Book Review: Usagi Yojimbo Vol. 32 by Stan Sakai

Usagi Yojimbo Volume 32: Mysteries by Stan Sakai, with additional contributions by Julie Fujii Sakai

More adventures from the rabbit ronin!

The Hatamoto's Daughter--Usagi heads to Inspector Ishida's village and discovers a dead man and his living daughter in the forest. Bringing the girl into town, Usagi does not realize the trouble he is getting himself into. This is another compassionate, well-crafted tale that I found very satisfying.

Death by Fugu--Fugu is a famous sushi made from puffer fish that can be deadly if not prepared correctly. In this story, Inspector Ishida investigates a death caused by eating fugu. Is it an attempted assassination or an accident caused by a less than skillful chef? Usagi joins in the search for answers. I thought this was just okay.

The Body in the Library--Kitsune, the master thief, gets more than she bargained for when she robs a supposedly empty house and comes across a dead body (but, intriguingly enough, not in a library). The police break in, accusing her of murder. Inspector Ishida and Usagi are on the job. They try to clear her as the situation gets more complicated (and a body is found in a library). It's another fun outing.

Mouse Trap--Nezumi is a popular thief in town who robs from the rich and gives half to the poor, making him the darling of the people. Ishida and Usagi have a hard time chasing him down. Nezumi witnesses the murder of a local merchant who wasn't paying protection money to local mafia. The bad guys saw him and pin the blame for the murder on Nezumi, though Usagi and Ishida are certain Nezumi is no killer. As they investigate further, the crime conspiracy grows larger. The story is exciting and has a nice climax tying in the previous stories.

Chibi Usagi and the Big Bad Jei--A bit of a joke tale with the young Usagi bringing breakfast from town for his master. In the woods, Jei takes the sack full of food by force and eats it himself, which works out well for him until the day Usagi brings two sacks. I laughed, so the story worked. The chibi art was fine.

Chibi Usagi and the Goblin of Adachi Plain--Another joke tale, this time reimagining a great battle as a great marble competition, with Usagi drawn into a second fight many years later. This was less funny than the last story but still entertaining.

Recommended.

Book Review: Usagi Yojimbo Vol. 31 by Stan Sakai

Usagi Yojimbo Volume 31: The Hell Screen by Stan Sakai

More adventures from the rabbit ronin!

The River Rising--Usagi helps some villagers shore up the dike that protects their town. If the flooding rain wasn't bad enough, bandits rob the food stores from the village. Usagi chases after the bandits, leaving the desperate villagers to continue working. Once he catches up to the bandits, he makes a surprising discovery. The story plays out in typical fashion, though it ends with Usagi disappearing mysteriously from the village.

Kyuri--Kyuri is the word for cucumbers, which is the favorite food of kappa, the turtle-like demons that Usagi has faced before. Usagi chases after a villager who is attacked by a kappa. The kappa leaves the villager dead, so Usagi vows to destroy him. Once Usagi finds a cave with some kappa in it, he finds these kappa have a truce with the town. The new, hostile kappa is from up-river and is very troublesome. Usagi works with them to defeat the rogue kappa. It's another interesting story that resolves the prior cliffhanger.

Kazehime--Usagi is caught in a heavy storm and barely makes it to an empty shrine for shelter. As he approaches, a Neko Ninja named Kazehime falls from the sky. Usagi has had nothing but trouble from the Neko Ninja but he's too much of a humanitarian to leave an unconscious person to die from exposure. He nurses her back to health and they part ways. The story picks up three months later with another reunion of the rivals. This is another bittersweet story that is emotionally impactful.

The Secret of the Hell Screen--Usagi comes to a shrine that has some problems. The local lord is there to take possession of the shrine and its grounds, wanting to convert it to a hunting forest. The monks protest that the shrine has much more value as a place of worship where wayfarers can seek refuge. The situation gets more complicated when a death happens on the grounds. Usagi is pulled into the investigation by Inspector Ishida, who has been sent by the shogunate to moderate the dispute. The shrine is also protected by the Hell Screen, a large tapestry depicting the realm of the damned. It's claimed that the Hell Screen protects the shrine by cursing its enemies. Has the death (which is one of the lord's vassals) been caused by the Screen or is there a villain involved? Part of the story is very predictable but it is still enjoyable.

The Fate of the Elders--Usagi continues wandering as the rainy season finally ends. He travels near a village where they've clearly had a drought for a long time. On the road, he helps out a farmer and his invalid mother who are attacked by desperate marauders who have no food of their own. After driving off the would-be bandits, Usagi travels with the man and his mom to meet her husband at the top of a mountain. The story is very melancholy and has a surprise ending that is very moving.

Another fine collection of Usagi stories. 

Recommended.

Book Review: Usagi Yojimbo Vol. 30 by Stan Sakai

Usagi Yojimbo Volume 30: Thieves and Spies by Stan Sakai, art assistance for "The Bride" by Jennifer Kagawa

More adventures from the rabbit ronin!

The Thief and the Kunoichi--Usagi gets in a Yojimbo situation when he winds up dealing with two female friends who oppose each other. The thief Kitsune robs a merchant's home late at night. At the same time, Chizu is also stealing from the merchant. They discover each other and try to fight silently. Well, Chizu, formerly of the Neko Ninja, wants to fight. Kitsune is a con artist by trade so she dodges. They eventually rouse the merchant's guards, forcing them to flee. They run into Usagi on the street, who get embroiled in the caper. He does not want to choose sides since he suspects both of them. The story is fun, with the usual twists and action.

The One-Armed Swordsman--Usagi runs into a one-armed swordsman who is ambushed outside of town by some robbers. The swordsman tells Usagi that he lost his hand to a sadistic opponent named Te who chopped it off after defeating the swordsman. He now wanders doing odd jobs as bodyguard for shadier characters. They part ways but have a reunion six months later, when they both happen upon a crowd gambling on sword fights. The main fighter is Te, so a showdown happens. The ending of the story is so good, this is definitely a favorite Usagi story for me.

The Distant Mountain--Usagi is leaving town when a huge retinue comes through in a rush. They carry a palanquin. Since they are traveling in his direction, Usagi trails along behind. The entourage is attacked by bandits. Usagi jumps in to help, though the result is the death of everyone but Yoshi, the entourage's leader. He tells Usagi that they are taking a valuable stone to Lord Akagawa, something that cost a quarter of his fortune. Usagi does not see how the stone is so special but joins Yoshi in his task. The story has a nice twist that makes it very satisfying.

Death of a Tea Master--An Iberian nobleman (who has no nobility) wants to experience all of Japanese culture. He beats a lord's samurai and demands as his reward to see a ritual suicide. Not just any suicide, but the death of a tea master who slighted him earlier. The lord reluctantly sticks to his word, though Usagi is in the area and gets pulled into the drama. This is another well-written, exciting adventure.

The Bride--Usagi runs across the carnage of a huge retinue with dead guards and bandits all over the place. He investigates the palanquin, finding a young woman who is traveling to a nearby city to be married. She is the daughter of a soy brewer. The brewer is marrying her off to another brewery family to consolidate the business. But she is not really in love. Usagi volunteers to guide her to her destination when the husband-to-be shows up. Complications ensue. At first, I thought this was going to be a rerun of "The Distant Mountain." But the story is quite different while still having a surprising twist at the end.

This is another great collection of stories.

Highly recommended.

Book Review: Usagi Yojimbo Vol. 29 by Stan Sakai

Usagi Yojimbo Volume 29: Two Hundred Jizo by Stan Sakai

More adventures from the rabbit ronin!

The Artist--Usagi teams up with an artist who has studied outside of Japan. The artist is a wanted man (in the bad way) for bringing different styles to the Japanese art world. He plans to travel to the new capital in Edo to make his case. Usagi goes along to keep him safe, but can he? The story is less interesting than this tidbit of historical Japanese isolationism.

Buntori--Usagi has visions of a previous combat and discovers the discarded skull of a warrior. This story seems more like filler than any plot advancement or character development. I enjoyed it but it was not as good as other Usagi stories.

Murder at the Inn--Inspector Ishida is escorting a prisoner to the city when he's attacked by the prisoner's gang. Usagi comes to the rescue and travels with Ishida as protection. They take shelter from a storm in a wayside inn. Other guests are there. Late in the night, one guest is killed and suspicion goes all around. Ishida is on the case and does a good job resolving the situation. The story is well-plotted and unfolds naturally.

Two Hundred Jizo--A local artisan is making two hundred statues of the god Jizo to protect his village from bandits who are terrorizing them. He had a dream where Jizo told him to do it. Usagi is skeptical but sticks around to help with the bandits. The story plays out as faithful readers would expect, so a good read.

Ice Runners--Usagi runs into an unusual summer sight--a group is racing through the forrest carrying something obviously valuable in a covered litter. The group is attacked and Usagi leaps to the rescue. In the aftermath, he discovers they are rushing a piece of ice from the mountains to the city as a gift for a visiting dignitary. Getting that ice into town before next morning is their highest priority, even above burying their fallen comrades. Usagi goes along as security, leading to another predictable but interesting ending.

Shoyu--Usagi gets involved in a rivalry between two soy sauce (the titular Shoyu) makers. He wanders into town late at night and discovers a group setting fire to a factory. Usagi raises the alarm and helps put out the fire. The local cop is corrupt and lazy, doing nothing other than threatening Usagi as an outsider who has no real evidence of a crime. On the other hand, Usagi is thanked by the factory owner who shows him around the next day (with a full explanation of how soy sauce is made) and the adventures continue. The ending is classic Usagi storytelling.

Afterward--Stan Sakai presents a tale he couldn't work into the regular series. It was inspired by another comic artist asking why there weren't any skunks in the Usagi world. So Stan made up a typical story with a fun payoff at the end.

Recommended, highly for Usagi fans. 

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.

Book Review: Usagi Yojimbo Vol. 27 by Stan Sakai

Usagi Yojimbo Volume 27: A Town Called Hell by Stan Sakai

More adventures from the rabbit ronin!

A Town Called Hell!--Usagi travels to a town that was run by one crime lord but a new crime lord has shown up and started a gang war. Peasants are fleeing the town because it isn't safe for anyone. Usagi goes to town, acknowledging that he sometimes makes bad choices. He then starts playing the two sides off each other in creative ways (much like Akira Kurosawa's Yojimbo), though the final solution turns out less well for him than it could. This is a great tribute to Kurosawa's classic while also being its own story.

Nukekubi--Wandering along, Usagi winds up at the home of a woman who can't stop talking about her garden and the lizards and her sister and on and on and on. He gets away, only to come in conflict with a carnivorous demon. Oddly enough, the two problems resolve each other in a fun way.

The Sword of Narukami--Usagi is drawn into a fight between bandits and a samurai on a mission. The samurai's lord sent him to retrieve a sword that was paid in ransom to the bandits who kidnapped the lord's son. Usagi joins him in the quest. This is another little character story with some good twists.

Teru Teru Bozu--Usagi hangs out with a family on a rainy day, showing the son how to have fun even when the weather is bad. He also shares some treats which have an unfortunate effect on the child. The story is a little guessable but ends with something not guessable and much worse.

Encounter at Blood Tree Pass--Usagi is traveling along when he is hunted down by a former ally who thinks Usagi betrayed him. Usagi was set up, something he is quick to clarify, which leads into...

Return to Hell--Usagi and friend return to Hell (the town) to settle a score with the gang boss they left in charge and who managed to play them off each other. The story is exciting and fun with a typical upbeat Usagi ending. This makes a nice resolution to the first story in this volume.

Recommended--another fine set of stories from Stan Sakai!

Book Review: Usagi Yojimbo Book 26 by Stan Sakai

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.

Book Review: Usagi Yojimbo 25 by Stan Sakai

Usagi Yojimbo Book 25: Fox Hunt written and drawn by Stan Sakai

More adventures of the rabbit ronin...

Kitsune Gari--Usagi and Gen are traveling and come to a crossroads on the way to the next town. The beggar sitting there tells them one is a shortcut and warns the travelers to stay on the path because nine-tailed foxes inhabit the woods. Coming to a bridge, Usagi reluctantly crosses. It collapses just as Gen tries, forcing him to backtrack. On the way, he discovers another shortcut off of the shortcut. He hopes to beat Usagi to town but things don't work out like that. The story is a lot of fun.

Sakura--Usagi and Gen arrive at another town and run into Gen's old friend Sakura. She is a talented performer who is on a mission, so she travels a lot picking up odd jobs here and there. She works for a local gambler and discovers he has enslaved a young girl because her father couldn't pay his gambling debts. The father is now dead after falling into debt again. Sakura tries to pay for the girl, only to be rebuffed. She cold-cocks the gambler and takes the child on the run, which of course brings Gen and Usagi back into the picture. The typical action and excitement ensues.

Snitch--Usagi and Gen get the Yojimbo treatment as a snitch takes payments from them for money on a bounty while also getting money from another bounty hunter across town. The scheme eventually breaks down which is not good for the snitch. It's another fun story and an interesting reconfiguring of Akira Kurosawa's classic.

Saya--Usagi accidentally bumps the sheath of another swordsman who demands an apology. Usagi is initially reluctant but does apologies. That's not good enough for the other swordsman, who assumes he is superior and deserves more respect from a mongrel ronin. They go off into the woods to fight with a surprise result.

The Beggar--Usagi is followed from town to town by a ramshackle beggar, or is it just a coincidence? Paranoia is not Usagi's strong suit, so he does some of his own sneaky work to figure out what is going on. This is another interesting story.

The Fortress--Usagi runs into old friend Chizu, the disgraced leader from the Neko Ninja Clan. She tells him the procession they see below is doomed--they are going to claim a fortress as a reward from the Shogunate, but an ambush awaits them. Usagi naturally wants to warn them. He gets drafted into the procession to see if he is right. It comes true, leading to a lot of bloodshed. This is an interesting one-off showing more about Usagi and Chizu than developing a larger plot.

The Outlaw--Gen and Stray Dog wind up parting ways over a large bounty. They are on the trail of the titular outlaw when a fork in the road has no clue as to which way he went. So they split up, with the deal that whoever gets the guy get three-quarters of the bounty. The story follows Gen who cleverly discovers the outlaw but gets a lot more than he bargained for as he takes the bounty alive. The story is very interesting and touching, a great finale to a nice set of stories.

Recommended, highly for Usagi fans.

Book Review: Usagi Yojimbo Book 24 by Stan Sakai

Usagi Yojimbo Book 24: Return of the Black Soul written and drawn by Stan Sakai

More adventures of the rabbit ronin...

One Dark and Stormy Night--Usagi seeks shelter in a rainstorm. A housewife takes him in--she is beautiful, a good cook, and alone. Her husband is supposed to come back late the next night. Usagi offers to continue on but she insists that he stay, with a bit more affection than Usagi is comfortable with. The story plays out with some odd twists that are enjoyable.

The Darkness and the Soul--A former samurai is now a priest atoning for his past life by healing others. He comes across a case that is beyond his skills and has to consult an evil charlatan, who makes a bad deal with the samurai. The tale is creepy and seemingly unconnected to the regular narrative until the end.

Sparrows--The hunt for Inazuma (who is possessed by the demon Jei) gets more intense when the crime boss whose son she killed triples the bounty on her. In addition to Stray Dog and Gen hunting her, most every other able-bodied bounty hunter has joined in. The situation leads to a lot of action and excitement. Usagi is drawn into the conflict, along with the mysterious Isamu. The blend of motivations is interesting and keeps the story exciting.

Recommended, highly for Usagi fans.

Book Review: Usagi Yojimbo Book 23 by Stan Sakai

Usagi Yojimbo Book 23: Bridge of Tears by Stan Sakai

This volume includes the 100th issue of Usagi, a special treat!

Remanent of the Dead--Usagi visits a local merchant who has a delightful daughter and enemies who want him dead. Assassins are hired and go after the merchant, but Usagi is still there and he manages to save the day (no surprise). The League of Assassins is getting tired of Usagi's efficiency, so the next story happens.

Shizukiri--A new assassin is introduced and he takes one last job before he plans to leave the League with his girlfriend. Of course, things do not work out well and he winds up with a contract to kill a problem ronin who has been killing lots of assassins, like in the last story. A new and deadly enemy is introduced for Usagi.

Boss Hamanaka's Fortune--Usagi wanders into a town where two rival gangs are feuding over a fortune left by a former gang boss. The boss's son acts like the village idiot and claims not to know where the money is, so the rivals have been trashing the town in their search. Both gangs try to recruit Usagi who declines both at the local inn. The innkeeper, a young woman named Mayumi, is ready to leave town because she knows nothing good will come of the situation. Another ronin has also shown up. His motives are unrevealed until the end. The book is another exciting adventure for Usagi, who hits the road with Mayumi.

Rain and Thunder--Gen and Stray Dog are hot on the trail of Inazuma, who has a big bounty on her head. Inazuma has a much bigger problem--she is possessed by Jei, the evil spirit causing havoc in the name of justice across the land (hence the bounty). They have a big fight in a big storm, leaving things unresolved...except that Gen and Stray Dog realize they need more help if they are going to take down Jei. 

Bridge of Tears--Usagi and Mayumi get to a new town where they bump into trouble. Usagi decides to leave her in the village though she is very clingy. Usagi collects a reward from resolving the trouble, giving the money to Mayumi through a secondary so he can sneak out of town but still leave her set up to restart her life. She is distraught that he's left her; he's distraught that he gave his word to come back and then left.

Fever Dream--Usagi runs into Chizu, the ousted member of the Neko Ninjas, who is still being hunted by her former fellow ninjas. He helps in the battle but is wounded by a poisoned dart. She nurses him back to health. During the illness Usagi dreams that he is possessed by Jei and attacks Lady Tomoe and Lord Noriyuki. The dream is horrible for Usagi, who hopes it is not a premonition of what is to come. Something almost as painful does happen at the end of the story--The new assassin Shizukiri shows up with Mayumi as his prisoner. He calls out Usagi because he want to kill Usagi.

The Killer--The final confrontation happens between Usagi and the assassin, with Mayumi as a bargaining chip. The fight makes for an exciting story and an unhappy ending.

The book ends with a bunch of "roasts" by other comic artist (including Guy Davis, Sergio Aragones, and Frank Miller) of Stan Sakai, which is entertainingly funny.

Recommended.

Book Review: Usagi Yojimbo Book 22 by Stan Sakai

Usagi Yojimbo Book 22: Tomoe's Story by Stan Sakai

Another anthology of the ronin rabbit's adventures!

Tomoe's Story--Tomoe's backstory is given, how she became a master sword-wielder and a trusted retainer in the Geishu clan. She trained under her father, the head of Geishu's best swordmaster school. She regularly beat her brother but can't inherit the school because it is feudal Japan. She has a different path that eventually leads to her current life. It's a nice little drama and fills in a narrative hole in a satisfying way.

The Doors--An artist visits Lord Noriyuki, head of the Geishu clan, offering him a gift of beautifully painted doors. The image is a historical one of some lieutenants fighting a giant spider who poisoned their leader. Noriyuki is so delighted he has them installed in his personal quarters. That night, he has a nightmare and wakes up with marks on his neck. Things go downhill from there. While the revelation of what is going on is not a surprise, it is well done and leaves room for a sequel.

Fox Fire--Usagi saves a lone fox from hunters when it hides in his tunic. He also gets scratched up and feels very awkward, eliciting plenty of laughter from Tomoe. They wind up in a small house during a rainstorm. The sole occupant is a lady who seems sinister. She has also enthralled Usagi which makes Tomoe nervous. The situation spins out from there in an interesting way. I liked the story a lot, a classic Usagi adventure.

The Ghost in the Well--Usagi and Tomoe are back at Geishu palace where some trade negotiations are happening. Thing get rough when one of the diplomat's bodyguards is killed. Usagi thinks he saw the murder but loses the trail at a boarded-up well in the garden. Legend has it a woman killed herself there because one of the lord's retainers wooed her but refused to marry her, hoping to marry up to a higher position. The mystery continues as Tomoe and Usagi work with the diplomat's head of security. Plenty of secrets are revealed as the situation is resolved. This is another fun story.

The Thief and the Lotus Scroll--Usagi and Tomoe are enjoying a walk in town when he admits he is going to leave the next day. They are interrupted by officials searching the streets for a thief who stole a scroll from the local temple. Usagi and Tomoe are innocent (naturally). They wander into a minstrel telling the tale of Tomoe defeating a monster and saving the Geishu clan leader. The minstrel is Kitsune, an old friend of Usagi's who is a thief by night. She swears she's innocent of the crime and starts flirting with Usagi, mostly to annoy Tomoe (which works). They eventually leave Kitsune who has been hiding her protege Kiyoko, who is the thief. The usual interesting developments happen, leading to a satisfying ending.

Chanoyu--Tomoe invites Usagi to a formal tea ceremony before his departure. The story faithfully presents a tea ceremony and ends with their separation as Usagi goes back on the road. The narrative is beautifully crafted and provides a nice ending to the book.

Recommended, highly for Usagi fans.

Book Review: Usagi Yojimbo Bk. 21 by Stan Sakai

Usagi Yojimbo Book 21: The Mother of Mountains written and illustrated by Stan Sakai

This volume contains one extended story, superficially about a secret gold mine discovered on the border of two provinces. The first the Geishu clan hears anything, they are told a plague has broken out in the remote village. Lord Noriyuki dispatches his trusted advisor Tomoe to investigate; Usagi winds up in the story through the usual circumstances. They discover that Tomoe's cousin Noriko (from the other province) has a group of thugs who are forcing the local villagers to dig. A peasant found a gromwell bush (which only grows over gold mines) but the mining has not revealed any gold yet. Noriko is determined to find fabulous wealth. Tomoe and Noriko get a lot of back story and character development as the drama goes on, the real heart of the narrative.

The story has some interesting twists and turns as it gets to its finale. This is another enjoyable adventure with the ronin rabbit--well paced and interesting.

Recommended, highly for Usagi fans.

Book Review: Usagi Yojimbo Bk. 20 by Stan Sakai

Usagi Yojimbo Book 20: Glimpses of Death by Stan Sakai

More adventures with Usagi, after he left his son...

Cooking Lesson--Young Usagi learns from his sensei a valuable lesson about dealing with hardships by cooking some food. The story is short, whimsical, and insightful.

Contraband--Usagi bumps into a dying man who gives Usagi a package to deliver to his daughter in town. Usagi is a little reluctant to be involved but the guy expires right there so he feels obligated. He's drawn into an adventure as he travels with the unopened package, which draws a lot of attention since it is contraband. The twist at the end was a total surprise and a total delight.

After the Rat--Inspector Ishida (who appeared in a few other earlier tales) investigates The Rat, a local Robin Hood-type thief who is beloved by the poor people of the town but despised by the merchants. The Rat makes the police do a lot of running around, but will he finally be caught when he is accused of murder? The tale goes quickly and has some interesting comments about society.

Samurai for Hire--Usagi gets "hired" by a rude old woman who is on the road and carrying a heavy bag. Well, Usagi carries the bag now that he is her "underling." Usagi goes along with her, putting up with her odd, annoying behavior. The story slowly gets more complicated, but not too much. It's another traveling tale with an odd character at the center.

Dreams and Nightmares--Inazuma (a female friend of Usagi's) has some intense nightmares that come into reality as she is possessed by the spirit of Jei, a particularly nasty character that Usagi killed once, but he's a demon, so he is back again as Inazuma. She is traveling with Keiko, a girl who thinks of her as her "auntie," though Inazuma has become a lot more.

Gen and the Dog--Gen is hunting the bounty on Inazuma and has competition with Stray Dog, another bounty hunter who has been a pain in the butt before. Their separate investigations lead to the same spot, but Inazuma has moved on. This reads like set-up for future story lines.

When Rabbits Fly--A local scientist is trying to get his mechanical wings to work. Ruffians make fun of him but Usagi is at least open to the idea they might work. The story is mostly a comedy with some serious moments and the usual satisfying ending.

Into the Mist--Tomoe is out with her lord's retinue on a falconing hunt. The falcon brings down some prey and the lord sends her and Lord Horikawa to recover it. As she rides out, she is enveloped in mist. Coming out of the mist, she discovers a battlefield with an army approaching. She is confused but issues orders for a tricky tactical move. Things go well until one of the flanks does not attack like it should. The battle gets shrouded in mist again and Tomoe returns to the present, where she discovers Horikawa regaling their lord with a tale about a 200-year old battle their clan lost because of the strategy of Tomoe's ancestor. Tomoe corrects the record but does not resolve her conflict with Horikawa.

Nocturnal--Sanshobo, a priest Usagi knew back in the Grasscutter saga, is head priest of his temple. A man about to take vows comes to him describing nightmares he's had about becoming a monk, specifically about a girl in the local village whom he was supposed to marry but left for the temple. Sanshobo's advice is to go to the village the next day to resolve the issue. The novice passes out, so they summon a doctor. The doctor thinks that more than exhaustion is going on; Sanshobo explains about the soon-to-be monk's guilt. The doctor says it's odd because the girl has been missing for three days. The unhappy truth is soon revealed as Sanshobo discovers the novice has been visited at night by more than nightmares. It's another good tale from Sakai. 

Vendetta's End--Matabei, who has been tracking down and killing his father's killers, comes to a town where Usagi is visiting. The new local priest has been doing much good healing people though he becomes the target of Matabei since the priest was formerly part of the gang of killers. Usagi tries to help the situation with an unexpected outcome.

I don't know what it is about Sakai and his storytelling. I just enjoy it so much, I've read almost no bad stories in the entire series. He has a good sense of people and has a wide variety of characters. A lot of people deal with death, either their own coming or another's. Sakai fills the situations with a lot of interesting ideas.

Recommended.

Book Review: Usagi Yojimbo Bk. 19 by Stan Sakai

Usagi Yojimbo Book 19: Fathers and Sons by Stan Sakai

The adventures of Miyamoto Usagi, the rabbit ronin, continue as he travels with his son Jotaro (though Jotaro does not know that Usagi is his dad)...

Fathers and Sons--Usagi searches for his son while Lone Goat is on the run with his son Kid as wanted fugitives. Jotaro fell into a river and washes up near Lone Goat and Kid's hide out. Lone Goat was shot with an arrow during an attempt to capture him and he remains unconscious. Jotaro helps Kid care for his dad when two peddlers show up. They think something is going on and go to inform local authorities, hoping to get in on a reward. The story plays out from there in the usual fashion, with some nice moments between the two fathers and the two sons.

Bells--Katsuichi (Usagi's master) has a confrontation on a street that reminds him of his youth. At his swordsmanship school he fell in love with the daughter of a rival school's headmaster. She reciprocated while understanding the delicate nature of the situation. The ambitions of others turned their story into a tragedy. It's a touching tale.

Kill the Geishu Lord--Usagi and Jotaro cross a mountain pass that is blocked by an avalanche carefully picking their way through the boulders and snow drifts. A small village at the other side is very inhospitable. Usagi knows something odd is going on, especially when one villager tells him to keep going and not come back. He makes like he is leaving but doubles back to discover a procession headed into the town. The Geishu Lord was also going over the pass and has been delayed. He also gets an unwelcoming reception in the village. It's another exciting story and a meeting with an old friend that draws out Usagi's big problem--should he tell Jotaro that he is Jotaro's true father? 

The Pride of the Samurai--Usagi still struggles with whether he should tell Jotaro the truth about their relationship. At the market, a boy steals a fish. Jotaro chases after him, all the way to a shanty under a bridge. A down-and-out samurai comes out of the shanty and confronts Jotaro, saying no thief is here and Jotaro is lying. Usagi finally catches up and de-escalates the situation. Usagi and the vagrant samurai become somewhat friends though the samurai has a hard time accepting his situation and raising his son who is stealing to keep them both alive. This is another aspects of the fathers/sons dynamic that have been in the past few stories and ups the ante on Usagi's struggle.

Hokashi--Reunited with Katsuichi, Usagi's former mentor and the current mentor for Jotaro, the group goes to a temple to get blades bequeathed to Jotaro. On the way, they see a Hokashi troupe perform in a town, though Usagi thinks he recognizes the sword performer (and the feeling is mutual). A stray knife almost hits Usagi though Katsuichi snatches it from the air. Once they leave the town, the samurai run into the troupe again, with some explosive consequences. The story ends with Usagi and Jotaro separating. Usagi does not have the nerve to tell Jotaro that he is Jotaro's father. Usagi wonders if he has made the right decision. In a powerful coda, Jotaro tells Katsuichi that he did not have the courage to tell Usagi that he is Usagi's son. Like father, like son, carrying a hard burden.

This series of stories is fun and poignant. 

Recommended, highly for Usagi fans.

Book Review: Usagi Yojimbo Book 18 by Stan Sakai

Usagi Yojimbo Book 18: Travels with Jotaro by Stan Sakai

More adventures, now with Usagi's son, Jotaro (though Jotaro does not know it)...

Out of the Shadows--Usagi and Jotaro start their travels, the typical wandering through random towns routine. They run across Chizu, the disgraced leader of a ninja clan. She is on the run because she disagreed with the clan's ambitions. Her life is hard now. Things get harder the next night when Usagi and Jotaro run into some assassins from the clan looking for Chizu. Jotaro is slowly being introduced to Usagi's world and the many characters and narratives going on.

Ghost Warriors--Usagi and Jotaro visit some peasants who are oppressed by their local village leader. The leader was a foot soldier who betrayed his army years ago, so naturally he avoids the woods where his doomed compatriots died. Usagi uses this superstition to end the oppression but one of the leader's lieutenants is suspicious of what is going on. The story is good and a deliberate reminder of a previous story.

Komainu--Usagi and son have a run-in with Kitsume, a female friend of Usagi who is a street entertainer and also a petty thief. Her petty thievery, as usual, causes a little trouble for Usagi but not too much. Kitsume is also traveling with a young protege who has taken a liking to Jotaro. It's a fun little tale.

Tamago--Usagi and son are joined by an egg-headed priest who happens to be traveling in the same direction. They spot a small entourage that is attacked by assassins. The heroes beat the villains and find that the merchant is headed to a nearby town to report on a local gangster shaking down his home town. They decide to escort him the rest of the way, though things do not turn out as expected. Another fine tale crafted by Sakai.

Usagi and the Tengu--Usagi tells Jotaro a story from his brash and undisciplined childhood when he challenged a forest demon called a Tengu to fight. Luckily, Usagi's master was able to intervene, having previously fought the same Tengu. The story is an exciting tale and another example of Usagi having learned a good lesson when he was young and foolish (a situation his son Jotaro is living out now).

Sumi-E--Usagi and Jotaro have several encounters with fantastic beasts. The source of the problem is an evil ink set that allows an artist to create monsters. The evil artist wielding the ink set has kidnapped local children because he is running out of ink and he needs innocent blood to replenish his supply. The story is exciting and has some kaiju in it, making it more fun.

This is another fine round of entertaining stories.

Recommended.

Book Review: Usagi Yojimbo Book 17 by Stan Sakai

Usagi Yojimbo Book 17: Duel at Kitanoji by Stan Sakai

More adventures of the ronin rabbit, Miyamoto Usagi!

Vendetta--Koyama is a young samurai who is hunting down the four killers of his father. He executes one as Usagi comes into town. Usagi does not want to mix in trouble but Koyama's path and Usagi's overlaps, so they wind up working together with the local police chief to take out some mountain bandits, a group that includes some of the killers. It's an interesting story that doesn't fully resolve, so I expect more in the future.

The Return of Lone Goat and Kid--Usagi finds Kid, the son of Lone Goat, menaced by a warrior in the woods. He comes to Kid's defense and then tries to reunite him with Lone Goat. Lone Goat is an assassin on a mission, so facilitating the reunion is full of peril. This is another entertaining story.

Images from a Winter's Day--Usagi is hired by an old man to find his son. The son left because of a duel with a rival clan. The father is so sick, it is worth the risk of coming back for one last visit. The situation has a very melancholic ending, more downbeat than I expected from this series. Still, it was a good tale.

Koji--Usagi is trying to get to Kitanoji for his master's duel. He is blocked from traveling through one town. He looks for another route when another great swordsman, Koji, comes along the same road. He knows he will be challenged by a local swordfighting school. He can easily beat them but does not want the bother. They team up to get through the town and wind up on the road to Kitanoji together, even though the other samurai is going there to fight Usagi's master, Katsuichi.

Crows--Katsuichi's trip to Kitanoji is sidelined by a local town that is being pestered by bandits. He winds up in the town and helping out. Meanwhile, Usagi and Koji wind up at the same town and have some awkwardness as the three of them deal with the bandits. It's an interesting story that leads directly into...

Duel at Kitanoji--The long-anticipated conflict finally happens as two master swordsmen face off for no other reason than to see who is the better. Sakai does a great job building suspense and developing character. The ending leaves Usagi with his former master's young disciple, who is in fact (though it is not public knowledge) Usagi's son. The ending opens the door to new and interesting possibilities.

A Lesson in Courtesy--This flashback story has young Usagi being brash and rude to a wandering samurai who is using their watering hole. This is another charming little story that has a fine ending.

Recommended.

Book Review: Usagi Yojimbo Book 16 by Stan Sakai

Usagi Yojimbo Book 16 by Stan Sakai

More adventures with the rabbit ronin, Usagi Miyamoto...

Showdown--Usagi and Gen travel together, winding up in a town that is terrorized by two rival gangs. Both gangs are vying for control of the town; the local cop is a spineless sell-out who gets money by providing information to both gang leaders. Usagi and Gen decide to rid the town of the brigands by joining either side and manipulating them into leaving. It's the classic Yojimbo tale with a little twist that makes for a fun tale.

Escape!--Chizu is called to her clan headquarters for a reckoning. She has been involved with Usagi's adventures, sometimes to the detriment of the clan's ambitions. Having to fight her way out is just the start of her problems.  This story is interesting but seems like it is a bit of long-term plot advancement that will pay off later.

Three Seasons--Three different people are at an inn and tell tales of their run-ins with Usagi. Each story is entertaining in itself but the final reveal of who is asking was a surprise to me. The story also sets up a future adventure, probably.

The Shrouded Moon--A superstitious gang boss rules the next town Usagi and Gen wander into. His lucky charm gets stolen by Kitsune, a street entertainer and thief that Usagi has run into many times before. She is working for a mysterious character and is glad to take Usagi and Gen's help, but not to fill them in on the details. It's another interesting story that turns out about how your would expect.

Kitsune's Tale--Kitsune's backstory, how she became a street performer and thief, is told as she and Gen are traveling. It's another fine bit of character development by Sakai.

Recommended, highly for Usagi fans.

Book Review: Usagi Yojimbo Book 15 by Stan Sakai

Usagi Yojimbo Book 15: Grasscutter II: Journey to Atsuta Shrine by Stan Sakai

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.

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.

Book Review: Usagi Yojimbo Book 13 by Stan Sakai

Usagi Yojimbo Book 13 by Stan Sakai

More adventures with the ronin rabbit, Miyamoto Usagi...

My Father's Swords--Usagi heads out on his own after his last epic adventure, running into the son of a fellow samurai who died many years ago in battle. Usagi is impressed with the lad who has his father's swords. Even more, he has the passion to honor his father's memory by becoming a worthy samurai. Usagi also discovers a melancholy secret along the way. The story is very touching.

The Demon Flute--Usagi wanders into a terrified farming village. Many people have been killed in the night by an unknown presence. All they know is sinister flute music plays and darkness descends before death comes. Usagi decides to confront the horror for them, resulting in a supernatural showdown. It's another fun story.

Momo-Usagi-Taro--Usagi buys some treats for orphans and is invited to the orphanage for dinner. He tells a story of a magical child who goes on a great adventure. The story is fun to read but puts the kids to sleep! Usagi leaves as another benefactor shows up with money for the children. It's a sweet tale with a cryptic ending.

The Hairpin Murders--Usagi comes to a new town and joins in an investigation of some murders by Inspector Ishida. Ishida is at first wary of Usagi who is very observant but warms to him quickly as they are summoned to a second victim's death. The story unfolds nicely with some clever twists. Ishida is an interesting investigator.

The Courtesan--Directly following on the Hairpin Murders, Usagi follows a woman whose nightly travels are being harassed by masked assailants. Turns out, the woman is part of Lady Maple's entourage. Lady Maple is a highly respected and fabulously beautiful woman. She has a dark secret that Usagi is pulled into when she invites him to her castle as a thank you. The story has the usual action and intrigue and makes for another fine adventure.

Tameshigiri--Medieval Japanese sword makers would prove the worthiness of their blade by performing ceremonial cuts on corpses. Many corpses were taboo for this practice, for example, ones of murderers or that had tattoos. This background is the basis for this story. Usagi is still in Ishida's town and another set of murders occurs. Their investigation leads them to a local clan of sword makers trying to get out of their mediocrity by demonstrating the excellence of their craftsmanship. The conflict involves investigating and a bunch of fighting, the usual sort of adventure for Usagi. The story is interesting and reveals yet another facet of Japanese historical culture.

Recommended.