Rurouni Kenshin, Volume 02

るろうに剣心 [Rurōni Kenshin] #2

by Nobuhiro Watsuki

When the chief of the Police Sword Corps himself comes asking for favors, things must be bad. Hitokiri Udô Jin-e--a black-hatted, crazy-eyed slayer who fells both targets and innocent bystanders alike--is steadily working his way through a list of former Ishin Shishi patriots now ensconced within position of power in the Meiji government. Can Kenshin withstand the hypnotic, paralyzing effect of Jin-e...?

Genres: Manga, Historical Fiction, Comics, Graphic Novels, Historical, Fiction, Shonen

200 pages, Paperback

First published December 2, 1994

About the author

Watsuki 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.

Reviews

[Sarah Ryder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highlight of this series for me is definitely these characters—they’re all such a hoot and I love them! (it’s certainly NOT these covers—especially this one 👀😬) Sanosuke is a wonderful addition to the team and just watching them all interact is both hilarious and heartwarming.

My favorite part of this volume was definitely Kenshin facing off with the assassin guy as it was both revealing for all Kenshin left behind and is fighting against in himself yet also quite terrifying when he does snap, and I’m so glad Kaoru was able to snap him out of it before he went too far.

The historical aspect is still going over my head a bit (I stink at American history let alone another country’s, lol 😂), but it’s really interesting learning about this time in Japanese history and while I might not remember it all in the future I’m glad to know at least some of it now!

Still not a series I’d recommend to sensitive readers due the heavy amount of violence and the art style still isn’t my favorite, but I really love these characters and am enjoying the story, so I will be continuing!


‼️Content‼️

TRIGGER WARNING: a man commits suicide by stabbing himself in the chest (shown, but not graphically)

Language: damn; hell (as a place); what the

Violence: fighting with weapons and hand to hand (PG-13 to R); a girl punches/hits a guy; injuries and blood (PG-13 to R); a man holds a severed head dripping blood while standing on a pile of dead bodies (R); a man commits suicide by stabbing himself in the chest (shown, but not graphically)

Sexual: a mild suggestive hint; a girl is accused of being a prostitute (she’s not)

Drug/Alcohol: a man smokes; a mention of a man dying of opium overdose; a girl has packets of opium in her sleeve

Other: a man’s severed head is put on a pedestal; a man is able to “curse” people into being paralyzed in a variety of ways by somehow twisting their chi with the power of suggestion; a man/assassin is a serial killer; a girl is kidnapped and tied up; a girl is convinced to stop breathing; gambling for fun

[Nicolo · Rating 5 out of 5]

In volume two, Kenshin and his friends ran across a former compatriot, one who was once on the same side as Kenshin during the conflict that lead to the Meiji Restoration. Jin-e would be the first of two dark reflections of Kenshin that our hero would encounter in the manga. Jin-e represents the alternate path Kenshin could have taken had he not renounce killing.

This volume is easily better the first because Kenshin gets to face an opponent of comparable skill. It would also highlight the strength and weakness of his relationship of Kaoru. Kaoru is skilled enough to be a kendo instructor but is a potential hostage for Kenshin's enemies. She is her strength because it is her voice that could bring Kenshin back once he relapses into his Battousai persona.

In this issue, Watsuki wore his X-Men fandom on his sleeve in this story. When I first watched the anime, I've always wondered why Jin-e had a strong resemblace to Gambit of the X-Men. In the letters section of his manga, Watsuki admitted as much to cribbing the pupil-less eyes and the headsock for Jin-e character design.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

تا اونجا که راجع به ساناسوکه بود رو خونده بودم ولی این تیکه آخرش دیگه جدید شد و آخ جون!

جالبه تو یه دوره ای اینهمه تریاک مشکل ساز بوده برا ژاپن که تو داستان های سامورایی ها هست.
باید چیز غیر مانگا انیمه ای راجع بهش برم بخونم.

[EvaN · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5*

[José · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 estrellas solo por este señor:



Uno de mis villanos favoritos en toda la serie y el primero en enfurecer a Kenshin. Los dibujos de este manga son impresionantes. Lamentablemente la traducción de la versión que descargué deja mucho que desear, está lleno de errores de ortografía y de puntuación.

Dejando de lado esos pequeños inconvenientes, estoy disfrutando mucho de este manga.

[Ana Gutierrez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm loving the stories but I think the things I enjoy the most are the little "Secret Life of Character" pages and Watsuki's little notes or letters to the fans. The one I love the most? Is the one where Watsuko says "I'm "pro-dojinshi" myself, so send them on in without fear." I love it when an artist invites their fans to play in the universe they've created. <3

[Chivitouille · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este tomo se lee muy rápido, la acción es mucha y me encanta que sirva para enfocar lo importante que se han vuelto Kenshin y Kaoru entre ellos.

Aparece un nuevo oponente que hace estragos en los alrededores liquidando a gente importante del gobierno que estuvieron involucrados con el cambio en el país. Y sabiendo que Kenshin se encuentra en el pueblo, el jefe de la policía no duda en pedirle su ayuda.
Está claro que el enemigo no es un personaje cualquiera, posee buenas habilidades pero no diría que equiparables a las de Kenshin. Es un enemigo difícil de vencer y en cuanto se percata de la presencia de Kenshin decide enfocarse en derrotarlo, como buena historia de duelos y siendo alguien tan rastrero decide elegir el momento adecuado para obtener toda la ventaja posible.
Por otro lado Kaoru aunque en un principio no se dé cuenta aun del todo de lo muy importante que Kenshin se ha convertido para ella, es claro que no está dispuesta a que se marche así como así después del enfrentamiento, por lo que decide ir en su búsqueda. Ella es muy testaruda pero me ha encantado mucho el dialogo que mantienen, Kenshin da la impresión de que de igual manera esta aun receloso o no quiere admitir del todo lo importante que Kaoru se ha convertido para él y no capta ciertas sutilezas o tal vez por su mismo pasado no quiere involucrarse demás, lo que me parece sumamente adorable, siendo tan considerado con ella, pero las cosas son como son y al final acepta su propuesta. Estos dos forman una de las parejas que más me gustan y encantan.
Y como es obvio, en este momento de vulnerabilidad Kurogasa decide hacer su movimiento y rapta a Kaoru, lo que ocasionara que Kenshin se enfade profundamente.
El enfrentamiento que tienen es emocionante y es una muestra más de la gran habilidad que tiene Kenshin, pero aun así las cosas no se resolverán de manera fácil. Kurogasa decide agregarle un nuevo nivel de complejidad utilizando a Kaoru, lo que pondrá a Kenshin en una situación muy difícil, donde tendrá que decidir si abandonar su fachada amable de vagabundo para volver a su antigua personalidad de asesino.

Una de las partes que me gusta es que una vez más Kaoru a pesar de la situación demuestra ser un personaje fuerte y al final es ella quien le evita a Kenshin tomar la decisión equivocada.
Todo se logra resolver, pero está claro que otros enemigos estarán por presentarse y más con la aparición de otro personaje importante, Megumi.

Estoy disfrutando enormemente de esta historia y estoy deseando leer qué otras aventuras más estarán por ocurrir.
Sin duda una historia muy recomendable, llena de mucha acción, buenas batallas con espadas y un buen toque de humor.

[Omar Villafane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how humble and righteous Kenshin is. 🤩 #wanderer

[Vince · Rating 5 out of 5]

really flipping good. want to read more but unfortunately I do need to work tomorrow before I get off for winter break (perks of being an educator)

[Kristian Dobson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kenshin finally fights a worthy opponent who may force him to resort to his old ways. Exciting stuff. Probably better than the first volume. Highly enjoyable.

5/5

[BumfuzzledNerd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genauso actionreich wie der erste Band!

[Ema · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5*

Gostei menos deste segundo volume, a culpa foi da primeira parte do livro que achei que poderia ser melhor desenvolvida. Depois disso, veio o novo vilão que é ligeiramente assustador, do qual gostei muito. A história do Kenshin com a Kaoru está a ser muito fofa. Diveti-me imenso e só tenho pena destes cliffhanger's, matam-me e eu ainda não tenho o terceiro para ler.

[Hank · Rating 5 out of 5]

i usually dont get very worked up about manga, but jin-e angered me so much

[Marta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mais uma aventura com o Kenshin e companheiros! Estou a amar!

[Mason Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Jin-E fight in this is sick and the art is insane.

[Mr. Cody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some of the cleanest action I’ve ever seen

[N.T. Embeast · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want an overall opinion of my thoughts on this manga, feel free to look for my review of Volume One here.


This manga only gets better and better as you read it. Another character that becomes a focal point of our group joins in this one, and then we get the biggest challenge that Kenshin has yet faced: Jin-e, a man who was also a monster of the revolutionary war ten years ago. Everything from the story we left off in the last volume with involving Sagara Sanosuke is well worth the read, and his power and backstory is one that'll affect a great many people. But the one that takes the cake is undoubtedly Jin-e. He presents the first real threat to Kenshin and to those around him, and while his reputation alone is formidable, the way he meets Kenshin at the crossroads is even more intense and frightening.

The levels of corruption that we had seen in the previous volume only increase with Jin-e's appearance as well. It is through him that the extent of the crude, merciless era that Japan has now fallen into is truly starting to unfold before our eyes, and it manifests itself in Jin-e's appearance like a prodigy. Though things get worse here, it's why this volume becomes so much the better to read. It reveals a new, darker side of Kenshin we didn't get to know before, and it makes who he is that much more shocking.

Keep reading this one, guys. It's fantastic!

[Ben Truong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rurouni Kenshin, Vol. 2 continues where the previous tankōbon left off and contains the next nine chapters (7–15) of the on-going manga series.

The fight between Himura Kenshin and Sagara Sanosuke results in Sanosuke being defeated. Sanosuke realizes that Kenshin is different from the Ishin Shishi that destroyed his unit – the Sekihō Army. He becomes Kenshin's best friend and fighting partner. Soon both are hired to protect Tani Jūsanrō, an ex-Ishin Shishi, from a hitokiri called Udo Jin-e. Jin-e encounters Kenshin and after seeing how weak he is compared to the Bakumatsu period, he decides to kill him.

The next day, Kamiya Kaoru, worried about Kenshin, goes to talk with him but she is kidnapped by Jin-e. Furious, Kenshin defeats Jin-e, but Kaoru pleads with him not to become an assassin again and Jin-e commits suicide. A few days later, Sanosuke and Kenshin defeat a group of men working for an industrialist called Takeda Kanryū that were pursuing Takani Megumi, a woman who has been producing opium.

This tankōbon is written and illustrated by Nobuhiro Watsuki. The tankōbon expanded on the time period and added new more main characters in Sagara Sanosuke, who would become the best friend and fighting partner of Rurouni Kenshi, who has a grudge against the Ishin Shishi for destroying his unit during the warring years.

All in all, Rurouni Kenshin, Vol. 2 is a wonderful continuation to a series that seems really intriguing and I can't wait to read more.

[Engie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Estuvo muy bien. Se acerca una de mis partes favoritas, y por fin apareció Megumi; ya estaba medio aburrido eso de que la única mujer en el manga fuera Kaoru.

[Honeypie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is pretty good.

A bit too bloody for my taste, so I think I'll stick to the manga, rather than the anime.

It's quite technical too with Kenjutsu. But I still think it's interesting, and well-written. I reckon the conflict will only get serious with all these political and social issues.

Feeling ko ang magiging cutesy lang dito ay si Kenshin mismo. Siguro may comic relief yung ibang characters, but other than that, seryosohan to for sure.

---

You can't take everything so seriously, you should relax or your whole life won't be any fun at all.
- Sanosuke

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shinomori Aoshi was once the leader of Edo Castle's elite guard, the Oniwabanshû. But with the fighting at an end and the shôgunate overthrown, the brilliant Aoshi and his four most loyal onmitsu, or spies, find themselves without a home or a purpose. When fighting is your life, loyalty to those lost ideals (and to the man who most symbolized them) may be the one thing left. But Megumi's life is at stake, and however sympathetic Kenshin may feel, he will fight on, to the last man if necessary...

[Dani ❤️ Perspective of a Writer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume was way better than the first! I love the quick transition from Zanza to Kurogasa. Also that its all about the war from 10 years ago.

For the most part I enjoyed how the fight scenes were drawn. The art overcomes the time period it was drawn in unlike DNAngel.

While we go from fight to fight I like that this has a genuine story there and all the character are coming from different POVs.

BOTTOM LINE: A fighting manga.

[Fugo Feedback · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mejora bastante con respecto al primer tomo (sobre todo la pelea contra Jin-E. Jamás vi un villano tan interesante del que se deshicieran tan rápido), pero sigue sin ser representativo de la mejor parte, que vendría unos cinco tomos después.

[kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

kaoru is as annoying as i remember

[Gillian Brownlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much for pacing myself. I just love this series!

[Jose Javier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this volume of Rurouni Kenshin. The new problem Kenshin is facing an even greater challenge than before, facing an even greater wall each time, and the introduction and change of the assassin made people understand what the past of Japan is. After facing the assassin named Sanozuke that was sent to kill him, Kenshin let Sanozuke who wanted to change join his group. During this time, we learn about his past, where the Ishin Shishi framed the Sekihō Army, he was part of the army when he was a kid. That is how we learn why he hated Kenshin as he was part of the Ishin Shishi. But he noticed that Kenshin was not like the rest of them. The early part of this volume was my favorite because of how they integrated this new character and how they described and explain the history of Japan as well as explaining the new character’s past. The rest of the volume sets up for the next volume as well as shows us more about Kenshin’s personality.

[Michael Sorbello · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kenshin proves his ideals to those around him by confronting the corruption around him, attracting the attention of an interesting group of would-be companions. Befriending a young woman running a samurai dojo, a troublemaking little thief and a man with an intense love for testing himself in battle. When the chief of the Police Sword Corps asks for Kenshin’s help in taking down a ruthless outlaw in black, Kenshin must prove to himself and his new companions that he’s truly ready to fight against the cruelest members of society without taking their lives in the process.

A good continuation from the last volume. Kenshin befriends a ragtag group of well-meaning hotheads looking to bring about a new age of peace, each in their own way. The first major obstacle to test Kenshin’s new way of life also shows up for quite a few intense battle scenes. Everything’s moving at a solid pace.

My rating: 3.3/5

[haven ⋄ f (hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 -

Much better than the last one. This one held the consistency for 97% of the volume, which is quite good. My major complaints have to be the timing of events and the paneling.

The paneling is most often fine. But in quite a few instances the story builds up for something amazing and.... it isn’t shown. It’s just told to the reader in some form. Kind of sad.

***Spoilers for this next point.

The timing of events is so drawn out. Kaorudono is choking/suffocating in one scene and it’s super climatic. There’s this long battle (or so it seems) just so she could be saved from the bad guy. But she should have been dead by then? I don’t know how she survived but she did.

***end of spoilers.

I don’t know why this one was so much better than the first but it was. I’m interested in reading the next few volumes for the main story.

[Rafa · Rating 5 out of 5]

O Volume que Kenshin quase volta a ser Battousai.

A adição definitiva do Sano complementa muito na dinâmica do grupo principal de personagens, tornando os momentos cômicos mais divertidos ainda. O Chapéu Negro consegue ser um vilão que prende a atenção tanto no seu visual quanto personalidade; além disso, gostei do rumo que sua história tomou.

A ilustração está bem melhor em comparação com o primeiro volume, onde as cenas de luta eram difíceis de distinguir e um tanto poluída; agora mais claro e fácil de imaginar.

Por fim, o autor apresenta a chegada da Megumi e com ela mais um tema interessante a ser explorado. Tal qual vejo como o forte do mangá, a abordagem de questões sociais, que mesmo representadas numa obra fictícia e que se passa numa época diferente, conseguem ser bem relavantes.

100% Recomendo!

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's definitely starting to feel like what I remember watching back in the day. Perhaps maybe a little darker? I think what I'm beginning to realize is my disinterest in some of the more supernatural-esque qualities of some of the characters. Jin-e is our first standout villain, even if he only sticks around for a short while. He's menacing, maniacal, and is the first to genuinely test Kenshin's resolve and mission statement. However his ability to "hypnotize" people (and at one point himself!) by just looking at them felt out of place. Of course it's a fictional story, but with so much of it being based in history, and with such likable characters, I just don't think it's necessary.
Onto volume 3!