Book Review: Usagi Yojimbo Book 2 by Stan Sakai

Usagi Yojimbo Book 2 by Stan Sakai

The first story (which fills two thirds of the book) tells the backstory of Usagi's training as a samurai, his joining with a lord, and the death of that lord, turning Usagi into a masterless samurai, i.e. a ronin. The story is dramatic and humorous. The young Usagi makes some mistakes and has an interesting sword master that teaches him not only swordsmanship but also honor and humility.

The second story, Kappa, is about a legendary vampire-like creature who demands a toll when Usagi travel through Kappa's swamp. Luckily, Usagi found some out-of-season cucumbers growing nearby and was able to pay off the Kappa. He comes upon a home with an old lady who makes him a meal and is waiting for her son to arrive. Usagi has used the cucumber she left for her son to pay off the Kappa, so Usagi is honor bound to protect the son. The ending has a nice twist.

The third story, Zylla, is a charming story about an egg and a hot spring, though it is mostly a set up for a joke at the end. I laughed at the joke, so it works.

The final story, Silk Fair, sees Usagi run into a mugging just outside a town. The outskirts of town are ruled by the bandits; town itself is ruled by the silk mill owner, who has no interest in hiring Usagi to deal with the bandits. The owner has another samurai on retainer but that fellow does not do much. When the bandits come back during the town's silk fair, things play out in a fun way.

Recommended.