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Usagi Yojimbo [兎用心棒] #Spin-Off
Usagi Yojimbo: Senso
Twenty years in his future, Miyamoto Usagi faces a menace from Mars! It will take all the considerable fortitude, ingenuity, and heroism that Usagi and his loved ones can muster to combat the fearsome extraterrestrial war machines and halt the alien invasion. In the end, not everyone will survive to tell the tale. Collects issues #1–#6 of the miniseries.
168 pages, Hardcover
First published May 6, 2015
8 people are currently reading
116 people want to read
About the author
Stan Sakai
924 books371 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 44 reviews
January 16, 2015
Senso is Usagi Yojimbo crossed with HG Wells’ War of the Worlds – ok, why not?
Set towards the end of Usagi’s life, the book opens with a final, massive battle against the evil Lord Hikiji. But as the fighting heats up, a giant bullet-shaped vessel crash lands in the middle of the battlefield! Out of the shell emerges laser cannons that immediately begin decimating the feudal Japanese forces and then three-legged machines with tentacles and guns start laying waste to everything – will Usagi and his friends prevail against such a powerful enemy?
Senso (Japanese for “war”) is unfortunately a bit boring and a bit overwrought. The story is mostly non-stop fighting against a one-dimensional enemy (whose goals/culture/purpose for being on Earth are completely ignored which makes the thin story all the more boring) with a few moments of soap-opera-style drama shoe-horned in.
For example: we get Usagi and Lady Tomoe fighting the machines, scene after scene of Japanese soldiers falling to the octopus aliens and their tech, and then Usagi will turn to her and say something like “We can never be together” and Tomoe saying “Why do you hurt me so?”. Then there's more fighting followed later by a scene where Usagi will pause amidst the killing and mention how Jotaro is his son but he was raised by another man and Jotaro can never know - but he does know and has done for years! This is followed by more fighting, etc.
Ugh, please – it’s so forced!
The action is just so-so – like a lot of Usagi comics, the violence is muted/implied rather than out and out gory, except for one instance – and the melodrama just sat awkwardly alongside it. It’s because Stan Sakai wanted this to be The Last Usagi Yojimbo story which is why it needed to have this emotional resonance to it, even though it doesn’t quite work.
That’s especially true once you see the final chapter, which is funny and VERY Japanese-y (you’ll know what I mean when you see it) but, contrasted with how we’re supposed to be feeling immediately after, is another strange tonal shift. But this isn’t the end of the series, it’s just a one-off, big leap forward in time to tell this story; the normal series where Usagi is thirtysomething, returns later this year.
I do like Usagi Yojimbo normally and Stan Sakai is a true master and legend in comics, but Senso is a very shallow story like Marvel and DC’s action-heavy Event comics crossed with their What If?/Elseworlds titles, which is a comparison I never thought I’d make with this creator/title! Senso is a weak, contrived addition to an otherwise great series.
Set towards the end of Usagi’s life, the book opens with a final, massive battle against the evil Lord Hikiji. But as the fighting heats up, a giant bullet-shaped vessel crash lands in the middle of the battlefield! Out of the shell emerges laser cannons that immediately begin decimating the feudal Japanese forces and then three-legged machines with tentacles and guns start laying waste to everything – will Usagi and his friends prevail against such a powerful enemy?
Senso (Japanese for “war”) is unfortunately a bit boring and a bit overwrought. The story is mostly non-stop fighting against a one-dimensional enemy (whose goals/culture/purpose for being on Earth are completely ignored which makes the thin story all the more boring) with a few moments of soap-opera-style drama shoe-horned in.
For example: we get Usagi and Lady Tomoe fighting the machines, scene after scene of Japanese soldiers falling to the octopus aliens and their tech, and then Usagi will turn to her and say something like “We can never be together” and Tomoe saying “Why do you hurt me so?”. Then there's more fighting followed later by a scene where Usagi will pause amidst the killing and mention how Jotaro is his son but he was raised by another man and Jotaro can never know - but he does know and has done for years! This is followed by more fighting, etc.
Ugh, please – it’s so forced!
The action is just so-so – like a lot of Usagi comics, the violence is muted/implied rather than out and out gory, except for one instance – and the melodrama just sat awkwardly alongside it. It’s because Stan Sakai wanted this to be The Last Usagi Yojimbo story which is why it needed to have this emotional resonance to it, even though it doesn’t quite work.
That’s especially true once you see the final chapter, which is funny and VERY Japanese-y (you’ll know what I mean when you see it) but, contrasted with how we’re supposed to be feeling immediately after, is another strange tonal shift. But this isn’t the end of the series, it’s just a one-off, big leap forward in time to tell this story; the normal series where Usagi is thirtysomething, returns later this year.
I do like Usagi Yojimbo normally and Stan Sakai is a true master and legend in comics, but Senso is a very shallow story like Marvel and DC’s action-heavy Event comics crossed with their What If?/Elseworlds titles, which is a comparison I never thought I’d make with this creator/title! Senso is a weak, contrived addition to an otherwise great series.
December 22, 2021
This is a spin-off on Usagi Yojimbo, combining it with H. G. Wells "War of the Worlds". I've not read other Usagi Yojimbo stories, so didn't know the characters. But it doesn't matter. I could understand it fine.
For a tale of anthropomorphic animals vs. "War of the Worlds", I preferred Wild's End, but I had fun with this, too.
For a tale of anthropomorphic animals vs. "War of the Worlds", I preferred Wild's End, but I had fun with this, too.
January 22, 2024
"Senso" depicts an alternate future for the series where Miyamoto Usagi serves as a retainer for the now adult Lord Noriyuki alongside his comrades Tomoe Ame and Gennosuke. The story opens to a final showdown between Noriyuki and the Shadow Lord Hikiji, with both sides taking heavy casualties. Narrative threads from the main series are easily spotted here, like Tomoe's and Usagi's unrealized romantic feelings and Jotaro's parentage remaining unrevealed. But where "Senso" could have been an interesting exploration of the future and culmination of the series, the narrative quickly adapts the premise of H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds instead. Whilst it is fun seeing our main cast deal with aliens for a while, the hook isn't strong enough to sustain the full six-issue series. The sci-fi aspects are a bit better realized here than they were for
Space Usagi
, but not by much. Sure, it's a blast seeing Usagi fighting alien war machines in a giant rabbit shaped gundam, but the lack of focus in the narrative makes this a drag. The characters of Hikiji and Hebi are also haphazardly tossed to the side midway through when this could have been the perfect way to develop the villainous duo.
"Senso" is a "turn your brain off" kind of action adventure romp that lacks much of the charm of the main series. The saving grace is Sakai's distinctive artwork which gets to really explore some designs completely foreign to the series, but outside of that "Senso" is an easily skippable spin-off.
"Senso" is a "turn your brain off" kind of action adventure romp that lacks much of the charm of the main series. The saving grace is Sakai's distinctive artwork which gets to really explore some designs completely foreign to the series, but outside of that "Senso" is an easily skippable spin-off.
December 6, 2019
"Usagi Yojimbo" meets "War of the Worlds" by H.G. Wells. Medieval Japan Usagi fights an invasion from Mars. We see all of our favorite characters and, even if it's non-cannon, a decent ending to the whole revenge-on-lord-hikiji theme of Usagi since the start of the series. It has it all: intrigue, drama, action, robots, samurai, love story and of course, the legendary rhino, Gen!
Good one mr. Sakai, reminded me of your great tales of old.
Good one mr. Sakai, reminded me of your great tales of old.
January 23, 2022
Po Space Usagim je Senso jiná písnička. Příběh je také jednoduchý, co kdyby Wellsovi mimozemšťané navštívili zemi dřív, jako malý průzkum, zrovna v dobách feudálního (Usagiho) Japonska. Všechny postavy jsou tu podstatně starší, takže svým způsobem je to takový fiktivní doslov Usagiho série dávno před tím, než vůbec skončí. A na rozdíl od vesmírného Usagi je svěží a zábavný. Je to v podstatě akce a drama od začátku až do konce a funguje to skvěle. Samozřejmě že to není klasická série, takže tu není prostor i pro moudrost a poznávání feudálního Japonska skrze to fiktivní, jak to stan vždy hezky umí, zato se tu mihnou všechny hlavní postavy v epickém souboji s mimozemskými chobotnicemi.
June 13, 2018
A fun little bridge between the Usagi Yojimbo and Space Usagi universes. Stan Sakai plays fast and loose with his beloved creations/long-running plot points, which nearly rustled my jimmies. Thankfully, he steps back from the edge in the nick of time. <-- I sure know how to pack in them idioms… like sardines. This guy, huh?
February 24, 2016
Because it's a War of the Worlds homage many years beyond where Usagi Yojimbo currently is, Senso is able to provide resolutions to character development that the main book would not be able to for years, if ever at all. And the thrill of samurai fighting Martians and steam powered mecha fighting a Walker provide a great sense of scale to the book.
July 2, 2015
Love the H.G. Wells crossover set in Usagi's future. Usagi Yojimbo will always be a favorite. Be warned that In battle there is death.
October 31, 2015
Fun, but ultimately empty.
May 26, 2017
It's a beautiful book and a very satisfying story. I hope that the main Usagi series comes to an official, complete end some day, but if that never happens, this will be a great stand in.
January 14, 2021
And yet the greatest monster among them appeared to be human.
For those that do not know Senso is Japanese for War which is appropriate considering this book (although not cannon from what I hear) is set 20 years later in the Usagi Yojimbo story as the Geishu Clan is about to reach a climax with Usagi's sworn enemy Lord Hikiji and his forces. However war is not always clear cut as a large metal construct slams into the ground bringing an end to many lives and stories of characters both loved and despised when the Martians decide to invade. Thus begins Stan Sakai's story (after a simple comic explaining why he decided to create a War of the Worlds crossover with his series) as friend and foe alike are forced to work together while octopus like invaders offered death to any who cross their path.
Honestly this was a great book and being set 20 years later we get to see how some of the younger characters from the stories have matured but it also has its sad moments too as hero and villain alike struggle against alien technology and sacrifices occur. Being not cannon we have no way of telling how many of these same characters will face their fates in the future in the normal story but if there is never an end to the series then this book does a great job of wrapping up certain story threads (and creates a link to Space Usagi I think but I have never read it so I am guessing.)
For those that do not know Senso is Japanese for War which is appropriate considering this book (although not cannon from what I hear) is set 20 years later in the Usagi Yojimbo story as the Geishu Clan is about to reach a climax with Usagi's sworn enemy Lord Hikiji and his forces. However war is not always clear cut as a large metal construct slams into the ground bringing an end to many lives and stories of characters both loved and despised when the Martians decide to invade. Thus begins Stan Sakai's story (after a simple comic explaining why he decided to create a War of the Worlds crossover with his series) as friend and foe alike are forced to work together while octopus like invaders offered death to any who cross their path.
Honestly this was a great book and being set 20 years later we get to see how some of the younger characters from the stories have matured but it also has its sad moments too as hero and villain alike struggle against alien technology and sacrifices occur. Being not cannon we have no way of telling how many of these same characters will face their fates in the future in the normal story but if there is never an end to the series then this book does a great job of wrapping up certain story threads (and creates a link to Space Usagi I think but I have never read it so I am guessing.)
February 7, 2024
It's funny how I recently read the supposed end of ONE anthromorphic Japanese-martial-arts-inspired-fighting animal story (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin), and here's another anthromorphic Japanese-martial-art-inspired-fighting animal story that's supposed to be the end of the character...and BOTH have inexplicable sci-fi elements! TWO NICKLES!
But yeah, despite being set in the Sengoku period of Furry Japan, with characters being anthro-tanuki, cats, rhinos, snakes, and yes, rabbits, the craziness of a climactic battle already in medias res is made even crazier when a rocketship carrying alien octopi land and they immediately go about vaporizing anyone in their path.
Hilariously melodramatic, action-packed, and would probably mean more to people who have actually been following the adventures of this bunny bushido blader, but as a stand-alone, works well enough for the completely uninitiated to enjoy.
But yeah, despite being set in the Sengoku period of Furry Japan, with characters being anthro-tanuki, cats, rhinos, snakes, and yes, rabbits, the craziness of a climactic battle already in medias res is made even crazier when a rocketship carrying alien octopi land and they immediately go about vaporizing anyone in their path.
Hilariously melodramatic, action-packed, and would probably mean more to people who have actually been following the adventures of this bunny bushido blader, but as a stand-alone, works well enough for the completely uninitiated to enjoy.
June 29, 2019
The intro tells you this is intended to be some silly fun, which it is. Pretending war-of-the-worlds type aliens attack feudal Japan and fighting against them. Ties up the end of many of the characters, but in a non-canon way, so hard to feel too invested in what happens to the people we love.
The battles and fighting were big dumb fun. This does miss the character work which normally makes Usagi Yojimbo 5 stars.
The battles and fighting were big dumb fun. This does miss the character work which normally makes Usagi Yojimbo 5 stars.
December 11, 2025
Usagi in War of the Worlds. That’s fun, but what mostly made this great was it feeling that if you removed the aliens you are getting the end of a series that will likely never became. Gen and Usagi no longer are Ronin. Supporting cast gets deaths or endings. Jei shows up in a funny way. Made me wish we’d get a Last Usagi story.
The War of the Worlds stuff was mostly fun too. (The giant robot was one step too far for me).
The War of the Worlds stuff was mostly fun too. (The giant robot was one step too far for me).
January 12, 2017
Usagi is always good; there's no denying that. But I wasn't quite feeling this collection. Essentially, it's 15 years in the future from the usual "Samurai/Ronin animals in Feudal Japan" concept, and Usagi and company are interrupted by the invaders from War of the Worlds.
The character development is nice, and the fight scenes are beautifully drawn, but in all it's just kind of trivial.
The character development is nice, and the fight scenes are beautifully drawn, but in all it's just kind of trivial.
June 18, 2021
This is NOT the place to start with Usagi Yojimbo... it would be a little like starting watching LOST in the final season. Lots of interesting "what if's" and payoffs from both the run of Usagi Yojimbo and Space Usagi.
January 6, 2018
A must read for any Usagi fan!
February 17, 2019
kinda morbid and cynical (also silly) but the ending is cute and kinda wipes away all that
August 2, 2020
I feel very late to the game on Usagi Yojimbo, but I really want to read everything now.
January 14, 2021
Mr. Sakai's brilliant take on war of the worlds set in the Usagi Yojimbo universe. Really a fun, at times nuts read. Recommended!
February 23, 2021
Two words that struck me the most throughout this book: 'Usagi Gundam'.
August 2, 2022
I wasnt ready!
October 19, 2025
I like the art style, but I'm not a fan of the aliens from space attacking. There wasn't much plot besides constant battles.
December 2, 2025
Usagi Yojimbo meets War of the Worlds - what's not to love?
July 29, 2016
Usagi Yojimbo. I can't really say enough good about the character and his stories. I've recommended the comic to a lot of people over the years, and I have yet to hear back from any of them to tell me they didn't like it. Usagi is an honor-bound ronin in feudal Japan, so most of the stories are short morality plays that teach a lesson while also being engaging, interesting, and accessible to readers of all ages. It's a brilliant comic, and it's no surprise to me that the comic has been going strong for over thirty years.
Senso is a return for Sakai, who took time away from the comic to work on 47 Ronin. Before returning to the regular series, he decided to do a one-off fantasy limited series where Usagi and his allies and enemies face the alien invasion from War of the Worlds. It's set fifteen years ahead of the regular comic, and features almost all of the recurring and regular characters from the comic. I'm not sure if this limited series is intended to be canon, but since those characters show up here, it suggests that most of the characters in the regular series will survive to the end there.
Senso is a fast-paced story, mostly because the weapons of feudal Japan are no match for the technology of the invading aliens. It also lacks some of the defining characteristics of a typical Usagi story, since the events are moving too fast to really focus on the honor of the characters. It's definitely there, but where the regular series tends to make that the focus of the stories, here they exist just in individual moments. I enjoyed the story -- it's Usagi Yojimbo, for cryin' out loud -- but I look forward to the regular series resuming.
I'm not sure I would recommend this collection for new readers, but folks who have been with Usagi since the start should find a lot to like here. It brings some narratives to a close, while continuing others and beginning still others. It seems unlikely that Sakai will choose to continue this story from this moment, but there are enough threads here that if he wanted to, he could.
Senso is a return for Sakai, who took time away from the comic to work on 47 Ronin. Before returning to the regular series, he decided to do a one-off fantasy limited series where Usagi and his allies and enemies face the alien invasion from War of the Worlds. It's set fifteen years ahead of the regular comic, and features almost all of the recurring and regular characters from the comic. I'm not sure if this limited series is intended to be canon, but since those characters show up here, it suggests that most of the characters in the regular series will survive to the end there.
Senso is a fast-paced story, mostly because the weapons of feudal Japan are no match for the technology of the invading aliens. It also lacks some of the defining characteristics of a typical Usagi story, since the events are moving too fast to really focus on the honor of the characters. It's definitely there, but where the regular series tends to make that the focus of the stories, here they exist just in individual moments. I enjoyed the story -- it's Usagi Yojimbo, for cryin' out loud -- but I look forward to the regular series resuming.
I'm not sure I would recommend this collection for new readers, but folks who have been with Usagi since the start should find a lot to like here. It brings some narratives to a close, while continuing others and beginning still others. It seems unlikely that Sakai will choose to continue this story from this moment, but there are enough threads here that if he wanted to, he could.
May 23, 2015
As a big fan of Stan Sakai's work, I was eager to read this War of the Worlds adaptation. Just as I've come to expect, the artwork was fantastic, exceptionally so in part 6 of this story. My biggest qualm is that, while Stan is known for his stories, this particular series is light on story and full of action, often rushing from battle to battle without taking a moment to develop the emotional context, so any of the emotional moments just dropped in quickly and disappeared just as fast. This felt a bit abrupt and those moments seemed forced, whereas Stan's storytelling normally flows more smoothly.
I liked the book, but I really wish I had loved it. I love Usagi. I love aliens. So combined I had higher expectations than Senso was able to achieve. It was still fun, but don't go into it expecting the same level of character moments that you get from the usual Usagi series.
I liked the book, but I really wish I had loved it. I love Usagi. I love aliens. So combined I had higher expectations than Senso was able to achieve. It was still fun, but don't go into it expecting the same level of character moments that you get from the usual Usagi series.
January 15, 2024
As Usagi stories go, this isn't a favorite - it lacks the subtlety and humor of the regular series, but it's still a fun romp with great cartooning.
+++++++++
I read this again in the aftermath of both my grand Usagi rereading and the release of the new TMNT/Usagi book "Wherewhen," which also served as a prequel to"Senso."
Again this is fun, but not essential. It's a little extra fun now that we see Takenoko's futuristic weapons were inspired by actual future technology in "Wherewhen." I was saddened that Kitsune got such an empty sendoff in "Wherewhen," and a little sadder now that "Senso" doesn't mention her passing at all.
On that other hand, I admit I got a laugh out of the complete disregard for Jei!😆
Ultimately, it's a a fun little book, but not great like Usagi so frequently is. I do like the epilogue, which casts the entire story as a figment of ancestral telling.
+++++++++
I read this again in the aftermath of both my grand Usagi rereading and the release of the new TMNT/Usagi book "Wherewhen," which also served as a prequel to"Senso."
Again this is fun, but not essential. It's a little extra fun now that we see Takenoko's futuristic weapons were inspired by actual future technology in "Wherewhen." I was saddened that Kitsune got such an empty sendoff in "Wherewhen," and a little sadder now that "Senso" doesn't mention her passing at all.
On that other hand, I admit I got a laugh out of the complete disregard for Jei!😆
Ultimately, it's a a fun little book, but not great like Usagi so frequently is. I do like the epilogue, which casts the entire story as a figment of ancestral telling.
June 6, 2016
Stan Sakai tiene ganas de dibujar cosas distintas, como explica en la hilarante historieta que sirve de prólogo. Y al igual que hiciera en Space Usagi, decide sumergir a su celebérrimo conejo samurai en una aventura muy distinta a sus habituales intrigas entre clanes y monstruos del folklore japonés para tener la oportunidad de hacerlo.
Senso es, en esencia, "La guerra de los mundos" de H.G. Wells trasladada al Japón feudal. No hay grandes sorpresas en la trama, pero el dibujo es épico e impresionante y coloca este álbum por encima de la sobresaliente media de las aventuras de Usagi en ese apartado.
Recomendado para todos los fans del arte de Stan Sakai.
Senso es, en esencia, "La guerra de los mundos" de H.G. Wells trasladada al Japón feudal. No hay grandes sorpresas en la trama, pero el dibujo es épico e impresionante y coloca este álbum por encima de la sobresaliente media de las aventuras de Usagi en ese apartado.
Recomendado para todos los fans del arte de Stan Sakai.
January 29, 2016
A non-canon miniseries set 20 years in Usagi's future. What if the martians from War of the Worlds invaded Japan first? Basically an excuse for Stan to draw some awesome spaceships and aliens and a huge MECHA USAGI...I laughed out loud when this made its appearance. A bit overwrought with revelations and deaths and unrequited love but if you can't pull out all the dramatic stops in a non-canon miniseries WHEN CAN YOU? A fun read!
August 8, 2015
Like everything that Stan Sakai does, this is well-done and interesting. I wasn't sure if it's supposed to be the official "end" of the characters or not, so I approached it as a sort of "Elseworlds" Usagi story. Mashing up "War of the Worlds" with a samurai story is an odd idea, but it works fairly well and is totally worth a read if you're a Usagi fan. But it doesn't have the same kind of emotional depth that the best Usagi stories have. So it's only pretty good, instead of awesome.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews