12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Kenshin and the art of analytical mediocrity, November 13, 2005
This review is from: Rurouni Kenshin Profiles (Shonen Jump Graphic Novel) (Paperback)
- REVIEW
If you've just recently come to this page, then you're a "Rurouni Kenshin" fan like me. But unlike me, you're probably otaku enough to have the anime DVDs, the soundtracks, wall scrolls, posters, plush toys, figures, costumes, video games, and those little imported candies with the RuroKen name on it. I'm more of an avid manga fan myself, so it makes sense that buying "Rurouni Kenshin Profiles" follows the original source material...almost TOO well. As a 200-page fact guide of all things Hitokiri, this book is good for what it really is: a literary equivalent of a glorified clip show, and I hate clip shows (along with recaps, "previously ons...", and so on).
Fans will be sorely disappointed hoping this will be page-after-page of illustrative beauty; there's a reason this book is called "Rurouni Kenshin PRO-FILES." However, this book does contain the first 15 pages of assorated color prints (most you've probably seen before) along with a folded 3-page Meiji timeline which is also an attractive insert poster of Kenshin and Kaoru (who knew Kaoru actually had somethin' under that kimono, if you know what I mean).
"RK Profiles" covers the knowledge of all the characters from the series, from the beginning Meiji arc to the near-final battle in the Kyoto arc. As it define each person's characteristics, it occasionally has some pop-up text to further dimension their personas. It's a good start for newbie fans to know a little more about their favorites, like almost every male character has an AB blood type; it's disappointing that the only character that has the same blood type as my own is a villian...but at least it's Aoshi. The six-chapter book also delves into the storyline, deeply retelling how everything has happened up to the kyoto arc. That's the problem for fans who HAVE read the current volumes of the series, because if you've already read the story before, why do you need to read it again on a different medium? Besides, what RuroKen fan doesn't know that Sanosuke Sagara used to be a member of the Sekihotai, runned by his idol leader, Sozo Sagara, who was executed by the federal government?
Despite some rehash information, there were a few good things in "RK Profiles." The book has "sword commentaries", pop-ups describing each of the characters' swords by their strengths, weaknesses, and their origins. It included some historical facts about the series timeline, and the info of an real-life historical figure that influenced the creation of Kenshin Himura. There's also sections called "The mystery of chapter...", when each chapters cover theories of events that has or hasn't occured in the series, and then comes up with a conclusion that was explained in the deduction, like who did Kenshin killed during his Hitokiri days.
Finally, there's an interview with the author of "Rurouni Kenshin", which was informative, but extremely dated, because another big problem with the "RK Profiles" is that it's incomplete. Originally published in Japan 3 years before the manga series' completion, if you're buying this book, you're only gettin' half the knowledge of what the series is comprised of. The book ends during the middle of the Kyoto arc, and you won't know anything else of what happened afterwards: how Kenshin got his scar, his whole past as a hitokiri, everything from the new arc, not even the final battle between Kenshin and Makoto Shishio.
Once you've read the whole 28 volumes of the manga series, this book will become almost disposible. It had some interesting facts never discussed in the manga, but you can get most of those facts on the net. Should hardcore RuroKen fans buy this Profile book? Yes, this is a decent enough guide to add to their collection, and it's not completely useless as to be given away. Should any fan even bother with this? No...not if you want to spend $15 to stroll down memory lane.
This is Del Keyes, saying "You might as well buy two more Shonen Jump manga for your 15 bucks."
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
a nice book for the money, January 16, 2006
This review is from: Rurouni Kenshin Profiles (Shonen Jump Graphic Novel) (Paperback)
Although this profiles volume does have its content problems, it also offers a fun hodgepodge of historical facts, quick "history checks," and visual excerpts (single panels, cutouts) from the manga. Also included: some theorizing about such things as what Kenshin did during his decade of wandering and why he sided with the Choshu, backed by Watsuki's own take on them. The graphic layout alone is worth the price amazon is asking ($10.15 at this time), although I must add, if like me you have the original 1996 Japanese version of "Profiles," don't expect the gorgeous printing job, with beautifully saturated black ink, that you find there.
As for the content, sure there's some lame stuff, like overly dramatic line type in headline style; but this wasn't meant to be great literature. It's what the title says it is: a profiles guide. My only real complaint is that sorely little space was allowed for the inner margins, where the book is bound, so the text and pix cramp into the binding. The text is still readable, just uncomfortably so. (I don't think this was the bindery's fault, as the outer margins are pretty consisent ... looks like the inner margins were set too narrow.) Still, all in all, I think this is worth the bucks, especially if you simply enjoy the visual quality of Watsuki-san's manga and would like to view selected images from it in a different context.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fact vs. Fiction, May 16, 2006
This review is from: Rurouni Kenshin Profiles (Shonen Jump Graphic Novel) (Paperback)
Being a big fan of both the Rurouni Kenshin manga and anime I had to get this book. Not only is it full of pictures from the manga but also character profiles, files on history of the Meiji Restoration and the real people the characters are based on. Chapters on the battles, questions about Kehshin's past and a interview with Nobuhiro Watsuki help complete the book.
I had to take away a star because the book came out around 1996 so it covers the story only up to Act 102.
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