A review of Buso Renkin

[OniKira]

With the release of Buso Renkin, written and drawn by Nobuhiro Watsuki, mastermind behind the Rurouni Kenshin series, many anime fans have been wondering how Buso Renkin fares in comparison to the excellent Rurouni Kenshin.

After reading the first volume, I have to say that those expecting another story of drama and intense action will be somewhat lost. Buso Renkin, like Rurouni Kenshin, delivers intense action and occassional moments of comedy. Subtle romance can also be found. However, the diction choice and action content in Buso Renkin can be a little odd. If Rurouni Kenshin is a dramatic samurai story, then Buso Renkin is a comical story of a high school boy who meets a random bad ass girl who teaches him of alchemy. The art styles are radically different, and the purpose of each story is different. Buso Renkin feels more shonen than RK, and, in all honesty, is purely an action manga. Kazuki, the main character, is the stereo type of a typical manga hero; clumsy, but has an immense sense of justice, and will die for others. Kazuki feels fake, you cannot take him seriously. Tokiko, the alchemy warrior girl, is a little more interesting, but still is a ruthless girl who is action driven.

The action wouldn't feel so bad if the setting was different. Kazuki basically dies, and gets a Buso Renkin heart replacement, and now he is a alchemy warrior. Tokiko acts as his guide, and is also a warrior. They battle homunculi; humans made into monsters by alchemy who also eat humans to survive. The homunculi in BR are too black and white; theyre simplistic villains who dont seem to have a purpose other than acting as enemies to the protagonists. In battle, if Kazuki is hurt, he will say "Darn it, I have to save Tokiko!!" The sense of drama and desire here feels fake and mundane...

Now then, this is only the first volume, and honestly, it picks up speed towards the end and actually shapes itself up. But BR is not worthy of all the hype its recieving. It has potential, and if Watsuki can unlock it, BR could be successful. But at the moment, it needs some work.

First impressions review: 6.9/10

[Lenfa]

Hey, what a nice review!
Yeah, Buso Renkin does kinda miss a little something.
But it's art is topnotch for me. ^_^

[Battousai]

i havent read this yet would you recomend it

[DaysGoBy]

I also read the Buso Renkin and was highly disappointed ((lawliet-- great review by the way)) I had been looking forward to it after buying all of the RK and when I read all the way through BR ... well, I'm not buying the next ones, this book completely ruined it for me. The characters seem shallow and not very well developed, maybe it's because it's the first book, but you really can't feel for the characters. Sure the alchemy is differnet from something you'd expect from the old days lead-to-gold or Fullmetal Alchemist style, but the story still lacks something. The artwork in some ways has improved but I have to say I liked his other style better, writing and drawing. In a scale of 1-10 I would have to say 5/10.

[DJ ÑÎÑJÅ]

Why do people keep comparing Buso Renkin to Rurouni Kenshin? They are two WAY different series. RK people might be dissapointed, but, they are meant for different audiences.

[DaysGoBy]

Perhaps people put the two together since the same author made them. Different audiences... maybe so, although RK was an action/drama and isn't BR an action/drama as well, if based on that, you assumed who the audience would be, wouldn't RK and BR have the same audience?

[OniKira]

They are meant for different audiences, correct, but an author generally derives a certain sense of style and creativity. Buso Renkin feels like it was written by any other typical action writer, not the inceredible mastermind who wrote RK. Two different audiences? Ok, the problem with that is that we already have a wide enough action audience that likes action manga. There are way too many. RK was unique, innovative, and original. BR is, simply put, unoriginal.