Overview
This is one of the few times I am struggling to review a manga, not in a poor stereotypical fashion but in a way where I am trying to portray to you just how incredible Rurouni Kenshin is - but I can't. I could simply list a few statements such as; 'must-read-this-before-you-die', 'top-(insert number here)-manga-of-all-time', or use as many possible synonyms for 'masterpiece' as I can to try and convince you to read this manga.
Yet I don't know if I can. Many have seen the anime and view the dates as warning signs for "nostalgia" and animation which is simply too old to enjoy in modern terms - but that can't be farther from the truth in regards to the manga. I could write many more reviews on other sites, point to the statistically high amount of reviews which rate this manga in the 90+ range, or how when we sit in circles and forums talking about the greatest manga's we've read and the inspiration for many other pieces - Rurouni Kenshin is a manga which is always bounced around at one point or another.
Maybe it's the shonen tag and because of that it is slighted to be with other pieces because swordfights, ninjas and samurai are the predominant features of this all time classic - which sets up flags for readers as they bandwagon the manga with others. Yet, Rurouni Kenshin is not a 'samurai-manga' - let me see if I can elaborate just a bit before proceeding further.
As a reader and being apart of the anime community, do you know how we all like to 'tag' and 'group' things? Another "Isekai-Harem" anime, another "OP Main Character", or with one glance through of some artwork and the first chapter you're able to summarize how an anime or manga will be played out? You can not define this manga in the same way as you can majority of other pieces. This is not a 'shonen samurai manga', Rurouni Kenshin is a masterpiece story which is classified as a shonen and has samurai in it.
-
Rating: 98
What makes this piece so highly rated for me? Every part about it. True, when I saw the overview of the manga at first I was hesitant, expecting a 'boys manga' with lots of sword fighting and a group of friends who bring justice to a torn society. That can't be farther from the truth.
The art and story are perfect. It's honestly incredible just how well written and illustrated this piece is. It continuously keeps your attention, feeling natural, unforced and well paced as you read along. The art itself is the definition of 'balance' - not overly detailed or overly simplistic, it does what many manga's struggle to do: compliments the story where they work in unison to portray what is needed to the viewer. When you read it you are hooked, completely immersed and importantly - not distracted by the art or bored with the reading.
The characters are so well developed, with the perfect amount of backstory for almost all characters - which is a rarity. The growth and development of these characters is honestly the best part of the whole manga for me personally. It's a common trait which is found in classics and older shonen manga's where you instantly hook up with the characters, having a common ground with them and even before backstory kicks in - you feel as if you just "know" them. When you explore the characters and even when side-parties are introduced, it grows the story in a healthy manner - making you want more.
I could go on and on, but I'm not going to. Rurouni Kenshin is a manga which cannot be defined by a few tags or even with a demographic, whether you enjoy sword fighting or not I implore you to give this manga a read. The length is a healthy amount, feeling just right at 255 chapters, nor are there any portions which feel overly stretched.
The reason for the 98 is because it's damn-well near perfect for me and when it's that highly rated, the difference between a few points and perfection comes down to personal preference.