"Busou Renkin" is the tale of a teenage boy named Kazuki Mutou, who dies while trying to save a girl from a monstrous creature. However, the next morning, Kazuki begins to doubt whether the events were just a dream. Surprisingly, the girl, the monster, and his death are all real! The girl, Tokiko Tsumura, was attempting to slay a homunculus—a beast that can take human form but feeds on people—but Kazuki inadvertently interfered. To bring Kazuki back to life, Tokiko replaces his heart with a "kakugane," an alchemical device that allows him to summon a lance to fight the monsters. It turns out that Tokiko is part of the Renkin Kenshi (Alchemist Soldiers), an organization dedicated to protecting the world from these malevolent creatures. Soon, Kazuki joins Tokiko in her mission to destroy the sinister entity responsible for creating and controlling the homunculi.
(Source: VIZ Media)
Included one-shot:
Volume 10: Embalming: Dead Body and Bride
"Busou Renkin" was published in English as "Buso Renkin" by VIZ Media under the Shonen Jump imprint from August 1, 2006, to February 5, 2008. It was also released in Brazilian Portuguese by Editora JBC from July 2010 to May 2011.
Busou Renkin is one of my favorite manga and anime. I consider it a masterpiece of the Shounen genre. Everything in it is truly excellent, coherent, and functional. The story is exciting yet light, intense but fun. Every character in the story is extremely important, and the author, Nobuhiro Watsuki, designed them meticulously so that each one appears at the right time. Unlike many Shounen series that often falter with a promising start but a weak plot progression, Busou Renkin maintains its structure from beginning to end, ensuring readers enjoy a consistently comforting reading experience.
Good and strong story plot with a decent pace for the manga, except for the rushed ending towards chapter 83. The overall enjoyment is still there.
The art isn't as modern compared to other manga today, but the details and graphics are decently depicted.
This is a character-driven plot, featuring an anti-hero and hero clashing together to protect the earth towards the end of the manga. The story has some similarities to Bleach.
Though the story was rushed through, it had a satisfying conclusion. The male protagonist was drawn into a warrior's life by a girl and ended up bringing her back to an ordinary life.
In conclusion, this manga is definitely worth reading!
Well, initially I watched the anime, which was truly "outstanding." Then, I checked to see if there was a manga version. Happily, I discovered that one existed, and to my surprise, it was also outstanding. I can't decide which one I like more, but I must say that the storyline in the manga is simply perfect. (Yes, I have read it, and I am currently rereading it while logging this.) I enjoy this manga so much because it encompasses all the genres that I absolutely love. Overall, I would give the anime a 10/10; it genuinely deserves it. Hopefully, this review helps anyone who wants an honest opinion from a first-time reviewer.
I picked this one up because it's by the same author of Rurouni Kenshin, and also because I found it for half the price.
I expected something at least close to what Rurouni Kenshin was, but instead, I discovered a typical shounen adventure where the main character is dragged into a world of fantasy and has to fight powerful enemies with incredible powers—in this case, in an alchemy-themed world.
This is what I would call a well-developed story with an uninteresting premise. Regarding the story itself, in my opinion, Watsuki hasn't failed us. It progressed well and ended beautifully.
I would recommend this manga to people looking for a regular shounen manga, trying to unwind from complex or deep plots. Go for it without expecting anything out of this world.
I wouldn't recommend this manga to people who want to read thrilling and exciting stories, not just wanting to kill some free time with comics.
Alchemy is a fascinating concept, but shonen isn't typically an engaging genre. Combine them, though, and you might end up with a mildly entertaining action story.
The story of Buso Renkin is your typical shonen fare—number 362445815 in a long line of similar stories. If you're tired of the usual shonen tropes, this might not be the series for you. However, if you're looking to explore the genre, I could mention more standout titles like Naruto, Bleach, One Piece, or Dragon Ball. But instead, I'll talk about the one that sparked my interest in shonen (though I'm not sure I should admit that).
The story follows Kazuki Muto, a high school student who's somewhat of a space cadet. He gets killed within the first five pages by being impaled through the heart, only to wake up abruptly in his dormitory room a page later, causing a scene among his friends, who react amusingly to his apparent freak-out, which seemed like just a dream.
Kazuki's friends include a guy with a pompadour, a quirky friend who provides random information, a gentle giant, and a ditzy younger sister. After a day at school, Kazuki encounters a homunculus posing as a teacher. Chased by this monster, he flashes back to when he was actually killed while trying to save the main female protagonist, Tokiko Tsumura, who resembles a more serious Himura Kenshin.
Tokiko uses a Kakugane, the series' signature weapon, which transforms into a Buso Renkin—a weapon tailored to the user's personality—to revive Kazuki by replacing his heart. Kazuki then activates his Kakugane, dealing significant damage to the homunculus before Tokiko finishes it off.
Together, Kazuki and Tokiko fight homunculi, meet other Buso Renkin users, and even battle human Buso Renkin wielders. While the story doesn't break new ground, it moves at a brisk pace, keeping readers engaged without becoming boring. Unique characters like the anti-hero Papillon and the mentor-like Captain Bravo add depth.
The plot is essentially a series of battles interspersed with comedic situations. The humor often revolves around characters reacting to odd events, especially Papillon's outrageous moments, though many jokes fall flat. There's also some romantic comedy, but it feels forced.
The early parts of the manga are its strongest, but towards the end, it becomes rushed, with underdeveloped characters and an unsatisfying conclusion. The weapons in Buso Renkin are unique, but their operation is similar to those in other popular shonen series.
The manga isn't bad but calling it great would be an overstatement. It's average at best.
The artwork initially seems basic, disappointing given it's by Nobuhiro Watsuki, creator of Rurouni Kenshin. However, it improves significantly after a few chapters. Some battles are poorly choreographed, while others have a unique style. Character designs and Buso Renkin weapons look cool.
Overall:
The Good:
The Bad:
At its worst, it's generic, but at its best, it's a fun, light-hearted shonen adventure that rarely gets boring or too serious. However, don't expect it to reach the heights of Rurouni Kenshin.
Buso Renkin can be seen as a version of Fullmetal Alchemist without a main character suffering from a Napoleon complex. Set in a world where alchemy succeeded, but immortality and turning bread into gold were failures.
Story
The story is quite original for a shonen series. While not the first to use alchemy as a theme, it brings uniqueness through its plot device, the Kakugane. This adds a fresh perspective to the genre.
Art
The artwork excels in character design, effects, and enemy designs. Backgrounds are detailed enough to clearly establish locations. The variety in weaponry and facial expressions showcases the artist's skill effectively.
Character
The series shines with its diverse cast of characters, each possessing vibrant personalities. Whether good, evil, or neutral, every alchemy warrior and homunculus stands out. The balance between daily life and intense battles adds depth to the setting.
Enjoyment
Buso Renkin blends action and comedy seamlessly, creating an engaging experience. Colorful characters, detailed backgrounds, and a unique take on alchemy make it feel like a battlefield during fights. However, some battles feel too brief, but they often end with a clever twist reminiscent of Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure.
Overall
I highly recommend Buso Renkin to fans of action and comedy. It features a determined yet humorous main character whose friends and enemies are relatable in various ways. A must-read for those who enjoy well-rounded characters and dynamic storytelling.
Buso Renkin shares many similarities with Bleach, so if you're a fan of Bleach, chances are you'll enjoy Buso Renkin as well. The manga is created by the same person who did Kenshin (though I can't spell his full name), so the art style is identical. Among the characters, some are unique and intriguing, while others may come off as annoying. Unique characters often appear in the form of homunculi, who serve as the antagonists of the series. The other characters are good but tend to be somewhat generic. Some characters, like Mahiro, seem unnecessary to me, yet they don't detract from the overall story. The weapon designs are fascinating, sometimes even more so than the characters wielding them. The fight scenes are well-executed, and they improve as the series progresses. Overall, this is a good manga that's definitely worth checking out.