This review is from the point of view of somebody who is indifferent to, and rarely indulges in the "Shonen Battle Series" genre. While it is true that long-time devotees of a genre have undeniable value in judging works within that genre, I believe the perspective of an outsider is valuable as well. If a newcomer doesn't 'get' or 'like' something, it's something to be considered, especially if a genre wants to attract new fans. Now down to business with this manga classic...

"Rurouni Kenshin" is licensed in the US by Viz Media.

-Story-

I typically ignore Shonen Battle series for the same reason I ignore American superhero comics: overly-long plots that constantly reset to the status quo, lose focus in a swamp of side arcs, and lack storytelling depth (I'm indisputably in the 'Seinen' demographic now, so 'Teamwork' and 'Friendship' aren't the most exciting themes). The tendency for a character to get a convenient power-up at just the right time because Deus Ex Machina doesn't help either. And 'RuroKen' shows many of these flaws. The characters always seem to find a justification to take an action that prolongs the current arc, villains insist on fighting man-to-man duels even when they could launch an overwhelming attack with all their forces, and physics only applies when the story feels like it. But mixed in with all the textbook Shonen Battle series tropes are some very good moments of comedy (one reason I came to anime and manga in the first place was the fact that I found the over-the-top gags hilarious), moments where a character would come off as completely badass and I just had to sit there in awe (AKA every time Saito Hajime appears) and even -to my surprise- some thematic depth. RuroKen touches on a topic I don't think is covered often in the Shonen Battle genre: the disconnect between ideals and reality. Although Kenshin had fought to destroy the old Shogunate and establish the new Meiji Imperial Government, this new Meiji government is far from perfect. It can be very pragmatic about when and how it follows its official ideals, infighting and corruption plague it as much as any other government, and it has more than few dirty secrets from the civil war that it would REALLY like to stay secret. The series doesn't shy from the fact that social change rarely happens quickly or completely- the revolution that the Meiji promised is still ongoing and far from finished.

-Art-

Watsuki is well-known for the high degree of influence Shojo manga had on his art style (an early one-shot designed to test out 'RuroKen' hardly even looks like a JUMP manga), although over the 5 year run of the series there is a subtle shift to a more traditionally Shonen look. Backgrounds are solid, but it's character designs that truly shine. Yes, some do stick to traditional manga archetypes (spiky hair abounds) and not every character design is a hit (one-shot villains suffer the worst), but there is still a great deal of variety (and for fans of American comics, more than a few 'X-Men' and 'Spawn' references to catch). Also important, the battle choreography is dramatic and easy to follow (I've dealt with more than one series where I couldn't follow what was going on due to confusing presentation). The art is thoroughly 'manga' and thoroughly good.

-Character-

The characters are highly entertaining, but they're also one-trick ponies (of course, if you're Saito Hajime and your one trick is "I'm an absolute badass who remorselessly slays evil on sight", why change? But I digress...) What you see when they enter the story is what they are when they leave it. Delinquent brawler and 'fight merchant' Sanosuke does have the most fascinating back-story, and one that plays into the theme of 'ideals vs reality', but is largely static once he enters the scene. The only two characters who have any kind of personal arc that can be called such are Kenshin, as he struggles against temptation to return to the killer he was during the civil war and searches for a way to make amends for his deeds, and Aoshi the ninja, who is searching for a new purpose in life after his faction was destroyed along with the Shogunate it supported. Neither of these arcs are overwhelmingly stellar, but they provide a solid reason to keep the story going (Luke Skywalker had a very basic arc in Star Wars, but you don't see me complaining). In short, the cast is entertaining and doesn't drag the plot down.

-Enjoyment-

I'll admit I only gave this series a try because of it's historical fiction setting and because I wanted the prestige of reading 'the old stuff' (also, my younger brother bought me the first Viz Big volume as Christmas gift). I stuck around though, because I came to enjoy it for what it was. Yes, there were times I had to go into "it's a shonen battle series, don't compare it to Vinland Saga" mode, but who consumes ONLY serious entertainment? You can thoroughly enjoy "The Avengers" even if it isn't as deep as "Ben-Hur". Rurouni Kenshin got a man who is indifferent to its genre to sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride. I call that a success.

-Overall-

A classic series that has aged well, and can pull in fans from well outside its target audience. Any series that can have that said about it deserves a high score.