ISSUE 65 OUT! EXCELLENT-SPOILERS-READ FIRST-THEN CHAT HERE

Akahige · Post by **Akahige** » Wed Mar 26, 2003 13:34 -0700

"Usagi and the Tengu"! Great issue! A very simple, straitforward story. Cool practice session between Usagi and Jotaro. Nice parallel between Jotaro's youthful enthusiasm and Usagi's at the same age. Both so eager to prove themselves. The skull on the trail was suitably creepy! Usagi's nervousness at the tengu's cabin was well-done, like any kid. This tengu's a sly one, taunting Usagi by appealing to his pride. Interesting agreement between Katsuichi and the tengu. Could it have anything to do with the missing hand? The interplay between them would suggest they've met before. Usagi's honesty of heart is shown nicely, too, refusing to leave. A good lesson for Jotaro to take to heart. Excellent front and back covers, too, either would make a great full-sized poster. Can't wait for the next issue!

Post by **Todd Shogun** » Wed Mar 26, 2003 23:43 -0700

This story was awesome!! I did have a few questions for Stan though...

1) Who cut off the Tengu's hand? I thought for sure you'd reveal that Katsuichi did, but you left us hanging! Okay, so it's obvious that he did, especially with that comment near the end. But just for the record....

2) So did Katsu challenge the Tengu long ago and win, hence forcing the Tengu to reveal his secrets on sword fighting, making Katsuichi the expert swordsman with the "unorthodox style" that everyone comments on? Katsu even lives like a mountain goblin in a way. Could it be that he has adopted their lifestyle?

3) Any indication on the longevity of Tengu? Are they long-lived like the kitsune? And how are they related to the karasu (raven tengu)... on that note, is tengu just a generic meaning for "goblin"?

4) Who's the snake dude on the cover? He looks like a twsited Lord Hebi, but he doesn't appear in the story. Just curious.

5) How many years did Usagi train under Katsu?

Again, awesome story. And if some of my feeble speculation ends up correct, Katsu could end up a lot more interesting than ever before. RYAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!

ziritrion · Post by **ziritrion** » Thu Mar 27, 2003 7:01 -0700

I'm pretty sure that Katsuichi did cut his hand off. When the Tengu fights Usagi, he says in one panel "Ah.. sweet revenge". It could either be that someone else cut his hand off and he just wants to cut someone else's hand or, most likely, he wants to cut Usagi's hand because of what Katsuichi, his Master, did to him long time ago. Anyway, that's just a guess...

There's a paradox in the story, though: a tengu is supposed to be unbeatable, isn't it? But if you beat a tengu, then he will teach you his secrets regarding fighting, swordsmanship, etc... But what's the point in knowing those secrets if you already beated a tengu, who is supposed to be the most fierce swordsman in the world?

Actually, I'm not being serious, but it's kinda funny...

I was looking forward for this number (since Usagi told Sanshobo in book 11 "Seasons") and I haven't been disappointed. I enjoyed it thoroughly, like all of the Young Usagi stories (when he was a child, Usagi was so stubborn that he could act like a complete dork sometimes, making those stories hilarious -does anyone remember "Gaki" from book 7 "Gen's Story"?-) . Both the cover and the back cover were great, specially the back cover, which has become one of my favourites, along with the Chizu backcover on #61 and that other full-sized backcover featuring Usagi walking towards the readerwith an angry look and with his katana on his hand (can't remember which number was, sorry), just like in the Dark Horse's Usagi Zone webpage.

Now if I could wait patiently until May 28, when the first episode of Sumi-e gets released...

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Thu Mar 27, 2003 13:29 -0700

Todd Shogun wrote:This story was awesome!! I did have a few questions for Stan though...

1) Who cut off the Tengu's hand? I thought for sure you'd reveal that Katsuichi did, but you left us hanging! Okay, so it's obvious that he did, especially with that comment near the end. But just for the record....

2) So did Katsu challenge the Tengu long ago and win, hence forcing the Tengu to reveal his secrets on sword fighting, making Katsuichi the expert swordsman with the "unorthodox style" that everyone comments on? Katsu even lives like a mountain goblin in a way. Could it be that he has adopted their lifestyle?

3) Any indication on the longevity of Tengu? Are they long-lived like the kitsune? And how are they related to the karasu (raven tengu)... on that note, is tengu just a generic meaning for "goblin"?

4) Who's the snake dude on the cover? He looks like a twsited Lord Hebi, but he doesn't appear in the story. Just curious.

5) How many years did Usagi train under Katsu?

You'll have to wait a while for some of your answers, Todd. There are mysteries beyond the hook. I wrote in the story notes that the tengu live in colonies, but this one is a hermit. You'll have to wait about 5 years or so for the Tengu Wars story arc.

Tengu were specific mountain goblins of which there are two varieties--the crows and the long noses. How they are related, I have no idea.
Nor do I know how long they live, or if they are immortal.

About that snake: As you know, the covers are done months in advance of the stories. The stories often change or elements that appear on the cover may not be in the story. This in one such case. I sometimes get inquiries about the inconsistencies. On the cover of UY 61, Jotaro is about to get trampled by a runaway horse, but in the story it is a little girl. This was a case where the story was altered slightly. An upcoming story change will be in UY 67 which has Jotaro and some kids threatened by some lizard/snakes. The entire middle of that story arc was changed and so that cover scene will not appear in the story at all.

Post by **Todd Shogun** » Thu Mar 27, 2003 21:49 -0700

5 years is no big deal. I've waited longer... heck I'm still waiting for that Usagi/Nilson crossover... been waiting about 15 years for that one! Same goes for the Usagi/Catnippon crossover... any updates on these????

Post by **digulla** » Sat Apr 05, 2003 16:09 -0700

Todd Shogun wrote:1) Who cut off the Tengu's hand? I thought for sure you'd reveal that Katsuichi did, but you left us hanging! Okay, so it's obvious that he did, especially with that comment near the end.

Well, I took that comment that the Tengu still has both hands! In his second hand, he's wielding a hook

Maybe he just wanted to scare Usagi?

PS: Just got the comic today...

Post by **Todd Shogun** » Fri May 23, 2003 18:47 -0700

For the interested.... Karasu Tengu samurai armor.

http://yojimbo.com/samurai/tengu.htm