Rurouni Kenshin is a rare gem---I am satisfied but it leaves me wanting more. Not for the fighting scenes, which are mediocre. Not for the plot execution, which can get tedious. Not even for the length, which has more fluff than exposition. But for the characters, who are multi-dimensional, humorous, and selfless.

I do, however, wish Kaoru was written with more strength and direction. She is introduced as a badass fighter but rarely ever uses her talents.

... Last updated on February 20th, 2017, 12:44am

I loved this manga at first sight. I love it so much I keep on re reading and re watching it over and over again. I actually liked the author's art better in this than in his future look seems like it went from bad ass anime style to another One Piece style but oh well I love this manga in one of my favorite manga's of all time.

I love Kenshin! This was one of the first shounen mangas I read, so it's very dear to me. Unlike your typical mainstream shounen series, this manga not only attempts but succeeds in conveying a deeper meaning and in enlightening certain aspects of the human condition. The characters, I think, are RK's strongest point. They are well-rounded, likeable, and beautifully developed. The adorkable eponymous Kenshin is highly complex in terms of character and at the same time is very human and sympathetic. Each character gets his or her share of development, making for an extremely colorful cast.

One aspect of Rk that I particularly appreciated was Watsuki's portrayal of women. The heroine Kaoru is strong, independent, and genuine. There are no damsels in this manga. In fact, arguably the strongest character in the entire series is Tomoe, and her direct role in the story isn't even all that big. As a feminist, I was very pleased with the number of strong and reliable women in this manga. Even Big Bad Shishio's lover Yumi, apparently a prostitute, proves to be a strong character with her strategic thinking and unwavering devotion. As a side note, the girls of RK all have relatively NORMAL body proportions. Thank God.

There are a lot of boring, drawn-out, and highly implausible fight scenes in this manga which could easily have been removed to create a better flow. I guess that's to be expected for a manga serialized in a weekly publication. Usually, they aren't too-too cumbersome, and since this is an older manga, I can forgive it its faults. The art is beautiful, and the character designs are generally very good. The lines are soft, almost wispy-looking, creating a nostalgic sort of feeling. I wish this were a style employed more often in shounen manga.

Overall, this manga is fantastic, certainly groundbreaking in its genre. I highly recommend this sweet story with its endearing characters. It's definitely a classic!

... Last updated on August 21st, 2011, 4:16pm

Rurouni Kenshin is in the top ten on my list of the best manga out there. The plot is great, the fighting scenes are amazing and never repetitive (or longwinded like SDK), the characters (even the supporting characters) are likeable and sympathetic, the pacing of the story is so perfect that you'll never get bored. Kenshin is definitely a great hero, someone who fights for what he believes in, as an idealistic Battousai or as a peace-loving Rurouni. There are times when I get a little angry with him for not killing his opponent, even when his opponent would readily kills him in a heartbeat. But that's what makes him Himura Kenshin, and I really admire him for sticking to his beliefs.
I would recommend Rurouni Kenshin to anyone who loves a great story, one with a consistent plot and strong characters development. 28 volumes went by really fast for me (I was wishing for more).

... Last updated on July 11th, 2011, 4:33pm

Rurouni Kenshin has to be THE best manga our there. All though others have come close (in my opinion) of being just as good, Kenshin is the only one I can see myself re-reading again and again and still loving every minute.

It's also the first manga I read, which means without it I probably wouldn't be an anime/manga fan. And I love that even though it has action, it's not too bloody/gory (except in a few chapters) because of Kenshin's sakabatou and his vow. Not to mention that it's hilarious yet serious/touching at times, has great art work, good story-line, memorable and lovable characters, and a splash of romance. Which, for me, it was perfect.

This series started out great in terms of of narrative. As the series progressed though, the story was replaced with a goal in each arc. This produced many well done fights that helped me continue on with the story.

*If you don't want to read everything I wrote, then just skip to the last section. That's what's most important.

Rurouni Kenshin is a brilliant classic that will appeal to all types of audiences. It is well thought out, a perfect length, with interesting multi-dimensional characters.

Plot
This manga starts out taking place during the tenth year of the Meiji era (during the 1800s), when the carrying of swords just became illegal and the art of the samurai is on the decline. It is about an exceptionally skilled samurai who fought as war assassin for several years before suddenly, without warning, disappearing. The manga begins with the meeting of a young dojo master (Kaoru) and this mysterious wanderer (Kenshin) who has sworn never to kill again (ooo, I wonder who he could possibly be). They become friends and face many challenges together, along with the friends they pick up along the way.

Characters
The main characters are interesting and all very likable.
Kenshin: Appearance: Very kind, a little dumb, funny. Reality: Very intelligent and highly skilled, but still kind. He's the sort of character who is just plain good. He uses his powers (extreme skill, unbeatableness) for good and not evil
Kaoru: The female lead. She's been one of my all-time favorite characters for a long time, because she's so simple. By simple, I do not in any way mean stupid. She is actually very smart, and knows swordsmanship well. By simple, I mean that she always expresses how she feels. Whether she's happy, angry, jealous, frustrated, whatever, everyone knows it. Also, she's a horrible cook, which is an ongoing gag in this series, as she gets really angry when people insult her cooking.
Yahiko: Kaoru's student.Very stubborn and often argues with Kaoru.
Sanosuke: A fighter for hire who becomes friends with Kenshin and Kaoru. He's kind of your classic shounen male lead. He's strong (but not nearly as strong as Kenshin) and tough (way tougher than Kenshin) and a basic element to the story.
Megumi: A doctor who becomes friends with Kenshin, Kaoru, etc. She has a thing for Kenshin, but they don't make it into a big deal in the manga. She's your classic, beautiful/graceful japanese woman. However, she really likes to get on Kaoru's nerves, because she knows Kaoru is jealous of her cooking skills and elegancy etc.

The author spends a nice amount of time developing each of the characters, as they all are strong and want to help Kenshin in their own way. Sanosuke, especially, is often seen fighting alongside Kenshin.

Art
Starts out pretty good for a shounen manga. Gets to be really good. Then goes down a little bit, but stays really good. If I were to grade it out of ten, I'd say: 8, 10, 9.

Appeal
Here's why this manga will appeal to everyone.

1)
It has all the basic elements. Comedy (which everyone likes), romance (between the two leads, and no, that is not a spoiler at all), history, really intricate battles with well-thought out techniques, and a journey. By this I mean, the characters are trying to reach a goal, not just loafing around aimlessly.

2)
None of the characters are annoying, or a major liability.

3)
The plot twists. The first arc is pretty straightforward, and is basically what you'd expect it to be. However it is done very well, so that it feels like a classic, rather than a copy of a classic. Then comes the second arc, and it throws you head over heals. Trust me, no one expected what the second arc brought. Surprise after surprise after surprise, and twists you never would have seen coming. It is very nice in contrast to the first arc, because between the two, all the basic elements that you could hope for in a story are covered.

4)
Satisfying ending. Maybe you won't love it, maybe it won't be the best ending ever for you, but you'll be satisfied with it. You don't feel let down by the way this one ends.

5)
The fights never get repetitive. Even for someone like me, who isn't all that into battles, the fights in Rurouni Kenshin were interesting. That's because there were always new techniques that were being used and you honestly couldn't tell how a battle would end up. And it wasn't just for the protagonist. His enemies always had new techniques as well. So the fights were very capable of captivating your interest, no matter who you were.

So check it out. It isn't the most profound manga in the world, but it is a classic, and it just makes you feel good to read it. And sure it's a little older, but in my opinion, it easily outweighs some of those most popular shounens of today, such as Naruto and Bleach.
By the way if you can, I would suggest reading it in volume form. It's just better that way.

... Last updated on November 5th, 2010, 8:48pm

If you're a fan of any type of manga I would recommend this to you. It's got everything you could ask for and even more. Romance, comedy, tragedy, action, even history! What amazes me the most is that all of it fits together perfectly. Combine that with interesting and deep characters, fantastic artwork, and a deep and flowing plot and you get Rurouni Kenshin. I could probably write pages of praise for this and it still wouldn't be enough. This is the only manga I've taken the time to read through more than once and I can honestly say it's well worth it.

Anyways, don't waste any more time reading what I'm saying here and just start reading Rurouni Kenshin already.

OMG !! Kenshin was one of the first manga I start reading !! unforgettable !! well there was sad moments and funny ones ! I really loved the art and the story !! I was so much into Kenshin story and his dark past... really original and true... such an amazing manga !

Another classic.

Art, characters, action - all great. It was the depth to Kenshin that drew me into the story, wanting to learn more about his past.

The beginning dragged quite a bit for me. For a while, it felt repetitive and aimless. But then someone along the way the author discovered the direction in the story and from there, its wonderful. Worth a read!