Set in Japan’s tumultuous Meiji Era, Rurouni Kenshin is the
story of a wandering samurai who tries to atone for his bloody past. And
although it came out over a decade ago (in Japan), it’s still one of
the most unique manga out there, and one hell of a read.
The manga was a break-out hit for VIZ Media, coming out right when the
industry was heating up. Much of its success was tied to the fact that
it had already gained a large audience as an anime on Cartoon Network’s
popular Toonami block. To this day, it still holds a special place in
many fans’ hearts, as it was their introduction to the world of anime.
One of the Rurouni Kenshin manga’s greatest strengths is the
period in which it takes place. It’s set in the Meiji Era, which
signified the end of the samurai. Swords are outlawed and Japan was
becoming modernized and westernized. Naturally, when an era ends, there
are those reluctant to give up the old ways, and that’s where a lot of
the drama in the series comes from. It’s chock full of bitter swordsmen
who can’t survive in the new world and prefer to die fighting then to
acclimate. In other words, real men!
Another great feature of this manga is the intense amount historical
research Watsuki Sensei put into it. It’s full of fascinating footnotes
about Japanese history and the historical figures the characters are
based on. Not only do you learn a lot about Japanese history, it adds
context to the story, and is really fun to read. Yes, learning can be
fun!
Watsuki Sensei also explains in detail his thought process behind his
characters, and feelings about the manga in general. American comics
(especially X-Men and Spawn) have a huge influence on his character designs, as well as SNK fighting games like Samurai Showdown (Samurai Spirits in
Japan). Part of the fun of reading the manga is seeing new characters
and trying to guess the influences, then seeing if you’re right or wrong
in the “Secret Life of Characters” pages. And on top of all this, you
also get an inside look at Watsuki Sensei’s personal otaku habits and
the toys he collects. Very few manga give you this much insight into the
creative process and creator's life.
Watsuki Sensei’s art style is also very unique. His thick clean lines,
angular style and heavy use of contrast give his work a woodblock-print
look at times. His character designs are so angular at times; it almost
looks like he mathematically calculated their angles. His art is
instantly recognizable and still looks fresh all these years later.
But when it comes down to it, a manga is only as good as it’s main
character, and Himura Kenshin is one of the best. His calm polite
demeanor makes him instantly likeable. And his habit of referring to
himself as “this one” instead of the proper pronouns is a wonderful
touch. But inside the polite exterior lies a tortured man haunted by a
very bloody past. And that’s where the bulk of the plot lines of the
series come from. Despite his desire for a life of peace, Kenshin’s past
draws him back into a world of violence again and again.
The supporting cast adds a lot to the manga, as well. Kenshin’s got some
of the best rivals in any manga, hands down. And Watsuki Sensei does an
excellent job showing Kenshin’s friends’ growth right along with his.
Also, many of them get their own side stories as the series progresses,
giving you insight into their character.
The VIZBIGs come loaded with extras. Lots of color pages, nice paper quality, original author notes, and extra historical notes. Considering the amount of manga you get and the quality, the price of $17.99 is a great deal. The only niggling complaint I have is...these VIZBIGs really are BIG! And heavy! It’s quite a workout!
by Urian Brown
Source : http://shonenjump.viz.com/node/661
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