Usagi Yojimbo Book 26: Traitors of the Earth written and drawn by Stan Sakai
More adventures of the rabbit ronin...
Usagi and the Kami of the Pond--Youthful Usagi hears a tale from his sensei that he thinks is going to have a boring moral. Once it's told, Usagi does draw a boring moral but the sensei gets a much subtler point out of it. The twist is nice and enjoyable.
Cut the Plum--Youthful Jotaro would like to perform a sword trick--cut a plum that is balance on Usagi's nose. Usagi refuses, using a pumpkin on a road sign as a substitute, with some comical results. This is a short joke story that is entertaining.
Traitors of the Earth--In pursuit of a seeming harmless charm, Usagi is drawn into a much bigger conflict that involves an undead army. The story is very exciting and full of action and some historical depth that Sakai is so good at.
What the Little Thief Heard--Kiyoko is helping Usagi since her master Kitsune is ill. Her help involves stealing from merchants so the law is after her. She hides in an old dusty temple where she overhears a plot to kill a local merchant who is quite wealthy. She wants to sell the information but Usagi only wants to protect the merchant's life. The merchant scoffs at the threat since he is beloved in the community. Things are not what they seem and play out with a foreseeable twist. Nevertheless, it's an interesting story.
The Hidden Fortress--Usagi comes upon a field full of dead fighters with one still alive. The survivor explains that he is a bounty hunter after a famous bandit. The bandit and his gang ambushed them, leaving a field of death. The survivor has a leg wound and can't travel far. He knows about a hut nearby where they can get aid. Usagi helps him out but there's more to the story. After some nice twists, the finale ties together some previous narratives in an enjoyable way.
A Place to Stay--Usagi is on the run from the vengeful bandits and winds up hiding out in the hut of some poor farmers. When they take their produce to town, they hear the bandits threatening to kill whomever provides shelter for Usagi. They race home, determined to cast him out before they get into trouble. It's another tough moment for Usagi, who comes out of it as a hero should.
The Death of Lord Hikiji--Usagi runs into an old companion, a samurai of Lord Mifune. They both fought at the battle where Mifune died. Now the companion is solely focused on assassinating Lord Hikiji, the villain who defeated Mifune. Usagi reluctantly joins the plot as a matter of honor. Things do not turn out well. The story has a bit of melancholy but is riveting.
The book ends with a one-page gag of Usagi fighting Groo the Wanderer, a comic take on Conan the Barbarian. It made me laugh, so I guess it worked.
Recommended.
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