Usagi Yojimbo #05

Usagi Yojimbo [兎用心棒] #5

by Stan Sakai (Drawings)

Dans ce cinquième tome des aventures de Usagi Yojimbo, vous allez vivre aux côtés de notre héros ronin des histoires tout aussi dramatiques que sensationnelles. Quand il ne se promène pas au festival des cerfs-volants fous (Tako-kichi matsuri), il se retrouve à combattre les sanguinaires ninjas Komori…

"Mais dès qu’on est sous le charme de Usagi Yojimbo, on comprend, comme je l’ai compris, qu’il appartient aux personnages dont on fait les légendes. Et l’on peut se retrouver à vouloir lever son verre et dire “Kansha suru” (merci) à l’un des gars les plus gentils du monde des comics, un homme que je suis fier de nommer mon ami, Stan Sakai, l’homme qui a tous les talents. Stan Le Magnifique!". Stan Lee

Depuis sa première publication en 1984, le succès du lapin aux grandes oreilles n’a cessé de croître. La série a rapporté à son auteur de nombreux prix, dont le fameux Eisner Award et est traduite dans plus de 10 langues. En Français, la série totalise plus de 100.000 ventes !

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Manga, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Japan

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 17, 1992

About the author

Stan 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).

Reviews

[Diz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this volume. There is a take on Lone Wolf and Cub called Lone Goat and Kid that was really fun to read. Also, the bat ninja story that is featured on the cover was thought provoking as it shows how peasants suffer when caught in the plans of powerful lords.

[Himanshu Karmacharya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Usagi Yojimbo gracefully draws inspiration from the rich well of Japanese folklore, history, and legends, honoring these traditions while breathing new life into them. Though the story might seem straightforward on the surface, it is, in fact, woven with complex layers. Each character embarks on a deeply personal journey, grappling with inner battles that drive their growth and resilience.

[Machiavelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume really hit for me. The stories lean hard into what makes Usagi Yojimbo special — honor, loyalty, and the quiet, ever-present tension of the samurai code — and they do it with real emotional weight. “Bloodwings” was a standout, blending atmosphere, tragedy, and menace in a way that stayed with me long after I finished. The Lone Goat and Kid story also builds a gripping, character-driven conflict that pays off beautifully, especially considering how little page space it needs to land.

What I love most is how this book balances action with reflection. The sword fights matter because the choices behind them matter. It’s no surprise this volume is so well regarded — the storytelling is tight, the characters feel real, and Stan Sakai’s art and pacing are as confident as ever. One of my favorite Usagi volumes so far.

[Googz · Rating 5 out of 5]

At some point, I almost just keep reading USAGI YOJIMBO to see what other simple yet fascinating lore Stan Sakai can have possibly created. A lot of his material seems to be a great homage to something I know about only vaguely, or perhaps not at all. BUT it's still a great read, so that's some kind of testament to his artistic ability both as storyteller and visual artist I think.

[Matti Karjalainen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sarjakuvan viidennessä osassa joudutaan tekemisiin lepakkoninjojen kanssa, noudetaan leskelle kuolleen samurain miekkoja ja tutustutaan pieteetillä leijantekijän ammattiin. Lopuksi kohdataan vaeltava palkkamurhaajavuohi ja hänen poikansa tarinassa, jota voi pitää tribuuttina Kazue Koiken maineikkaalle Lone Wolf and Cub -mangalle.

[Brett · Rating 3 out of 5]

I forgot to add it to my read area

[Václav · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4,2 z 5 za Kozla samotáře a drobná roninova dobrodružství).
Usagi Yojimbo je jedna z nejlepších komiksových sérií a to, co Stan Sakai předvádí po všech stránkách tvorby komiksu a v jakém rozsahu, je neuvěřitelné. A dělá to se vší skromností. Příběhy jsou skvělé, Stan čerpá inspiraci z mnoha zdrojů a v tomto svazku konečně "přizná" velkou inspiraci Kiokeho masterdílem - Kozure Ōkami aneb Lone Wolf and Cub. Stan nám tu představí skoro totožný origin nájemného vraha jménem Yagi a jeho syna Gorogora a následně (a tím i svazek uzavírá) jeho setkání s Usagim a tím i spojeným vyvrcholení předchozích dějových linií. Osobně jsem z Kozla a dítěte trošku zklamán, podle mě oba zachytil a převedl vůči předloze nešikovněji, Ittó je velmi přísný, málomluvný ale jinak dobrosdečný a spravedlivý, jak jen to "cesta do pekla" dovolí, ale tak to je Sakaiova licence.
Pátý svazek není tak epický jako ten předchozí, vrací se zpět ke stylu putujícího rónina, který zažívá různá dobrodružství, některá okrajová a jiná pomalu chystající půdu pro další velký příběh. Sakai je skvělý v budování světa kolem Usagiho, tak i "celého obrazu". Maličkosti, detaily tu a tam, nevíte kdy ještě nějaký náhodný příběh bude mít dopad nebo souvislost s dějem budoucím, a nebo bude dozvukem děje jiného, což se spojí časem. Hlavně je mistr v dávkování odkazů, takže si člověk nikdy nepřijde ztracen či zmaten. Už se těším na pokračování, Usagi je opravdu má srdeční záležitost.

[Cale · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the epic of the last volume, this collection of two shorter stories feel much more intimate. Bloodwings brings in a new threat with bat ninjas, and it's one of the most brutal stories so far. There isn't nearly as much action; the plot kind of overwhelms the story with almost unnecessary complications that further the larger story but don't pay off here.
The second story, Lone Goat and Cub, is a much more powerful story, exploring aging and honor as Yojimbo gets framed for death that didn't happen. The titular duo are an impressive pair and the action in this story is some of the best in the series so far.
There's also a one-off story "A Kite Story" that is more information than plot, detailing the method of creating kites used in the time. It's interesting but not particularly story-moving.
All told, there's good and not-quite-as-good here. Nothing bad, but not the best Usagi collection.

[Santiago Gª Soláns · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excelentes historias cortas.

Hasta de la, a priori, más anodina y "costumbrista" (un artesano mostrando la técnica de construcción de cometas y el subsiguiente festival de estas), Sakai exprime todo el interés y consigue emocionar al lector.

Increíble la humanidad de sus personajes.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

After having a multi-issue plot the last volume, we're back to one and dones, although they do connect and follow through from each other. A quick and entertaining read with goofy art, exactly what you'd expect.

[Victoria Timpanaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great volume of Usagi tales! And this one ends with a great cameo appearance for fans of samurai stories.

[Gabriel Wallis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have greatly enjoyed reading the Usagi Yojimbo graphic novels this year... and "Usagi Yojimbo: Lone Goat and Kid" (volume 5) was just as good as the previous graphic novels.

I loved the introduction by Stan Lee. It added to the recognition of the comic series for me. If Stan Lee recognizes Usagi Yojimbo as a great story, then it has to be great, right? ;) Well, the Usagi Yojimbo series can hold its own, without Stan Lee's approval. The art is very simplistic, but very detailed. I would say, though, that it's almost too complex for children. I think the series was meant for adults.

This graphic novel, like volumes 1-3, consisted of five short stories. The first story, "Frost and Fire" was about two women who were in competition of a samurai's swords (the samurai died). One woman, who was rich and bitter, was related to the samurai and thought she deserved the swords, and the other woman, who was poor, was in a relationship with the samurai and thought she deserved the swords. Ah, the complexity.

The second short story, "A Kite Story", was about a man who created a large kite that Yojimbo eventually used to escape a mob of violent gamblers. What was interesting about this short story was the details added in how to make a kite.

"Blood Wings" was the third story in the graphic novel. There's nothing like bat ninjas! Yojimbo's job was to protect a small town from being held hostage by the bat ninjas. Reminded me a little of "Seven Samurai".

The fourth short story was "The Way of the Samurai". It was about an old general who wanted to die by the sword instead of dying by sickness. He challenged Yojimbo to a fight to the death to obtain his wish.

And lastly, the fifth short story was titled "Lone Goat and Kid". Obviously, it was taken from the Lone Wolf and Cub series, which is one of my favorite samurai stories.

Overall, this graphic novel was very good and highly entertaining.

[Bill Coffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

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, from the first published Usagi story in Albedo Anthropomorphic #2, 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.

[Никола Милосављевић · Rating 5 out of 5]

Melem

[CS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bullet Review:

Fantastic, as I've come to anticipate. I particularly loved the "Lone Goat and Kid" and the Bat Ninjas storylines.

[Madhurabharatula Pranav Rohit Kasinath · Rating 5 out of 5]

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)

[Joseph R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another set of adventures for the rabbit ronin!

Frost and Fire--Usagi is hired by a widow to recover her husband's swords. She's not interested in the body coming back, just the invaluable family heirlooms. Usagi agrees to the job. At the town where the samurai died, people are not forthcoming, except for one guy whose sister has the swords. She has her own sob story about why she wants to keep the swords but her brother is ready to cash in. Usagi slowly discovers more and more about the death and the characters involved. The story's melancholy ending is satisfying.

A Kite Story--A massive kite festival draws a master kite-maker, a dishonest gambler, and Usagi. The three cross paths two at a time, creating an interesting story, though maybe there's too much detail about the making of the kite.

Blood Wings--While traveling through the mountains, Usagi discovers a dead body. The fatal cuts are precise but the field has no footprints other than Usagi's and the corpse's. Usagi continues on to a small farming village where the man came from. The dead man discovered a cave full of ninja bats who are plotting to seize a gold shipment from a nearby mine. The ninjas are keeping the townfolk in town so the mine isn't warned. Usagi sets out early the next morning to try to get to the mine to warn them and get help for the village. Things don't go according to plan. The story is exciting and the bat ninjas are natural and interesting bad guys.

The Way of the Samurai--Usagi wanders into a town ruled by an ex-general. The general is a fine administrator but cannot fight the illness that's overcome him. He and Usagi share a connection--the samurai code. That code gives the story a poignant finale. This may be the best story in this collection.

Lone Goat and Kid--Lord Hirone's clan is potentially in disgrace if the ronin Yagi reveals the plot that had him and his son (the two are the titular characters--Yagi really is a goat!) banished from the clan. Three of the clan's lieutenants hatch a plan where a merchant will hire Yagi to kill Usagi, with the hope that Usagi will kill Yagi. The lieutenants watch as the battle begins but the backstabbing starts a little early on their side, throwing the plan into chaos. The story makes an exciting finale to this book.

Highly recommended--all the stories are entertaining and exciting.

[Dustin (dragonarmybooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a BookTube channel where I review books, give reading suggestions, and more! Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/dragonarmybooks

---

My Rating - 3.5 Stars

First of all, the foreword is by the legendary Stan Lee and he has some incredibly kind things to say about Stan Sakai and his work. If that isn't impressive enough, Sakai continues to demonstrate his masterfully handling of his craft with Volume 5 of the Usagi Yojimbo epic.

In contrast to Usagi Yojimbo, Vol. 4: The Dragon Bellow Conspiracy, Lone Goat and Kid is kind of all over the place. In fact, it is a bit odd that this volume is even titled as it is since the majority of the graphic novel has nothing to do with those characters. Rather than one complete tale told in separate parts, this volume is basically five different short stories. "A Kite Story" was the standout, but it didn't seem to reach a satisfying resolution that I was hoping for. Nevertheless, it was still a beautiful tale.

I really do love that Sakai seems to be gradually moving us into a more mature territory. There's nothing tremendously gory or deep, but both the action and moral lessons addressed are becoming less and less for kids and more and more for adults (which I'm here for). The art continues to be simplistic but excellent. The storytelling is top tier. I felt that the dialogue fell a bit flat in this collection, but nothing too distracting.

I've mentioned it before, but Sakai does it all. He is Usagi Yojimbo's creator, writer, and illustrator. He does it all and it is so evident that this is a project of love. Usagi is quickly becoming a favorite of mine and I now look forward to reading each new volume in the series.

[Timothy Pitkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

After a huge storyline this volume goes back to more of an anthology with only the last two having a connection.
1. Frost and Fire: Was pretty all right a nice story about the cycle of greed and a tragic romance as Usagi is tasked to collect the swords of a deceased noble who died in a small village. But he finds out it the reason the noble was killed which involves a romance, jealously, and it is all pretty well done.
2. A Kite Story: Was weird as it is framed about this Kite festival as Usagi reveals that some local gamblers have been cheating people and it is just kind of boring granted it is interesting to see how a Kite is made back in feudal Japan.
3. Blood Wings: Was pretty cool as this one directly relates to the aftermath of the Dragon Bellow Conspiracy as Lord Hebi tests out a new Ninja clan and Usagi accidently stumbles across a village caught in the middle of a gold heist. Pretty cool and the design of the new ninjas is cool and you feel really sorry for the villagers as Usagi tries to save them.
4. The Way of the Samurai: A real cool story as Usagi meets one of his heroes and we get to see Usagi geeking out over his idol. We also learn about the tragedy of Feudal Politics and it does explore more about the Bushido and what is and is not considered to be honorable as the old hero is not sure what he is supposed to do.
5. Lone Goat and Kid: Ties into the previous story as Lone Goat was friends with Usagi and also suffered a the same fate being forced out of his previous position by newer politicians and forced to be on the run. This is a nice homage to Lone Wolf and cub.

[Unseen Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this latest Throwback Thursday I once again check out another early volume of the excellent Usagi Yojimbo series, which I have been reviewing over the last couple of weeks. For this review, I am looking at the fifth volume, Lone Goat and Kid. Lone Goat and Kid was first released in 1992 by Fantagraphics Books and contains issues #19-24 of the Usagi Yojimbo series.

This fifth volume of Usagi Yojimbo once again sees series protagonist, the rabbit ronin Miyamoto Usagi, traverse a feudal Japanese landscape populated solely with anthropomorphised animals. This volume follows on right after the chaotic events of the fourth volume, The Dragon Bellow Conspiracy, and contains five new stories across six issues. This is an interesting entry in the series, particularly as it is the first volume to barely feature any of the previously introduced recurring characters aside from Usagi (a huge departure from the last volume, which contained a number of recurring characters coming together and teaming up). Instead, Sakai takes the time to introduce a bunch of new characters and scenarios across the volume’s five separate stories. Unsurprisingly, I really liked this fifth volume of Usagi Yojimbo, especially as Sakai manages come up with some fantastic and exceedingly enjoyable tales.

To see the full review, click on the link below:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2020/04/10/...

For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/

[Dillon Braeges · Rating 5 out of 5]

This makes me want to go back and redo my reviews of the previous volumes. Not because I suddenly don't like them, but because this is such a massive jump in quality, I feel like I have to correct the grading curve.

This jump is most present in the artwork, particularly the backgrounds. While previous volumes were great looking, the landscapes seems here to so much more detailed than before. From small towns to mist covered mountains, this volume has a tremendous sense of place.

The characters have also been upgraded, art wise. They're taller and leaner than before, allowing a greater range of movement and action, and every bit as cartoonishly expressive.

Maybe I only notice these changes as much as I did because I skipped the previous volume, The Dragon Bellow Conspiracy. (Not by choice, mind. My library didn't have it.) This was somewhat of a problem, since a few of these stories take place in the direct aftermath of those events. Thankfully though, it's written in such a way that you can keep up very easily.

Speaking of the stories, this collection is much more serious in tone. While previous volumes almost always had at least one more comedic tale, the adventures here are all firmly samurai drama, with plenty of action and drama. Of note is a rather near riff on Lone Wolf and Cub, making for a crossover of sorts.

Stan Sakai continues to be one of the best to ever do it. Usagi Yojimbo is damn near comics perfected.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is creeping up on 'favorite' territory with each volume. There's nothing really groundbreaking but I always want to keep traveling the road with the honorable Usagi-san a little longer.

The way the artwork has improved reminds me a lot of Bone, and I think the relatively low stakes also help draw that comparison. Yes, people die, but it isn't bloody, instead they croak out a word bubble with a cute skull and crossbones that means they have died.

It is a little odd or forced that somehow Usagi is a top tier fighter but also he keeps running into other amazing fighters he will spar to a draw with. But both the bat-ninja clan and the appearance of Lone Goat and Kid are quite memorable.

[47Time · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hoping for a longer story, but got more one-shots. Still, they are just as enjoyable as usual.

Hikiji pushes aside the Neko ninja in favor of the Komori clan. Usagi faces them alone when trying to protect a village, but only when the villigers join his side are the Komori routed.

Yagi, the lone goat with kid (reference to Lone Wolf and Son? I haven't read it yet) is manipulated into dueling Usagi. He is still a target for his former clan members who betrayed him and forced him to run away. Eventually, Usagi convinces Yagi that they must not be enemies.

[Fanja Evers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Je pourrais pousser jusqu'à 3,5/5. Très instructif sur la culture et les traditions japonaises de la période Edo et sur les codes des samouraïs. Un comic (et non manga) plus riche qu'il n'y paraît au premier abord. Après ce n'est qu'un aperçu de l'univers que j'ai eu à travers ce tome 5 donc j'ai une impression globale de lecture sympa, sans plus vraiment, avec des inégalités d'une histoire à l'autre, et j'avais peut-être espéré plus d'humour. J'ai beaucoup aimé la dernière histoire, avec le bouc.:)

[Miquel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sakai va plantando semillas en sus volumes hasta hacerlas estallar en un libro épico, ese gue el caso de "la conspiración del dragon". Con lo que "Cabra solitaria y su hijo" es el inicio de una nueva escalada y por ello carece de un final épico. Pero no por ello deja de ser un capítulo divertido con los temas propias de usagi, por tanto no defrauda y nos introduce otro personaje carismático como el cabra e su hijo.

[Child960801 · Rating 5 out of 5]

These stories are all ones where Usagi is wondering around and finds adventures that way. He goes up against a clan of ninja bats, goes to a festival, takes a job to recover some swords and meets a former general. The final story includes the Lone Goat and Kid, a riff on the famous series Lone Wolf and Cub. The story about the festival is really interesting with different sections that highlight different points of view and a fascinating look at how giant kites were made.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never liked the bat ninjas much and they feature prominently in this volume. They don’t fight to their best advantage and tend towards dumb. i think a flying ninja who gets into close combat is probably not using his abilities to their best advantage.

Otherwise, this was another great volume of Usagi Yojimbo and even the Lone Wolf and Cub tribute at the end was very well done.

[David Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mostly solid samurai fable read, this time with a bit problematic tendency to pit the heroes against odds that are absurdly overwhelming (in close sequence 7 to 1 two times and then 40 to 1), which really makes no sense and just waters down the story. That would be 3*.

Fourth star is won by the great, poetic and educational kite builder story. Great stuff there.

[Jeff Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could read these books 100 times.
The characters, the plots, the dialogue, and the art all meld together so well. They approach perfection.
That being said, this volume feels like a Part One. After The Dragon Bellow Conspiracy, they have to get new balls rolling somehow. I just crave more. Lucky for me, I have Volume 6 on my shelf right now.

[Brandon · Rating 4 out of 5]

The titular "Lone Goat and Kid" story was neat, I assume it may have been more exciting if I actually knew anything about Lone Wolf and Cub other than the name. But it was still good! I liked the bat-ninja story shown on the cover, it was dangerous and the idea of having a bunch of peasants fight the ninja (when most stories in this series have had trained fighters/samurai only) was unique.