Rurouni Kenshin: Restoration, Vol. 1 (1)

First Off, when I got my product today, I was surprised by the thickness. So Yes, 78 Sheets (front and back cover considered 1 sheet each), making for a total of 156 pages, not the 192 on the Amazon description. So if your familiar with manga, the RK Restoration Manga is more similar in thickness to a CMX released manga than what I normally see from Viz. But than, that's understandable since this comes out on the heels of the Japanese release. But I thought I'd point this out, since I'm probably not the only one surprised :DAs for art style, my personal feelings are that the art sometimes feels "softer" than the original RK artwork, not that this is bad and not that this is true for the whole manga. In fact I like both styles fine and it doesn't affect my enjoyment either way. RK Restoration still boasts dramatic "lines" (my brain is too tired to figure out a better way to describe it xD) to depict the action and I feel that Watsuki-sensei does a terrific job of portraying action scenes on two dimensional media.As for the story itself, I don't want to reveal too much, but I will say that we are introduced to a larger portion of the main cast earlier than in the original. If it wasn't clear, RK Restoration is not a prequel or a sequel of the original RK, but in fact a parallel version of what could have happened if certain elements were changed. But at its core it stays true to a story about a samurai finding a potential home in a post war/samurai era with people who can accept him based on his present actions and not defining him by his past (yes, this is a very simplified version of the core story, and I know not very eloquently put, so please forgive me). I, personally, am looking forward to seeing what Watsuki-sensei does in order to make this version independent of the original and believe that he's made a very strong start (and have the oddest feeling that this version will be much shorter than the original...but don't take my word for it).On a side note, the volume contains the first 3 Acts of the opening Arc followed by a prequel that details what Kenshin was doing prior to meeting Kaoru and Company. This in turn is followed by collected author's note (about 5 of them) that explains Watsuki-sensei's thoughts on media created from his work as well as the thought process behind why he picked up his pen again and how he came to his decision for what he decided would become RK Restoration. All of which, I personally found interesting.Either way, I really hope that this new version entertains old fans like myself and also opens up the world of Rurouni Kenshin (both new and old versions) to a new audience :D

This title, Rurouni Kenshin: Restoration is so named as it is a different take on the famous manga and anime character from Nobuhiro Watsuki. Years after the series originally ended, the author inked a deal for a live-action film about the titular character. To coincide with this film, Watsuki decided to finally pen new Kenshin stories.But he faced a quandary. Where could he place the stories in the existing manga adventures? Afterword would be not really about Kenshin so much, and as a prequel would be filled with great Kenshin action, but not many of the other beloved characters such as Kaoru, Sanosuke, Yahiko, or Megumi. So what to do?Watsuki solved this by deciding to do an "alternate" telling of the exciting manga stories. Several details are different in this rather fast-paced retelling, but the essential facts of the history and of the characters remained the same.The author admits outright that he loves American comics, and that he is used to alternate worlds and takes on characters, so he figured why not do an alternate take on Kenshin and company.I think the author did quite well with such a fast-paced, condensed version. The stories are exciting so that new readers ought to greatly enjoy them, current fans of the original manga will also enjoy the new spin on some of the storylines and characters of old.The only problem I would cite is that Watsuki didn't quite do so well in fleshing out the characters and interactions in such a condensed format. I hope he has a couple of more volumes to expand on the characterization and make it work better overall.I do like how consistent Kenshin is in his almost-pacifism. He will mess you up if you mess with him or his loved ones. But he will not kill you, and it takes a lot to make him even fight at all. He is no coward though, but a deeply troubled from the war, yet prodoundly moral, person. I empathize and really like him, and this manga kept the essence of Kenshin, even with a few details (minor ones) different.This new look at the Rurouni Kenshin characters and stories is a great read I am sure on Kenshin fan, or manga fan in general, will enjoy.Highly Recommmended.

Nobuhiru Watsuki has become somewhat notorious in the West after his big hit, "Rurouni Kenshin"; unfortunately for him none of his later series became such a landmark in manga nor anime as his period work based on the Bakumatsu and the early Meiji era (his later works being very, well, "unique" I suppose and experimental in storytelling). So, when the new live action movie came about I was quite pleasantly surprised that he would be doing a manga based off of the live action story!It's...not bad! Although at this point, and it being only the first volume, character development isn't too strong just yet. It's somewhat hard to judge it in that respect though; fans already know these characters quite well but to see them re-explored is a kind of disjointed experience. Maybe Watsuki is arguably flexing his muscles with this story again after so long! But discrepancies aside, as the stand alone 'cineban' version this has a lot of potential.Honestly what I think old fans will appreciate the most is the Chapter Zero that is introduced in this volume. It takes place very shortly before the main story of Rurouni Kenshin is set to begin and Kenshin meets a doctor, befriends them, and goes head to head with a brand new antagonist. It is a little "wild" (like a lot of Watsuki's new stuff being experimental and fantastical) but nevertheless it is a cool story. I'm having fun so far!

I'm a fan of the series, well fan is a bit of an understatement. I have all the manga books and when I came across this one I was excited. the storylines are different but the artwork is top notch, I quite enjoyed the slight tweaks to everyones charters and look's.I think if Watsuki had had a longer run then this reboot would have been allot better. but as it is I think too much was packed into too shot a time and it suffers for this.But if your just looking for a bit of fun then this is a nice accompaniment to your collection. I enjoyed it myself but then I'm able to not let the differences from he original to the new cloud my judgment on the matter. I enjoyed the artwork, the fight screens and the charters.Yes there's too much packed in and it's not a patch on the original series but it's a fun read that i enjoyed :)

As a huge fan of Rurouni Kenshin, back in the days (more than 10 years ago!!!), I was obviously excited/nervous with the news of a live-action movie. Fortunately the movie was amazing, and with the resurgence of interest Watsuki agreed to draw a little movie-companion version of Rurouni Kenshin.And that is what this is. This is not canon, or a replacement. This is a sort of "alternate universe" Kenshin, loosely related to the movie (and I mean loosely), in Watsuki's new style.Having re-read the full manga recently, I have to admit to not being a big fan of Watsuki's new drawing style, but that's obviously a personal preference, and doesn't reflect too much on my opinion of this volume. What does reflect the 3 stars is the pace and structure of the story. Probably because of its conception as a bit of a lark to go with the movie, it feels rushed, poorly developed, and the story doesn't flow (it sort of stutters along) as well as it could between scenes. As for the characters, Watsuki seems to switch awkwardly from trying to make Kenshin "harder" and more "comedic" than originally. This results in a Kenshin that feels "off" from the original character.If this was a new manga, I'm not sure how successful it would be (not very, I'm guessing). As a curio to add to the Kenshin universe, it's fine. But the movie is, funnily enough, more in keeping in style and feel with the canon Kenshin that this.In conclusion, enjoy this for what it is, but don't expect too much out of it.

I cannot help compare these comics to the originals. They are work is good but I have to say I am not a fan of the fight scenes they seem to be shown in a blur with smudges for the point of impact. The story seem to be rushed, also I am not really a fan of having finishing the volume with a prequel. That could just be me as I hate prequels. However it is annoying have a cliff hanger than a prequel set 5 days before the main story started. The main thing I do like about this volume is that Kenshin is less of a clown when he is not in his fighting persona. Sanosuke as well seems to have jumped a little in his evolution as he has already mastered the 2 layer attack before his first fight with Kenshin. He mentions he lean it from a monk. This is an example of how this is rushed was 3 volumes of the originals and skill learned later on by the characters as they faced greater challenges are squeezed into on. An ok summary and reboot but I prefer the originals.

I don't know the intention of this Manga but in comparison to the old Kenshin Mangas it makes me sad. Bad story telling. Very confusing for a old Kenshin fan.