Rating: 
Summary: No more of the to be continued stuff!!!!!!!!!!!!
Review: FINALLY, the Kenshin manga is available in English! If you're coming in blind, this is a story set during the Meiji (late 1800s), Japan's restoration period after the Bakumatsu revolution. If you're already confused, that's one of the few drawbacks about this title: being a partially historical period piece, it relies on some familiarity with Japanese history. However, all pertinent events are explained in the story, and Viz has included a short glossary of terms and events in the back. The only other setback might be a concern over how appropriate this is for younger children. I would say that Kenshin is best for ages 11+, due to the occasional violence and political tone. The focus of this story is more about finding peace than fighting, so the violence is coupled with lessons about the meaning of true strength, etc. If you're okay letting your child watch samurai dramas or kung-fu movies, then Kenshin is fine.
I felt it best to start with concerns since I've heard them from parents. But if you're coming into this series after viewing the anime, or are like me a long-time manga reader, you know that Kenshin is worth reading for the endearing characters and gripping story. It manages to be equally dramatic and humorous with telling ease, and doesn't skimp on the romance OR the action. Even when you know it's dipping a bit too far into martial arts cliche, even when you know what's going to happen, Kenshin's story is always worth following, and has garnered a huge worldwide following since the manga first started in 1996. It's almost 10 years later, and fans still get choked up, excited, and laugh out loud when they see either the book or the show.
To new fans, it might be fun to watch the anime AND read the manga to note the differences in how the stories are presented, but neither is dependent on the other. The manga is probably a fuller Kenshin experience due to the added depth. The anime follows the book through the Kyoto story arc (season 2 in the show), but then departs from the original material, so around volume 10 in the manga starts all new storylines that make this piece of work even richer.
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Summary: Tons of value packed into the manga.
Review: First off, the first 6 acts are great, with lots of action, good character designs and allows you great insight into the characters themselves. The anime pretty much follows this manga, with only a few changes. There is a cool glossary in the back and character information is spread through-out. A bonus story in the end is in fact the FIRST story - Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story. This short story came out a year before the Rurouni Kenshin series - the star is left unnamed, but we all know who he is. Volume One is truly a great gift for fans of the anime, of Japanese history or of cool sword fights!
Rating:
Summary: Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story
Review: I am a very large fan of the Rurouni Kenshin series, and I've found this to be a very good translation. It certainly could have been a lot worse. For instance, they've kept the right-to-left format and didn't flip the images, meaning Kenshin's scar is still on the proper cheek. Also, they've kept the names in the surname, given name format as well. That might not be as important, but it makes me appreciate the translation more. Also, they didn't translate every single word. For example, Battousai is referred to as "hitokiri" Battousai rather than "manslayer" Battousai. The honorifics were also kept, which would have seriously hurt the translation if they were taken out. There's a big difference between "Miss Kaoru" and "Kaoru-dono in the level of formality. "Miss Kaoru" could just as easily be "Kaoru-san." But "Kaoru-san" is certainly _not_ the same thing as "Kaoru-dono," and shows a good deal about the personality of the rurouni through his humility. They also kept Kenshin's "oro"s, which made me very happy. If you're looking for this manga to be exactly like the anime, its not. Its better. It has the elements of the anime- the seriousness and dark themes punctuated by silly humor and lighthearted romance- but a continuing storyline. This is Rurouni Kenshin in its truest form, other than the original manga published in Japan. The manga will also go into the Revenge Arc, which was never animated. If you've never seen it before, it is a wonderful series dealing with a turbulent period in Japanese history. Themes of decisions and consequences ring through its pages with storylines that occasionally become very dark. But the darkness never lasts too long as Watsuki manages to incorporate plenty of lighthearted humor and romance. So try it out, you'll be pleasantly surprised.
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Summary: The Wandering Samurai
Review: I have seen the original (Japanese) series and I think that the book is a great added feature to anime fans all over. I have seen the English TV series, but especially prefer the Japanese version. The manga (volumes) are a bit more closer to the Japanese version, but are more vivid and definitely more graphic than the TV versions all together. I really enjoy Kenshin and I really appreciated the work put into this anime!
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Summary: Kenshin!!!!!
Review: I love Rurouni Kenshin it is one of my fav. anime's and manga's but my friends gave me the nick name Kenshin and i didn't know who that was then i saw the show and i fell in love with it insantly so i recomend it for anybody
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Summary: JUST AWESOME
Review: I love this manga so much! It's shonen, but i'm a huge fan of shonen(Even though I'm a girl) so it dind't bother me that much. Currently, there are 11 vols. out and i have all of them. There are 28 vols. of RK, so i suggest u save ur money!(Hint: 12 is coming out next month!!!^_^) Also, after u read it, you'll never forget Kenshin's favorite pharse: "ORO!!!" LOL
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Summary: KENSHIN IS THE B-E-S-T!!!!!!!!
Review: Okay, I saw the ad for the anime on tv, and then and there I decided to watch the show...and it was amzazing. Then I bought all the mangas out so far...and they are just as great!!!!! I love it!! I love Rurouni Kenshin it is a great anime. I love the storyline, and it's full of History/Action/Romance/Comedy/ and Drama.
I recommend it for everyone, anybody who enjoys a good laugh or drama will love this anime/manga. Not to mention Kenshin's in here and so is Sano...and many more. You can't see or read this show without having a favorite character or episode in the end. It's amazing!! ^_^
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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!
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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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Summary: THIS MANGA IS COMPLETELY AWESOME!!!
Review: This is one of the best manga I've ever read!!!! The story is very good. It's a little different than the anime series, but I like the manga better!!! I don't know why people are complaining about the translations though, if you're a tyical American that don't know Japanese it don't matter to you does it?!!! Anyway I'm just gonna' give you a little info on this manga, but don't worry I won't give away the whole book!!
This book starts out where, just like in the anime, Kamiya Kaoru attacks a rurouni (wanderer) because he's wielding a sword which is against the law, and also because a killer calling himself Hitokiri Battosai has been going on a murdering spree using Kaoru's family fighting style, Kamiya-Kashin-Ryu. 10 or 11 years ago in the bakamatsu, a warrior named Himura Battosai (nicknamed "Hitokiri" Battosai, because hitokiri is the Japanese word for assasin) killed people in the shadowy night for the Meiji government. It turns out the man Kaoru attacked was but a mere rurouni named Himura Kenshin (hmm). After finding out who the killer claiming himself to be Hitokiri Battosai is, Kenshin defeats him and his goons revealing himself to Kaoru as the real Hitokiri Battosai and uses the Battosai's signature fighting style Hiten-Mitsurugi-Ryu. Kaoru though, let's him stay at the dojo and he is known by Kaouru and his friends as Himura Kenshin.
After the first chapter which I just described Kenshin gets into more adventures involving an evil cop, a street thief, a fighter-for-hire, and more!!
To put in short, this book is very exciting, an excellent, story with excellent art, exellent fight scenes, and excellent humor. I advise you to buy it and buy all the other ones! It is most certainly worth every single penny!!!! ^_^
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