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Usagi Yojimbo [兎用心棒] #25
Usagi Yojimbo, Vol. 25: Fox Hunt
Join the rabbit ronin in a year's worth of thrilling stories that earned Usagi Yojimbo an Eisner Award nomination for Best Continuing Series! The warrior's path is fraught with peril as Miyamoto Usagi takes to the road with his bounty-hunter friend Gen. Traveling the countryside, the samurai odd couple must put bickering over money and shortcuts aside as they encounter a series of dangers, including trickster foxes, a gambler who is master of the bullwhip, and several factions of treacherous ninja. The stakes are raised even higher when the pair go their separate ways, as Usagi falls in with a clan on a suicide mission and Gen pursues a killer who isn't what he appears, in adventures that will test each friend's honor - and bravery! Also available as a hardcover, with dust jacket and a signed and numbered tip-in, limited to 350 copies.
192 pages, Paperback
First published July 19, 2011
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182 people want to read
About the author
Stan Sakai
921 books374 followersStan Sakai (Japanese: 坂井 スタンSakai Sutan; born May 25, 1953) is an artist who became known as an Eisner Award-winning comic book originator.
Born in Kyoto, Sakai grew up in Hawaii and studied fine arts at the University of Hawaii. He later attended the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. He and his wife, Sharon, presently reside and work in Pasadena.
He began his career by lettering comic books (notably Groo the Wanderer by Sergio Aragonés and Mark Evanier) and became famous with the production of Usagi Yojimbo, the epic saga of Miyamoto Usagi, a samurai rabbit living in late-sixteenth and early-seventeenth-century Japan. First published in 1984, the comic continues to this day, with Sakai as the lone author and nearly-sole artist (Tom Luth serves as the main colorist on the series, and Sergio Aragonés has made two small contributions to the series: the story "Broken Ritual" is based on an idea by Aragonés, and he served as a guest inker for the black and white version of the story "Return to Adachi Plain" that is featured in the Volume 11 trade paper-back edition of Usagi Yojimbo). He also made a futuristic spin-off series Space Usagi. His favorite movie is Satomi Hakkenden (1959).
Born in Kyoto, Sakai grew up in Hawaii and studied fine arts at the University of Hawaii. He later attended the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. He and his wife, Sharon, presently reside and work in Pasadena.
He began his career by lettering comic books (notably Groo the Wanderer by Sergio Aragonés and Mark Evanier) and became famous with the production of Usagi Yojimbo, the epic saga of Miyamoto Usagi, a samurai rabbit living in late-sixteenth and early-seventeenth-century Japan. First published in 1984, the comic continues to this day, with Sakai as the lone author and nearly-sole artist (Tom Luth serves as the main colorist on the series, and Sergio Aragonés has made two small contributions to the series: the story "Broken Ritual" is based on an idea by Aragonés, and he served as a guest inker for the black and white version of the story "Return to Adachi Plain" that is featured in the Volume 11 trade paper-back edition of Usagi Yojimbo). He also made a futuristic spin-off series Space Usagi. His favorite movie is Satomi Hakkenden (1959).
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
May 20, 2021
A few more examples of Usagi's desire to do what's right and more insight into some of the other frequent supporting characters like Gen and Stray Dog. Also some info on Japanese history and culture.
October 5, 2021
This is a cumulative review of the 35 volumes of collected Usagi Yojimbo stories that have been published to date. They span a 37-year history, across the first seven volumes published by Fantagraphics, across the next 24 volumes published by Dark Horse, and finally across the most recent three volumes published by IDW, bringing us to Usagi Yojimbo v35: Homecoming, published in 2021. This review does not include the volumes Space Usagi, Usagi Yojimbo: Yokai, Usagi Yojimbo: Senso, Usagi Yojimbo/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Complete Collection, or Chibi Usagi: Attack of the Heebie Chibis.
In a land very much like Japan, in a time very much like the early days of the Tokugawa Shogunate, when legions of samurai suddenly found themselves out of work in a war-torn land trying to get back to normal, a masterless samurai - a ronin - named Usagi Yojimbo walks the path of a student-warrior. He goes wherever fate takes him, living by his honor, his swordsmanship and by the grace of the friends he makes along the way. On his endless adventures, Usagi confronts wicked bandits, cruel tyrants, sinister assassins, and dire supernatural fiends. He often encounters humble folk plying their trade in an often cruel and harsh world (and along the way, learns a bit about their work, like brewing sake or weaving tatami mats).
Along his way, he builds a vast cast of friends, allies and rivals, including the bounty hunger Gen, fellow samurai )and love interest) Tomoe, the ninja Chizu, the third Kitsune, the noble lord Noriyuki, the stalwart Inspector Ishida, and of course, Usagi’s own son (and chip off the old block), Jotaro. And just as well, he builds no small list of enemies, including the dire Lord Hikiji (the power-hungry lord who is the very reason why Usagi no longer has a master), the Neko and Komori ninja clans, the Koroshi league of assassins, and the demonic ronin Jei. Amid all this, Usagi strives to uphold the warrior ideals of bushido and find a sense of enlightenment on his journey.
The stories are often funny, exciting, smart, sharp, tight, and occasionally touched with tragedy. They offer an informed look at medieval Japan, and pay no small number of homages to all kinds of cultural references both ancient and modern, as a reflect of Sakai’s own journey to connect with his personal heritage and honor it with his stories. They are simultaneously suitable for adults and kids alike - despite all of the carnage, Sakai never descends into gruesome detail, and yet, the many scenes of battle never seem so sanitized that they lost their gravity.
The artwork is distinct and excellent. Sakai’s is a master of sharp lifework (as well as lettering), and since he writes, pencils, inks and letters every issue solo, there is a uniformity and consistency to Usagi Yojimbo that you just don’t find in many other comics or cartoons. Until the last few volumes, it is all B&W, but Sakai’s sense of depth as well as his supremely skilled panel composition, pulls you in so deeply that you forget if it’s in color or not. You are under Usagi’s spell from the first page, and along for the ride, however long it goes.
To get an idea of the length, breadth and depth of how beloved an impactful Stan Sakai’s Usagi Yojimbo series has been, look no further than the introductions to each of the collected volumes published to date. There you will find a dazzling array of some of the finest talents in modern cartooning, who have a seemingly endless variety of ways to say how much they love Usagi Yojimbo, how impactful it has been on their own careers, and how great Stan Sakai has been himself as a goodwill ambassador for both cartooning as well as of the Japanese culture he so masterfully serves throughout his stories.
For those who have not yet enjoyed these stories for the first time, a wonderful journey awaits you. Usagi Yojimbo was created during those days in the 80s when anthropomorphic martial arts characters were all the rage. And yet, Usagi Yojimbo stood apart almost immediately. He might have been a rabbit ronin in a world of talking, walking animals, but he never seemed to be drafting the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles or trying to comment on the martial-art zoo comic trend. From the beginning, Usagi Yojimbo, like its titular character, was determined to walk its own path, to be the best it could be, and to celebrate the things in life that are worth celebrating: devotion to one’s craft, honoring one’s family, upholding one’s obligations, serving one’s highest aspirations, accepting one’s limitations, and acknowledging one’s flaws.
The stories are largely episodic varying in length from just a few pages, to an entire collection. They often are self-contained, but just as often reference slowly building meta plots, or serve an entire, novel-length story on their own. Everything is delicately interconnected, and yet, without such a heavy continuity that one can not simply pick up any of these volumes and begin reading without skipping a beat. Such is this series, endlessly accessible and friendly to beginners, and endlessly rewarding to long-time fans for whom earned narrative developments deliver terrific dividends.
As with any series of this length, some moments in it won’t land as well with the reader as others. But there just are not that many lows with this - if you appreciate what Sakai is doing here, you’re likely to enjoy pretty much all of it. There are some volumes that really stand out, largely because they tell the biggest and most epic stories (v04: The Dragon Bellows Conspiracy, v12: Grasscutter, v15: Grasscutter II - Journey to Astuta Shrine, v17: Duel at Kitanoji, v19: Fathers and Sons, v28: Red Scorpion, v32: The Hidden, and v35:Homecoming all come to mind), but really, the entire catalog of worth enjoying on equal terms. It’s saying something indeed that the most recent volume of Usagi Yojimbo tells one of the most compelling and moving stories of the entire series. Some edges dull over time, but as a storyteller, Stan Sakai’s edge never does.
Usagi Yojimbo has been hailed as one of the greatest independent comics ever. And it is. But it is more than that. It is one of the greatest comics, period. Read every volume. You will be glad that you did.
In a land very much like Japan, in a time very much like the early days of the Tokugawa Shogunate, when legions of samurai suddenly found themselves out of work in a war-torn land trying to get back to normal, a masterless samurai - a ronin - named Usagi Yojimbo walks the path of a student-warrior. He goes wherever fate takes him, living by his honor, his swordsmanship and by the grace of the friends he makes along the way. On his endless adventures, Usagi confronts wicked bandits, cruel tyrants, sinister assassins, and dire supernatural fiends. He often encounters humble folk plying their trade in an often cruel and harsh world (and along the way, learns a bit about their work, like brewing sake or weaving tatami mats).
Along his way, he builds a vast cast of friends, allies and rivals, including the bounty hunger Gen, fellow samurai )and love interest) Tomoe, the ninja Chizu, the third Kitsune, the noble lord Noriyuki, the stalwart Inspector Ishida, and of course, Usagi’s own son (and chip off the old block), Jotaro. And just as well, he builds no small list of enemies, including the dire Lord Hikiji (the power-hungry lord who is the very reason why Usagi no longer has a master), the Neko and Komori ninja clans, the Koroshi league of assassins, and the demonic ronin Jei. Amid all this, Usagi strives to uphold the warrior ideals of bushido and find a sense of enlightenment on his journey.
The stories are often funny, exciting, smart, sharp, tight, and occasionally touched with tragedy. They offer an informed look at medieval Japan, and pay no small number of homages to all kinds of cultural references both ancient and modern, as a reflect of Sakai’s own journey to connect with his personal heritage and honor it with his stories. They are simultaneously suitable for adults and kids alike - despite all of the carnage, Sakai never descends into gruesome detail, and yet, the many scenes of battle never seem so sanitized that they lost their gravity.
The artwork is distinct and excellent. Sakai’s is a master of sharp lifework (as well as lettering), and since he writes, pencils, inks and letters every issue solo, there is a uniformity and consistency to Usagi Yojimbo that you just don’t find in many other comics or cartoons. Until the last few volumes, it is all B&W, but Sakai’s sense of depth as well as his supremely skilled panel composition, pulls you in so deeply that you forget if it’s in color or not. You are under Usagi’s spell from the first page, and along for the ride, however long it goes.
To get an idea of the length, breadth and depth of how beloved an impactful Stan Sakai’s Usagi Yojimbo series has been, look no further than the introductions to each of the collected volumes published to date. There you will find a dazzling array of some of the finest talents in modern cartooning, who have a seemingly endless variety of ways to say how much they love Usagi Yojimbo, how impactful it has been on their own careers, and how great Stan Sakai has been himself as a goodwill ambassador for both cartooning as well as of the Japanese culture he so masterfully serves throughout his stories.
For those who have not yet enjoyed these stories for the first time, a wonderful journey awaits you. Usagi Yojimbo was created during those days in the 80s when anthropomorphic martial arts characters were all the rage. And yet, Usagi Yojimbo stood apart almost immediately. He might have been a rabbit ronin in a world of talking, walking animals, but he never seemed to be drafting the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles or trying to comment on the martial-art zoo comic trend. From the beginning, Usagi Yojimbo, like its titular character, was determined to walk its own path, to be the best it could be, and to celebrate the things in life that are worth celebrating: devotion to one’s craft, honoring one’s family, upholding one’s obligations, serving one’s highest aspirations, accepting one’s limitations, and acknowledging one’s flaws.
The stories are largely episodic varying in length from just a few pages, to an entire collection. They often are self-contained, but just as often reference slowly building meta plots, or serve an entire, novel-length story on their own. Everything is delicately interconnected, and yet, without such a heavy continuity that one can not simply pick up any of these volumes and begin reading without skipping a beat. Such is this series, endlessly accessible and friendly to beginners, and endlessly rewarding to long-time fans for whom earned narrative developments deliver terrific dividends.
As with any series of this length, some moments in it won’t land as well with the reader as others. But there just are not that many lows with this - if you appreciate what Sakai is doing here, you’re likely to enjoy pretty much all of it. There are some volumes that really stand out, largely because they tell the biggest and most epic stories (v04: The Dragon Bellows Conspiracy, v12: Grasscutter, v15: Grasscutter II - Journey to Astuta Shrine, v17: Duel at Kitanoji, v19: Fathers and Sons, v28: Red Scorpion, v32: The Hidden, and v35:Homecoming all come to mind), but really, the entire catalog of worth enjoying on equal terms. It’s saying something indeed that the most recent volume of Usagi Yojimbo tells one of the most compelling and moving stories of the entire series. Some edges dull over time, but as a storyteller, Stan Sakai’s edge never does.
Usagi Yojimbo has been hailed as one of the greatest independent comics ever. And it is. But it is more than that. It is one of the greatest comics, period. Read every volume. You will be glad that you did.
April 6, 2018
Usagi is, as always, brilliant. This book is all short stories, primarily one-issue installments. One story is a two-issue "epic," and there's also a short story from "MySpace Dark Horse Presents."
Twenty-five years and two hundred issues into it, Sakai continues to find interesting aspects of feudal Japan to explore in these short stories. The short-short story is terrific: children playing on a bridge cause Usagi to accidentally bump his scabbard against another samurai's, and this is a huge breach of etiquette. A new character Sakura is introduced, an old friend of Gen's. Usagi and Gen travel together for a few issues, and their camaraderie is always fun to read. The finale - Gen and Usagi have split, and Gen reteams with another of his occasional allies, a bounty hunter called Stray Dog, to hunt down a fugitive. Gen finds the guy first, and learns a lot about him en route to obtaining his reward - Sakai sets up a truly heartbreaking finale.
Great writing, great insight into its culture, and great cartooning. Highly, highly recommended, as always.
Twenty-five years and two hundred issues into it, Sakai continues to find interesting aspects of feudal Japan to explore in these short stories. The short-short story is terrific: children playing on a bridge cause Usagi to accidentally bump his scabbard against another samurai's, and this is a huge breach of etiquette. A new character Sakura is introduced, an old friend of Gen's. Usagi and Gen travel together for a few issues, and their camaraderie is always fun to read. The finale - Gen and Usagi have split, and Gen reteams with another of his occasional allies, a bounty hunter called Stray Dog, to hunt down a fugitive. Gen finds the guy first, and learns a lot about him en route to obtaining his reward - Sakai sets up a truly heartbreaking finale.
Great writing, great insight into its culture, and great cartooning. Highly, highly recommended, as always.
April 12, 2017
What this volume lacks in long, plot-furthering storylines it makes up for in an intertwining of the shorter stories that is natural and subtle. Some of my favorite single stories are in here, including "The Beggar" and "The Outlaw." I can't believe this book is still as good as it is.
December 12, 2025
More adventures of the rabbit ronin...
Kitsune Gari--Usagi and Gen are traveling and come to a crossroads on the way to the next town. The beggar sitting there tells them one is a shortcut and warns the travelers to stay on the path because nine-tailed foxes inhabit the woods. Coming to a bridge, Usagi reluctantly crosses. It collapses just as Gen tries, forcing him to backtrack. On the way, he discovers another shortcut off of the shortcut. He hopes to beat Usagi to town but things don't work out like that. The story is a lot of fun.
Sakura--Usagi and Gen arrive at another town and run into Gen's old friend Sakura. She is a talented performer who is on a mission, so she travels a lot picking up odd jobs here and there. She works for a local gambler and discovers he has enslaved a young girl because her father couldn't pay his gambling debts. The father is now dead after falling into debt again. Sakura tries to pay for the girl, only to be rebuffed. She cold-cocks the gambler and takes the child on the run, which of course brings Gen and Usagi back into the picture. The typical action and excitement ensues.
Snitch--Usagi and Gen get the Yojimbo treatment as a snitch takes payments from them for money on a bounty while also getting money from another bounty hunter across town. The scheme eventually breaks down which is not good for the snitch. It's another fun story and an interesting reconfiguring of Akira Kurosawa's classic.
Saya--Usagi accidentally bumps the sheath of another swordsman who demands an apology. Usagi is initially reluctant but does apologies. That's not good enough for the other swordsman, who assumes he is superior and deserves more respect from a mongrel ronin. They go off into the woods to fight with a surprise result.
The Beggar--Usagi is followed from town to town by a ramshackle beggar, or is it just a coincidence? Paranoia is not Usagi's strong suit, so he does some of his own sneaky work to figure out what is going on. This is another interesting story.
The Fortress--Usagi runs into old friend Chizu, the disgraced leader from the Neko Ninja Clan. She tells him the procession they see below is doomed--they are going to claim a fortress as a reward from the Shogunate, but an ambush awaits them. Usagi naturally wants to warn them. He gets drafted into the procession to see if he is right. It comes true, leading to a lot of bloodshed. This is an interesting one-off showing more about Usagi and Chizu than developing a larger plot.
The Outlaw--Gen and Stray Dog wind up parting ways over a large bounty. They are on the trail of the titular outlaw when a fork in the road has no clue as to which way he went. So they split up, with the deal that whoever gets the guy get three-quarters of the bounty. The story follows Gen who cleverly discovers the outlaw but gets a lot more than he bargained for as he takes the bounty alive. The story is very interesting and touching, a great finale to a nice set of stories.
Recommended, highly for Usagi fans.
Kitsune Gari--Usagi and Gen are traveling and come to a crossroads on the way to the next town. The beggar sitting there tells them one is a shortcut and warns the travelers to stay on the path because nine-tailed foxes inhabit the woods. Coming to a bridge, Usagi reluctantly crosses. It collapses just as Gen tries, forcing him to backtrack. On the way, he discovers another shortcut off of the shortcut. He hopes to beat Usagi to town but things don't work out like that. The story is a lot of fun.
Sakura--Usagi and Gen arrive at another town and run into Gen's old friend Sakura. She is a talented performer who is on a mission, so she travels a lot picking up odd jobs here and there. She works for a local gambler and discovers he has enslaved a young girl because her father couldn't pay his gambling debts. The father is now dead after falling into debt again. Sakura tries to pay for the girl, only to be rebuffed. She cold-cocks the gambler and takes the child on the run, which of course brings Gen and Usagi back into the picture. The typical action and excitement ensues.
Snitch--Usagi and Gen get the Yojimbo treatment as a snitch takes payments from them for money on a bounty while also getting money from another bounty hunter across town. The scheme eventually breaks down which is not good for the snitch. It's another fun story and an interesting reconfiguring of Akira Kurosawa's classic.
Saya--Usagi accidentally bumps the sheath of another swordsman who demands an apology. Usagi is initially reluctant but does apologies. That's not good enough for the other swordsman, who assumes he is superior and deserves more respect from a mongrel ronin. They go off into the woods to fight with a surprise result.
The Beggar--Usagi is followed from town to town by a ramshackle beggar, or is it just a coincidence? Paranoia is not Usagi's strong suit, so he does some of his own sneaky work to figure out what is going on. This is another interesting story.
The Fortress--Usagi runs into old friend Chizu, the disgraced leader from the Neko Ninja Clan. She tells him the procession they see below is doomed--they are going to claim a fortress as a reward from the Shogunate, but an ambush awaits them. Usagi naturally wants to warn them. He gets drafted into the procession to see if he is right. It comes true, leading to a lot of bloodshed. This is an interesting one-off showing more about Usagi and Chizu than developing a larger plot.
The Outlaw--Gen and Stray Dog wind up parting ways over a large bounty. They are on the trail of the titular outlaw when a fork in the road has no clue as to which way he went. So they split up, with the deal that whoever gets the guy get three-quarters of the bounty. The story follows Gen who cleverly discovers the outlaw but gets a lot more than he bargained for as he takes the bounty alive. The story is very interesting and touching, a great finale to a nice set of stories.
Recommended, highly for Usagi fans.
November 23, 2023
Following the hunt for the Black Soul in the previous arc, Miyamoto Usagi continues his journey with his bounty hunter pal, Murakami Gennosuke. "Fox Hunt" collects issues #110-116 of Usagi Yojimbo v3 along with the "Saya" story from MySpace Dark Horse Presents #18.
This volume opens with "Kitsune Gari" which provides Book 25 with its "Fox Hunt" name. Usagi and Gen come across a path through some woods haunted by a fox spirit. A bit more of a forgettable Usagi tale, but it does serve as an interesting perspective of Gen's own instincts as a bounty hunter. The following story, "Sakura", has Gen and Usagi working alongside a professional gambler named Sakura who has been on an endless journey searching for her missing brother. Though initially perceived to be a grifter, Sakura proves to have a soft spot for humble peasants who find themselves abused by the wealthy lords they serve. Once again, Gen's own sharp insights prove a bit more reliable than Usagi's more trusting nature, which adds a bit more to Gen's characterization. "Snitch" is a story that reunites Gen with Stray Dog, a bounty hunter that serves as both rival and occasional reluctant ally. Gen and Stray Dog continue their adventures in "The Outlaw", which shows that maybe some of Usagi's better nature has begun to rub off on Gen as he diametrically opposes Stray Dog's motivations.
In "The Beggar", Usagi meets Matsutani who dresses as a common beggar but serves as a spy for the shogun. Matsutani was cleverly hidden in the background by Sakai during the "Sakura" story, but it also begins the question as to what else the shogun has been privy to this whole time. Usagi is then reunited with Chizu in "The Fortress" where the pair attempt to stop of a Neko ninja ambush on Lord Awase as he marches to claim the Red Cloud castle. Both are fun little stories that continue to flesh out the political backdrop of Sakai's version of the Edo period. The final story in this collection is "Saya", which is a neat little tale (in color) about the samurai view on their own swords.
Overall, "Fox Hunt" is another great installment of Usagi Yojimbo stories that spend a lot of time hashing out other characters like Gen and Chizu, while also building on the complex politics of the shogun's rule. Though Miyamoto Usagi is the central character in the narrative, what makes the series' longevity work so well is Sakai's ability to sometimes shunt Usagi to the side when needed by the narrative. There is a bit of a formula to his comics, but Sakai capably breaks form enough times to keep the series fresh over the decades on the title.
This volume opens with "Kitsune Gari" which provides Book 25 with its "Fox Hunt" name. Usagi and Gen come across a path through some woods haunted by a fox spirit. A bit more of a forgettable Usagi tale, but it does serve as an interesting perspective of Gen's own instincts as a bounty hunter. The following story, "Sakura", has Gen and Usagi working alongside a professional gambler named Sakura who has been on an endless journey searching for her missing brother. Though initially perceived to be a grifter, Sakura proves to have a soft spot for humble peasants who find themselves abused by the wealthy lords they serve. Once again, Gen's own sharp insights prove a bit more reliable than Usagi's more trusting nature, which adds a bit more to Gen's characterization. "Snitch" is a story that reunites Gen with Stray Dog, a bounty hunter that serves as both rival and occasional reluctant ally. Gen and Stray Dog continue their adventures in "The Outlaw", which shows that maybe some of Usagi's better nature has begun to rub off on Gen as he diametrically opposes Stray Dog's motivations.
In "The Beggar", Usagi meets Matsutani who dresses as a common beggar but serves as a spy for the shogun. Matsutani was cleverly hidden in the background by Sakai during the "Sakura" story, but it also begins the question as to what else the shogun has been privy to this whole time. Usagi is then reunited with Chizu in "The Fortress" where the pair attempt to stop of a Neko ninja ambush on Lord Awase as he marches to claim the Red Cloud castle. Both are fun little stories that continue to flesh out the political backdrop of Sakai's version of the Edo period. The final story in this collection is "Saya", which is a neat little tale (in color) about the samurai view on their own swords.
Overall, "Fox Hunt" is another great installment of Usagi Yojimbo stories that spend a lot of time hashing out other characters like Gen and Chizu, while also building on the complex politics of the shogun's rule. Though Miyamoto Usagi is the central character in the narrative, what makes the series' longevity work so well is Sakai's ability to sometimes shunt Usagi to the side when needed by the narrative. There is a bit of a formula to his comics, but Sakai capably breaks form enough times to keep the series fresh over the decades on the title.
June 9, 2021
(4,2 z 5 za další zábavný Usagiho komiks)
Hon na lišku se vrací k tomu, co Stanovi jde nejlépe - krátké příběhy řetězené v rámci nějakého celku (nejčastěji cesty, stejně jako v tomto případě). Usagi je opět na cestě a zažívá další dobrodružství, do kterých se díky své povaze připlete (nebo v rámci prvního příběhu nepřiplete).
Jeden z větších příběhů je tu Sakura. Tento příběh je bohužel už velmi známým a ohraným scénářem. Nebýt toho, že tak krásně zapadá a utváří svět a zde funguje jako dobré pojivo, skoro bych byl mrzutý. Naštěstí ho následuje humorný Donašeč, od kterého se posouváme k mému suverénně nejoblíbenějšímu - Saya. Tento příběh je krásnou ukázkou samurajského romantismu, a to mě baví. Žebrák je zase krásným historickým okénkem a co je krásné na této knize - příběh s Genem v hlavní roli ji otevírá a v případě Psance zavírá. A zavírá moc povedeně - tenhle typ Genových příběhů mám rád a tenhle Stan opět vypiloval k dokonalosti.
Celkově je to dobrý a chytlavý svazek který nám přináší další dva opravdu skvělé příběhy - Saya a Psanec.
Hon na lišku se vrací k tomu, co Stanovi jde nejlépe - krátké příběhy řetězené v rámci nějakého celku (nejčastěji cesty, stejně jako v tomto případě). Usagi je opět na cestě a zažívá další dobrodružství, do kterých se díky své povaze připlete (nebo v rámci prvního příběhu nepřiplete).
Jeden z větších příběhů je tu Sakura. Tento příběh je bohužel už velmi známým a ohraným scénářem. Nebýt toho, že tak krásně zapadá a utváří svět a zde funguje jako dobré pojivo, skoro bych byl mrzutý. Naštěstí ho následuje humorný Donašeč, od kterého se posouváme k mému suverénně nejoblíbenějšímu - Saya. Tento příběh je krásnou ukázkou samurajského romantismu, a to mě baví. Žebrák je zase krásným historickým okénkem a co je krásné na této knize - příběh s Genem v hlavní roli ji otevírá a v případě Psance zavírá. A zavírá moc povedeně - tenhle typ Genových příběhů mám rád a tenhle Stan opět vypiloval k dokonalosti.
Celkově je to dobrý a chytlavý svazek který nám přináší další dva opravdu skvělé příběhy - Saya a Psanec.
April 15, 2022
It's another excellent collection, although it feels like Gen is more the central character (not that that's a bad thing), and it introduces more interesting characters, like Sakura and the Metsuke. Each provoked an interesting story, and the Metsuke in particular highlighted a part of Usagi's character that I hadn't really seen before. The Fortress was my favorite story in the collection, and one of the larger tragedies the series has included. Followed up with the Outlaw, this book ends with a couple of stories that really lean into the grittier aspects of the world Sakai has built.
As always, the art is very good, standing on its own while also serving the story cleanly and clearly. I'm still enjoying just about everything about every volume I read, and look forward to the next one. There aren't any other series I can think of where I can say that after 25 volumes (not that many series manage that kind of long life).
As always, the art is very good, standing on its own while also serving the story cleanly and clearly. I'm still enjoying just about everything about every volume I read, and look forward to the next one. There aren't any other series I can think of where I can say that after 25 volumes (not that many series manage that kind of long life).
December 18, 2022
Vrací se asi nejúspěšnější koncept který Sakai umí - drobné epizody zasazené do rámce jedné cesty. A ať už se jedná o drobné humory a moralitky (Hon na lišku) nebo komplexnější příběhy (Sakura), platí jak otravné detaily (počet pobitých "špatných šermířů" je v některých povídkách opět mimo jakoukoliv míru), tak hlavní síly. Obzvláště poslední Psanec pak přináší i celkem solidní emotivní ránu pěstí a obžalobu zvrácené cti.
January 21, 2020
A number of very good short stories, with some recurring themes/characters. Sakai is a real master of the comics medium. Nuff said.
February 7, 2020
Truly Incredible
Another great addition, Idaho Yojimbo never ceases to amaze and inspire. Another in a long line of classic master pieces.
Another great addition, Idaho Yojimbo never ceases to amaze and inspire. Another in a long line of classic master pieces.
March 18, 2021
Another wonderful series of Usagi adventures - this one focuses on some adventures with his Rhino friend Gen. Good stuff. Loved it.
October 17, 2021
The Outlaw, another story featuring Gen and Stray Dog, is heart-breaking, and I think it's my favorite in this volume, even if it does not feature Usagi.
February 29, 2024
I loved the last story and seeing a side of Gen we usually don’t see!
March 15, 2025
Another great outing here with some stellar storytelling. The standout for me came at the end when Gen got his own adventure.
April 18, 2025
Devastating
August 12, 2011
This installment of Stan Sakai's long running seies wasn't one of his epic or long arcs, and that made it nice change of pace for me (having just finished Jim Butcher's Ghost Story). Usagi remains a wandering ronin, and his old friends will pop up during the course of a story. Gen and Stray Dog (an obvious homage to Lone Wolf)make appearances. There are some nice pieces that hit the correct emotional cords. Sakura introduces a new (to me character) who uses gambling to travel the country to search for her brother. Despite the bitter ending Snitch is probably my favorite story in this volume.
June 25, 2013
les voyages d'Usagi sont toujours surprenants, encore plus quand Gen l'accompagne.
Cette fois, on rencontre quelques renards malicieux, et un indicateur plutôt rusé.
Mais dans ce tome, l'histoire qui m'a le plus marqué met en scène Gen et chien errant, et montre que, malgré tout, Gen est un homme de coeur.
Et c'est ce genre de chose qui fait que j'aime cette saga : pas la dureté d'un japon aussi imbécile que violent, mais la douceur qui se cache parfois même dans le coeur des plus durs.
Cette fois, on rencontre quelques renards malicieux, et un indicateur plutôt rusé.
Mais dans ce tome, l'histoire qui m'a le plus marqué met en scène Gen et chien errant, et montre que, malgré tout, Gen est un homme de coeur.
Et c'est ce genre de chose qui fait que j'aime cette saga : pas la dureté d'un japon aussi imbécile que violent, mais la douceur qui se cache parfois même dans le coeur des plus durs.
June 8, 2012
Some great pieces in this collection, and the best one, the Outlaw, doesn't even have Usagi in it. That particular story involves two bounty hunters who are searching for a criminal, but all is not what it seems.
September 12, 2021
Retroactive Review (12 Sep 2021): Please see my review of the series
here
under the first volume.
November 1, 2013
The usual excellent quality and entertainment.
January 12, 2015
Sakai peaked a while back but he still hasn't come down the other side.
March 16, 2016
Chválit Usagiho, to je jako nosit vodu do mlýna džbánem a vědět, že tyhle uši se nikdy neutrhnou. Sakai je klasa.
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