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Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story - VIZBIG Edition #6
Rurouni Kenshin, Vol. 6 #16-18
R to L (Japanese Style). The Age Decides the ManSecond only to Shishio Makoto when it comes to skill with a blade, the emotionless warrior Seta SMjirM‘s speed and agility are pushing Kenshin to the breaking point. But how did a seemingly humble man such as SMjirM decide to ally himself with the ruthless hitokiri Shishio? Mid-battle, SMjirM pauses to reflect back on his fateful encounter with the man to whom he would one day pledge his loyalty. Has SMjirM truly reconciled himself to his master's downright homicidal worldview?And finally, Kenshin's long-awaited duel with Shishio commences. With nothing less than the future of Japan hanging in the balance, Kenshin's resolution to never again take a life is about to be put to the ultimate test. Assistance also comes from Sanosuke, SaitM Hajime and Shinomori Aoshi, but to the power-hungry Shishio, men even of their caliber can be swatted down like so many flies. Will someone find Shishio's weakness before he annihilates the greatest swordsmen the Meiji Era has to offer? Furthermore, can Kenshin's dream for a new Japan be possible as long as Shishio still draws breath?
584 pages, Paperback
First published June 16, 2009
About the author
Nobuhiro Watsuki
263 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 - 22 of 22 reviews
January 21, 2017
This book reveals the end of the Kyoto arc with Kenshin and Shishio's epic last battle, and introduces readers to new villains out to remind Kenshin of his dark past.
(Hopefully, I won't have another dream tonight with Shishio running after me!)
(Hopefully, I won't have another dream tonight with Shishio running after me!)
June 17, 2020
Let me start by saying, I like anime (sometimes), but have never been able to get into manga (even for series or other adaptations that I've enjoyed like Berserk or Hunter x Hunter). I've kinda given up on trying to read the source material for stuff that I like. I always start with good intentions and never end up making it to the finish line, as much as I'd like to (again, especially for series' that were never properly finished in other forms - like Hunter x Hunter). It always irks me that I'm missing part of or the ending to a story, but most of my anime-watching days are behind me. I try new things now and again, but always find them formulaic and disappointing.
When I was in college there was a bootleg anime rental joint across from the community college I attended in Pasadena. I forget the name of it now, but it was always the highlight of my week to go in and rent something new and watch it at midnight (in the pre-file sharing, pre-Toonami days) on my little vcr/tv combo in my room. I would usually just pick up series that the owner recommended and he had a good track record. I tore through shows likeVision of Escaflowne and Flame of Recca like nobody's business and at the peak of my interest, I discovered Kenshin and it changed everything. I changed my major from physics to history. I started studying Japanese. The Bakumatsu period and the history of pre-modern Japan became an all-encompassing obsession. I loved the television series and when I watched the prequel Tsuioku-hen original video animation with it's dark and serious tonal shift, I was beyond hooked. I can clearly recall the sense of frisson I felt watching that adaptation in particular. Everything from the somber and ghostly music to the muted, painting-like imagery made my spine tingle and goosebumps break out no matter how many times I watched it. I loved it because of the contrast with the main series. It made the story even more tragic and I'm so glad the owner of that store made me wait to watch it last. The bookcase behind me is overflowing with books on Japanese history that I bought in the decade or so after watching my first episode of Kenshin at around nineteen years old. To say that the series was formative on my life is an understatement. And then life changes. You go through different phases. You get older and your imagination dies a little, as does the excitement you once felt at discovering something new and unexpected. You forget your roots.
I hadn't seen the show in twenty years - and then on a quarantine-boredom-inspired-lark I decided to indulge myself and get an HBO Max subscription two weeks ago. I'd watched everything I wanted to watch on Netflix, tried reading a half dozen books I'd been looking forward to, and played pretty much every game in my Steam library and was feeling rather unfulfilled. Much to my surprise, HBO had the full original Rurouni Kenshin series. About a week ago, I decided to watch the first episode, just to see how terribly it had aged (as pretty much every other thing I enjoyed from my early life has aged), and about four hours later realized I was pretty much through the first major story arc already. No cringe. No embarrassment at the taste of my younger self. To my surprise, I found it just as engaging as I had the last time I watched it twenty years ago. I'd seen the films on Netflix in passing and had no desire to watch them. Film adaptations of anime shows just always look horribly bad to me and I had no desire to see one of my favorite franchises go through that process, but other than that it's the first time I think I've even thought about the series in over a decade. I devoured all the canon episodes through the Kyoto Arc and watched the prequel OVA just as I'd done two decades ago and just loved the experience. It's been the first show or bit of entertainment that's genuinely held my attention since this quarantine nightmare began. Out of curiosity I did some googling. I remember the second OVA that attempted to tie things off not being very good and in my searches discovered that the series...IS STILL ONGOING.
I'd never read anything about the Jinchu arc (so that, in and of itself is going to be a treat) and now I discover there's a whole new story (the Hokkaido Arc) and I found that I simply had to know how this story ends. So here I am, like a twenty year old again, stoked to be reading Kenshin and revisiting some of my favorite fictional characters and my favorite historical period of all time and it's energized me like nothing else has in a number of years.
I'm starting with Volume 18 of the manga - the end of the Kyoto Arc to pick up where the anime series (in all practicality) let off. Kenshin and the gang return to the Kamiya dojo in Tokyo after defeating Shishio Makoto and the Juppongatana, preventing them from causing a descent into a second, even bloodier revolution. Kenshin has been changed by the experience. Forced to confront his past and his legacy directly for the first time in over a decade, he's found that he's a changed man. He's more open and willing to let people into his life, probably for the first time since the death of his wife Tomoe, at his own hands at the peak of the revolution. The peace of mind that accompanies this reckoning is to be short-lived. Kenshin's brother-in-law, Yukishiro Enishi, has returned from a self-imposed exile in Shanghai to launch a revenge plot designed to make Kenshin suffer as he has suffered since the death of his sister. To do so, he intends to punish Kenshin's new friends and adopted family in Tokyo, realizing that Kenshin is all too eager to accept punishment for himself.
I'm still not a huge fan of the manga format, to be honest. I feel like the pacing is choppier than in an animated series or even in western style comic books or novelizations, but I have to admit that this one scratches the itch. The overarching redemption arc is tightly knit through the entirety of the story and Enishi's return literally a volume removed from Kenshin departing Kyoto and visiting the grave of his deceased wife for the first time since her death feels karmic rather than overly coincidental. It also shows that more must be done to atone for his crimes than renouncing killing and fighting a second revolution against dark forces trying to overthrow the new established order. It's more mature and less shonen and borders on the philosophical and as an older man now, I view the entire story differently. I take new lessons from it and a new appreciation for its construction. Excited to read the source material for Tsuioku-hen in the next volume as it's one of my favorite stories of all time.
When I was in college there was a bootleg anime rental joint across from the community college I attended in Pasadena. I forget the name of it now, but it was always the highlight of my week to go in and rent something new and watch it at midnight (in the pre-file sharing, pre-Toonami days) on my little vcr/tv combo in my room. I would usually just pick up series that the owner recommended and he had a good track record. I tore through shows likeVision of Escaflowne and Flame of Recca like nobody's business and at the peak of my interest, I discovered Kenshin and it changed everything. I changed my major from physics to history. I started studying Japanese. The Bakumatsu period and the history of pre-modern Japan became an all-encompassing obsession. I loved the television series and when I watched the prequel Tsuioku-hen original video animation with it's dark and serious tonal shift, I was beyond hooked. I can clearly recall the sense of frisson I felt watching that adaptation in particular. Everything from the somber and ghostly music to the muted, painting-like imagery made my spine tingle and goosebumps break out no matter how many times I watched it. I loved it because of the contrast with the main series. It made the story even more tragic and I'm so glad the owner of that store made me wait to watch it last. The bookcase behind me is overflowing with books on Japanese history that I bought in the decade or so after watching my first episode of Kenshin at around nineteen years old. To say that the series was formative on my life is an understatement. And then life changes. You go through different phases. You get older and your imagination dies a little, as does the excitement you once felt at discovering something new and unexpected. You forget your roots.
I hadn't seen the show in twenty years - and then on a quarantine-boredom-inspired-lark I decided to indulge myself and get an HBO Max subscription two weeks ago. I'd watched everything I wanted to watch on Netflix, tried reading a half dozen books I'd been looking forward to, and played pretty much every game in my Steam library and was feeling rather unfulfilled. Much to my surprise, HBO had the full original Rurouni Kenshin series. About a week ago, I decided to watch the first episode, just to see how terribly it had aged (as pretty much every other thing I enjoyed from my early life has aged), and about four hours later realized I was pretty much through the first major story arc already. No cringe. No embarrassment at the taste of my younger self. To my surprise, I found it just as engaging as I had the last time I watched it twenty years ago. I'd seen the films on Netflix in passing and had no desire to watch them. Film adaptations of anime shows just always look horribly bad to me and I had no desire to see one of my favorite franchises go through that process, but other than that it's the first time I think I've even thought about the series in over a decade. I devoured all the canon episodes through the Kyoto Arc and watched the prequel OVA just as I'd done two decades ago and just loved the experience. It's been the first show or bit of entertainment that's genuinely held my attention since this quarantine nightmare began. Out of curiosity I did some googling. I remember the second OVA that attempted to tie things off not being very good and in my searches discovered that the series...IS STILL ONGOING.
I'd never read anything about the Jinchu arc (so that, in and of itself is going to be a treat) and now I discover there's a whole new story (the Hokkaido Arc) and I found that I simply had to know how this story ends. So here I am, like a twenty year old again, stoked to be reading Kenshin and revisiting some of my favorite fictional characters and my favorite historical period of all time and it's energized me like nothing else has in a number of years.
I'm starting with Volume 18 of the manga - the end of the Kyoto Arc to pick up where the anime series (in all practicality) let off. Kenshin and the gang return to the Kamiya dojo in Tokyo after defeating Shishio Makoto and the Juppongatana, preventing them from causing a descent into a second, even bloodier revolution. Kenshin has been changed by the experience. Forced to confront his past and his legacy directly for the first time in over a decade, he's found that he's a changed man. He's more open and willing to let people into his life, probably for the first time since the death of his wife Tomoe, at his own hands at the peak of the revolution. The peace of mind that accompanies this reckoning is to be short-lived. Kenshin's brother-in-law, Yukishiro Enishi, has returned from a self-imposed exile in Shanghai to launch a revenge plot designed to make Kenshin suffer as he has suffered since the death of his sister. To do so, he intends to punish Kenshin's new friends and adopted family in Tokyo, realizing that Kenshin is all too eager to accept punishment for himself.
I'm still not a huge fan of the manga format, to be honest. I feel like the pacing is choppier than in an animated series or even in western style comic books or novelizations, but I have to admit that this one scratches the itch. The overarching redemption arc is tightly knit through the entirety of the story and Enishi's return literally a volume removed from Kenshin departing Kyoto and visiting the grave of his deceased wife for the first time since her death feels karmic rather than overly coincidental. It also shows that more must be done to atone for his crimes than renouncing killing and fighting a second revolution against dark forces trying to overthrow the new established order. It's more mature and less shonen and borders on the philosophical and as an older man now, I view the entire story differently. I take new lessons from it and a new appreciation for its construction. Excited to read the source material for Tsuioku-hen in the next volume as it's one of my favorite stories of all time.
February 16, 2019
The Kyoto arc is over. The battle with Shishio was just extraordinary and the outcome even better than expected. If there was ever a time to be afraid for Kenshin was now. And the last arc has also started, where we will finally learn all about Kenshin's past. Oh, I love this story so much. Is the greatest samurai story ever!
December 7, 2023
This is the high point of the series. A duel that respects not just the power levels of the characters, but their personality and politics. The non-combatants all get their moment to shine, there's a nice long epilogue to detox from the interminable fight scenes in the previous volumes (even the villain gets an epilogue in hell), and there are real consequences for the characters. The intro to the next big story arc also has a lot of promise, with villains who have real motivations beyond "I'll sword harder than anyone's ever sworded before!"
The only downside is that Watsuki's copying from 90s X-Men has become ever more blatant. It's not just "a guy with the same role on the team as Forge", it's "a guy who looks exactly like Apocalypse". But that's a problem for future volumes.
The only downside is that Watsuki's copying from 90s X-Men has become ever more blatant. It's not just "a guy with the same role on the team as Forge", it's "a guy who looks exactly like Apocalypse". But that's a problem for future volumes.
March 5, 2024
I've got to say these volumes take some time for me to read through. I could read them relatively fast, but I've also got to appreciate the art and they end up taking a lot longer than I actually expect (except volume 5. I devoured volume 5, ha). Here we actually get to see the climax of events that were unfolding ever since volume 3? It's the battle against Shishio, literally.
And it turns out I am really tired and have work in the morning. Time to hit the sack, will finish this review some other time!
And it turns out I am really tired and have work in the morning. Time to hit the sack, will finish this review some other time!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 16, 2019
These continue to get better. I am also glad that the last two were so funny as well since we are reading directly about battles and nothing else. It's not a bad thing that it's only battles. It's definitely necessary to have them, but it's broke up to bring the audience back into the story. This one had a big cliff hanger. I'm really just tempted to finish the last three off now, but I have to be patient and read on schedule.
February 19, 2018
The end of the Kyoto Arc was done fantastically! I really, really enjoyed reading it.
May 11, 2026
The Kyoto Arc ends! The Jinchū Arc begins!
The final fights of the Kyoto Arc are kino, and worthy as a climax. If I'm not mistaken, the original anime series ended with Shishio, which doesn't not make sense; the fighting is appropriately intense for a Final Battle, and the four epilogue chapters work well to tie things off.
Now, that said, the Kyoto epilogues also work to set up the Jinchū Arc, which has some big shoes to fill. This arc is roughly the same length as Kyoto, but there are only six villains instead of eleven. Volume 18 ends with Sanosuke about to fight one of the six, and it is assumed Kenshin will soon fight another. Will they take out one-third of the enemy forces with nine or ten more volumes to spare? Surely not, right? Will the fights just be long? Will there be multiple rematches? Will new villains appear as underlings for our six major bosses? How does Watsuki plan to fill all these pages???
I'm so used to Vegeta and Sasuke and stuff that it feels underrated to have Sanosuke act more as a Jonouchi than a Kaiba. I guess Aoshi is kind of a Vegeta? More like a Piccolo, probably.
****
Volume 16: Flashback of how Sōjirō met Shishio: he's a bastard of some dude's mistress, and is beaten by the family who takes him in, until Shishio comes by and gives him a sword. Sōjirō wants to beat Kenshin because he's assmad that Kenshin defends the weak when Sōjirō himself wasn't defended when he was a kid. Kenshin defeats Sōjirō and imparts some life lessons about truth. Saito encounters Aoshi and gives him a map to Shishio's palace, revealing the intelligence powers of the government. Sōjirō tells Yumi what he uncovered about the secret to the Amakakeru Ryū no Hirameki: the left foot. Sōjirō leaves the Juppongatana to find himself. Kenshin approaches Shishio for the final battle. Shishio fights with the Mugenjin sword, with its serrated tip burning bits of human flesh for fuel after ignition via friction. Shishio bites Kenshin on the shoulder. Shishio defeats Kenshin with Guren Kaina, a technique of lighting gunpowder hidden in his gauntlet. Saito then breaks in to challenge Shishio. Volume end.
Volume 17: Saito vs. Shishio. Saito uses Zeroshiki on Shishio's forehead, but he has a metal headband under his bandages. Shishio stabs Saito in the shoulder with his fingers then ignites the gunpowder. Sanosuke vs. Shishio. Two Layers no-sells, then Shishio punches Sano in the head. Aoshi vs. Shishio. Aoshi stalls until Kenshin can get back up. Kenshin's kiai awakens Sano and Saito as well as rips some leaves. Yumi mentions the fifteen-minute time limit is because Shishio's burns will start to hurt after. Kenshin goes ham with a five-hit combo of special moves into Kuzu Ryūsen. Shishio gets up and ignites the petroleum around the arena. Shishio blocks and deflects Amakakeru Ryū no Hirameki and lights his whole sword for Kaguzuchi, but Kenshin spins off the deflection to create a vacuum, draw Shishio in, and slash again. Shishio starts throwing up from his burns, so Yumi jumps in to guard him, but he stabs through her to hit Kenshin (which she doesn't mind). Kenshin gets up, Shishio starts to attack, and he spontaneously combusts. Hoji goes mad and blows up the fortress, seemingly taking Saito down. Anji and Sōjirō save Hoji, and Anji and Hoji decide to turn themselves in for different reasons. A month later, Chō visits the good guys to tell them how most of the Juppongatana have become government stooges, and Hoji is dead because the government wouldn't give him a trial where he could tell the people about Shishio (so he killed himself in prison). Yahiko questions if they really won. We see Shishio, Yumi, and Hoji off to conquer Hell. Volume end.
Volume 18: Sanosuke and Yahiko talk about getting stronger. Kaoru and Megumi talk about love. Kenshin visits a grave. Turns out Saito did survive and he's working with Cho. The heroes go back to Tokyo. A mysterious twink visits the same grave Kenshin visited, revealing it to be this guy's sister's grave. Iwanbo is there, and turns out to be an elaborate puppet. A big dude with one hand goes to the Akabeko restaurant, then meets with the mystery twink, revealing he's a future boss as well. Kujiranami uses an arm-mounted cannon to demolish Akabeko. The twink, Enishi, assembles six total new villains to fight Kenshin (including himself, Kujiranami, and Gein, the guy from the Iwanbo puppet). Otowa goes to attack the police chief, while Inui attacks Maekawa dojo. Sanosuke arrives at the dojo. Volume end.
The final fights of the Kyoto Arc are kino, and worthy as a climax. If I'm not mistaken, the original anime series ended with Shishio, which doesn't not make sense; the fighting is appropriately intense for a Final Battle, and the four epilogue chapters work well to tie things off.
Now, that said, the Kyoto epilogues also work to set up the Jinchū Arc, which has some big shoes to fill. This arc is roughly the same length as Kyoto, but there are only six villains instead of eleven. Volume 18 ends with Sanosuke about to fight one of the six, and it is assumed Kenshin will soon fight another. Will they take out one-third of the enemy forces with nine or ten more volumes to spare? Surely not, right? Will the fights just be long? Will there be multiple rematches? Will new villains appear as underlings for our six major bosses? How does Watsuki plan to fill all these pages???
I'm so used to Vegeta and Sasuke and stuff that it feels underrated to have Sanosuke act more as a Jonouchi than a Kaiba. I guess Aoshi is kind of a Vegeta? More like a Piccolo, probably.
****
Volume 16: Flashback of how Sōjirō met Shishio: he's a bastard of some dude's mistress, and is beaten by the family who takes him in, until Shishio comes by and gives him a sword. Sōjirō wants to beat Kenshin because he's assmad that Kenshin defends the weak when Sōjirō himself wasn't defended when he was a kid. Kenshin defeats Sōjirō and imparts some life lessons about truth. Saito encounters Aoshi and gives him a map to Shishio's palace, revealing the intelligence powers of the government. Sōjirō tells Yumi what he uncovered about the secret to the Amakakeru Ryū no Hirameki: the left foot. Sōjirō leaves the Juppongatana to find himself. Kenshin approaches Shishio for the final battle. Shishio fights with the Mugenjin sword, with its serrated tip burning bits of human flesh for fuel after ignition via friction. Shishio bites Kenshin on the shoulder. Shishio defeats Kenshin with Guren Kaina, a technique of lighting gunpowder hidden in his gauntlet. Saito then breaks in to challenge Shishio. Volume end.
Volume 17: Saito vs. Shishio. Saito uses Zeroshiki on Shishio's forehead, but he has a metal headband under his bandages. Shishio stabs Saito in the shoulder with his fingers then ignites the gunpowder. Sanosuke vs. Shishio. Two Layers no-sells, then Shishio punches Sano in the head. Aoshi vs. Shishio. Aoshi stalls until Kenshin can get back up. Kenshin's kiai awakens Sano and Saito as well as rips some leaves. Yumi mentions the fifteen-minute time limit is because Shishio's burns will start to hurt after. Kenshin goes ham with a five-hit combo of special moves into Kuzu Ryūsen. Shishio gets up and ignites the petroleum around the arena. Shishio blocks and deflects Amakakeru Ryū no Hirameki and lights his whole sword for Kaguzuchi, but Kenshin spins off the deflection to create a vacuum, draw Shishio in, and slash again. Shishio starts throwing up from his burns, so Yumi jumps in to guard him, but he stabs through her to hit Kenshin (which she doesn't mind). Kenshin gets up, Shishio starts to attack, and he spontaneously combusts. Hoji goes mad and blows up the fortress, seemingly taking Saito down. Anji and Sōjirō save Hoji, and Anji and Hoji decide to turn themselves in for different reasons. A month later, Chō visits the good guys to tell them how most of the Juppongatana have become government stooges, and Hoji is dead because the government wouldn't give him a trial where he could tell the people about Shishio (so he killed himself in prison). Yahiko questions if they really won. We see Shishio, Yumi, and Hoji off to conquer Hell. Volume end.
Volume 18: Sanosuke and Yahiko talk about getting stronger. Kaoru and Megumi talk about love. Kenshin visits a grave. Turns out Saito did survive and he's working with Cho. The heroes go back to Tokyo. A mysterious twink visits the same grave Kenshin visited, revealing it to be this guy's sister's grave. Iwanbo is there, and turns out to be an elaborate puppet. A big dude with one hand goes to the Akabeko restaurant, then meets with the mystery twink, revealing he's a future boss as well. Kujiranami uses an arm-mounted cannon to demolish Akabeko. The twink, Enishi, assembles six total new villains to fight Kenshin (including himself, Kujiranami, and Gein, the guy from the Iwanbo puppet). Otowa goes to attack the police chief, while Inui attacks Maekawa dojo. Sanosuke arrives at the dojo. Volume end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 21, 2011
Volume 16 "Providence"
Terminou a batalha contra Sōjirō e Kenshin conquistou mais umas quantas mazelas para além de ir aos poucos esgotando a sua energia.
Já não me lembrava de como Sōjirō ensandecia durante este duelo e dei por mim surpresa por apreciar o companheirismo entre ele e Shishio no decorrer das recordações da sua dura infância. Estranho como um vilão deste calibre pode realizar também boas acções e possuir alguma compaixão/misericórdia. Isto apesar dos motivos talvez não serem tão bons quanto isso e de no final acabar por criar um pequeno monstro fanático, oh well...
Neste volume inicia-se igualmente o tão esperado confronto. Kenshin, já completamente desgraçado (a verdade é esta) inicia mais uma penosa batalha e é gravemente ferido (aquela dentada sempre me fez espécie ugh!), ao ponto de parecer efectivamente morto.
Posto isto surge Saitō, pronto a tomar o seu lugar.
Este foi sem dúvida alguma um volume cheio de acção e repleto de variadas emoções, tal como eu gosto.
Volume 17 "The Age Decides the Man"
Este volume é todo ele batalha contra Shishio. Não só Kenshin, mas Saitō, Sanozuke e Aoshi confrontam o antagonista deste arco da história.
São vivenciados momentos de grande tensão e emoção ao longo de todo o duelo. Aquele momento final de Shishio e Yumi tem sempre a sua beleza "mórbida", e claro, adoro ver como pensar em Kaoru dá a Kenshin uma súbita vontade de viver, capaz de derrotar tudo e todos, mesmo encontrando-se nos limites do inimaginável.
Volume 18 "Do You Still Bear the Scar?"
Com este volume termina o arco de Kyoto e inicia-se a "série Jinchu", para mim a mais poderosa destas duas grandes partes em que esta obra se divide.
Experimentam-se breves momentos de paz, até que um grupo de ex-samurais ressabiados procuram exercer a sua vingança no ex-Hitokiri Kenshin.
Coitado do homem que não o deixam viver em paz e expiar os seus pecados à sua maneira pacífica.
Enfim... Aproximam-se momentos de grande tensão e drama e mal posso esperar por lhes pôr os olhos em cima uma vez mais! ^_^x
Terminou a batalha contra Sōjirō e Kenshin conquistou mais umas quantas mazelas para além de ir aos poucos esgotando a sua energia.
Já não me lembrava de como Sōjirō ensandecia durante este duelo e dei por mim surpresa por apreciar o companheirismo entre ele e Shishio no decorrer das recordações da sua dura infância. Estranho como um vilão deste calibre pode realizar também boas acções e possuir alguma compaixão/misericórdia. Isto apesar dos motivos talvez não serem tão bons quanto isso e de no final acabar por criar um pequeno monstro fanático, oh well...
Neste volume inicia-se igualmente o tão esperado confronto. Kenshin, já completamente desgraçado (a verdade é esta) inicia mais uma penosa batalha e é gravemente ferido (aquela dentada sempre me fez espécie ugh!), ao ponto de parecer efectivamente morto.
Posto isto surge Saitō, pronto a tomar o seu lugar.
Este foi sem dúvida alguma um volume cheio de acção e repleto de variadas emoções, tal como eu gosto.
Volume 17 "The Age Decides the Man"
Este volume é todo ele batalha contra Shishio. Não só Kenshin, mas Saitō, Sanozuke e Aoshi confrontam o antagonista deste arco da história.
São vivenciados momentos de grande tensão e emoção ao longo de todo o duelo. Aquele momento final de Shishio e Yumi tem sempre a sua beleza "mórbida", e claro, adoro ver como pensar em Kaoru dá a Kenshin uma súbita vontade de viver, capaz de derrotar tudo e todos, mesmo encontrando-se nos limites do inimaginável.
Volume 18 "Do You Still Bear the Scar?"
Com este volume termina o arco de Kyoto e inicia-se a "série Jinchu", para mim a mais poderosa destas duas grandes partes em que esta obra se divide.
Experimentam-se breves momentos de paz, até que um grupo de ex-samurais ressabiados procuram exercer a sua vingança no ex-Hitokiri Kenshin.
Coitado do homem que não o deixam viver em paz e expiar os seus pecados à sua maneira pacífica.
Enfim... Aproximam-se momentos de grande tensão e drama e mal posso esperar por lhes pôr os olhos em cima uma vez mais! ^_^x
May 21, 2020
I haven’t been a massive fan of the big bad in this arc, I just call him bandages guy. All he does is talk about how good he is, he orders people about but that’s about it. We actually get to see him fight in this but it was pretty lackluster, you don’t have great action sequences like before. There is no weight to the fight either, you don’t get clever dialogue between him and Kenshin. It just felt very basic like the fights earlier on in the series, each minor has had a awesome exchange with the hero with great fight sequence. This just fell short, there were a lot of ideas thrown into this fight but nothing really stuck.
Where this volume really shines for me, is the epilogue, it gives each character a moment to reflect on everything that’s happened. It’s nice seeing them enjoy each others company after such lengthy battles.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the Kyōto Arc, whilst the ending wasn’t as epic as I hoped it was still an awesome read. It just peeked a bit early, that happens with a lot of manga.
Where this volume really shines for me, is the epilogue, it gives each character a moment to reflect on everything that’s happened. It’s nice seeing them enjoy each others company after such lengthy battles.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the Kyōto Arc, whilst the ending wasn’t as epic as I hoped it was still an awesome read. It just peeked a bit early, that happens with a lot of manga.
December 21, 2013
This omnibus volume marks the end of the Shishio story arc and the beginning of the last arc of the series. I've seen quite a few people say that the series should have ended after the battle with Shishio. I've never read the last arc of the manga though so I'll hold my judgement.
This was a great story and it was exciting to see the "final battle" play out. I've always thought of Shishio as Kenshin's greatest adversary. One that could quite possibly have beaten him under different circumstances.
This was a great action packed omnibus and highly recommended.
This was a great story and it was exciting to see the "final battle" play out. I've always thought of Shishio as Kenshin's greatest adversary. One that could quite possibly have beaten him under different circumstances.
This was a great action packed omnibus and highly recommended.
November 19, 2014
The Batle with Soujiro, and his backstory. Felt the battle ended so suddenly. Then the final battle with Sishio, quite an amazing battle, if not for his condition Sishio would have won. I really liked the story.
Now comes the interesting part after the Sishio story seems like the next story arc is different from anime, hoping to read a new different adventure for Kenshin.
Now comes the interesting part after the Sishio story seems like the next story arc is different from anime, hoping to read a new different adventure for Kenshin.
April 7, 2016
Kenshin fight people and other people and some he protect other he does protect. his friend goods to him. some time kenshin feel sad about fight ever day or some time scar to kill people. there was this boy he away fight and get try in the fight and some he kill and come back to life. my friend then will like this book
July 1, 2021
At long last, the proper conclusion of the series. Kenshin battles for the fate of Japan, proves he can overcome his own dark past and move on, and the supporting cast is meaningful in the final battle. Even the dark hints of a sequel, with villains driven by revenge rather than generic evilness, show great promise.
August 28, 2011
New story arc! I like the flashback on Kenshin's life. I am wary about how this next arc will go, however, seeing has the last arc was SO LONG. Another bad guy line up with expected battle line up. But some good history thrown in as well. Fun way to learn about Japanese history.
October 23, 2014
The story continues in this volume, one adventure is concluded and a new one begins. Some elements have become rather fantastical but on the whole the level if drama and action combined with characterisation has steadily improved throughout the series.
Another excellent manga.
Another excellent manga.
April 14, 2018
The Kyoto arc storyline comes to a close and begins the final arc of Rurouni Kenshin. To me, this is the second best samurai manga series I have ever read and enjoyed most. I am glad its available again in an omnibus edition.
March 19, 2012
*reread May 2014*
July 24, 2016
Nice wrap up of the Kyoto/Shishio arc. Looking forward to the next story since the show didn't cover it from this point onward
September 2, 2019
Saitou Hajime, owner of my heart. Since I'm eight years old, no joke.
January 3, 2022
Kyoto Arc has definitely been the best arc so far for the series.
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