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Usagi Yojimbo [兎用心棒] #16
Usagi Yojimbo, Vol. 16: The Shrouded Moon
Throughout his journeys across feudal Japan, rabbit ronin Usagi has faced many dangers, crossed paths with some who have become his sworn enemies, and forged bonds of friendship stronger than any threat that might cross his path. Collected here are six tales featuring those companions Usagi holds dear. "Showdown" finds Usagi traveling with master swordsman Gen, as the two disrupt the dueling influences of a pair of corrupt families. Neko ninja clan leader Chizu finds herself betrayed and on the run in "Escape!" In "Three Seasons," Usagi is forced to defend himself with the most unlikely of weapons. The beautiful thief Kitsune's tragic history is revealed in "The Shrouded Moon" and "Kitsune's Tale." And in "Lesson in Courtesy," a hot-headed young Usagi incurs a debt that takes nearly a lifetime to repay! Once again, Stan Sakai masterfully weaves together the many threads of intrigue, adventure, humor, and heart in another endearing Usagi Yojimbo collection.
184 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
6 people are currently reading
170 people want to read
About the author
Stan Sakai
921 books374 followersStan Sakai (Japanese: 坂井 スタンSakai Sutan; born May 25, 1953) is an artist who became known as an Eisner Award-winning comic book originator.
Born in Kyoto, Sakai grew up in Hawaii and studied fine arts at the University of Hawaii. He later attended the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. He and his wife, Sharon, presently reside and work in Pasadena.
He began his career by lettering comic books (notably Groo the Wanderer by Sergio Aragonés and Mark Evanier) and became famous with the production of Usagi Yojimbo, the epic saga of Miyamoto Usagi, a samurai rabbit living in late-sixteenth and early-seventeenth-century Japan. First published in 1984, the comic continues to this day, with Sakai as the lone author and nearly-sole artist (Tom Luth serves as the main colorist on the series, and Sergio Aragonés has made two small contributions to the series: the story "Broken Ritual" is based on an idea by Aragonés, and he served as a guest inker for the black and white version of the story "Return to Adachi Plain" that is featured in the Volume 11 trade paper-back edition of Usagi Yojimbo). He also made a futuristic spin-off series Space Usagi. His favorite movie is Satomi Hakkenden (1959).
Born in Kyoto, Sakai grew up in Hawaii and studied fine arts at the University of Hawaii. He later attended the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. He and his wife, Sharon, presently reside and work in Pasadena.
He began his career by lettering comic books (notably Groo the Wanderer by Sergio Aragonés and Mark Evanier) and became famous with the production of Usagi Yojimbo, the epic saga of Miyamoto Usagi, a samurai rabbit living in late-sixteenth and early-seventeenth-century Japan. First published in 1984, the comic continues to this day, with Sakai as the lone author and nearly-sole artist (Tom Luth serves as the main colorist on the series, and Sergio Aragonés has made two small contributions to the series: the story "Broken Ritual" is based on an idea by Aragonés, and he served as a guest inker for the black and white version of the story "Return to Adachi Plain" that is featured in the Volume 11 trade paper-back edition of Usagi Yojimbo). He also made a futuristic spin-off series Space Usagi. His favorite movie is Satomi Hakkenden (1959).
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
April 3, 2022
Some great stories in this one. Gen and Usagi teaming up to trick 2 gangsters that are threatening a town. A betrayal with the Neko Ninja Clan. Kitsune returns to get Usagi and Gen into trouble again. Plus Kitsune's origin. Sakai's a gifted storyteller whether it be shorter stories or longform tales.
January 3, 2021
(4,7 z 5 za skvělépříběhy, které Stan umí nejlépe)
Soubor příběhů Bezměsíčná noc pokrývá putování mezi koncem příběhu o Ostří trav a dávno domluveném setkání u chrámu Kitanoi (následující kniha Souboj v Kitanoi). A tohle je ten hlavní stavební kámen proč jsou příběhy o Usagim tak poutavé čtení. Stan Sakai "sleduje" Usagiho s dokumentaristickou konkrétností a precizností - vše na sebe navazuje, věci co se staly dříve mají svůj důsledek opět v budoucnu a každý příběh má kořeny v jiných, ať velkých nebo malých, tehdy jako "náhodných". A právě ty malé náhodné jsou zároveň půda i pojivo pro ty velké, často i doslovem. Vše tak působí jako jeden velký celek, malé věci i velké věci zasazené do jednoho obrazu najednou působí mnohem reálněji. Heroické epické dobrodružství díky kontextu neztrácí na své epičnosti, ale také nepůsobí jako pěst na oko.
V Bezměsíčné noci máme hned pět krátkých příběhů:
* Konfrontace je klasický příběh, kdy Usagi dělá dobrou věc, za kterou si může i přilepšit. Ale klasicky to končí dobrou věcí a žádným přilepšwním. Tentokrát je do toho ale zahrnut Gen a Stan tak pokračuje v rozvíjení charakteru mrzouta Gena, který má ale hluboko, hluboko uvnitř dobré srdce.
* Útěk je dalším střípkem do příběhu Chizu, joninovi klanu Neko ninjů. Příběh Chizu se proplétá s Usagiho cestou tu a tam a vždy je takovou spojnicí s politickými intrikami "těch nahoře". Tento krátký příběh uzavírá část příběhu Chizu a zároveň otevírá kapitolu novou. Mimochodem, Chizu je dle mého nejvíce emancipovaná silná ženská postava v celém Usagi Yojimbovi. A navíc je napsaná s neuvěřitelnou lehkostí a věrností, že mi trvalo nějakou dobu si toto vůbec uvědomit. Bravo, Stane, jedna vedlejší postava má větší poselství než tucty celých komiksů od feminist/queer Boom! autorek.
* Tři roční období je opět skvělý krátký příběh a další důležitý střípek do jiného příběhu, utvořený složením tří krátkých retrospektiv. Tady je hezky vidět, jak si Stan hraje s formátem vyprávění, aby jako někteří jiní autoři netočil pořád dokola A-B-C.
* Bezměsíčná noc (a následný Příběh Kitsune) je skvělý "hlavní příběh knihy" který má hned několik rovin. Nejlepší ale je, že dále rozvíjí Kinsune tak, jak mě baví. Jako charakter, se kterým člověk v daných situacích sympatizuje, zároveň ho irituje to že je to zlodějka a lhářka, i když chápe, že to je její přirozenost. Je to další ukázka jak Stan dokáže vzít archetyp a dát mu plasticitu a důležitou ale přirozenou roli ve svých příbězích.
Soubor příběhů Bezměsíčná noc pokrývá putování mezi koncem příběhu o Ostří trav a dávno domluveném setkání u chrámu Kitanoi (následující kniha Souboj v Kitanoi). A tohle je ten hlavní stavební kámen proč jsou příběhy o Usagim tak poutavé čtení. Stan Sakai "sleduje" Usagiho s dokumentaristickou konkrétností a precizností - vše na sebe navazuje, věci co se staly dříve mají svůj důsledek opět v budoucnu a každý příběh má kořeny v jiných, ať velkých nebo malých, tehdy jako "náhodných". A právě ty malé náhodné jsou zároveň půda i pojivo pro ty velké, často i doslovem. Vše tak působí jako jeden velký celek, malé věci i velké věci zasazené do jednoho obrazu najednou působí mnohem reálněji. Heroické epické dobrodružství díky kontextu neztrácí na své epičnosti, ale také nepůsobí jako pěst na oko.
V Bezměsíčné noci máme hned pět krátkých příběhů:
* Konfrontace je klasický příběh, kdy Usagi dělá dobrou věc, za kterou si může i přilepšit. Ale klasicky to končí dobrou věcí a žádným přilepšwním. Tentokrát je do toho ale zahrnut Gen a Stan tak pokračuje v rozvíjení charakteru mrzouta Gena, který má ale hluboko, hluboko uvnitř dobré srdce.
* Útěk je dalším střípkem do příběhu Chizu, joninovi klanu Neko ninjů. Příběh Chizu se proplétá s Usagiho cestou tu a tam a vždy je takovou spojnicí s politickými intrikami "těch nahoře". Tento krátký příběh uzavírá část příběhu Chizu a zároveň otevírá kapitolu novou. Mimochodem, Chizu je dle mého nejvíce emancipovaná silná ženská postava v celém Usagi Yojimbovi. A navíc je napsaná s neuvěřitelnou lehkostí a věrností, že mi trvalo nějakou dobu si toto vůbec uvědomit. Bravo, Stane, jedna vedlejší postava má větší poselství než tucty celých komiksů od feminist/queer Boom! autorek.
* Tři roční období je opět skvělý krátký příběh a další důležitý střípek do jiného příběhu, utvořený složením tří krátkých retrospektiv. Tady je hezky vidět, jak si Stan hraje s formátem vyprávění, aby jako někteří jiní autoři netočil pořád dokola A-B-C.
* Bezměsíčná noc (a následný Příběh Kitsune) je skvělý "hlavní příběh knihy" který má hned několik rovin. Nejlepší ale je, že dále rozvíjí Kinsune tak, jak mě baví. Jako charakter, se kterým člověk v daných situacích sympatizuje, zároveň ho irituje to že je to zlodějka a lhářka, i když chápe, že to je její přirozenost. Je to další ukázka jak Stan dokáže vzít archetyp a dát mu plasticitu a důležitou ale přirozenou roli ve svých příbězích.
July 14, 2014
Still strong, Usagi Yojimbo maintains its high quality over a long run. It's interesting to see the influences in Sakai's creation. He clearly was influenced by Aragones, as he worked with the man for years on Groo, and this influence is most clearly seen in wide shots of crowd scenes, which look almost identical to Aragones' work. But in this volume, in the story following Chizu called "Escape!," I was struck by a similarity to Herge's work on Tintin: in several frames, Sakai uses the bottom of the frame as the floor for the characters, as if we are viewing them in a diorama. It's fun reading, and Sakai continues to impress me with his ability to engage me so well with such a variable art style, which goes from cartoonish to very serious and back again, sometimes on the same page. Of course, this is very much a manga style, so completely appropriate, even if the line work of the cartoons in very Western (again, a lot like Aragones' line work).
We follow a lot of characters here: Gen, Usagi, Hebi (I always want more of this hideous snake villain), Chizu, Kitsune, Kagemaru, Kimi, and even the demon "instrument of the Gods." Like any good comic with a long run (or a favorite hero of oral tradition), Sakai makes all these storylines work together well.
We follow a lot of characters here: Gen, Usagi, Hebi (I always want more of this hideous snake villain), Chizu, Kitsune, Kagemaru, Kimi, and even the demon "instrument of the Gods." Like any good comic with a long run (or a favorite hero of oral tradition), Sakai makes all these storylines work together well.
November 27, 2021
Another strong volume of stories crossing a number of genres. From working with Gen to take down two gangsters to "rescuing" Kitsune from a superstitious mobster, to Kitsune's origin, these stories aren't large-scale, but they are perfect examples of Sakai's ability to nail tones and provide wonderful stories from the smallest of things. Kitsune really takes center stage for most of this collection, but I didn't realize it until after the fact. And it's not a knock on the book; it's a testament to Stan's capability to tell fascinating stories for anyone in the constellation of characters he has created.
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.
September 12, 2023
Following the adventures of Usagi and Gen directly after "Grasscutter II", the sixteenth volume of Stan Sakai's Usagi Yojimbo (collecting issues #46-52 of the third volume) starts with the story "Showdown". Usagi and Gen have arrived at a town ruled by two rival crime bosses who continually find ways to gain an edge on one another. Usagi and Gen split up and join the rival crime factions as high ranking sellswords with the goal of tearing down both organizations from the inside. There's a fun little story about a crooked cop playing both sides, and the ultimate payoff for "Showdown" is great.
"Escape!" is the best story in this collection with the Neko ninja clan finally turning on Chizu after numerous volumes of an ever developing mutinous stoked by her own chunin, Kagemaru. In a meeting with Lord Hebi, Chizu is ambushed by Kagemaru's men who delayed their return from the events of "Grasscutter II" and has to carve her way out to escape. The action here is stellar, and a story centered around my personal favorite charcter, Chizu, is always welcome. "Three Seasons" is a follow up to "Escape!", with Chizu seeking out the aid of Miyamoto Usagi but is instead regaled with three great short stories about Usagi's heroism.
"Usagi and the Kami of the Pond" is a short tale featuring one of Katsuichi's wise lessons learned by a young Usagi, who has to shed his arrogant preconceived notions of honor and duty in favor of something much more simple and edifying instruction.
"The Shrouded Moon" is a story featuring the return of Kitsune, who is working in cahoots with a mysterious individual to take down a local gang. Usagi and Gen get caught up in the scheme, but the story really emphasizes how much depth there is to Kitsune who has mostly been portrayed as a wily thief who cares most about her enterprising heists. It's followed up by "Kitsune's Tale", a short story that delves into her tragic past.
With stories like "Escape!" and "Kitsune's Tale", Sakai shows off how much he cares about developing the entire roster of characters he's cultivated thus far. The series is astonishingly consistent with respect to quality, but as the individual stories continue to accrue lore, the entire saga feels even deeper and more sophisticated with time. Usagi Yojimbo stories are great as always.
"Escape!" is the best story in this collection with the Neko ninja clan finally turning on Chizu after numerous volumes of an ever developing mutinous stoked by her own chunin, Kagemaru. In a meeting with Lord Hebi, Chizu is ambushed by Kagemaru's men who delayed their return from the events of "Grasscutter II" and has to carve her way out to escape. The action here is stellar, and a story centered around my personal favorite charcter, Chizu, is always welcome. "Three Seasons" is a follow up to "Escape!", with Chizu seeking out the aid of Miyamoto Usagi but is instead regaled with three great short stories about Usagi's heroism.
"Usagi and the Kami of the Pond" is a short tale featuring one of Katsuichi's wise lessons learned by a young Usagi, who has to shed his arrogant preconceived notions of honor and duty in favor of something much more simple and edifying instruction.
"The Shrouded Moon" is a story featuring the return of Kitsune, who is working in cahoots with a mysterious individual to take down a local gang. Usagi and Gen get caught up in the scheme, but the story really emphasizes how much depth there is to Kitsune who has mostly been portrayed as a wily thief who cares most about her enterprising heists. It's followed up by "Kitsune's Tale", a short story that delves into her tragic past.
With stories like "Escape!" and "Kitsune's Tale", Sakai shows off how much he cares about developing the entire roster of characters he's cultivated thus far. The series is astonishingly consistent with respect to quality, but as the individual stories continue to accrue lore, the entire saga feels even deeper and more sophisticated with time. Usagi Yojimbo stories are great as always.
May 8, 2025
More adventures with the rabbit ronin, Usagi Miyamoto...
Showdown--Usagi and Gen travel together, winding up in a town that is terrorized by two rival gangs. Both gangs are vying for control of the town; the local cop is a spineless sell-out who gets money by providing information to both gang leaders. Usagi and Gen decide to rid the town of the brigands by joining either side and manipulating them into leaving. It's the classic Yojimbo tale with a little twist that makes for a fun tale.
Escape!--Chizu is called to her clan headquarters for a reckoning. She has been involved with Usagi's adventures, sometimes to the detriment of the clan's ambitions. Having to fight her way out is just the start of her problems. This story is interesting but seems like it is a bit of long-term plot advancement that will pay off later.
Three Seasons--Three different people are at an inn and tell tales of their run-ins with Usagi. Each story is entertaining in itself but the final reveal of who is asking was a surprise to me. The story also sets up a future adventure, probably.
The Shrouded Moon--A superstitious gang boss rules the next town Usagi and Gen wander into. His lucky charm gets stolen by Kitsune, a street entertainer and thief that Usagi has run into many times before. She is working for a mysterious character and is glad to take Usagi and Gen's help, but not to fill them in on the details. It's another interesting story that turns out about how your would expect.
Kitsune's Tale--Kitsune's backstory, how she became a street performer and thief, is told as she and Gen are traveling. It's another fine bit of character development by Sakai.
Recommended, highly for Usagi fans.
Showdown--Usagi and Gen travel together, winding up in a town that is terrorized by two rival gangs. Both gangs are vying for control of the town; the local cop is a spineless sell-out who gets money by providing information to both gang leaders. Usagi and Gen decide to rid the town of the brigands by joining either side and manipulating them into leaving. It's the classic Yojimbo tale with a little twist that makes for a fun tale.
Escape!--Chizu is called to her clan headquarters for a reckoning. She has been involved with Usagi's adventures, sometimes to the detriment of the clan's ambitions. Having to fight her way out is just the start of her problems. This story is interesting but seems like it is a bit of long-term plot advancement that will pay off later.
Three Seasons--Three different people are at an inn and tell tales of their run-ins with Usagi. Each story is entertaining in itself but the final reveal of who is asking was a surprise to me. The story also sets up a future adventure, probably.
The Shrouded Moon--A superstitious gang boss rules the next town Usagi and Gen wander into. His lucky charm gets stolen by Kitsune, a street entertainer and thief that Usagi has run into many times before. She is working for a mysterious character and is glad to take Usagi and Gen's help, but not to fill them in on the details. It's another interesting story that turns out about how your would expect.
Kitsune's Tale--Kitsune's backstory, how she became a street performer and thief, is told as she and Gen are traveling. It's another fine bit of character development by Sakai.
Recommended, highly for Usagi fans.
July 27, 2022
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Unsurprisingly, Stan Sakai's Usagi Yojimbo continues to impress. This is his SIXTEENTH volume and he is just getting better and better, continuing to come up with new and inventive ideas, telling compelling stories, and inspiring me to pick up (and enjoy) issue after issue after issue.
The Shrouded Moon is obviously the focus story here. A two-part story featuring Usagi, his bounty hunting friend, Gen, and the lovable thief, Kitsune, as they outwit a local gang with a little bit of luck and a lot of bit of green dye. In Kitsune's Tale, we get the fox's tragic backstory, leading me to feel for her even more. But I especially adored the short story, Usagi and the Kami of the Pond. The unexpected lesson that's learned as old Lord Mifune tells young Usagi-in-training a fun tale. Almost every single story here was a perfect 10/10 for me.
In my journey through the series this far, I have never given two volumes back-to-back a perfect 5 stars...until now. I can't imagine that we'll hit three in a row, but when I truly think about it, I wouldn't be at all surprised. Sakai is a master craftsman and it is a wonder to watch him work.
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Unsurprisingly, Stan Sakai's Usagi Yojimbo continues to impress. This is his SIXTEENTH volume and he is just getting better and better, continuing to come up with new and inventive ideas, telling compelling stories, and inspiring me to pick up (and enjoy) issue after issue after issue.
The Shrouded Moon is obviously the focus story here. A two-part story featuring Usagi, his bounty hunting friend, Gen, and the lovable thief, Kitsune, as they outwit a local gang with a little bit of luck and a lot of bit of green dye. In Kitsune's Tale, we get the fox's tragic backstory, leading me to feel for her even more. But I especially adored the short story, Usagi and the Kami of the Pond. The unexpected lesson that's learned as old Lord Mifune tells young Usagi-in-training a fun tale. Almost every single story here was a perfect 10/10 for me.
In my journey through the series this far, I have never given two volumes back-to-back a perfect 5 stars...until now. I can't imagine that we'll hit three in a row, but when I truly think about it, I wouldn't be at all surprised. Sakai is a master craftsman and it is a wonder to watch him work.
April 14, 2024
An ok volume with my favorite stories being the Three Seasons and Escape. Three Seasons was interesting as it is basically an anthology told by people who met Usagi and describing how they met him and these mini adventures. They were well done and at times a little funny as they show both how nice and caring Usagi can be to how scary he can also be. Escape continues Chizu story as we see that she has been labeled a traitor to her own clan and escapes on the run from her own people.
July 9, 2022
Solid, average Usagi with few funny meta-references (giggled at the Joker one) and quite solid storytelling. Not much happening in the end and once again, HORDES of stupid goons to be killed are back, which is...a bit of a bad mainstay.
Looking forward to the next one, the build up to the duel is very well done!
Looking forward to the next one, the build up to the duel is very well done!
July 4, 2021
Several short stories set in Usagi's Japan. I enjoyed "Showdown" which is a retelling of Kurosawa's "Yojimbo" involving Gen, whose heart is bigger than he lets on, but my favorite was "Kitsune's Tale", where we get to hear the origin story of Usagi's friend, the clever thief.
September 27, 2021
As usual, a selection of great tales that follow Usagi Yojimbo's travels. We learn Kitsune's background and two of the stories will probably be continued in a later volume. It's always a pleasure to meet up with Yojimbo and his companions.
November 25, 2024
I really liked that this volume focused on the characters and their development, giving time for people other than usagi to have their time as lead. Gen is solidified as my favorite side character, while chizu and kitsune have plenty of time in the spotlight as well.
September 5, 2017
I loved the fact that the opening story line of this volume of Usagi Yojimbo was an homage to Akira Kirosawa's movie "Yojimbo" Nice.
June 30, 2018
Still running strong at the year 2000 mark. This is the most consistently entertaining and enjoyable series I've read so far and I'm not just talking comics.
September 7, 2018
This was a really fun read. Awesome characters. Fun action scenes. You can't really go wrong with a samurai bunny rabbit. I love the art style too!
January 13, 2021
Zombie Usagi! Kitsune backstory! Teddy bear Gen! ❤❤❤
December 2, 2025
More adventures of Usagi and his friends.
April 2, 2022
Buddy ronin tales for those training in the mystic art of friendship.
This volume is predominantly small tales of Usagi and his rhino best frenemy, Gen, traveling around and doing cool buddy stuff. I always like stories with Gen and these are enjoyable, though not the best.
Art is getting a bit more serious: Sakai is depicting bloodshed more and more, so the violence is less Loony Tunes feeling. Nothing on the level of Lone Wolf and Cub or anything, but still noteworthy.
This volume is predominantly small tales of Usagi and his rhino best frenemy, Gen, traveling around and doing cool buddy stuff. I always like stories with Gen and these are enjoyable, though not the best.
Art is getting a bit more serious: Sakai is depicting bloodshed more and more, so the violence is less Loony Tunes feeling. Nothing on the level of Lone Wolf and Cub or anything, but still noteworthy.
February 2, 2013
Deux gros récits plutôt chouettes, mettant à chaque fois Usagi et ses amis Ggen dans le premier, Gen et Kitsuné dans le second) aux prises avec les yakusas locaux. Je trouve d'ailleurs assez bizarre de voir ce japon féodal aussi corrompu : à peu près tout le monde s'achète, mis à part les ronins idéalistes.
Bon, cela dit les récits sont raisonnablement bien fichus, et l'amitié décrite entre Usagi et Gen par exemple fait plutôt chaud au coeur.
Bon, cela dit les récits sont raisonnablement bien fichus, et l'amitié décrite entre Usagi et Gen par exemple fait plutôt chaud au coeur.
February 13, 2013
Always high quality. A volume of wrapping up stories and relaxing after some big events. Still great.
September 12, 2021
Retroactive Review (12 Sep 2021): Please see my review of the series
here
under the first volume.
March 1, 2017
The (not so) calm between two storms. It's incredible how compelling these stories still are this deep into the series.
January 12, 2015
A mild collection of shorts; I'm not such a fan of Kitsune, the stories were somewhat predictable, and there didn't seem to be much in the way of historical footnotes.
October 29, 2025
Volumen que explica lor origenes de Kitsune. Sakai nos transporta a un entorno urbano, donde veremos los tejemenejes de las protomafias locales. Un volumen basado en los engaños y la picaresca.
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