied with Bleach for 4th place at 698 chapters if considering only those published in Shonen Jump. But as a series it ranks 3rd longest overall, surpassing Naruto's 700 chapters thanks to 6 additional chapters in GIGA just to wrap it up... All according to plan?
It's worth noting that many story arcs are episodic, so it's possible to enjoy a lot of bite-sized stories in a relatively flexible order without needing to commit to dozens of chapters or episodes at a time!
If you'd like to start with the anime, it's recommended to skip episodes 1 and 2 because the manga's first chapter corresponds with episode 3. Or if the early Gintama is too rough, why not try jumping into one of its first story arcs?
What kind of comedy is Gintama?
Gintama's comedy is rooted in a style called Manzai. It's a style that usually involves two performers trading jokes, like a straight man retorting to a funny man's antics. It's likely you've already been exposed to this style of comedy in other series!