Book Review: Usagi Yojimbo Book 14 by Stan Sakai

Usagi Yojimbo Book 14: Demon Mask by Stan Sakai

More adventures with the rabbit ronin, Usagi Yojimbo!

The Inn on Moon Shadow Hill--Usagi needs somewhere to spend the night. A passerby recommends the titular inn, far up a hill. On his way, night falls and Usagi sees some fox fires. He rushes to the inn which is packed with travelers who have come to witness the obakemono (haunts), like the fox fire. One rich merchant challenges Usagi's bravery. The local graveyard has a white stone with "truth" written on it. No one is brave enough (or foolish enough) to get it at night. Of course Usagi is cajoled into going, which brings all sorts of revelations. I predicted the ending but it still is an entertaining story.

A Life of Mush--A farm boy runs away from home hoping for a life of adventure, like the samurai live. He runs across Usagi who is initially annoyed by the boy. He takes him in for a bit, resulting in a tough lesson for the kid. Another good if predictable story.

Deserters--Two young lovers from the Neko Ninja clan attempt to escape, since love (among other emotions) is forbidden to ninja. They are brought before the clan head who grants clemency in spite of her underling's insistence that they be executed. As the two reach the border of Neko territory, the underling confronts them, claiming the leader changed her mind. Unhappiness ensues.

A Potter's Tale--Usagi stays with some humble potters and helps out with the work as a form of payment. Meanwhile, a lone robber has stolen cash and a priceless jewel from a rich merchant in town. He stashes the money down an alleyway and hides the jewel in one of the clay pots that are still wet. He crimps the edge so he can find the pot again. The story plays out in the usual delightful way that Sakai has, dealing out justice through interesting and believable plot machinations.

The Missive--Usagi's instructor gets a message from his rabbit pupil that he's been challenged to a duel. After some reflection and memories, the instructor heads out to the duel. Not much happens, this is more of a set-up for a future story, I am sure.

The Mystery of Demon Mask--Usagi witnesses a killing on the outskirts of a rural town. The killer wears a demon mask. When the local police show up, they are taken aback since Demon Mask (their name for the killer) has already murdered three other ronin. Usagi joins in the investigation which gets more complicated as he discovers the history of the local police officers. It's a well-written story even if I guessed the end early on.

Kumo--Kumo is the Japanese word for "spider," of which there are many in this story. Usagi takes a mountain path and comes to a village overrun with spiders. He meets another samurai, Sasuke, who is a demon-hunter. He and Usagi set out with some locals to squash the bug problem after one of the town's daughter's is kidnapped by a really big spider. Creepy and fun, this is another little jem from Sakai.

Reunion--Usagi finally makes it back to the temple where Gen has been recovering and where the head priest waits for Usagi to take the legendary sword Grasscutter (see a previous volume) and hide it. The temple is besieged by bandits, but not enough bandits.

Death and Taxes--Usagi discovers a town celebrating their harvest. He joins in the festivities and offers himself as bodyguard for the tax cart going to the local magistrate in the morning. They politely decline though an old man plans to go to the town by a mountain route. It is quite picturesque and he invites Usagi to travel with him. Usagi agrees. From the high road they see the town's tax cart attacked by bandits. The peasants flee and the old man is none too worried about the outcome. They can't reach the bandits and he needs to get to the town to buy supplies for the next harvest. Usagi runs into trouble in more ways than one as the surprisingly whimsical story reaches its conclusion.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Tournament--Young Usagi heads to a tournament with his sensei. Usagi is full of youthful enthusiasm for battles. In town, he bumps into a girl, garnering laughter from the onlookers. He doesn't apologize and she picks a fight with him. He gets whooped, something his sensei approves since Usagi did not behave the way he should. Usagi and the girl both privately swear to be revenged, though they grow up and find each other again as allies, not remembering this little incident. This is a fun story of Usagi's childhood when he was much more childish.

Netsuke--Usagi returns a personal carving to someone he knew back in his samurai days during the Battle of the Burning Plane. The tale is poignant in only three pages.

The Leaping Ninja--Usagi has a brief conflict with a nimble ninja who constantly leaps out of the way of Usagi's swords. Usagi is able to best him without striking him! The story is only one page but fits in a narrative in nonetheless.

Tsuru--In a Sunday comics-style layout, Usagi confronts an assassin sent to kill him. "Tsuru" is a crane--the assassin fold them to remember all his kills.

This is another fine volume of adventures with some humor, tragedy, and thrills.

Highly recommended.