Book Review: Usagi Yojimbo Vol. 28 by Stan Sakai

Usagi Yojimbo Volume 28: Red Scorpion by Stan Sakai

More adventures from the rabbit ronin!

Taiko--A drum-maker is desperate to make a drum worthy of petitioning the gods. His village has had drought after drought--another year without rain would mean the end. If that wasn't bad enough, the Red Scorpion Gang is extorting the town for protection money. Usagi happens to run into the drum-maker and they become friends, drawing him into the effort to build the drum and keep the gang at bay. The story is surprisingly moving. Usagi is a bit cynical about the drum-project at the beginning but loyalty is loyalty, leading to an emotional finale.

Toad Oil--Usagi arrives in a town to find Kitsune trying to sell toad oil to the locals. People think it's a scam, especially when she "cuts" herself and magically cures it with the toad oil. One of the locals is ready to stick her with his sword to see if she can cure that wound. Usagi is about to intervene when Kitsune's sidekick Kiyoko warns him off. A local magistrate intervenes instead and somebody gets stabbed. Kitsune uses the oil and creates a miracle cure, cementing the sales of the toad oil. Later, Usagi is hanging out with Kitsune when her accomplices (including the "local" and the "magistrate") show up to get paid. A little argument breaks out because the accomplices want more money but Usagi warns them off. But that is not the end of the story, which finishes in a winsome way.

The Return of the Lord of Owls--Usagi travels the mountain passes with an older man who works as a guide. He tells Usagi the story of a young samurai who was out drinking one night with his friends. They ran out of money and had to leave the tavern. As they walked the streets they invited a wayfarer to join them for drinks, his treat. Unfortunately, the wayfarer was the Lord of Owls and he killed all of them except the youngest, who threw away his sword and groveled to be saved. The Lord of Owls predicted that he will be much more miserable than his comrades. Usagi is moved by the story and they continue their journey where they run into their own trouble. Though the ending is easy to guess, it still hits the spot.

Those Who Tread on Scorpion's Tail--Usagi is invited by his master's former student to visit the student's sword-fighting dojo. Usagi spars with the senior students, besting them all. The master challenges Usagi to a friendly match. Usagi throws the match to protect the honor of the master. Meanwhile, the local magistrate's son is kidnapped by the Red Scorpion Gang, demanding a huge ransom. The magistrate shuts down all the roads leaving the area and enlists the dojo's students to help search. The story plays out from there with plenty of surprise reveals. It was a very interesting story with a downer of an ending.

Recommended--highly for Usagi fans.