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Usagi Yojimbo [兎用心棒] #13
Grey Shadows (Usagi Yojimbo, Book 13) by Stan Sakai (2000) Paperback
Fresh from winning the Best Serialized Story 1999 Eisner Award for Grasscutter, Stan Sakai returns with a new Usagi Yojimbo collection featuring six tales of the ronin rabbit's journeys and adventures in feudal Japan. "My Father's Swords" retells an encounter with a young samurai who follows in-and is followed by-the footsteps of his father's warrior heritage. In "The Demon Flute," a village is plagued by a music-playing supernatural killer. Usagi recounts a classic Japanese folk tale in "Momo-Usagi-Taro." Two Tokugawa-era whodunits play out in "The Hair Pin Murders" and Tameshigiri," a pair of Inspector Ishida mysteries. Usagi becomes entangled in a conspiracy to overthrow a lord's throne in "The Courtesan." Memory, mystery, and treachery intermingle to form Grey Shadows.
Paperback
First published March 1, 2000
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About the author
Stan Sakai
925 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 - 30 of 41 reviews
August 18, 2021
Some great one off stories before Inspector Ishida is introduced in the 2nd half. He's my favorite reoccurring character in Usagi Yojimbo. The mystery stories add a unique element to Usagi Yojimbo that I quite like. There's some really good stories in this volume and it's actually a decent jumping on point to the series too.
October 2, 2020
(4,7 z 5 za nenápadné ale velmi zábavné klubko příběhů, dobrodružství a poctivé detektivní práce inspektora Ishidy)
Šedé stíny je moje oblíbená kniha z cyklu Usagi Yojimbo. Prvně nám přináší inspektora Ishidu, který ztělesňuje cit a touhu po spravedlnosti a vnáší do UY "detektivní žánr". Za druhé se jedná o další celek, který se skládá z dílčích příběhů které jsou velmi přirozeně napojeny dohromady. Stan umí vše pečlivě nachystat, propojit a odvyprávět s neuvěřitelnou ladností ale i hravostí. Například v prvním hlavním příběhu - Vraždy jehlicí do vlasů - se na začátku Usagi potká s neznámou dívkou. Několikrát. Ta se nám zároveň hodí i do rozplétání příběhu... Jenže není jeho součástí. je součástí až jiného, dalšího, příběhu. Tyhle hezké detaily jsou věci, které utváří konzistentní a přirozený celek a my tak Usagiho dobrodružství můžeme sledovat ve formě, která funguje jak dobrodružství, příběhy (s nenuceným poselstvím) ale i jako jakási drobná Japonsko-kulturní osvěta. A to je skvělé.
Šedé stíny je moje oblíbená kniha z cyklu Usagi Yojimbo. Prvně nám přináší inspektora Ishidu, který ztělesňuje cit a touhu po spravedlnosti a vnáší do UY "detektivní žánr". Za druhé se jedná o další celek, který se skládá z dílčích příběhů které jsou velmi přirozeně napojeny dohromady. Stan umí vše pečlivě nachystat, propojit a odvyprávět s neuvěřitelnou ladností ale i hravostí. Například v prvním hlavním příběhu - Vraždy jehlicí do vlasů - se na začátku Usagi potká s neznámou dívkou. Několikrát. Ta se nám zároveň hodí i do rozplétání příběhu... Jenže není jeho součástí. je součástí až jiného, dalšího, příběhu. Tyhle hezké detaily jsou věci, které utváří konzistentní a přirozený celek a my tak Usagiho dobrodružství můžeme sledovat ve formě, která funguje jak dobrodružství, příběhy (s nenuceným poselstvím) ale i jako jakási drobná Japonsko-kulturní osvěta. A to je skvělé.
January 30, 2019
...and the quality remains the same, though i had little doubt it wouldn't. This vol. collects small stories of Usagi's time right after the Grasscutter ultra-story-arc and his first meeting with inspector Ishida, making this the first try on the "crime" genre by Sakai. Fairly simple mysteries but still, an interesting choice.
Once again, story notes about the Kabuki and the Oiran were great and full of potential research.
Once again, story notes about the Kabuki and the Oiran were great and full of potential research.
February 7, 2018
One of the best in the series so far!
November 13, 2021
After the massive events of the previous volume, this book is left to restore a new normal, and consequently isn't quite as epic. But that is not to say it isn't good - these stories are just as good, even if they aren't quite so vast in their scope. Usagi decides to explore detective work here, and meets new but immediately memorable character Detective Ishida, all the while having some striking adventures of his own. The Courtesan especially seems to have an impact on Usagi, and introduces new elements that look to have ramifications going forward. The mysteries and the politics are all well integrated and make for enjoyable reading. While not quite as vast as the previous volume, it is very enjoyable in its own right, and provides definite forward momentum for the long-running series.
May 27, 2019
Another amazing book.
May 28, 2019
I think this is my favorite book so far. Excellent storytelling.
October 4, 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.
January 12, 2015
A return to lower-key plots—murder mysteries, mostly—after the high-flying political intrigues of the previous volume. Complex characters and interesting stories make this series of vignettes as worthwhile as the longer volumes.
June 11, 2014
I love the introduction of Inspector Ichida- a great character all around.
March 30, 2016
Usagi Yojimbo, on the surface is a simple concept. Anthropomorphic animals in 16th century Edo Japan - with the narrative centering around a "Long Eared Samurai", a Rabbit - the eponymous Usagi of the title. Usagi,literally means Rabbit in Japanese and Yojimbo refers to "Bodyguard". Rabbit Bodyguard. It mixes several references to the Samurai films of Kurosawa with a deliberate homage to the great samurai swordsman Miyamoto Musashi while treading its own unique path. There really isn't another comic like it on the stands and Sakai has been writing, plotting and drawing this gem for the past twenty five years or more - sticking to what must seem like a cutthroat monthly schedule. He makes it all look so easy which just proves - it probably isn't.
Usagi is a Ronin - a masterless Samurai. He wanders the land on a Warriors Pilgrimage, honing his mind and his sword. A near master swordsman, Usagi practices a unique fighting style. His gentle demeanor, humble bearing and diminutive frame often leads his adversaries to underestimate him - to their detriment.
The Kill Bill films of Tarantino center around the bloodshed unleashed by Samurai swords in the hands of a skilled wielder. The aesthetization of violence is a common theme with Tarantino and he repeatedly uses Japanese samurai motifs over the course of the two Kill Bill films. I enjoyed those films but they led me to expect the same within the pages of Usagi Yojimbo. The animal characters are mostly cute. I expected decapitated bunny heads and chopped feline limbs. Stories of the seamier side of human nature and war. Sakai delivers none of this; at-least, not in the way you would expect. The violence in Usagi Yojimbo is always tinged with regret. Usagi takes no pleasure in it, tries to avoid killing and maiming as much as possible and always resorts to defense. However, once you see the click of the sword, with the picture of Usagi flicking the blade from the scabbard it is almost certain that blood will be shed.
The fight sequences are brilliant. Sakai takes his time, worrying less about space and more about the deliberate choreography of death. People are stabbed, decapitated and killed. Most of it is left up to your imagination with almost no blood. The graphics of the death continue to toe the line between humor and morbidity - the dead lie with their tongues lolling out and creative skulls paraphrasing the end of their appearance in the comic. It makes for excellent reading - the violence isn't cool, it isn't desirable and it almost always ends in tragedy for some character. This is age appropriate violence!
A centerpiece to the entire saga and one of the major plot motivators is Bushido - the unrelenting and unbending code of the Samurai. It is a harsh discipline, focusing more on the tenets laid down by it than any sense of morality. There are several instances in the story where a common question asked is if a samurai retainer who serves an evil/corrupt lord is justified in rebelling against him. The answer is invariably no. No matter how evil/corrupt and insane your lord may be, no matter what criminal activities he may indulge in, no matter how depraved his tastes it is the duty of the retainer to follow him and remain Honorable. The concept of good and evil and self righteousness is almost done away with. Usagi is our hero just because he has the good fortune to have served under Lord Mifune, a great man just prior to his death in the Battle of Adachigahara. He seems to recognize this fact and I think this influences his approach to almost all his antagonists. Those who serve an evil lord win more respect from him than the evil lords themselves.
Sakai, through his focus on the laws of Bushido manages to evoke an atmosphere of rigidity and sacrifice that makes the book quite unique at times. When Usagi's sweetheart is married off to someone else he fails to put an end to the wedding due to his loyalty to his lord - his duty forbids him from going away. The duty of a Samurai's wife is to her husband, this prevents his love Mariko from ever being with him. Honour and duty are cages within which our characters live their life. It is a harsh law that seems to hurt much more than helps but it is his adherence to this discipline that sees Usagi through his many encounters. He is unable to avoid direct challenges to a duel as a result - he must kill, albeit with regret, if he is to regain his honor. Usagi isn't a rebel. He doesn't seek to reform or buck the system. When a peasant begs to hold on to the swords of her lover, a samurai he is quite categorical about the right thing to do - the sword is the soul of a Samurai and doesn't belong with a peasant. In another episode he tells a peasant's son that there is no hope for him to ever become a Samurai. Any historical novel seeks to impose the character of a man of our times on someone dead years ago. Stan Sakai eschews this approach by depicting a man (rabbit??!) of his time in Usagi and making him a truly sympathetic character.
This focus on honour and Bushido is not the only layer to this comic. There are several more. History lessens on the culture of Japan are interwoven into the narrative - be it pot making, kite making or the fashioning of a Samurai blade. An entire episode dedicated to seaweed farming was a highlight of the series and the Grasscutter arc elaborates on the major dieties of Japanese culture. This is a meticulously researched comic that isnt heavy handed with the historical details. It mixes humor, history, culture and pathos to make a wonderfully enjoyable comic.
Rather than speaking about the artwork in the peripheral fashion I have employed so far I think I ought to come out and say it - the artwork is fascinating. It uses simple lines and expression to convey the message. At first glance it seems simplistic but as I trace my eyes over the artwork a wealth of detail leaps out. The grass bends gently with the breeze. The folds of Usagi's kimono float lazily around him as he jumps into the air. The Sword strokes are clear, easy to follow with the use of masterfully placed after images. Sakai is a master of the quiet panel. Several pages hold only movement, expression and silence, lending a wonderful quietude to the comic until a brutal explosion of action breaks the silence. Quiet panels fused with a silhouette are even more melancholy - it forms a space in which the contemplation of the character within the panel tends to wash over the reader himself. The artwork isn't simple. A lifetime of garish coloring and the bright but shallow palette of superhero comics seems to have robbed me of what little sense I possess. The black and white lines in Usagi are pieces of art I want to revisit forever.
Like most successful comics, Usagi Yojimbo doesn't succeed through the strengths of the main character alone. Usagi has a wealth of peripheral friends and enemies who recur throughout the various stories. These plot points keep diverging and melding together seamlessly over the course of the volumes I have read. I am still about halfway through the entire run but so far the side characters are vibrant, well sketched and interesting. Gen, the bounty hunter, the crime solving Inspecter Ishida, the ex samurai turned priest Sanshobo. The women in Usagi's life are a fun bunch - his lost loves Mariko and Kinuko, his comrade in arms Tomoe and his antagonist/friend Chizu. Add to this his lion sensei - Katsuichi, his frenemy Kenichi and a pet lizard Spot, not to mention the blind swordspig Zato Ino, Sakai has amassed a wealth of characters who ought to see him drawing Usagi comics well into hist nineties.
Usagi Yojimbo is to superhero comics what a glass of single malt is to spurious liquor. It is the very pinnacle of comic book art. I agree with an another reviewer who states that in the twenty five years he has been following Usagi, Sakai has yet to draw a single bad issue. I am not yet through the entire run and I must agree - the first issues are great though Sakai is still finding is feet. Seven issues in and you will be hooked till the end. This is an excellent comic, worth reading and proof that in the right hands the comic book has a significant advantage over the prose form. It should probably be the introduction to the world of comics - and I hope that those of you who havent yet started reading comics will avoid wading through a lot of garbage like i had to and start with Usagi Yojimbo.
Believe me, its worth it.
(5 on 5 stars)
Usagi is a Ronin - a masterless Samurai. He wanders the land on a Warriors Pilgrimage, honing his mind and his sword. A near master swordsman, Usagi practices a unique fighting style. His gentle demeanor, humble bearing and diminutive frame often leads his adversaries to underestimate him - to their detriment.
The Kill Bill films of Tarantino center around the bloodshed unleashed by Samurai swords in the hands of a skilled wielder. The aesthetization of violence is a common theme with Tarantino and he repeatedly uses Japanese samurai motifs over the course of the two Kill Bill films. I enjoyed those films but they led me to expect the same within the pages of Usagi Yojimbo. The animal characters are mostly cute. I expected decapitated bunny heads and chopped feline limbs. Stories of the seamier side of human nature and war. Sakai delivers none of this; at-least, not in the way you would expect. The violence in Usagi Yojimbo is always tinged with regret. Usagi takes no pleasure in it, tries to avoid killing and maiming as much as possible and always resorts to defense. However, once you see the click of the sword, with the picture of Usagi flicking the blade from the scabbard it is almost certain that blood will be shed.
The fight sequences are brilliant. Sakai takes his time, worrying less about space and more about the deliberate choreography of death. People are stabbed, decapitated and killed. Most of it is left up to your imagination with almost no blood. The graphics of the death continue to toe the line between humor and morbidity - the dead lie with their tongues lolling out and creative skulls paraphrasing the end of their appearance in the comic. It makes for excellent reading - the violence isn't cool, it isn't desirable and it almost always ends in tragedy for some character. This is age appropriate violence!
A centerpiece to the entire saga and one of the major plot motivators is Bushido - the unrelenting and unbending code of the Samurai. It is a harsh discipline, focusing more on the tenets laid down by it than any sense of morality. There are several instances in the story where a common question asked is if a samurai retainer who serves an evil/corrupt lord is justified in rebelling against him. The answer is invariably no. No matter how evil/corrupt and insane your lord may be, no matter what criminal activities he may indulge in, no matter how depraved his tastes it is the duty of the retainer to follow him and remain Honorable. The concept of good and evil and self righteousness is almost done away with. Usagi is our hero just because he has the good fortune to have served under Lord Mifune, a great man just prior to his death in the Battle of Adachigahara. He seems to recognize this fact and I think this influences his approach to almost all his antagonists. Those who serve an evil lord win more respect from him than the evil lords themselves.
Sakai, through his focus on the laws of Bushido manages to evoke an atmosphere of rigidity and sacrifice that makes the book quite unique at times. When Usagi's sweetheart is married off to someone else he fails to put an end to the wedding due to his loyalty to his lord - his duty forbids him from going away. The duty of a Samurai's wife is to her husband, this prevents his love Mariko from ever being with him. Honour and duty are cages within which our characters live their life. It is a harsh law that seems to hurt much more than helps but it is his adherence to this discipline that sees Usagi through his many encounters. He is unable to avoid direct challenges to a duel as a result - he must kill, albeit with regret, if he is to regain his honor. Usagi isn't a rebel. He doesn't seek to reform or buck the system. When a peasant begs to hold on to the swords of her lover, a samurai he is quite categorical about the right thing to do - the sword is the soul of a Samurai and doesn't belong with a peasant. In another episode he tells a peasant's son that there is no hope for him to ever become a Samurai. Any historical novel seeks to impose the character of a man of our times on someone dead years ago. Stan Sakai eschews this approach by depicting a man (rabbit??!) of his time in Usagi and making him a truly sympathetic character.
This focus on honour and Bushido is not the only layer to this comic. There are several more. History lessens on the culture of Japan are interwoven into the narrative - be it pot making, kite making or the fashioning of a Samurai blade. An entire episode dedicated to seaweed farming was a highlight of the series and the Grasscutter arc elaborates on the major dieties of Japanese culture. This is a meticulously researched comic that isnt heavy handed with the historical details. It mixes humor, history, culture and pathos to make a wonderfully enjoyable comic.
Rather than speaking about the artwork in the peripheral fashion I have employed so far I think I ought to come out and say it - the artwork is fascinating. It uses simple lines and expression to convey the message. At first glance it seems simplistic but as I trace my eyes over the artwork a wealth of detail leaps out. The grass bends gently with the breeze. The folds of Usagi's kimono float lazily around him as he jumps into the air. The Sword strokes are clear, easy to follow with the use of masterfully placed after images. Sakai is a master of the quiet panel. Several pages hold only movement, expression and silence, lending a wonderful quietude to the comic until a brutal explosion of action breaks the silence. Quiet panels fused with a silhouette are even more melancholy - it forms a space in which the contemplation of the character within the panel tends to wash over the reader himself. The artwork isn't simple. A lifetime of garish coloring and the bright but shallow palette of superhero comics seems to have robbed me of what little sense I possess. The black and white lines in Usagi are pieces of art I want to revisit forever.
Like most successful comics, Usagi Yojimbo doesn't succeed through the strengths of the main character alone. Usagi has a wealth of peripheral friends and enemies who recur throughout the various stories. These plot points keep diverging and melding together seamlessly over the course of the volumes I have read. I am still about halfway through the entire run but so far the side characters are vibrant, well sketched and interesting. Gen, the bounty hunter, the crime solving Inspecter Ishida, the ex samurai turned priest Sanshobo. The women in Usagi's life are a fun bunch - his lost loves Mariko and Kinuko, his comrade in arms Tomoe and his antagonist/friend Chizu. Add to this his lion sensei - Katsuichi, his frenemy Kenichi and a pet lizard Spot, not to mention the blind swordspig Zato Ino, Sakai has amassed a wealth of characters who ought to see him drawing Usagi comics well into hist nineties.
Usagi Yojimbo is to superhero comics what a glass of single malt is to spurious liquor. It is the very pinnacle of comic book art. I agree with an another reviewer who states that in the twenty five years he has been following Usagi, Sakai has yet to draw a single bad issue. I am not yet through the entire run and I must agree - the first issues are great though Sakai is still finding is feet. Seven issues in and you will be hooked till the end. This is an excellent comic, worth reading and proof that in the right hands the comic book has a significant advantage over the prose form. It should probably be the introduction to the world of comics - and I hope that those of you who havent yet started reading comics will avoid wading through a lot of garbage like i had to and start with Usagi Yojimbo.
Believe me, its worth it.
(5 on 5 stars)
March 6, 2025
More adventures with the ronin rabbit, Miyamoto Usagi...
My Father's Swords--Usagi heads out on his own after his last epic adventure, running into the son of a fellow samurai who died many years ago in battle. Usagi is impressed with the lad who has his father's swords. Even more, he has the passion to honor his father's memory by becoming a worthy samurai. Usagi also discovers a melancholy secret along the way. The story is very touching.
The Demon Flute--Usagi wanders into a terrified farming village. Many people have been killed in the night by an unknown presence. All they know is sinister flute music plays and darkness descends before death comes. Usagi decides to confront the horror for them, resulting in a supernatural showdown. It's another fun story.
Momo-Usagi-Taro--Usagi buys some treats for orphans and is invited to the orphanage for dinner. He tells a story of a magical child who goes on a great adventure. The story is fun to read but puts the kids to sleep! Usagi leaves as another benefactor shows up with money for the children. It's a sweet tale with a cryptic ending.
The Hairpin Murders--Usagi comes to a new town and joins in an investigation of some murders by Inspector Ishida. Ishida is at first wary of Usagi who is very observant but warms to him quickly as they are summoned to a second victim's death. The story unfolds nicely with some clever twists. Ishida is an interesting investigator.
The Courtesan--Directly following on the Hairpin Murders, Usagi follows a woman whose nightly travels are being harassed by masked assailants. Turns out, the woman is part of Lady Maple's entourage. Lady Maple is a highly respected and fabulously beautiful woman. She has a dark secret that Usagi is pulled into when she invites him to her castle as a thank you. The story has the usual action and intrigue and makes for another fine adventure.
Tameshigiri--Medieval Japanese sword makers would prove the worthiness of their blade by performing ceremonial cuts on corpses. Many corpses were taboo for this practice, for example, ones of murderers or that had tattoos. This background is the basis for this story. Usagi is still in Ishida's town and another set of murders occurs. Their investigation leads them to a local clan of sword makers trying to get out of their mediocrity by demonstrating the excellence of their craftsmanship. The conflict involves investigating and a bunch of fighting, the usual sort of adventure for Usagi. The story is interesting and reveals yet another facet of Japanese historical culture.
Recommended.
My Father's Swords--Usagi heads out on his own after his last epic adventure, running into the son of a fellow samurai who died many years ago in battle. Usagi is impressed with the lad who has his father's swords. Even more, he has the passion to honor his father's memory by becoming a worthy samurai. Usagi also discovers a melancholy secret along the way. The story is very touching.
The Demon Flute--Usagi wanders into a terrified farming village. Many people have been killed in the night by an unknown presence. All they know is sinister flute music plays and darkness descends before death comes. Usagi decides to confront the horror for them, resulting in a supernatural showdown. It's another fun story.
Momo-Usagi-Taro--Usagi buys some treats for orphans and is invited to the orphanage for dinner. He tells a story of a magical child who goes on a great adventure. The story is fun to read but puts the kids to sleep! Usagi leaves as another benefactor shows up with money for the children. It's a sweet tale with a cryptic ending.
The Hairpin Murders--Usagi comes to a new town and joins in an investigation of some murders by Inspector Ishida. Ishida is at first wary of Usagi who is very observant but warms to him quickly as they are summoned to a second victim's death. The story unfolds nicely with some clever twists. Ishida is an interesting investigator.
The Courtesan--Directly following on the Hairpin Murders, Usagi follows a woman whose nightly travels are being harassed by masked assailants. Turns out, the woman is part of Lady Maple's entourage. Lady Maple is a highly respected and fabulously beautiful woman. She has a dark secret that Usagi is pulled into when she invites him to her castle as a thank you. The story has the usual action and intrigue and makes for another fine adventure.
Tameshigiri--Medieval Japanese sword makers would prove the worthiness of their blade by performing ceremonial cuts on corpses. Many corpses were taboo for this practice, for example, ones of murderers or that had tattoos. This background is the basis for this story. Usagi is still in Ishida's town and another set of murders occurs. Their investigation leads them to a local clan of sword makers trying to get out of their mediocrity by demonstrating the excellence of their craftsmanship. The conflict involves investigating and a bunch of fighting, the usual sort of adventure for Usagi. The story is interesting and reveals yet another facet of Japanese historical culture.
Recommended.
March 3, 2022
Welcome back to my Throwback Thursday series, where I republish old reviews, review books I have read before or review older books I have only just had a chance to read. For this week’s Throwback Thursday I check out another epic entry in the amazing Usagi Yojimbo series by Stan Sakai with the 13th volume, Grey Shadows.
I had a lot of fun reviewing the 12th volume, Grasscutter, last week and it set me down a bit of a reread journey which saw me revisit several other Usagi Yojimbo volumes. As such I thought I would take the time to do another review of one of Stan Sakai’s comics, and luckily the next one on my list, Grey Shadows, is a particularly good one.
Grey Shadows takes place immediately after the massive events of Grasscutter and details several adventures that rabbit ronin protagonist Miyamoto Usagi goes on during this period. Made up of issues #23-30 of the Dark Horse Comics run on the Usagi Yojimbo series, Grey Shadows returns to the series norm of featuring several shorter stories, each of which pit Usagi against a new threat or opponent. Grey Shadows have several excellent stories, including some that focus on fantastic murder mystery elements while simultaneously introducing interesting new characters.
To see the full review, click on the link below:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2022/03/03/...
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
I had a lot of fun reviewing the 12th volume, Grasscutter, last week and it set me down a bit of a reread journey which saw me revisit several other Usagi Yojimbo volumes. As such I thought I would take the time to do another review of one of Stan Sakai’s comics, and luckily the next one on my list, Grey Shadows, is a particularly good one.
Grey Shadows takes place immediately after the massive events of Grasscutter and details several adventures that rabbit ronin protagonist Miyamoto Usagi goes on during this period. Made up of issues #23-30 of the Dark Horse Comics run on the Usagi Yojimbo series, Grey Shadows returns to the series norm of featuring several shorter stories, each of which pit Usagi against a new threat or opponent. Grey Shadows have several excellent stories, including some that focus on fantastic murder mystery elements while simultaneously introducing interesting new characters.
To see the full review, click on the link below:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2022/03/03/...
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
August 7, 2023
My Father's Sword: A great story that builds upon Usagi's time as a Samurai as we meet the son of someone Usagi fought with. The story follows as we learn about Usagi's bond with his fallen friend as it touches upon the idea of role models, legacy, and making family proud. It is a touching with a sad tragic twist as the story continues.
The Demon Flute: A decent supernatural story as we see Usagi help a village being tormented by a flute playing demon. It is just ok but the backstory does give a tragic end ot it.
Momo-Usagi-Taro: A low stakes story in which we see Usagi help some orphans by treating them to sweets and telling them a version of the real Japanese story of Momotaro. It is kind of cute seeing Usagi taking the role of the titular hero Momotaro.
The Case of the Hair Pin Murders: An ok mystery story as Usagi tries to help a local investigator investiage a string of murders but it is a little boring and it does repeat a few points about corruption and none of the characters are really that memorable.
The Courtesan: A sort of sequel story to the previous story as Usagi gets caught in a complicated situation as he helps a famous Cortesan and her son from rival Samurai who want to kill the son. The story is good and Lady Maple is a interesting character. The story does have a tragic end and it fits with the story and I do like it.
Tame'Shigiri: A short story about Usagi once again helping the Inspector solve a murder, it is short but kind of forgetabble.
The Demon Flute: A decent supernatural story as we see Usagi help a village being tormented by a flute playing demon. It is just ok but the backstory does give a tragic end ot it.
Momo-Usagi-Taro: A low stakes story in which we see Usagi help some orphans by treating them to sweets and telling them a version of the real Japanese story of Momotaro. It is kind of cute seeing Usagi taking the role of the titular hero Momotaro.
The Case of the Hair Pin Murders: An ok mystery story as Usagi tries to help a local investigator investiage a string of murders but it is a little boring and it does repeat a few points about corruption and none of the characters are really that memorable.
The Courtesan: A sort of sequel story to the previous story as Usagi gets caught in a complicated situation as he helps a famous Cortesan and her son from rival Samurai who want to kill the son. The story is good and Lady Maple is a interesting character. The story does have a tragic end and it fits with the story and I do like it.
Tame'Shigiri: A short story about Usagi once again helping the Inspector solve a murder, it is short but kind of forgetabble.
July 12, 2022
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Grey Shadows is a return to form for the Usagi Yojimbo series. We are back to a collection of mini-series that are loosely connected with one another. Following in the wake of the epic Usagi Yojimbo, Vol. 12: Grasscutter, Usagi settles down for a bit in a small village with a lot of corruption. The rabbit ronin spends time with an orphanage, becomes a glorified uncle, and helps solve crime. Don't worry, he still fights baddies too.
The highlight of this volume is anytime Usagi is spending time with youngins. It shows a new side of the warrior that was fun to observe. I also enjoyed Sakai stretching out to the mystery genre with the introduction of Inspector Ishida. Again, watching Usagi outside of his element was interesting even though it lacked on some of the execution.
I'm always going to prefer the major epics, but I am growing fond of these excursions from time-to-time. Sakai's work continues to be astounding with each and every issue. He just doesn't miss.
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Grey Shadows is a return to form for the Usagi Yojimbo series. We are back to a collection of mini-series that are loosely connected with one another. Following in the wake of the epic Usagi Yojimbo, Vol. 12: Grasscutter, Usagi settles down for a bit in a small village with a lot of corruption. The rabbit ronin spends time with an orphanage, becomes a glorified uncle, and helps solve crime. Don't worry, he still fights baddies too.
The highlight of this volume is anytime Usagi is spending time with youngins. It shows a new side of the warrior that was fun to observe. I also enjoyed Sakai stretching out to the mystery genre with the introduction of Inspector Ishida. Again, watching Usagi outside of his element was interesting even though it lacked on some of the execution.
I'm always going to prefer the major epics, but I am growing fond of these excursions from time-to-time. Sakai's work continues to be astounding with each and every issue. He just doesn't miss.
August 5, 2023
A solid follow up to the epic "Grasscutter", we now see Usagi in a more localized setting with several smaller plots. Volume 13 of Stan Sakai's Usagi Yojimbo collects issues #23-30 of the Dark Horse era.
The opening story, "My Father's Swords", has Usagi meet the son of a former fellow retainer in service to Lord Mifune. Usagi is impressed with the son's strong sense of honor and finds himself in a situation where an old debt must be repaid. "The Demon Flute" depicts yet another encounter between Usagi and demons (he sure meets a lot of these). "Momo-Usagi-Taro" is a retelling of Japanese folklore using Usagi as a principle character, and this story bleeds into the larger arcs that fill the rest of the book.
"The Hairpin Murders" introduces the fan favorite character Inspector Ishida, who befriends Usagi and allows the ronin to stay with him. Ishida is investigating a string of murders that leads to an intricate conspiracy that only Usagi can help unravel. This then folds into "The Courtesan", which follows a political plot surrounding the bastard son of a renowned courtesan who may be the heir to the local seat of power. "Tameshigiri" is another Ishida/Usagi team up which culminates with Ishida giving Usagi a pass for the events of "The Courtesan".
Another fantastic collection of stories overall.
The opening story, "My Father's Swords", has Usagi meet the son of a former fellow retainer in service to Lord Mifune. Usagi is impressed with the son's strong sense of honor and finds himself in a situation where an old debt must be repaid. "The Demon Flute" depicts yet another encounter between Usagi and demons (he sure meets a lot of these). "Momo-Usagi-Taro" is a retelling of Japanese folklore using Usagi as a principle character, and this story bleeds into the larger arcs that fill the rest of the book.
"The Hairpin Murders" introduces the fan favorite character Inspector Ishida, who befriends Usagi and allows the ronin to stay with him. Ishida is investigating a string of murders that leads to an intricate conspiracy that only Usagi can help unravel. This then folds into "The Courtesan", which follows a political plot surrounding the bastard son of a renowned courtesan who may be the heir to the local seat of power. "Tameshigiri" is another Ishida/Usagi team up which culminates with Ishida giving Usagi a pass for the events of "The Courtesan".
Another fantastic collection of stories overall.
August 1, 2022
This volume contains 6 shorter stories. The first one starts with Usagi leaving Gen at the temple from the end of Grasscutter while he goes to town to collect Gen's bounty. On the way he meets up with a young samurai on the road. The second story has him encountering a demon that is murdering people in a small village. In the third story, Usagi meets up with a group of orphans and tells them a legend about a boy who is born out of a peach. (We have run into this orphanage before.) In the fourth story, Usagi makes it to town to collect the bounty but becomes caught up in an investigation of a set of murders. In the fifth story, Usagi is still in town; he saves a pretty lady from some marauders and becomes involves with another mystery. The final story is still in town where Usagi helps inspector Ishida with another murder investigation.
November 28, 2024
Stan Sakai is, continuously, proven to be a diverse storyteller, able to place Usagi in any number of interesting situations. Sometimes his stories are comedic, sometimes sad, other times adventurous and epic, and on occasion even educational, as he learns things like the art of soy-sauce making or how seaweed is farmed. In this volume one of my favorite characters appears, Inspector Ishida, who serves as the vehicle for procedural, murder-mystery style stories!
January 12, 2022
Felt like a new blood for the series! All Inspector Ishida stories are just great, the Courtesan is a lovely drama in great setting and the new "crime investigation" angle is a new thing. Definitely one of my favourite Usagi issues, even with some really lazy writing of the fights.
October 17, 2024
Fun outing with a couple of mysteries that shake up the normal flow which was nice. It introduces another one of my favorite characters, which is something I say a lot, but I think is a testament to how good the side characters in this series are.
November 1, 2017
Já prostě Usagiho miluju :)
February 10, 2019
Po několika slabších dílech je tenhle skvělej. Hodně zajímavej, přitom lehce srozumitelnej (celá ta kultura kolem kurtizán a divadla kabuki). A navíc z Démonické flétny jsem měla husí kůžičku. :)
February 28, 2020
Inspector Ishida is a great new character, I hope we see more of him in the future.
August 10, 2020
Inspector Ishida is always a welcome guest appearance, and this collection is no exception.
May 17, 2021
I really like Inspector Ishida.
July 28, 2023
Words can't contain how much I love the Adventures of Usagi and his friends.
February 19, 2026
This volume introduces Inspector Ishida. That dude deserves his own series. Wonderful fun.
February 8, 2022
Another good one! I like inspector Ishii.
I was once again slightly disappointed by some stories that I'd read elsewhere, but this was a good volume even with some re-reads.
I was once again slightly disappointed by some stories that I'd read elsewhere, but this was a good volume even with some re-reads.
November 26, 2025
I'm looking forward to reading more adventures of Usagi Yojimbi.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews