Rurouni Kenshin (Rurouni Kenshin)

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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!

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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: The world of manga just got better!
Review: Manga is a thing that never ceases to amaze me. There are dozens of truly wonderful books out there just waiting for a future obsessed fan to find them! I've read tons and tons of manga, but Rurouni Kenshen really is a breath of fresh air.
The story of the traveling swordsman always interested me. They always would talk about kenshin in my magazine, shonen jump, so I figured that would be the new manga they were going to add in. I was SOO mad when I found out that they had chose hikaru no go instead of kenshin. Why they did a stupid thing like that, I'll never know. What's inportant tho is that I read Rurouni kenshin today, and it was to DIE for!!!
Now, I've never seen the anime myself, but i know it never could have lived up to the manga. It's amazing that it was so good in the very first novel, most of the time the first of something is just kinda good and gets better from there, but kenshin is soo good!!
The story is really interesting. Finally there's a hero with a secret that you actually know about, none of that "mysterious" crap, which is good sometimes but mostly is just plain frustrating! You just totally fall in love with Kenshin on the first page. He's a true walking contradiction in every way. He's a swordsman who is polite, gentle, and just plain clueless at times! Not to mention he practically looks like a teenager when in fact he's 28 years old. His little quirks are delightfull from his cute facial expressions to his adorable little "oro?". I just love absolutly everything about Kenshin!!
It's soo great to see that even after all the series I've read from practically every genre, there are still awesome series out there like Rurouni Kenshin. Tho I think it's pretty obvious that there IS no series quite like Kenshin, it's great in every single way!!

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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!

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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: Impossible to resist!
Review: Seriously, how can anyone not like Rurouni Kenshin? I mean, it's got something for everyone-romance, comedy, action, history-what's not to like? The plot of these books is extremaly interesting, you never get bored and I am DYING to get the next one as soon as it comes out!
This series is about the swordsman Himura Kenshin, formerly known as Hitokiri Battosai (Battosai the Manslayer) As a hired assasin, he helped bring about the Meiji age and end the Bakumastu. Now, however, he uses no sword but a sakabatou (reverse blade) that can't kill anyone. He took to living as a rurouni (wanderer) but all that changed as he was confronted one day by Kamiya Kaoru, female instructor of Kamiya Kashin-ryu. Want to know what happens? You'll need a lot of commitment and a lot of money to find out, because the only downside to this series is that the whole story totals into a whopping 28 books! But if you're going to get into manga at all, this is definately a series worth buying!

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Summary: Great Storyline
Review: This is one of the best plots in any manga or animation. The theme caters both to the adult audience and the younger audience. Combine with the animation this series is a classic and a must have. The path of redemption is always hard, but to pair it with comedy makes it both serious and comedic in a way that it works. I would recommend this to any family.