CBR: Comics Should Be Good (Usagi Yojimbo #101)

[Steve Hubbell]

What I bought - 28 March 2007

Usagi Yojimbo #101 by Stan Sakai. $2.99, Dark Horse
The choice for what the commenters would pick for me came down to this and Blue Beetle, and I chose this, mainly because I didn’t simply want to read another superhero comic. Blue Beetle will have to wait!

I have always heard good things about Usagi Yojimbo, and so I thought it would be neat to read. Now that I have, I’m kind of on the fence about it. I enjoyed it, but I’m not unequivocal about my enjoyment. It has a strange charm to it, probably because these are rabbits and other animals as samurai in medieval Japan, which is weird enough to work. Sakai’s art is very cartoonish but very detailed and intricate, and it’s actually quite beautiful in some places, especially when Demon Usagi and Lady Tomoe fight to the death. It’s strange looking at the book, because you don’t expect something that often looks silly (mainly in the characters’ faces, and not even all the time) to be so well composed and interesting. Sakai obviously is a master of the cartooning form, which is good to see.

The story is slight, as Usagi defends Chizu, the leader of a ninja clan, who is being attacked by her own men. As he defends her, he’s poisoned and has to be dragged away by Chizu. She gets him to a hut and tends to his wounds, and he has a dream in which he is a demon killing his way through a castle, and only Lady Tomoe stands in his way. This leads to a marvelous sword fight that is the highlight of the book (moreso than when Usagi fights the ninja earlier) and which helps break Usagi’s fever. Chizu leaves him to lead the bad ninja away, and when Usagi wakes up, he hears the voice of Mayumi, a girl he left behind because being around him was too dangerous. He’s glad to hear her, but he probably shouldn’t be, as Mayumi isn’t there by choice!

I’m sure I’d understand more about what was going on if I had read the earlier issues, but it’s not that hard to figure out. It’s a charming book, but I’m not sure what the significance of the dream is, and it feels significant. Like a lot of long-running series, however, beyond a certain point it feels impenetrable. I’m just wondering how much I’d have to know to fully enjoy the book, or if we’ve never seen any of these people before and it doesn’t matter.

I can’t completely say it’s a success. I enjoyed it, and I might pick up the next issue to see what’s going on more fully, but it also didn’t make a ton of sense to a neophyte like me. Perhaps in the context of the larger story, it does. We’ll see next time, because I’ll probably check it out, which is all you can ask of a comic: does it make you want to come back? This one does, although I can’t guarantee I’ll stay.

http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.co ... arch-2007/

[Steve Hubbell]

The Week In Ink: 3-28-07

ISB BEST OF THE WEEK

Usagi Yojimbo #101: This really shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone, but when it's all said and done, I have no doube that Stan Sakai's Usagi Yojimbo is going to go down as one of the greatest epics in comic book history.

I've got a few of the trade paperbacks and the Art of Usagi Yojimbo book, but this is the first single issue with actual story that I've ever bought, and I honestly don't think I could've picked a better time to jump on. Done with Sakai's consummate skill in everything from the clean linework to the distinctive lettering, it revolves around a dream Usagi has after being poisoned by ninjas--evil ninjas, naturally--where he's been taken over by the spirit of Jei, a seemingly indestructable madman who believes he's been sent on a mission from the gods to rid the world of sinners.

Considering that the last time I saw Jei, he and Usagi were having a throwdown that pretty much defined the term "battle to the death" over the fate of the Grasscutter, that was a pretty exciting thing to see here, but even without any prior knowledge, I can't imagine not enjoying this story. Sakai's a master at visual shorthand, and with the way the evil Usagi in the dream mows down his opponents while gleefully speaking to them in word balloons decorated with skulls, you'll get everything you need to know without the story slowing down a bit. It's an absolutely fantastic comic, and I'm kicking myself for waiting this long to jump on. Excellent, excellent stuff.

http://the-isb.blogspot.com/2007/03/wee ... 28-07.html

[wamu]

I read the second review, which led me to starting reading this series.

[shaxper]

I'm glad Usagi is finally getting some press. I wonder if this has anything to do with the 100th issue and that appearance on the back cover of Previews. I'd love to see Usagi's fan base continuing to expand. It's been such a quality comic for so long now that its semi-obscurity is an outright shame.

Edit:

I wonder if Greg's decision to read and review Usagi was influenced by a post I made in the "Comics Should Be Good" forum over at the CBR Page on March 22nd:

I can only think of six consistantly amazing monthly titles that are published (relatively) on schedule. Here they are in order of greatness:

Usagi Yojimbo
Detective Comics
New Universal
Midnighter
Superman Confidential
Shadowpact (since the first story arc concluded, at least)

http://forums.comicbookresources.com/sh ... 340&page=2

[estee]

Ahem...if you liked that review there are other sites out there that follow this book.

Well...well...there just happens to be a link in my sig leading to the best damn reviewer on the entire electronic superhighway!

[shaxper]

Ahem...if you liked that review there are other sites out there that follow this book.

Well...well...there just happens to be a link in my sig leading to the best damn reviewer on the entire electronic superhighway!

Oops...um...err...I meant, "glad Usagi's getting more press." Yes, that's the ticket. Now estee won't kill me.

Uh, did I just type that out loud?

[Tim]

i loved issue #101...which is not to say i disagreed with the first review. calling the story "slight" was right on. stan spent a lot of panels showing usagi's internal dialogue, something i can't recall him ever really doing before. i think this would be a strange (if not bad) place for any new reader to come on board.

that being said, the art was the best work i've seen mr. sakai do in a while. i'm also excited to see where this story is headed.

[Steve Hubbell]

A follow-up to Greg Burgas' last review....

What I bought - 25 April 2007

Usagi Yojimbo #102 by Stan Sakai. $2.99, Dark Horse

SPOILERS AHEAD, in case you’re wondering.

I wanted to buy another issue of Usagi Yojimbo before I decided whether I would go back and buy the trades, as most people seem to think that’s the best way to read this sprawling epic. So I picked up this issue, as we left Usagi poisoned and facing a bad guy holding his girl hostage. That dastard! In this issue, we go back in time a bit to track and see how Shizukiri - the assassin - ended up outside the hut with Mayumi. We see Usagi going back to the bridge where he told Mayumi to wait for him, and we see Shizukiri track his battle from last issue. It’s kind of neat. And then Usagi and Shizukiri fight, as they must. And that’s where the issue kind of goes off the rails.

As the fight begins, Mayumi thinks Usagi is unarmed, so she tries to hold Shizukiri back. So he kills her. Now, I have no idea how long she’s been in the book, or if she’s Usagi’s love of his life, or if he just met her, but it’s just another example of, yes, a Woman in a Refrigerator. Mayumi dies, it seems, simply to get a reaction out of Usagi. She actually blames herself because she didn’t wait at the bridge, so now Usagi can feel even worse about her dying. It’s a cheap trick, and because I’ve only known Mayumi for two issues, the death itself has little resonance with me. Perhaps it means more in the context of the rest of the saga, but it still feels cheap. I’m very disappointed in the ending, because Shizukiri has already been plenty mean to Mayumi (he’s smacked her around a bit), so her death just feels excessive.

I’m probably not going to buy any more single issues of the comic, but I’m still thinking about buying the trades. I hope this isn’t a typical kind of resolution to the stories, because that would, well, stink.

http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.co ... pril-2007/

[go]

Dear Readers,
I would disagree with Greg's opinion.
The ending for this story is perfect.
Just my humble opinion.
Best wishes to all!
go

ps.
Usagi Yojimbo needs to be animated, this part would be fun to watch.

[shaxper]

I can't say I totally disagree with Greg on this one. I personally had a much more positive feeling about this issue, but his reasons for disliking the ending are justified. Perhaps he wouldn't have felt that it was such a "women in the refrigerator" moment if he'd known how recent an addition Mayumi was. This wasn't just the quick offing of a long term character.

I hope someone will tell Greg to start with the Dark Horse issues when he checks out the trades. All Usagi is fantastic, but he seems very critical of what he reads, and the earlier issues are certainly a little drier and more flawed.

Then again, what will he make of Noodles?

[estee]

I'd have to disagree with Greg's review, as well.

I don't believe that Mayumi is your typical WITF. From the previous issues you could tell Usagi was falling for her and it wasn't just out of 'honour'.
Every death in Usagi has some resonance.

But this feeling comes after only a long time association with the book.

It's just that Stan is a big meanie when it comes to Usagi's love life.

[sschroeder]

I hope someone will tell Greg to start with the Dark Horse issues when he checks out the trades. All Usagi is fantastic, but he seems very critical of what he reads, and the earlier issues are certainly a little drier and more flawed.

Or you could do it.

If you read all the books, then you are qualified. I haven't myself. Not even close.

[shaxper]

I hope someone will tell Greg to start with the Dark Horse issues when he checks out the trades. All Usagi is fantastic, but he seems very critical of what he reads, and the earlier issues are certainly a little drier and more flawed.

Or you could do it.

If you read all the books, then you are qualified. I haven't myself. Not even close.

Not a bad idea. Why didn't I think of that?