Customer Reviews

Rurouni Kenshin, Vol. 28

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3 years, 28 volumes, and over 200 dollars later, it has all come down to this. This one, and RuroKen fans alike, must say goodbye to the hitokiri that cheered me. A sorrow for its end, but a joy in the acknowledgment that there wouldn't be another volume that needs to be spent. That's a sad thing to say but we must move on, but we shouldn't forget the memories we have for this Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story. It's not a perfect series, but in the long haul, "Rurouni Kenshin" still has heart, action, laughter, not much on the perversion and stupidity in retrospect, but plenty on the et cetera. It's interesting how the manga changed in quality since the first volume.

For the first printing, this volume includes a double-sided color poster that I'll never use. Extras aside, what disappoints me about this volume is that Viz Media didn't include the side story of grown-up Yahiko Myojin. Granted it wasn't included in the Japanese version, but that would've been a much better addition than a preview of an upcoming manga series.

Anyway, we now come into the climax that is volume 28. Kenshin and the vengeful Enishi continues their pinnacle duel for the past: one fights for redemption, the other fights for the smile of his departed sister Tomoe, because everything else about her isn't important. We all knew of the inevitable outcome this final battle would occur, it's all about how it's done. Watsuki does a great job of concluding this battle without losing Kenshin's purpose in the process or making the villain see his wrongful doing so sudden. Kenshin wants to atone for his hitokiri past, and in the manner that proceeds outside the circumstances, he manage to achieve it without making it seem farce.

Not to say that his past has been cleansed, but with the influences of his allies and his un-killing bravado, he became more accepting to his past. His ambitions have finally been reached and now he must put down his reverse-blade sword. All these times of fighting using the style of Hiten Mitsurugi have been taking a toll for his little body, so in order to live strong, he must stop fighting.

Nobuhiro Watsuki promised us "Rurouni Kenshin" will have a happy ending, and he proceed on doing so. Though it build on the consistency of characters departing, the epilogue showed a new beginning four years afterwards and has shown a sense of development for certain grown characters regarding the past, present, and future. While the times have changed, the ways that Kenshin followed will never wither.

What a great way to conclude this long-running series. There wasn't much of a reunion to speak of, but the finale showed of the main characters moving on with their lives and do the best they can for themselves; it was especially touching on Yahiko's part. Until the very end, "Rurouni Kenshin" is still one of the few shonen manga that has a deep story while maintaining this light-hearted content that'll appeal to everyone. I've grown to love the action, the unorthodox characters (except for Misao), Kenshin's mannerisms, and the concept of honor and life, along with the readings of Watsuki's obsession over Samurai Showdown and action figures. I'll miss the series, but as long as Watsuki can draw, we can expect more of him in the future: "Buso Renkin" anyone?


- EXIT REVIEW

[Reviewer's View: The Jinchu Arc]

I do have some views about the Jinchu arc; I could talk about the arcs before, but most of you have seen the anime version, either on DVD or on Cartoon Network, so there's no need. Personally, I find the whole arc to be a hit-and-miss. The arc reveals Kenshin's morbid yet surprisingly-humorous past (compared to the OAVs) as a hitokiri, explaining how he got his cross-shaped scar (which leads to an ironic reputation, no less), and how one expression-less woman changed his violent ethics into the pacifist he is now. There was a huge character point in the arc when Enishi "killed" Kaoru (which is actually a fake corpse, which most of us saw this coming), which led to Kenshin go into this motionless emo phase, reminiscing and regretting about his failures until he's back on his feet when he realizes that the past shouldn't change the good of what he's doing now, and that was before he knew Kaoru's really alive. Those were the good parts.

My biggest irk about the Jinchu arc is the main villain: Enishi Yukishiro. I just couldn't see him as a bad-to-the-bone villian; he's not as dangerous as Shishio or Saito, and I'm sure even Jin-E could've whupped him. I can understand his reasons are more personal, and while his attempts are threatening, his persona couldn't match. Then again, he's not so much a villain as he is a viral fragment of Kenshin's bloody memories. It's more bothersome when the sub-villains, some are wicked like the long-armed "Carnage"-like freak, are taken out early in the arc. When I found out about Enishi's weakness and the capture of Kaoru, the story and the pacing starts to become lukewarm as if Watsuki's doing the manga on auto-pilot. Overall, the arc may be a heck of a lot [better] than the final arc created for the anime, but it just isn't as grand as I expected. At least it brought out a great closure.

Enishi, a crazed young man whose sister was killed by Kenshin years ago, has come back to haunt Kenshin. After casting Jinchu (judgement) on Kenshin and 'killing' Kaoru, Kenshins love interest, he runs away with Kaoru captive to his remote island.

Kenshin, depressed he could not save Tomoe (Enishis sister and kenshins previous wife) and now could not save Kaoru, goes off and sulks. While he is finding the 'truth' of whether he, having killed so many, should die or live, his friends battle on and he is finally convinced to go off and find Kaoru.

This book depicts Kenshin and his final battle with Enishi. Although almost superhuman, Enishi ends up with real human feelings. The battle between crazed brother and depressed hitokiri is short, and ends with the secret move amakakeru ryu no hirameki. After Enishi is taken away by the police, kenshin and kaoru are reunited. I won't say anymore for those who haven't read it yet, but the ending is really sweet.

The battle with Enishi ends. Everyone returns home, beaten and battered yet somehow stronger than before they fought. Now come more tears as goodbyes are said. One leaves to help the people in her home province, another to see the world, and another forgoes the battle he's waited years to fight in.

Kenshin and Kaoru are now at a crossroads. Will they move forward as a couple? Can Kenshin let go of his past once and for all?

The only thing I dislike is that they put a short story called Meteor Strike and a preview for Buso Renkin in after RK when many fans thought they would include Yahiko's Sakabatou as an after story in this volume as the Spanish release had done.

Everything comes together in this beautiful, but sadly short volume that closes the great saga of Rurouni Kenshin.

Watsuki promised a happy end, and that's basically what we got. None of my favorite characters got killed. I'm an avid Kenshin/Kaoru shipper, so I was satisfied by their relationship.
I have only one tiny complaint: the notes about Kenji at the end. He's going to be a twisted genius? More self-centered than Shishio? I'll choose to ignore these notes.

Overall, this is my favorite manga series, and I'd recommend it to anyone who likes manga.

Wow this was a great ending. Some authors fall apart at the end of a book or series but he didnt. Wanted to know more of what happened to some of the characters but guess ill have to wait. I dont want to spoil the ending so i wont say anymore. If youve read the otheres and are thinkin if you really should by this book dont think just do it its worth it. If you havent read the other books read them first because this is truly a great series and a classic. At the end of the book it has somje previews of his other work.

Finally after 27 volumes da Rurouni Kenshin Series is finally over. i am gonna spoil da ending.......da fight between Kenshin and Enishi comes to a powerful climax wen both use there final and most powerful styles. It ends wit obviuosly Kenshin winning and Enishi goin 2 jail(but he escapes). Everyone is leaving Tokyo including Megumi, Sanosuke and Aoshi and Misao leaving just Kenshin, kaoru and Yahiko. After da sad departure from friends 5 years past entering the 15th year of the Meiji.

During this time Yahiko becomes leading instructor of da Kamiya Kasshin Dojo( unbeleivably he is known as da 5th best swordsman in all East Japan and has at least 18 pupils). Kenshin and Kaoru have a 4 year old son named Kenji (yea there married n had SEX). Kenshin faced Yahiko one more time because on the 15th birthday of a swordsman there is a tradition dat a master or guardian faces there pupil to see how much they matured over the years. It ends up in a draw and Kenshin gives Yahiko his Sakabato (reversed-blade sword). and den it ends happily with Kenshins family walkin and all dat.

One more thing about da book.......wen I saw how long it was I was expecting a long satisfying ending to da series but it ended up bein jus half of the book. the second half of the book is a short story from Nabhiro Watski called "Meteor Strike" and den after dat is a preview to another series Nabuhiro is workin on. so don't expect da whole 200 sumthin pages to be all bout Kenshin..............