What do you think?
Rate this book
Usagi Yojimbo [兎用心棒] #15
Usagi Yojimbo, Vol. 15: Grasscutter II: Journey to Atsuta Shrine
Forged in the clouds by the elemental gods of feudal Japan, the legendary sword Kusanagi -- also known as "Grasscutter" -- holds such power that it is sought after by mighty forces of good and evil. Multiple award winner Stan Sakai continues the epic adventures of his signature samurai rabbit, Usagi Yojimbo, in this second book centering on the mystical sword. Starting with a prologue that unveils the history of the sword, Grasscutter II rejoins Usagi with his samurai travelling companion, Gen, as they journey to the sacred shrine of Atsuta to return the powerful sword to its final resting place. But two ninja clans will fight the honorable samurai as well as each other in order to capture the sword and gain control of the empire with it. An enthralling book for all ages to enjoy, Grasscutter II will amaze readers with its narrative depth and poetic storytelling.
184 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2002
2 people are currently reading
156 people want to read
About the author
Stan Sakai
928 books373 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).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
April 2, 2022
This was a lot of fun. The ancient sword, Grasscutter's, whereabouts have been discovered by rival ninja clans. So Usagi, Gen and Sanshobo have to defend the sword while taking it to a shrine to be protected. I love how Sakai bring back a lot of the reoccurring characters from previous stories. There's double and triple crosses galore as Usagi Yojimbo and company try and deliver the sword.
December 18, 2020
(4,4 z 5 za pokračování Ostří trav, které mě baví víc než jeho opěvovaná první část)
Stan si pro nás v pokračování připravil víceméně kvalitně obalenou akci a hromadu napětí. Na jednu stranu je to výrazná a příjemná změna tempa, na druhou stranu se tu víceméně věnuje výhradně Ostří trav, takže je to poněkud kratší knížka a o to více se díky tempu rychleji přečte, ať se člověk snaží sebevíc. Ale jako vše od Stana je to nadčasové, skvělé a zábavné.
Stan si pro nás v pokračování připravil víceméně kvalitně obalenou akci a hromadu napětí. Na jednu stranu je to výrazná a příjemná změna tempa, na druhou stranu se tu víceméně věnuje výhradně Ostří trav, takže je to poněkud kratší knížka a o to více se díky tempu rychleji přečte, ať se člověk snaží sebevíc. Ale jako vše od Stana je to nadčasové, skvělé a zábavné.
February 3, 2019
A worthy second part to the Grasscutter arc. Not as packed with action as the first one, but it tied up loose ends nicely.
November 27, 2021
This is another one of the big crossover volumes, as Usagi and friends make the journey to finally relinquish Grasscutter to the only safe place they can think of. There are multiple factions on their tail, leading to some massive knock-down drag-out battles and double- and triple-crosses, pulling in a number of threads from previous single issues stories. The prologue is another example of a legend retold in art, and works very well too, especially with its mystical aspects.
Again, it's another strong chain in the amazing legacy of this series.
Again, it's another strong chain in the amazing legacy of this series.
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.
July 29, 2013
Another excellent adventure from Stan Sakai. If you've read up until this volume, then you know what to expect. There is plenty of action and adventure in these stories. While I've come to expect great art from Sakai, I think he really went above and beyond here, with even more detail to his drawings than I recall seeing from him before. Lots of fun, this volume is an excellent addition to the continuing tale of Miyamoto Usagi.
March 22, 2025
The classic adventures of Usagi Yojimbo continue as I look back at the 15th brilliant volume, Grasscutter II, one of Stan Sakai’s more ambitious and powerful comics, which sees the protagonist and his friends caught up in the tides of fate and history.
Following dark events of magic and death, few people are aware that the legendary Imperial sword Kusanagi has been recovered from the sea. Forged by the gods and wielded as a symbol of Imperial authority for generations, Kusanagi, or the Grasscutter sword has the potential to reshape the power structure of Japan, as whoever holds it could rally all the country to their cause, bringing war and destruction to a currently peaceful nation.
Hidden at a small temple, the sword is currently guarded by the honourable samurai Miyamoto Usagi, the irrepressible bounty hunter Gen, and the head priest Sanshobo. However, the three know that they cannot keep the sword hidden for long, with dangerous foes seeking to uncover its secrets. The only place that the sword will be truly safe and out of the hands of those who would use it for political gain is the sacred shrine of Atsuta, where a replica of the sword currently rests.
Embarking on a noble quest, Usagi, Gen and Sanshobo hope to sneak the sword to the shrine before anyone knows they have it. However, the road to safety is long, and it soon becomes apparent that dangerous foes know exactly what they are carrying. Pursued by two rival ninja clans who will stop at nothing to possess the sword as fuel for their own dark ambitions, Usagi and his comrades will need to fight tooth and nail to survive and keep the sword out of their hands. But with old friends and new bitter rivals revealing themselves, can even Usagi and his skilled companions avoid the tragedy that stalks them?
Grasscutter II was an epic and captivating classic entry in one of the best ongoing comic series. Serving as an effective follow up to the bloody events of Grasscutter, Grasscutter II blended together a ton of outstanding action with some great character moments to create a memorable and beautifully drawn addition to the series that gets a very easy five-star rating from me.
To see the full review, click on the link below:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2025/03/22/...
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
Following dark events of magic and death, few people are aware that the legendary Imperial sword Kusanagi has been recovered from the sea. Forged by the gods and wielded as a symbol of Imperial authority for generations, Kusanagi, or the Grasscutter sword has the potential to reshape the power structure of Japan, as whoever holds it could rally all the country to their cause, bringing war and destruction to a currently peaceful nation.
Hidden at a small temple, the sword is currently guarded by the honourable samurai Miyamoto Usagi, the irrepressible bounty hunter Gen, and the head priest Sanshobo. However, the three know that they cannot keep the sword hidden for long, with dangerous foes seeking to uncover its secrets. The only place that the sword will be truly safe and out of the hands of those who would use it for political gain is the sacred shrine of Atsuta, where a replica of the sword currently rests.
Embarking on a noble quest, Usagi, Gen and Sanshobo hope to sneak the sword to the shrine before anyone knows they have it. However, the road to safety is long, and it soon becomes apparent that dangerous foes know exactly what they are carrying. Pursued by two rival ninja clans who will stop at nothing to possess the sword as fuel for their own dark ambitions, Usagi and his comrades will need to fight tooth and nail to survive and keep the sword out of their hands. But with old friends and new bitter rivals revealing themselves, can even Usagi and his skilled companions avoid the tragedy that stalks them?
Grasscutter II was an epic and captivating classic entry in one of the best ongoing comic series. Serving as an effective follow up to the bloody events of Grasscutter, Grasscutter II blended together a ton of outstanding action with some great character moments to create a memorable and beautifully drawn addition to the series that gets a very easy five-star rating from me.
To see the full review, click on the link below:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2025/03/22/...
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
September 7, 2023
While not epic to the same scale as the first "Grasscutter" arc, the follow up is still very enjoyable and continues to develop many of the secondary characters in interesting ways. "Grasscutter II" collects issues #39-45 of the third volume of Usagi Yojimbo, and is an overall much more focused story compared to previous collected editions. There are no subplots - it's all about how the mystical sword Grasscutter comes back into play again.
Central to this story is Chizu, who has a tenuous grip over the leadership of the Neko ninja clan. Chizu learns that Grasscutter is in play and that forces are making a move to reclaim the sword. Believing that Grasscutter serves only as temptation for potentially rebellious feudal lords, she leads the Neko towards reclaiming the blade in hopes that she can successfully dispose of it once and for all. But her own ranks are filled with traitors, and the opposing Komori ninja clan are making moves to regain favor with the Shadow Lord Hikiji.
And of course, Usagi plays a key role here as well. Accompanied by the priest Sansaboro, the rebel lord-turned-peasant Ikeba, and the bounty hunter Gen, Usagi seeks to hide Grasscutter at the Atsuta Shrine where the group hopes it will remain safe for perpetuity. Chizu soons joins up with them, but the central tension remains - can Usagi and Chizu trust each other?
Stan Sakai weaves a complex tale of betrayal, greed and politics that is entertaining from start to finish. Sakai excels at shorter, compressed tales, but here he demonstrates his ability to tell grandiose and sprawling stories just as easily. Marvelous stuff as always.
Central to this story is Chizu, who has a tenuous grip over the leadership of the Neko ninja clan. Chizu learns that Grasscutter is in play and that forces are making a move to reclaim the sword. Believing that Grasscutter serves only as temptation for potentially rebellious feudal lords, she leads the Neko towards reclaiming the blade in hopes that she can successfully dispose of it once and for all. But her own ranks are filled with traitors, and the opposing Komori ninja clan are making moves to regain favor with the Shadow Lord Hikiji.
And of course, Usagi plays a key role here as well. Accompanied by the priest Sansaboro, the rebel lord-turned-peasant Ikeba, and the bounty hunter Gen, Usagi seeks to hide Grasscutter at the Atsuta Shrine where the group hopes it will remain safe for perpetuity. Chizu soons joins up with them, but the central tension remains - can Usagi and Chizu trust each other?
Stan Sakai weaves a complex tale of betrayal, greed and politics that is entertaining from start to finish. Sakai excels at shorter, compressed tales, but here he demonstrates his ability to tell grandiose and sprawling stories just as easily. Marvelous stuff as always.
July 19, 2022
I have a BookTube channel where I review books, give reading suggestions, and more! Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/dragonarmybooks
---
This two-part Grasscutter epic has been among my favorite Usagi stories to date. Grasscutter II: Journey to Atsuta Shrine picks up soon after Usagi Yojimbo, Vol. 12: Grasscutter left off. Usagi, Gen, and Sanshobo must journey together to take the legendary sword to safety at the Atsuta Shrine. Unfortunately, two rival ninja clans discover the sword's whereabouts and set out to retrieve the sword for their own gains. Along the way favorites like Lord Ikeda and Chizu make an appearance and both play vital roles in the story.
Sakai's illustrations continue to amaze me. I particularly took notice of his shadow work in this volume. Many of these scenes take place at night, and Sakai does such a marvelous job with details, and he's only using black ink! It really is amazing to see all that he is able to do sans color.
I really, really enjoyed the Grasscutter saga, so much so that I am slightly afraid that there won't be another story to rival it in future volumes. And, as far as I can guess, we truly are done with this fantastic arc. It's bittersweet to move on. But like Usagi, I must continue to wander forward.
---
This two-part Grasscutter epic has been among my favorite Usagi stories to date. Grasscutter II: Journey to Atsuta Shrine picks up soon after Usagi Yojimbo, Vol. 12: Grasscutter left off. Usagi, Gen, and Sanshobo must journey together to take the legendary sword to safety at the Atsuta Shrine. Unfortunately, two rival ninja clans discover the sword's whereabouts and set out to retrieve the sword for their own gains. Along the way favorites like Lord Ikeda and Chizu make an appearance and both play vital roles in the story.
Sakai's illustrations continue to amaze me. I particularly took notice of his shadow work in this volume. Many of these scenes take place at night, and Sakai does such a marvelous job with details, and he's only using black ink! It really is amazing to see all that he is able to do sans color.
I really, really enjoyed the Grasscutter saga, so much so that I am slightly afraid that there won't be another story to rival it in future volumes. And, as far as I can guess, we truly are done with this fantastic arc. It's bittersweet to move on. But like Usagi, I must continue to wander forward.
February 8, 2024
We finally get what seems to be a finale of the Grasscutter Storyline as Usagi returns to deliver the legendary sword Grasscutter to the shrine. But to complicate things we get the returning Neko Ninjas and the Komori ninjas and while I do like that the Neko Ninjas are not villains anymore as they do have a similar goal to Usagi and his group and I do think they have a better plan of just throwing the sword into the sea to make sure it never returns which I think is a bit better then just hiding it in a temple. Still good action and I do like the drama and the struggle for the sword.
November 16, 2020
Aside from being an inimitable artist, writer, and letterer, Sakai's meticulous afterwords in each volume are such a delight. Spanning culture and reference material notes, he is always thorough for the reader to better understand the story's history and lists various resources used in the book's making.
There aren't many other artists, writers, or especially a combination of numerous talents, who over their lifetime I have been consistently humbled by and in awe of like Stan Sakai.
There aren't many other artists, writers, or especially a combination of numerous talents, who over their lifetime I have been consistently humbled by and in awe of like Stan Sakai.
April 21, 2025
Usagi, Gen, and Sanshobo head out from Sanshobo's temple to return the legendary sword Grasscutter to a temple that is home to a replica of the sword. Their journey is fraught with peril as two ninja clans vie for possession of the sword, which will grant a lot of political sway to whomever owns it. The travels, battles, and intrigue are exciting and well-executed by Sakai. It's a fun read and a worthy finale to the Grasscutter storyline.
Recommended, highly for Usagi fans.
Recommended, highly for Usagi fans.
July 3, 2022
Výtečná věc! Úsporná a rychlá, ale díky perfektně navoleným postavám a dřívějšímu budování dokáže na relativně malý prostor primitivního žánru "honička" elegantně vypsat velký příběh. Jedna z těch knih, která je vyloženě odměnou za čtení série:)
August 4, 2021
Este volumen es una persecución. El destino de la espada segadora va cambiando de manos, en una conjunto de sequencias trepidantes. Pura diversión y emoción.
April 15, 2023
Una vertiginosa persecución con cruce de varios personajes del reparto habitual. Sakai es un crack
January 30, 2024
Not as good as Grasscutter 1 but a good bookend. SPOILERS: Rip my boy Ikeda.
November 18, 2024
I don't know which grass cutter book I prefer but they are both up there for my favorite books in this series for sure.
November 26, 2025
Usagi is taking a famous sword to a temple.
March 1, 2026
The second part of The Grasscutter story. Getting it to the Atsuta Shrine is quite the journey. Outstanding series. Outstanding volume.
February 6, 2021
This series of comics might be the finest long form continuously running series the industry has ever produced. The Grasscutter books might be my favorites of everything Stan has made. A fun, epic tale starring our favorite rabbit samurai on another quest. Just buy them all.
April 2, 2022
Ronin rabbit and his animal friends fight bat ninjas a lot.
One of the biggest underrated strengths of this title is how Sakai seamlessly brings a lot of loose stories from his one-shot issues together, sometimes for creating a new ongoing story path and sometimes for creating an epic standalone. This volume is one of the epic tales that sees several stories/characters finally connected through the macguffin of an ancient sword. One character sees an amazing conclusion to his journey and I'm not ashamed to admit I cried over a karate cat.
Art is still fun.
One of the biggest underrated strengths of this title is how Sakai seamlessly brings a lot of loose stories from his one-shot issues together, sometimes for creating a new ongoing story path and sometimes for creating an epic standalone. This volume is one of the epic tales that sees several stories/characters finally connected through the macguffin of an ancient sword. One character sees an amazing conclusion to his journey and I'm not ashamed to admit I cried over a karate cat.
Art is still fun.
January 26, 2013
Tiens ... le retour de la coupeuse d'herbe ?
Si j'ai été au début surpris (dans le mauvais sens du terme) par ce retour, je dois bien reconnaître que l'intrigue arrive à recycler les personnages rencontrés dans les tomes précédents.
Ainsi le moine Sanshobo se révèle être un ancien parrtisan d'Ikéda (le général-paysan que le seigneur Geishu avait déja vu - mais pas Usagi), et leur rencontre est aussi émouvante qu'imprévue.
Ce tome se révèle donc pas mal du tout, en mettant en scène à la fois une course-poursuite endiablée, mais aussi des alliances de circonstances ... qui ne sont pas toujours honorées.
Si j'ai été au début surpris (dans le mauvais sens du terme) par ce retour, je dois bien reconnaître que l'intrigue arrive à recycler les personnages rencontrés dans les tomes précédents.
Ainsi le moine Sanshobo se révèle être un ancien parrtisan d'Ikéda (le général-paysan que le seigneur Geishu avait déja vu - mais pas Usagi), et leur rencontre est aussi émouvante qu'imprévue.
Ce tome se révèle donc pas mal du tout, en mettant en scène à la fois une course-poursuite endiablée, mais aussi des alliances de circonstances ... qui ne sont pas toujours honorées.
December 26, 2009
In Grasscutter II, another great Usagi Yojimbo book, the ronin rabbit's goal is to get Grasscutter, an ancient sword of huge symbolic power, back to its shrine, so that people stop fighting over it.
This isn't a comic that pushes my buttons (no spaceships or robots, except in Space Usagi, not coincidentally the first Usagi book I bought), so I've never become an outright fan, but I can appreciate how good it is.
This isn't a comic that pushes my buttons (no spaceships or robots, except in Space Usagi, not coincidentally the first Usagi book I bought), so I've never become an outright fan, but I can appreciate how good it is.
May 9, 2009
Usagi, Gen, and Sanshobo head on a journey to replace the Grasscutter replica at the Atsuta Shrine with the real Grasscutter. Along the way, they face two ninja clans battling for the sword in order to curry favor with the Shadow Lord.
Grasscutter II shows Sakai at his best. The art and writing combine to make this one of the strongest storylines in the series.
Grasscutter II shows Sakai at his best. The art and writing combine to make this one of the strongest storylines in the series.
March 1, 2017
Probably the greatest ongoing of all time, and this volume is a perfect example of why. A lot of story lines are tied up dating back many many issues, but even more are alluded to be forthcoming. It's incredible how the plot lines are balanced so delicately and the storytelling is so perfectly well paced.
October 24, 2011
While I haven't yet read the Grasscutter I, there were no problems following the story in this volume. I love how well Sakai can tell a story and how easily he makes these scenes feel important. While this is essentially a 'macguffin' story, it's probably one of my favorite Usagi stories.
January 12, 2015
A return to the main storyline. Good fun, but the tables have slightly turned: the nuances present in Sakai's most recent short story work are less present here. That's nothing to complain about, though.
February 15, 2009
Beaucoup de références aux épisodes précédents, beaucoup d'action et une fin très réussie. Au final, ce n'est pas le meilleur tome de la série, mais cela reste une très bonne lecture.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews