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Rurouni Kenshin, Vol. 2 : The Two Hitokiri

Rurouni Kenshin, Vol. 2 : The Two Hitokiri

List Price: $7.95
Your Price: $7.95
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: SUGOI!
Review: Okay, I am an avid Kenshin fan so this is highly biased. now that that is out of the way, here it goes. Kenshin starts off with the battle between Zanza and continues on all the way through the fight against Kurgosa (the Blak Hat) until we meet Megumi-dono and Sano (formerly known as Zanza) and Kenshin kick the butts of those persuing her when she enters into the gambling hall where they are situated.

So MUCH content.

So that's 9 CHAPTERS or Acts, as they are known in the manga.
GREAT fighting scenes and emotional pull.

A BIG PLUS is that they keep the Japanese honorifics. -san, -chan, -dono, -sama.

As well as certain parts as the Hiten Mitsurugi style (with translations below it)
Battousai, Hitokiri..... It even provides a glossary for historical events that took place in japan; since this IS a Historical Fiction series.

AND.....

The drawings are very well done, normally in manga you can see some over exaggerate figures. Faces that are slightly warped, and such but in here they are very nicely done.

While Kenshin's appearance it diff than in the anime that is because his character is continually being devloped and you'll recognize him as he is in the anime in the next book or one after.

WOW, it even get's better in the art section as it goes along, and that is an awesome bonus.

I think the translations are okay as metioned and I love the fact that they kept everything intact, from the comments of the Watsuki to the Character background that is intertwined in the manga.

The best, EVER!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: So-so translation for a masterful work
Review: Rurouni Kenshin is an excellent series, but Viz's translation is slightly subpar. Compared with how well other series have been translated lately, I'm quite dissapointed. They even neglected to include the subtitle from the Japanese version (Meiji Kenkaku Romantan/A Meiji Swordsman's Romance). If you absolutely must have translated RuroKen manga, then go for it. Otherwise, I'd highly recommend looking into importing it instead. Viz made a commendable effort, but personally I believe they could have done much better.

Added notes: The subtitle still isn't on the books, Viz just titled volume one with it. Also, my problem with the translations is that they simply are not as good as Viz is capable of, on a number of levels. One of their problems was being too literal, in fact. It's quite simply rather sloppy, and not as good as they could have done. I've seen worse translations, but I've also seen much better (and by Viz, no less). They simply are not doing the series justice.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The greatest story ever!
Review: Rurouni Kenshin is great a series that really grows over time and becomes incredible in a few more volumes. I've read all 28 of the fan translated volumes and can't wait to buy the rest of the volumes as they're released by Viz. I have to wait for so long!! Vol 1-6 = Tokyo Arc, this is where the introductions of main characters are made. It sets the stage for a much bigger picture. Vol 7-17 = Kyoto Arc, the arc that made the anime series so popular. It's a great arc with an amazing story and great fights, and you just can't put it down. It also has much character development, and you love Kenshin and his group all the better. The saga is so well planned out that it's perfect. Vol 18-28 (end) = Jinchu(Revenge arc, human judgement) arc, just when you think Kenshin will settle down, the story gets better! We finally learn about Kenshin's famous scar and his past. People from Kenshin's past are back to haunt him and carry out their long-awaited revenge. This saga is the best of the series and was unfortunately never animated except in an OVA, which only showed how Kenshin got his scar. In the manga this is the end of vol. 19, all of 20, and the first few chapters of 21. Kenshin's past is a true tragedy, but he finally finds his answers in this arc. I can't believe that they left this incredible story unanimated. The TV series had nothing to do with the manga story after episode 62, and the OVA is dramatically different from the manga also.
Anyway, Kenshin really grows in art and storytelling throughout the series and never gets weak nor drags like the TV series after the legend of Kyoto.
It's the best series ever! You have to read it to experience all the humor, drama, fighting, and romance. It just grows on you!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Real close to the good stuff.
Review: Rurouni Kenshin is one of the best mangas of all time. Its funny, romantic, and has some of the best action and characters of all time. The manga is much better than the anime since it moves along quickly to the Legend of Kyoto saga against, but it does have Volume 5. I love the whole series but this one part seems tedious. But despite that its still awesome. It revolves around the appearance of Raijuta, a swordsman who feels that the old ways of the samurai have died out, and its time for a new way of teaching sword. Kenshin, representing the old style needs to prove that there is still value in the old ways. Thats not the best plot synopsis, but its generally OK.
The real reason to get excited about this volume is how close it is to Volume 7. In the sequence of the manga series, Vol. 7 is where Saito Hajime is introduced to the plot, and the Legend of Kyoto saga begins. I own that volume in Japanese and I will attest that it is the high point of the series. I also know that Volume 6 was recently released so that just means even less time before this masterpiece of Japanese manga comes out.
The Romantic Meji Swordsman, Rurouni Kenshin is probably the very best you can do as far as mangas go. Volume 5 isn't that important to the over all plot but is still a five star read. Read it and marvel at Nobuhiro Watsuki's storytelling skills.

Oro!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The Viz translation sucks.
Review: The original version from Shueisha was a lot better. The translation doesn't bring out what it meant. Besides, people who read this manga are probably 90% all people who saw it from Cartoon Network. They do not know the real version of Rurouni Kenshin- Meiji Kenkaku Romantan. In other words, wanna-bes who think they know everything when the anime they love is really something else.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: More kenshin for us to love!!
Review: These novels have kept my attention sinse I first picked up #1 at the store. Kenshin is a true feel-good comedy that is NOWHERE near corney. I just fell in love with the wandering samurai from the very beginning, and I have yet to be disappointed with him!
This novel moves right along with the plot that the second volume left off on. It's all about the mysterious and somewhat annoying Miss. Megumi. She may get press all the wrong buttons with everyone else, but Kenshin still refuses to abandon someone who needs his help, AND THAT'S WHY WE LOVE HIM!!
At first Ruroni Kenshin may seem the same as other dime-a-dozen manga series. Only by reading it can you fully realize just how different and refreshing this series really is. It provides you with characters that you like, and storylines that dont insult your intellegence. In my opinion, Kenshin is the best new manga around. Ken-chan definatly has raised the bar of manga standards, and I'm sure glad he did!! If the story keeps going like it has, theres no telling what new levels of greatness it will reach, so don't be left behind!! READ IT!!!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: 5 stand alone; 4 stars when compared to later volumes
Review: This first book is a fine introduction to the main characters of Rurouni Kenshin. I'll agree that the translation is not that great, but don't let that deter you from a great story. Maybe because they are aiming for a younger male demographic (shounen is used to refer to young boys in Japan), but this is totally my hypothesis (then again, VIZ rated it T+ for older teens...). If you like the anime, you'll definitely like the manga... no filler! It has action, comedy, and a sense of profundity -- why does Kenshin use a sakabatou (reverse-blade sword)? Why does he choose not to kill people, even his enemies? I am probably getting ahead of the whole story, but really, the first few books are a great setup to the awesome plots that happens later. Watsuki's ability to deftly combine fantasy and reality is one reason why his manga creation is so unique. Complaints: I wonder why they didn't explain the "black ships," though --it's what sets off the Bakumatsu, and eventually, the fall of the Tokugawa shogunate and the Meiji Restoration. The term does come up again later in the manga, so maybe that's why... ? P.S. VIZ's cover is pretty much original to the original Japanese cover.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: ORO!? --Wandering Kenshin
Review: This is a great original for Rurouni Kenshin. I ordered the first three volumes of the manga. Well....ordered 1 & 2 then pre-ordered 3. I haven't gotten #3 yet but have 1 & 2, I've read #1 and am now reading #2. Made before the animated series was released I'm sure, due to the fact that the book is slightly different from the series (which is cool because you don't know what is gonna happen next). There is blood ,of course, and a little gore when they show manslayer sceens or the Battousai sceens..nothing too bad though. Beautiful artwork and storyline gets you fixed on the story and the fights and comedic situations won't allow you to put the book down. This basically sums it up...(all except the translation which is excellent...only a few mistakes but everyone talks about the translation so I thought I would mention something new). I give it a 5 out of 5.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: I swear, never read such a good graphic novel...
Review: This is about a legendary swordsman named Kenshin. He killed men like an ogre as a hitokiri, but disappeared and reappeared again as a rurouni, a wanderer. I was hooked after the first two volumes. This novel also shows in particular Kenshins friendship with Kaoru, despite the fact its definitely not romantic...heh...

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: GREAT BOOK!!!!!!!!!
Review: This is one of my favorite graphic novels. This book starts off when Kaoru meets Kenshin, thinking he had murdered at will, considering that he has a sword. So, the story goes on introducing the rest of the gang. This is a great book for anyone who is intrested in Japanese history(note:this book is based on a true event that had happened in Japan, even the character Kenshin is based on a real man that had lived!!). Even though it might have some words that are unknown here in this country, most of them are in the mini glossery in the back of this book. So buy this book, you'll regret it!
C U SOON!^-^


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