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Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story - VIZBIG Edition #1
Rurouni Kenshin, Vol. 1 #1-3
Packed with action, romance and historical intrigue,
Rurouni Kenshin
is one of the most beloved and popular manga series worldwide. Set against the backdrop of the Meiji Restoration, it tells the saga of Himura Kenshin, once an assassin of ferocious power, now a humble rurouni, a wandering swordsman fighting to protect the honor of those in need.
A hundred and fifty years ago in Kyoto, amid the flames of revolution, there arose a warrior, an assassin of such ferocious power he was given the title Hitokiri: Manslayer. With his bloodstained blade, Hitokiri Battosai helped close the turbulent Bakumatsu period and end the reign of the shoguns, slashing open the way toward the progressive Meiji Era. Then he vanished, and with the flow of years became legend.
In the 11th year of Meiji, in the middle of Tokyo, the tale begins. Himura Kenshin, a humble rurouni, or wandering swordsman, comes to the aid of Kamiya Kaoru, a young woman struggling to defend her father's school of swordsmanship against attacks by the infamous Hitokiri Battosai. But neither Kenshin nor Battosai are quite what they seem...
This VIZBIG edition of Rurouni Kenshin contains Volumes 1-3, bonus color content, and updated text.
584 pages, Paperback
First published January 29, 2008
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387 people want to read
About the author
Nobuhiro Watsuki
246 books425 followersWatsuki Nobuhiro (和月伸宏) is a Japanese manga artist, best known for his samurai-themed series Rurouni Kenshin. He once worked as an assistant for his favorite author Takeshi Obata.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
October 10, 2021
I was a college sophomore when the TV series Samurai X first aired here, and its blend of history, violence, romance, and comedy worked so well that the anime became an instant hit. Its origin is from the manga series Rurouni Kenshin, which tells the story of Himura Kenshin, a former “Hitokiri Battosai” (assassin) during the Bakumatsu or the final days of the Tokugawa period, and is now living a new life as a "Rurouni" (a wandering swordsman). In the 11th year of the Meiji era, he is a vagabond in Tokyo, and there he meets several people who will have big roles to fill in his life: Kamiya Kaoru, a female kendō instructor; Sagara Sanosuke, a former member of the Sekihō Army who now lives a carefree life and picks fights for a living; Takani Megumi, a female doctor trapped in the opium trade; and Myōjin Yahiko, a boy whom Kenshin has rescued from the yakuza. His life and adventures will revolve around these people and the need to make them safe from his enemies, all while he's trying to reconcile with his shady past at the same time.
I enjoyed this book so much. The illustration is masterful; the fight scenes are very creatively done it seems like they were moving right before my eyes and I was watching the TV series once again. The historical aspect of it is interesting that I had to dive a bit into the history of Tokugawa and Meiji in between reads. There's a side note that the author calls "The Secret Life of Characters" after every act or chapter, which shows interesting trivia about the characters and the inspiration behind their conceptualization. The book is never short of funny moments, too, and it's always cute to read the banter between Kenshin and Kaoru (and even the funny drawings whenever Kaoru flies into a rage!) I just didn’t realize Kaoru could be a bit clingy and territorial in the manga version, because I’ve known anime Kaoru as a persistent and independent young woman, as someone who won’t take sh*t from anyone.
Meanwhile, this is my favorite scene from the TV series, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6yUR... (though this would probably be in the latter part of the manga series). I do remember this scene very well, and our version did include Kenshin telling Kaoru that he loves her (I actually still remember his exact words!) Maybe the original Japanese version wasn’t all too crazed about expressive love, but here in my country, love and sad farewells always work magic. I remember feeling lonely watching it that I had to draw this scene in my notebook and write a sad poem about it afterward.
I enjoyed this book so much. The illustration is masterful; the fight scenes are very creatively done it seems like they were moving right before my eyes and I was watching the TV series once again. The historical aspect of it is interesting that I had to dive a bit into the history of Tokugawa and Meiji in between reads. There's a side note that the author calls "The Secret Life of Characters" after every act or chapter, which shows interesting trivia about the characters and the inspiration behind their conceptualization. The book is never short of funny moments, too, and it's always cute to read the banter between Kenshin and Kaoru (and even the funny drawings whenever Kaoru flies into a rage!) I just didn’t realize Kaoru could be a bit clingy and territorial in the manga version, because I’ve known anime Kaoru as a persistent and independent young woman, as someone who won’t take sh*t from anyone.
Meanwhile, this is my favorite scene from the TV series, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6yUR... (though this would probably be in the latter part of the manga series). I do remember this scene very well, and our version did include Kenshin telling Kaoru that he loves her (I actually still remember his exact words!) Maybe the original Japanese version wasn’t all too crazed about expressive love, but here in my country, love and sad farewells always work magic. I remember feeling lonely watching it that I had to draw this scene in my notebook and write a sad poem about it afterward.
June 3, 2016
I so want to give this a 5 star rating (because it is such an awesome manga) but it loses a quarter of a star for the main heroine, Kamiya Kaoru. In the first few chapters she starts out pretty badass, displaying her sword wielding skillz like whoa, wearing bindings like a true ninja, and then just fizzles into the typical whiney fretting female girlie girl character. She runs a Kenjutsu dojo for crying out loud! She’s not as annoyingly enraging as Bulma but she’s bordering on Hiruno Sakura age 12. It becomes very tiring to see her take a back seat in the fighting department unless some other woman bats her eyelashes at Kenshin then it just turns catty and that’s just disappointing. Though I do enjoy the silliness of some of the panels when she bonks one of the guys on the head and they fly out of the frame in a twisted position.
The rest of the manga is truly, truly magnificent; the art work is just beautiful and the story is not only interesting but soaked in ancient Japanese culture. I like the use of Japanese terminology and it honestly piqued my curiosity to learn more about these historical figures mentioned within the chapters.
The rest of the manga is truly, truly magnificent; the art work is just beautiful and the story is not only interesting but soaked in ancient Japanese culture. I like the use of Japanese terminology and it honestly piqued my curiosity to learn more about these historical figures mentioned within the chapters.
September 22, 2012
Big, Bold, and Beautiful
I was introduced Nobuhiro Watsuki's work though watching its English-dubbed, anime adaptation. When I was 13, I found its first volume in a bookstore and was too creeped out by the violence depicted in only the first few pages. At the time I didn't understand that when Shonen Jump meant it was for older teens to read, they meant it.
Now that a few years have passed, I've matured enough not to be bothered by the violence. I'd also practically forgotten most of the story and where I left off with it in the anime, and wanted to pick it up again. And so, lo and behold, I find that it has an omnibus series and decide to pick up a volume.
Needless to say, I fell in love with the Meiji Romantic Story all over again.
Rurouni Kenshin, thanks to VIZ Media, has been restored not to its former glory, but to a level that this fast-paced, action-oriented manga deserves. Each character has a distinct personality, and the plot weaves in and out of suspense so easily you'll want to keep turning the page even after your finished reading it. While the size makes for some uncomfortable moments in reading this dynamic--and at times, comedic---tale,Watsuki's illustrations explode off the pages of high-quality paper within this edition. Its bonus content and color illustrations near the end also make it much more valuable than buying the separate volumes. The first volume even has its panels in color for about 40 pages or so.
If you are looking for a new action-packed series lead by a character with a dark past, a little bit of romance, and a dash of comedy, Rurouni Kenshin is for you, and the omnibus volumes are definitely the way to go. (If you've bought a few of the regular volumes, buy the rest of the volumes in their omnibus format. I wouldn't recommend buying the omnibus volumes if you have all the regular volumes, because you'd simply be buying them for their few color pages.)
Highly recommended for action-lovers, manga-lovers, and older readers looking for a change from their usual genres.
I was introduced Nobuhiro Watsuki's work though watching its English-dubbed, anime adaptation. When I was 13, I found its first volume in a bookstore and was too creeped out by the violence depicted in only the first few pages. At the time I didn't understand that when Shonen Jump meant it was for older teens to read, they meant it.
Now that a few years have passed, I've matured enough not to be bothered by the violence. I'd also practically forgotten most of the story and where I left off with it in the anime, and wanted to pick it up again. And so, lo and behold, I find that it has an omnibus series and decide to pick up a volume.
Needless to say, I fell in love with the Meiji Romantic Story all over again.
Rurouni Kenshin, thanks to VIZ Media, has been restored not to its former glory, but to a level that this fast-paced, action-oriented manga deserves. Each character has a distinct personality, and the plot weaves in and out of suspense so easily you'll want to keep turning the page even after your finished reading it. While the size makes for some uncomfortable moments in reading this dynamic--and at times, comedic---tale,Watsuki's illustrations explode off the pages of high-quality paper within this edition. Its bonus content and color illustrations near the end also make it much more valuable than buying the separate volumes. The first volume even has its panels in color for about 40 pages or so.
If you are looking for a new action-packed series lead by a character with a dark past, a little bit of romance, and a dash of comedy, Rurouni Kenshin is for you, and the omnibus volumes are definitely the way to go. (If you've bought a few of the regular volumes, buy the rest of the volumes in their omnibus format. I wouldn't recommend buying the omnibus volumes if you have all the regular volumes, because you'd simply be buying them for their few color pages.)
Highly recommended for action-lovers, manga-lovers, and older readers looking for a change from their usual genres.
July 8, 2023
I’m partial to this, since it’s the first anime I really enjoyed. The manga holds up really well. The humour is handled better and, at least in this translation, Kenshin just refers to himself as “this one”, instead of weird, antiquated codas every sentence in the anime, which I greatly prefer. Otherwise I remember everything that happens still, and it covers a heck of a lot of ground, unlike other manga I’ve been reading lately (20th Century Boys being absolutely glacial). Each instalment is pacey and well plotted. A ton of things happen, characterization is good, and you get a bunch of asides about the historical aspects that certain things are based on, which is just really enjoyable, since I know literally none of the subject matter.
Also, Kenshin is just a great character, especially as a hero. Is feminine, he doesn’t want to fight, he doesn’t act like an INCEL, there’s no harem trope. It’s like a completely different Shonen than the ones I’ve been making my way through. The worst affront is that the author tends to damsel the women after he characterizes them well. Strong, independent, smart. But, oh yeah, they gotta be kidnapped. How else could we make interesting stakes for Kenshin? It’s a bit lame, which makes the last issue less interesting.
Also, Kenshin is just a great character, especially as a hero. Is feminine, he doesn’t want to fight, he doesn’t act like an INCEL, there’s no harem trope. It’s like a completely different Shonen than the ones I’ve been making my way through. The worst affront is that the author tends to damsel the women after he characterizes them well. Strong, independent, smart. But, oh yeah, they gotta be kidnapped. How else could we make interesting stakes for Kenshin? It’s a bit lame, which makes the last issue less interesting.
November 14, 2022
I saw that there was a 3-in-1 edition so decided to give a read, since I liked the anime when I saw it some time ago.
The drawing is great, and the fighting scenes are really dynamic.
This book has the initial lets meet our characters chapters, that really help stablish them. Then we have the oniwabanshu - opium - megumi. That is a great arc.
Also nice edition, some colored pages, lots of characters descriptions and how concept art was tought or based on. A nice buy.
The drawing is great, and the fighting scenes are really dynamic.
This book has the initial lets meet our characters chapters, that really help stablish them. Then we have the oniwabanshu - opium - megumi. That is a great arc.
Also nice edition, some colored pages, lots of characters descriptions and how concept art was tought or based on. A nice buy.
July 18, 2017
A wonderful start to a series!!! Swords-swordsmen, action-packed, funny, touching moments, historical information about japan's edo and meiji periods-shinsengumi and beautiful art with colour pages!!!!
Read
April 17, 2022Kaoru is on the hunt for Hitokiri Battousai, the infamous assassin who opposed the Tokugawa shogunate and killed countless men before vanishing after the start of the Meiji era, when she meets a humble rurouni named Himura Kenshin. She tells Kenshin that she's trying to clear the name of her family dojo - Hitokiri Battousai claims to use her family's sword-fighting style when he commits murder, and this lie is ruining the dojo's reputation. Kenshin happens to know that "Hitokiri Battousai" is lying about more than just that...because he's the real Hitokiri Battousai, determined to live out the rest of his days without killing anyone else.
This omnibus volume includes volumes 1-3 of the series, introducing Kaoru, Yahiko, Sanosuke, and Megumi. It ends with Kenshin, Sanosuke, and Yahiko beginning a mission to rescue Megumi from Takeda Kanryu, which will involve going up against Shinomori Aoshi and his followers, the Oniwabanshu.
I found this in a used bookstore years ago and was thrilled. It's a great edition, with large pages and therefore large artwork, solid binding, and, if I counted right, 26 pages of full-color artwork. And now I can't look at it without remembering that Nobuhiro Watsuki was charged with possession of child pornography in 2017. I think one of the reasons this news upset me so much is because I recalled thinking that Watsuki sounded like a nice guy whenever I read his author's notes: he read like the gentler side of Kenshin. Maybe it would be easier to mentally separate the creator and the work/character if it weren't for those author's notes? Are the anime and live action movies also tainted now? I don't know - I haven't tried to watch any of them since I read that news.
At any rate, I read this, now I'm writing about it, and then I'm offloading it.
This collection of the first three volumes held up reasonably well on a reread - the art is clean and crisp, with refreshingly distinct character designs, and although many of the villains should be ridiculous (there's a guy who literally stores a bag of oil in his belly, which he ignites with false teeth made of flint so that he can blow fire at people), they somehow work in context. Or maybe that's just nostalgia talking.
The best and most appealing aspect of this series, though, is Kenshin, the experienced warrior who deliberately comes across as a little goofy and clumsy as he tries to stay out of fights. His sense of justice won't let him stand by as others are harmed, however, so he fights when necessary, but does his best to ensure he won't kill anyone by wielding a sakabato, a sword with the cutting edge on the wrong side. The best design aspect of this series is the way Kenshin's eyes shift - wide and friendly when he's the humble rurouni, and fierce and narrow when he's Hitokiri Battousai.
Rurouni Kenshin is filled with characters whose transition to the Meiji era has been uneasy at best. In the first three volumes, we meet just a few of them: Jin-e, a killer; Sanosuke, the man who becomes one of Kenshin's allies; the Oniwabanshu. Almost everyone has a heavy past, which makes for some dramatic encounters with Kenshin, depending on how they approach him and anyone he's protecting.
This is only the start of the series - there are better moments later on - but it reminded me why I enjoyed it, and why it makes me so sad that it's tainted for me now.
Extras:
Quite a few author's notes and behind-the-scenes/character creation tidbits throughout. The volume also ends with two chapters that could be considered extras: one published a year before the series began, which reads a bit like a side story, and one published half a year before that. The second one features several recognizable characters/names, although their roles and personalities were occasionally very different.
Rating Note:
I'm opting to leave this without a rating. I'm not sure what I would have given it when I first read it, and I don't want to try rating it now.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
This omnibus volume includes volumes 1-3 of the series, introducing Kaoru, Yahiko, Sanosuke, and Megumi. It ends with Kenshin, Sanosuke, and Yahiko beginning a mission to rescue Megumi from Takeda Kanryu, which will involve going up against Shinomori Aoshi and his followers, the Oniwabanshu.
I found this in a used bookstore years ago and was thrilled. It's a great edition, with large pages and therefore large artwork, solid binding, and, if I counted right, 26 pages of full-color artwork. And now I can't look at it without remembering that Nobuhiro Watsuki was charged with possession of child pornography in 2017. I think one of the reasons this news upset me so much is because I recalled thinking that Watsuki sounded like a nice guy whenever I read his author's notes: he read like the gentler side of Kenshin. Maybe it would be easier to mentally separate the creator and the work/character if it weren't for those author's notes? Are the anime and live action movies also tainted now? I don't know - I haven't tried to watch any of them since I read that news.
At any rate, I read this, now I'm writing about it, and then I'm offloading it.
This collection of the first three volumes held up reasonably well on a reread - the art is clean and crisp, with refreshingly distinct character designs, and although many of the villains should be ridiculous (there's a guy who literally stores a bag of oil in his belly, which he ignites with false teeth made of flint so that he can blow fire at people), they somehow work in context. Or maybe that's just nostalgia talking.
The best and most appealing aspect of this series, though, is Kenshin, the experienced warrior who deliberately comes across as a little goofy and clumsy as he tries to stay out of fights. His sense of justice won't let him stand by as others are harmed, however, so he fights when necessary, but does his best to ensure he won't kill anyone by wielding a sakabato, a sword with the cutting edge on the wrong side. The best design aspect of this series is the way Kenshin's eyes shift - wide and friendly when he's the humble rurouni, and fierce and narrow when he's Hitokiri Battousai.
Rurouni Kenshin is filled with characters whose transition to the Meiji era has been uneasy at best. In the first three volumes, we meet just a few of them: Jin-e, a killer; Sanosuke, the man who becomes one of Kenshin's allies; the Oniwabanshu. Almost everyone has a heavy past, which makes for some dramatic encounters with Kenshin, depending on how they approach him and anyone he's protecting.
This is only the start of the series - there are better moments later on - but it reminded me why I enjoyed it, and why it makes me so sad that it's tainted for me now.
Extras:
Quite a few author's notes and behind-the-scenes/character creation tidbits throughout. The volume also ends with two chapters that could be considered extras: one published a year before the series began, which reads a bit like a side story, and one published half a year before that. The second one features several recognizable characters/names, although their roles and personalities were occasionally very different.
Rating Note:
I'm opting to leave this without a rating. I'm not sure what I would have given it when I first read it, and I don't want to try rating it now.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
July 21, 2017
I originally fell in love with Kenshin years ago when I stumbled across the anime, and its incredible blend of genres has long been the standard by which I judge other media I consume. However, it's been years since I enjoyed this universe, and quite frankly, I'd forgotten just how truly awesome and genre-defying this series is. The characters are well-developed and complex, with large histories and layers that are so expertly and subtly revealed over time, and they grow and change together in dynamic and interesting ways. Even the villains have careful forethought and detail put into their personalities and places in the story. The pacing is excellent; nothing feels wasted or like vapid filler. It all adds to the plot or to character development in some way.
The historical setting is vivid and, while clearly embellished and fictionalized, it comes alive and encourages a desire to research and study Japanese history and culture. It gives just enough of a taste to make one hungry for more, and anything that encourages a thirst for more knowledge and education is a definitive win in my book, especially in literature geared toward younger audiences. The notes from the mangaka sprinkled throughout the volume and the glossary only add to this effect and give a jumping off point on more research to be had elsewhere.
While I love everything about this book, what is truly the most stand-out feature of all is the art. It's incredibly evocative, emotional and energetic. It's stunning how two-dimensional, black-and-white images can so effectively make you feel the movement of the characters and the action. The fight scenes are cinematic and powerful, the dramatic moments have a serious emotional punch, and the delightful comedy pops full-belly laughs right out of you.
Additionally, I'm so happy I purchased the VIZBIG editions, what with the color pages, bonus art and larger format, which truly highlights the fantastic art that is this entire series. These are definitely top-tier pieces in my collection.
The historical setting is vivid and, while clearly embellished and fictionalized, it comes alive and encourages a desire to research and study Japanese history and culture. It gives just enough of a taste to make one hungry for more, and anything that encourages a thirst for more knowledge and education is a definitive win in my book, especially in literature geared toward younger audiences. The notes from the mangaka sprinkled throughout the volume and the glossary only add to this effect and give a jumping off point on more research to be had elsewhere.
While I love everything about this book, what is truly the most stand-out feature of all is the art. It's incredibly evocative, emotional and energetic. It's stunning how two-dimensional, black-and-white images can so effectively make you feel the movement of the characters and the action. The fight scenes are cinematic and powerful, the dramatic moments have a serious emotional punch, and the delightful comedy pops full-belly laughs right out of you.
Additionally, I'm so happy I purchased the VIZBIG editions, what with the color pages, bonus art and larger format, which truly highlights the fantastic art that is this entire series. These are definitely top-tier pieces in my collection.
April 7, 2021
I've loved Rurouni Kenshin since I was a child. It was my first more grown-up anime (I had been watching things like Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh and such) and really sparked my special interest in samurai and Feudal Japan (just one of my laundry list of special interests lmao) as well as guiding me towards other animes that still have a special place in my heart such as Yu Yu Hakusho and Inuyasha.
I got out of reading manga some years ago but in a push to branch out more again and embrace a category of work I once quite loved, I turned to finally reading the original manga to something that means so much to me and I was not disappointed. Though it's been so long since I last watched the anime I was surprised how much I still remembered whilst reading the manga and I really think that shows exactly how special this work is.
Rurouni Kenshin is a wonderful manga with beautiful art and a loveable cast of characters. The world is incredibly easy to get into and the little historical facts peppered throughout only add to how interesting the story is. I'm very excited to read the rest of the series.
I got out of reading manga some years ago but in a push to branch out more again and embrace a category of work I once quite loved, I turned to finally reading the original manga to something that means so much to me and I was not disappointed. Though it's been so long since I last watched the anime I was surprised how much I still remembered whilst reading the manga and I really think that shows exactly how special this work is.
Rurouni Kenshin is a wonderful manga with beautiful art and a loveable cast of characters. The world is incredibly easy to get into and the little historical facts peppered throughout only add to how interesting the story is. I'm very excited to read the rest of the series.
May 17, 2024
My first experiences with anime were probably Dragon Ball Z and Sailor Moon on Toonami in the middle '90s, and more significantly Pokemon and Digimon in 1999, but it wasn't until 2004 that I truly understood the difference/distinction between Western animation and Japanese anime. In addition to a renewed and reinforced interest in Dragon Ball Z, I also developed love for Shaman King, Yu Yu Hakusho, and Rurouni Kenshin, the former of these three found of Fox Kids while the latter two shared Toonami with DBZ. DBZ was a clear favorite, but YYH and RuroKen shared a second place, with YYH sticking out for its earlier story arcs' betrayal of generic shonen battle anime tropes, and RuroKen sticking out for its comparative realism.
Getting back into Rurouni Kenshin after so many years, it is hard to see how I ever saw it as being too distinct from other shonen battle series, but at the very least it does retain a unique identity setting it apart from its contemporaries. For the most part, protagonist Himura Kenshin can hardly be designated as much "badass" as Yu Yu Hakusho's Yusuke Urameshi or Son Goku in the English dub of DBZ (Goku is a lot more playful in the "real" incarnation of DBZ), being instead mostly a milquetoast, at least in the manner he chooses to enact. Before the events of this series, Himura Kenshin was the "Hitokiri Battosai," a "man-slayer" renowned for his use of the "battojutsu" method of quick-draw sword slashes. After a lengthy period of war-time, moving into the more peaceful Meiji Restoration, Kenshin has turned his back on his murderous past, choosing a life free of violence out of respect for the souls lost in so many battles, friend and foe alike. The initial chapters of the manga thus follow a formula, beginning with the benign Kenshin dicking around with his friends for a little while, until a villain pops up to threaten somebody weaker than him, prompting Kenshin to return to the "badass" nature of his former life, felling his foe with a single strike from his non-lethal reverse-blade sword. By Volume 2, author Watsuki starts taking on more risks by actually establishing longer narrative arcs, and this omnibus collection ends on a cliff-hanger before a big fight with ninja martial artist Han'nya, a villain established much earlier in Volume 3, in a story arc which began near the end of Volume 2, and which promises to last at least well into Volume 4.
I've actually read much of the content in this omnibus years ago, around 2006 or 2008, having borrowed the manga from my local library. Somewhat unfortunately, I can't remember too much of the overall plot of Rurouni Kenshin, other than the prolonged presence of bandaged baddie Makoto Shishio in later volumes, though this is perhaps a blessing, as it means most of the manga will appear "fresh" to me as I re-read it. The most significant revelation from this re-read is how utterly "shonen" the series is, when formerly I loved it for how "mature" it was compared to DBZ and Yu-Gi-Oh! and other things. Not only is the series a hell of a lot funnier than I remembered, with plenty of wacky facial expressions and slapstick goings-on, but it also hosts a fair share of ludicrous character designs for enemies, many of whom appear as giants in their proportions, as if Watsuki had been heavily influenced by Tetsuo Hara, whose poor eye for perspective led to the canon-ization of giants in Hokuto no Ken's lore. There's a lot of silly shit in this manga, even without Kenshin having any brightly-colored laser beam attacks. But I guess the ability to sense foes' "chi" is crucial to Kenshin's fighting style, certainly downplaying any realism.
Kaoru's much cuter than I remember, but that's probably because I'm now far more accustomed to "moe" manga/anime than I am to Weekly Shonen Jump action manga.
****
EDIT (05/16/2024):
I bought this volume about six years ago. Pre-owned, so the quality is kind of rough, as it seems literally everyone other than myself just treats books like garbage. I purchased the second VIZBIG omnibus not too long afterward, but I think I didn't get around to reading it, for whatever reason.
Anyway, I come back to RuroKen now for a maybe-weird reason: I was inspired by the PS5 Team Ninja game, Rise of the Rōnin. Set throughout the Bakumatsu period, the game follows many important events for the backstory of this manga, and many of the characters (real-life historic figures, exaggerated for the purposes of an action game) serve as inspiration for characters here (with different names). Team Ninja are perhaps better known for Ninja Gaiden and NiOh, which are more "fantastic" in their settings; Sony, in a publisher role, opted to falsely market RotR like some "cinematic" bullshit like their first-party games, doing an injustice to the not-fantasy-but-still-kinda-superhuman feats possible in the game. Iai sword-waves, for example. But a major element, most relevant to a RuroKen connection, is the central gimmick of frightening your opponents by continuously parrying their attacks, ultimately stunning them to set up critical attacks; the idea is quite similar to Jin-E's Shin no Ippo in this manga.
I think, really, the game wanted me to dive deeper into this historic period - I'm more familiar with the much earlier Sengoku era - and RuroKen, though not entirely historically accurate, was probably the most accessible artwork for my purposes. Not least because I already owned six tankōbon worth of manga through these couple VIZBIG releases!
This "holds up" better than the last time I read it, when I think (though I didn't write this above) I was mildly disappointed a lot of the action moved by too fast. On one hand, I feel I enjoy the characters a bit more. On the other, I think I just developed more of an interest in traditional kenjutsu.
Getting back into Rurouni Kenshin after so many years, it is hard to see how I ever saw it as being too distinct from other shonen battle series, but at the very least it does retain a unique identity setting it apart from its contemporaries. For the most part, protagonist Himura Kenshin can hardly be designated as much "badass" as Yu Yu Hakusho's Yusuke Urameshi or Son Goku in the English dub of DBZ (Goku is a lot more playful in the "real" incarnation of DBZ), being instead mostly a milquetoast, at least in the manner he chooses to enact. Before the events of this series, Himura Kenshin was the "Hitokiri Battosai," a "man-slayer" renowned for his use of the "battojutsu" method of quick-draw sword slashes. After a lengthy period of war-time, moving into the more peaceful Meiji Restoration, Kenshin has turned his back on his murderous past, choosing a life free of violence out of respect for the souls lost in so many battles, friend and foe alike. The initial chapters of the manga thus follow a formula, beginning with the benign Kenshin dicking around with his friends for a little while, until a villain pops up to threaten somebody weaker than him, prompting Kenshin to return to the "badass" nature of his former life, felling his foe with a single strike from his non-lethal reverse-blade sword. By Volume 2, author Watsuki starts taking on more risks by actually establishing longer narrative arcs, and this omnibus collection ends on a cliff-hanger before a big fight with ninja martial artist Han'nya, a villain established much earlier in Volume 3, in a story arc which began near the end of Volume 2, and which promises to last at least well into Volume 4.
I've actually read much of the content in this omnibus years ago, around 2006 or 2008, having borrowed the manga from my local library. Somewhat unfortunately, I can't remember too much of the overall plot of Rurouni Kenshin, other than the prolonged presence of bandaged baddie Makoto Shishio in later volumes, though this is perhaps a blessing, as it means most of the manga will appear "fresh" to me as I re-read it. The most significant revelation from this re-read is how utterly "shonen" the series is, when formerly I loved it for how "mature" it was compared to DBZ and Yu-Gi-Oh! and other things. Not only is the series a hell of a lot funnier than I remembered, with plenty of wacky facial expressions and slapstick goings-on, but it also hosts a fair share of ludicrous character designs for enemies, many of whom appear as giants in their proportions, as if Watsuki had been heavily influenced by Tetsuo Hara, whose poor eye for perspective led to the canon-ization of giants in Hokuto no Ken's lore. There's a lot of silly shit in this manga, even without Kenshin having any brightly-colored laser beam attacks. But I guess the ability to sense foes' "chi" is crucial to Kenshin's fighting style, certainly downplaying any realism.
Kaoru's much cuter than I remember, but that's probably because I'm now far more accustomed to "moe" manga/anime than I am to Weekly Shonen Jump action manga.
****
EDIT (05/16/2024):
I bought this volume about six years ago. Pre-owned, so the quality is kind of rough, as it seems literally everyone other than myself just treats books like garbage. I purchased the second VIZBIG omnibus not too long afterward, but I think I didn't get around to reading it, for whatever reason.
Anyway, I come back to RuroKen now for a maybe-weird reason: I was inspired by the PS5 Team Ninja game, Rise of the Rōnin. Set throughout the Bakumatsu period, the game follows many important events for the backstory of this manga, and many of the characters (real-life historic figures, exaggerated for the purposes of an action game) serve as inspiration for characters here (with different names). Team Ninja are perhaps better known for Ninja Gaiden and NiOh, which are more "fantastic" in their settings; Sony, in a publisher role, opted to falsely market RotR like some "cinematic" bullshit like their first-party games, doing an injustice to the not-fantasy-but-still-kinda-superhuman feats possible in the game. Iai sword-waves, for example. But a major element, most relevant to a RuroKen connection, is the central gimmick of frightening your opponents by continuously parrying their attacks, ultimately stunning them to set up critical attacks; the idea is quite similar to Jin-E's Shin no Ippo in this manga.
I think, really, the game wanted me to dive deeper into this historic period - I'm more familiar with the much earlier Sengoku era - and RuroKen, though not entirely historically accurate, was probably the most accessible artwork for my purposes. Not least because I already owned six tankōbon worth of manga through these couple VIZBIG releases!
This "holds up" better than the last time I read it, when I think (though I didn't write this above) I was mildly disappointed a lot of the action moved by too fast. On one hand, I feel I enjoy the characters a bit more. On the other, I think I just developed more of an interest in traditional kenjutsu.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2022
The manga holds up so well. The art is so clean 🤩
April 25, 2014
Antes de mais, sou apaixonada por esta história. Desde que começou a dar na televisão Portuguesa (tinha eu os meus quê? 9-10 anos?), que adoro Rurouni Kenshin, por cá conhecido como Samurai X. Desde então, ao longo dos anos fui vendo e revendo os episódios, (primeiro em PT, depois em Japonês), as OVA's, e o manga: tudo através da internet.
Foi então, há coisa de quatro anos, que descobri estas edições da VizBig (3 volumes em 1 em Inglês) do manga de Rurouni Kensin e não pude deixar de as começar a comprar. Uma fã da série como eu não poderia deixar de ter na estante estes belos livrinhos.
O que dizer do livro como objecto em si? Na minha opinião vale muito a pena a compra, não só para os fãs da obra, mas também para quem gosta deste tipo de literatura. O preço é bastante razoável para a qualidade do papel e da impressão, que são óptimos. As páginas a cores são fantásticas e fazem-nos desejar que todo o livro fosse assim e no final ainda somos presenteados com pequenas histórias de Watsuki relacionadas com Rurouni Kenshin (as chamadas "End of volume specials"). Neste 1º volume em particular, tratam-se de duas histórias, escritas antes de RK, e que são no fundo diferentes versões de como esta obra podia ter começado e que estão na origem deste manga.
Quanto à história em si, que já tão bem conheço, enche-me as medidas. Neste primeiro livro (que corresponde aos volumes 1, 2 e 3) são-nos apresentadas as personagens de Kenshin, Kaoru, Yahiko, Sanosuke e Megumi, bem como diversos maus da fita tais como Jin-e e Kanryū Takeda. É também aqui que temos a primeira aparição de Aoshi (com um cabelo muuuito estranho, tenho a dizer) e do seu Oniwabanshū.
Sempre me fascinaram as batalhas de Kenshin e adoro vê-lo a combater lado a lado com Sano, especialmente quando ficam com aquele ar de "Badass" :p
Muito mais havia para dizer, mas o próximo volume espera-me (^_^x)v
Foi então, há coisa de quatro anos, que descobri estas edições da VizBig (3 volumes em 1 em Inglês) do manga de Rurouni Kensin e não pude deixar de as começar a comprar. Uma fã da série como eu não poderia deixar de ter na estante estes belos livrinhos.
O que dizer do livro como objecto em si? Na minha opinião vale muito a pena a compra, não só para os fãs da obra, mas também para quem gosta deste tipo de literatura. O preço é bastante razoável para a qualidade do papel e da impressão, que são óptimos. As páginas a cores são fantásticas e fazem-nos desejar que todo o livro fosse assim e no final ainda somos presenteados com pequenas histórias de Watsuki relacionadas com Rurouni Kenshin (as chamadas "End of volume specials"). Neste 1º volume em particular, tratam-se de duas histórias, escritas antes de RK, e que são no fundo diferentes versões de como esta obra podia ter começado e que estão na origem deste manga.
Quanto à história em si, que já tão bem conheço, enche-me as medidas. Neste primeiro livro (que corresponde aos volumes 1, 2 e 3) são-nos apresentadas as personagens de Kenshin, Kaoru, Yahiko, Sanosuke e Megumi, bem como diversos maus da fita tais como Jin-e e Kanryū Takeda. É também aqui que temos a primeira aparição de Aoshi (com um cabelo muuuito estranho, tenho a dizer) e do seu Oniwabanshū.
Sempre me fascinaram as batalhas de Kenshin e adoro vê-lo a combater lado a lado com Sano, especialmente quando ficam com aquele ar de "Badass" :p
Muito mais havia para dizer, mas o próximo volume espera-me (^_^x)v
December 21, 2017
OroOroorooro!
The wondering red headed Samurai returns in the ultimate readable form!
This Manga classic package is in an aesthetically pleasing and valuable package that collections the first 3 volumes. If you are new to the wondering Samurai know that this collection is the place to start.
There is very little to say about the story itself that others have not already, this is a solid story with a great deal of heart and an intelligently woven message on the ways of war and warriors of Japan.
New or old to manga? give it a read
The wondering red headed Samurai returns in the ultimate readable form!
This Manga classic package is in an aesthetically pleasing and valuable package that collections the first 3 volumes. If you are new to the wondering Samurai know that this collection is the place to start.
There is very little to say about the story itself that others have not already, this is a solid story with a great deal of heart and an intelligently woven message on the ways of war and warriors of Japan.
New or old to manga? give it a read
September 28, 2011
I LOVE Rurouni Kenshin!!! This is the series that got me into manga and anime. Not only are all of the main characters lovable and well developed, but the story is great (as well as hilarious and heart-wrenching). The artwork is also really wonderful and beautiful.
RK is the kind of series that you can read over and over and over again and still enjoy. For me I've yet to find any other 'samurai' manga that can compare.
RK is the kind of series that you can read over and over and over again and still enjoy. For me I've yet to find any other 'samurai' manga that can compare.
July 16, 2012
A great way to submerse yourself into the historical Meiji period, even though it was a fictional story.
Personally, I really enjoyed the sad story of kenshin, and learning the different moves that the swordsman use during their fights.
Personally, I really enjoyed the sad story of kenshin, and learning the different moves that the swordsman use during their fights.
June 17, 2010
A pretty basic plotline, but this is just book one. I'll probably be continuing the series.
March 5, 2024
I'm breaking my regular rating style to give this one 5 stars (as if I had a rating style). The rationality isn't even there, this rating is solely based on nostalgia. I'll try and rate the other ones more fairly.
The real reason I rate this one so highly is because it is the first manga I am tackling hardcore. In fact this is my first manga I am reading. At all. I chose this one as my first due to nostalgia. I have a fond memory of the anime. Do I remember the anime? Hell no, but it's like a dream fog. It was pleasant, yet I can't remember the particulars. I'd like to think the influence of the anime struck me pretty hard as a child and I have mannerisms I can't explain because I watched a samurai show at the age of 7. It's not that deep, but it is something close to those lines.
I always admired the vow not to kill and that's why I'm a soft bitch and not a hitokiri. This first manga compilation kicks off with an introduction to all our man characters. They are all lovable in their own way, I think Sano's is the most dark. I honestly didn't expect them to kill his idol within the space of two pages. Kaoru's ideals are honorable just as Yahiko's dreams are admirable. Megumi is the damsel with demons, however she gets better, while some get worse. Overall I was pleased with this manga and it is allowing me to branch out to the others.
On a side note this series is a pretty nice introduction to some loose history lessons. I say loose because this is like watching the movie the patriot and saying you understand what happened in the civil war. While I believe as far as history is concerned no one can actually know what happened. Scholars try to get the closest, but mainstream media does, at the very least, try to portray the general ideals, notions, etc. of the time. This book does a good job, due to the glossaries at the end and the notes left by the author, which at the same time reveal that the portrayals he draws and illustrates don't reflect everyone's opinions.
I think he is being fair, but what the hell do I know. He is fair enough for me anyway. Five stars, deserving or not. Next!
The real reason I rate this one so highly is because it is the first manga I am tackling hardcore. In fact this is my first manga I am reading. At all. I chose this one as my first due to nostalgia. I have a fond memory of the anime. Do I remember the anime? Hell no, but it's like a dream fog. It was pleasant, yet I can't remember the particulars. I'd like to think the influence of the anime struck me pretty hard as a child and I have mannerisms I can't explain because I watched a samurai show at the age of 7. It's not that deep, but it is something close to those lines.
I always admired the vow not to kill and that's why I'm a soft bitch and not a hitokiri. This first manga compilation kicks off with an introduction to all our man characters. They are all lovable in their own way, I think Sano's is the most dark. I honestly didn't expect them to kill his idol within the space of two pages. Kaoru's ideals are honorable just as Yahiko's dreams are admirable. Megumi is the damsel with demons, however she gets better, while some get worse. Overall I was pleased with this manga and it is allowing me to branch out to the others.
On a side note this series is a pretty nice introduction to some loose history lessons. I say loose because this is like watching the movie the patriot and saying you understand what happened in the civil war. While I believe as far as history is concerned no one can actually know what happened. Scholars try to get the closest, but mainstream media does, at the very least, try to portray the general ideals, notions, etc. of the time. This book does a good job, due to the glossaries at the end and the notes left by the author, which at the same time reveal that the portrayals he draws and illustrates don't reflect everyone's opinions.
I think he is being fair, but what the hell do I know. He is fair enough for me anyway. Five stars, deserving or not. Next!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 25, 2025
★★★★★ 4.5/5
When I first read Rurouni Kenshin as a kid growing up in the '90s, I didn’t have the vocabulary for what made it special. All I knew was that it was cool—swords flashing, heroes with haunted eyes, speed lines slicing across the page like lightning. Kenshin’s reverse-blade sword was the kind of concept that burrowed deep into your imagination: a weapon designed not to kill, carried by a man who had once been death itself. Back then, I saw it as the perfect mix of samurai action and style. I didn’t know that what I was really reading was a story about peace, guilt, and redemption disguised as an adventure.
Revisiting Rurouni Kenshin years later, with a few more scars and lessons of my own, it’s astonishing how different it feels. The same moments that once thrilled me with their choreography now hit me in the chest with their humanity. Kenshin Himura, once the feared assassin Hitokiri Battōsai, wanders a Japan struggling to define itself in the Meiji era. The old ways of the sword are dying; the new world is uncertain and chaotic. Kenshin is a man caught between these worlds—a symbol of both destruction and rebirth. His vow never to kill again, which I once saw as a simple moral stance, now reads as the heart of the entire story. It isn’t just a promise; it’s a burden, a form of penance, a fragile hope that violence can ever truly end once it has started.
As a kid, I thought the fights were the point. Now I see they were conversations. Every duel is an argument between ideals—Kenshin’s pacifism versus the pride, pain, or anger of his opponents. Whether it’s the cold pragmatism of Hajime Saitō, the fiery idealism of Sanosuke, or the madness of Shishio Makoto, each character forces Kenshin to confront a piece of his past or his philosophy. In that sense, Rurouni Kenshin is less about swords and more about the scars people leave on each other—and the possibility of healing them.
Take Saitō, for instance. As a kid, I saw him as the “cool rival”—sharp suit, sharper sword, that calm, unreadable expression. But as an adult, he’s become one of my favorite characters in fiction. He’s not just Kenshin’s opposite; he’s his mirror. Saitō embodies the part of Kenshin that still believes justice sometimes demands the blade. He’s ruthless, logical, efficient—yet bound by his own twisted form of honor. When they meet, it’s not just a clash of skill but of worldviews: can idealism survive in a world still soaked in blood? What makes Rurouni Kenshin so profound is that it never gives easy answers. Both men are right, and both are wrong. The manga lets that tension breathe instead of forcing a conclusion.
And then there’s Kaoru. For a long time, I underestimated her role in the story. She’s the grounding force—Kenshin’s anchor to a life that isn’t defined by violence. Their relationship isn’t about melodrama or grand gestures; it’s quiet, awkward, and deeply human. Kaoru isn’t there to “save” him—she just refuses to see him as a ghost. Her dojo becomes a sanctuary not just for Kenshin but for everyone who drifts through the story. That sense of chosen family—the wandering swordsman finding a home—hit differently now. There’s an ache in it. A reminder that peace isn’t the absence of struggle, but the decision to build something gentler in spite of it.
What strikes me most, re-reading as an adult, is how Rurouni Kenshin uses history not as a backdrop but as a living weight. The Meiji Restoration wasn’t a clean or easy transition. It was the birth of modern Japan through civil upheaval, identity crisis, and loss. Kenshin’s struggle to adapt to this new era reflects something universal: what do we do when the world moves on from who we were? The story doesn’t romanticize the samurai age—it mourns it. It shows how progress often comes at the cost of people who can’t keep up or can’t forgive themselves for what they did to make it happen.
That’s why Rurouni Kenshin stands out among its shōnen contemporaries. American comics in the ’90s were often caught between reinvention and nostalgia—heroes trying to stay relevant in a cynical age. Kenshin, meanwhile, embraced moral ambiguity without losing its soul. It wasn’t afraid to show that heroism could be quiet, uncertain, even painful. Kenshin doesn’t fight for glory or revenge. He fights to live with himself. That humility, that constant awareness of consequence, gave the series a moral weight that most action manga never touch.
Of course, it’s not perfect. The melodrama can swell to operatic levels. Some villains monologue like they’re auditioning for Shakespeare. But even at its most exaggerated, Rurouni Kenshin earns its emotion because it never forgets its heart. The action is drawn with precision and grace, but it’s the silences between strikes—the brief pauses, the flashes of empathy—that stay with you.
What I love most is how the series respects the reader’s growth. You can read it at 12 and see a thrilling samurai saga. You can read it at 30 or 40 and find a meditation on violence, love, and forgiveness. It’s one of those rare stories that grows with you, its meaning shifting as your perspective does. Kenshin’s smile, once just charming, now feels like a mask—a fragile peace carved out of pain. His wandering isn’t just physical; it’s emotional, spiritual. And by the time he finds his home again, it feels like we’ve walked the same long road.
When I first read Rurouni Kenshin, it wasn’t “cool” to like manga like that. It was something I quietly loved, something that helped shape how I saw the world. I didn’t have the words for it then, but I think I understand now. Kenshin’s journey isn’t just about redemption—it’s about living with contradiction. About learning that gentleness doesn’t erase strength, and that peace is a choice you make every day, even when it hurts.
So yes, I still love the fights, the intensity, the way Kenshin moves like a ghost through fire. But what makes me come back isn’t the spectacle—it’s the soul. The beauty in the brokenness. The idea that even the most bloodstained past can lead to a peaceful present if you keep walking forward.
Rurouni Kenshin will always hold that space for me—a story that started as entertainment and became something closer to a lesson. A reminder that people can change, that ideals can endure, and that even after all the flames die down, there’s still time to rebuild.
Forever a favorite.
When I first read Rurouni Kenshin as a kid growing up in the '90s, I didn’t have the vocabulary for what made it special. All I knew was that it was cool—swords flashing, heroes with haunted eyes, speed lines slicing across the page like lightning. Kenshin’s reverse-blade sword was the kind of concept that burrowed deep into your imagination: a weapon designed not to kill, carried by a man who had once been death itself. Back then, I saw it as the perfect mix of samurai action and style. I didn’t know that what I was really reading was a story about peace, guilt, and redemption disguised as an adventure.
Revisiting Rurouni Kenshin years later, with a few more scars and lessons of my own, it’s astonishing how different it feels. The same moments that once thrilled me with their choreography now hit me in the chest with their humanity. Kenshin Himura, once the feared assassin Hitokiri Battōsai, wanders a Japan struggling to define itself in the Meiji era. The old ways of the sword are dying; the new world is uncertain and chaotic. Kenshin is a man caught between these worlds—a symbol of both destruction and rebirth. His vow never to kill again, which I once saw as a simple moral stance, now reads as the heart of the entire story. It isn’t just a promise; it’s a burden, a form of penance, a fragile hope that violence can ever truly end once it has started.
As a kid, I thought the fights were the point. Now I see they were conversations. Every duel is an argument between ideals—Kenshin’s pacifism versus the pride, pain, or anger of his opponents. Whether it’s the cold pragmatism of Hajime Saitō, the fiery idealism of Sanosuke, or the madness of Shishio Makoto, each character forces Kenshin to confront a piece of his past or his philosophy. In that sense, Rurouni Kenshin is less about swords and more about the scars people leave on each other—and the possibility of healing them.
Take Saitō, for instance. As a kid, I saw him as the “cool rival”—sharp suit, sharper sword, that calm, unreadable expression. But as an adult, he’s become one of my favorite characters in fiction. He’s not just Kenshin’s opposite; he’s his mirror. Saitō embodies the part of Kenshin that still believes justice sometimes demands the blade. He’s ruthless, logical, efficient—yet bound by his own twisted form of honor. When they meet, it’s not just a clash of skill but of worldviews: can idealism survive in a world still soaked in blood? What makes Rurouni Kenshin so profound is that it never gives easy answers. Both men are right, and both are wrong. The manga lets that tension breathe instead of forcing a conclusion.
And then there’s Kaoru. For a long time, I underestimated her role in the story. She’s the grounding force—Kenshin’s anchor to a life that isn’t defined by violence. Their relationship isn’t about melodrama or grand gestures; it’s quiet, awkward, and deeply human. Kaoru isn’t there to “save” him—she just refuses to see him as a ghost. Her dojo becomes a sanctuary not just for Kenshin but for everyone who drifts through the story. That sense of chosen family—the wandering swordsman finding a home—hit differently now. There’s an ache in it. A reminder that peace isn’t the absence of struggle, but the decision to build something gentler in spite of it.
What strikes me most, re-reading as an adult, is how Rurouni Kenshin uses history not as a backdrop but as a living weight. The Meiji Restoration wasn’t a clean or easy transition. It was the birth of modern Japan through civil upheaval, identity crisis, and loss. Kenshin’s struggle to adapt to this new era reflects something universal: what do we do when the world moves on from who we were? The story doesn’t romanticize the samurai age—it mourns it. It shows how progress often comes at the cost of people who can’t keep up or can’t forgive themselves for what they did to make it happen.
That’s why Rurouni Kenshin stands out among its shōnen contemporaries. American comics in the ’90s were often caught between reinvention and nostalgia—heroes trying to stay relevant in a cynical age. Kenshin, meanwhile, embraced moral ambiguity without losing its soul. It wasn’t afraid to show that heroism could be quiet, uncertain, even painful. Kenshin doesn’t fight for glory or revenge. He fights to live with himself. That humility, that constant awareness of consequence, gave the series a moral weight that most action manga never touch.
Of course, it’s not perfect. The melodrama can swell to operatic levels. Some villains monologue like they’re auditioning for Shakespeare. But even at its most exaggerated, Rurouni Kenshin earns its emotion because it never forgets its heart. The action is drawn with precision and grace, but it’s the silences between strikes—the brief pauses, the flashes of empathy—that stay with you.
What I love most is how the series respects the reader’s growth. You can read it at 12 and see a thrilling samurai saga. You can read it at 30 or 40 and find a meditation on violence, love, and forgiveness. It’s one of those rare stories that grows with you, its meaning shifting as your perspective does. Kenshin’s smile, once just charming, now feels like a mask—a fragile peace carved out of pain. His wandering isn’t just physical; it’s emotional, spiritual. And by the time he finds his home again, it feels like we’ve walked the same long road.
When I first read Rurouni Kenshin, it wasn’t “cool” to like manga like that. It was something I quietly loved, something that helped shape how I saw the world. I didn’t have the words for it then, but I think I understand now. Kenshin’s journey isn’t just about redemption—it’s about living with contradiction. About learning that gentleness doesn’t erase strength, and that peace is a choice you make every day, even when it hurts.
So yes, I still love the fights, the intensity, the way Kenshin moves like a ghost through fire. But what makes me come back isn’t the spectacle—it’s the soul. The beauty in the brokenness. The idea that even the most bloodstained past can lead to a peaceful present if you keep walking forward.
Rurouni Kenshin will always hold that space for me—a story that started as entertainment and became something closer to a lesson. A reminder that people can change, that ideals can endure, and that even after all the flames die down, there’s still time to rebuild.
Forever a favorite.
April 9, 2024
It's been some years since I last read Rurouni Kenshin. As one of my favorite anime, I'm a bit biased. Still enjoyed reading it again after all this time. A few thoughts though:
-It's a shame how quickly Kaoru goes from being able to hold her own to being a damsel in distress. I feel like there was something unique that we could have had, especially for a manga in this era.
-If I haven't read these stories and seen the anime countless times, I think I'd have trouble following some of the action scenes. Still fun to read.
-The humor, or at least when the characters are drawn in a funny style, still holds up.
-It's a shame how quickly Kaoru goes from being able to hold her own to being a damsel in distress. I feel like there was something unique that we could have had, especially for a manga in this era.
-If I haven't read these stories and seen the anime countless times, I think I'd have trouble following some of the action scenes. Still fun to read.
-The humor, or at least when the characters are drawn in a funny style, still holds up.
July 16, 2023
I love Rurouni Kenshin! I watched the anime years ago but never read the manga. It's has all the humour that I love! The characters are amazing! The illustrations are fantastic! Some panels remind of Junji Ito's style. The manga and abumea are generally the same so far with some differences. So characters are added or removed in the anime. Now that Rurouni Kenshin is getting a remake of the anime series, they have made it a little closer to the manga so far. I'll be interested to compare it all.
September 7, 2021
Was this spectacular? No. (Probably because I find it a bit slow. Could be the mood i was in while reading it.) Would I read more of the story, probably. I do like the historical setting, but I agree with the reviewers who were disappointed in the sidelining of Kaoru. She is introduced as an accomplished swordswoman, but she is later relegated to the supporting damsel. I really wish she had more to her characterization.
September 27, 2019
A friend of mine suggested that I read this book since I'm into Historical Fictions. I also was talking about getting back into reading Manga since I have actively ready a Manga since I was younger. I was very pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this. I was very interested in the story and the background. I am going to continue through the series and see what is going to happen next.
May 8, 2022
It's was very cool to read the original manga of Rurouni Kenshin, the 1st anime I got into outside of the big three of the 90s, DBZ, Sailor Moon and Pokemon. I still remember someone bringing a VHS of the anime in Japanese to the 1st Anime Club all those years ago.
The manga is great and I look forward to eventually reading the rest, sadly it's not available at the library.
The manga is great and I look forward to eventually reading the rest, sadly it's not available at the library.
September 30, 2025
I love reading this series!🤩❤️ I love coming back and reading these stories again and again. The action, the subtle romance and the hilarious hijinks in the manga are so beautifully well done, even the short stories were so good to read.
Like any manga I have read before I recommend to everyone who is new to this series. Trust me when I tell you that this series is that good 😊
Like any manga I have read before I recommend to everyone who is new to this series. Trust me when I tell you that this series is that good 😊
March 20, 2018
4.5 DeFINATELYYY <3!!!!
July 27, 2020
Really thrilling and entertaining
October 24, 2022
Damn it all, samurai romance novels fuck me up so hard
January 25, 2023
notes: kenshin was the first comic book i ever fell in love with, and it’s still a delight.
June 5, 2024
One of my all time favourite mangas!
July 15, 2024
The mangaka is a PAS so i would not recommend buying it in store. But this samurai story is one of my favourite shōnen pieces.
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