General discussion about Usagi Yojimbo, the comics, the stories, the characters, collectibles, TV appearances, Stan Sakai, Space Usagi, Nilson & Hermy, and all other related topics.
Hey all,
I got home from work tonight and had an email from Daniel waiting for me.....
Hi Steve,
I just talked with Stan about doing an Usagi sampler as an introduction book to the world of Usagi. It'll be fairly compact for traveling and gifts and will include some of the best stories (probably including a chapter with a "cruel" cliffhanger for the Eisner award winning Grasscutter).
Anyway, I was wondering if you could do a little post to the dojo facebook and/or forum to list their favorite three Usagi Yojimbo stories and if they want, "why?".
Thanks so much!
Daniel
So, I guess we are asking for everyone's top three favorite stories, and (if you want) "why?"
1. The Goblin of Adachigahara - Albedo #2 - Thoughts and Images (because it is the first Usagi story ever published and I love being able to show off that I can spell Adachigahara without looking)
2. The Tea Cup - Usagi Yojimbo #11 - Fantagraphics (because it was the first Usagi story I ever read and because of its fantastic tribute to Sergio Aragones' Groo the Wanderer)
3. The Bride - Usagi Yojimbo #151 - Dark Horse (because it is the last Usagi story I ever read, until next month at least, and it is just the most recent addition to my favorite Usagi story list featuring well over 200 stories currently)
Hmmm.... difficult question. I don't think I could decide on a favorite. Here are three stories that I really like:
1. Shoyu (if I'm remembering the title correctly). I loved learning about how soy sauce was made, which led to my love of soy sauce in real life. But it's not just about that; the story is packed with intrigue, adventure, tragedy , and humor.
2. Two-Hundred Jizo. This one has a great story and some of the best artwork I've ever seen. I love when rain shows up in UY. It really adds a neat atmosphere to the story, and it looks incredible. Plus, I love the design of the rain coats and hats in feudal Japan.
3. The Death of Lord Hikiji. A brilliant tale of revenge. A perfect comic book.
I had a REALLY hard time narrowing this list down.
I would think a sampler should showcase diversity more than anything else.
I'd include the following:
"The Bridge": A great but uncomplicated tale full of rich tone and powerful action. Usagi at his bushido-ideal best.
"Chanoyu": My personal favorite of the Usagi stories that showcase Stan's rich attention to historic detail and desire to educate his readership. Also incredibly touching.
"A Promise in the Snow": Showcases the more human side of Usagi, is engaging and full of struggle, and always makes me cry by the close.
There are many other great ones, but I'd be sure those three were in there.
Very difficult to answer. There have been so many great stories over the years. So many, I can't even recall them all without sitting down to re-read them.
So, I don't think I can come up with 3 actual favorites. But I think I can come up with at least 2 Usagi Yojimbo stories that were key in my addiction to the series.
1. The Gobin of Adachigahara - I can't recall the very first story I actually read, but I tend to think it must have been this story. Even though I first started 'collecting' UY with the Mirage series, I think I waited until I started buying the TPB's to actually read any stories. I always like stating from the beginning, and since "The Gobin of Adachigahara' is the first UY story, it tops my list.
2. Grasscutter - in particular the 4 Prologues. I think it was these 4 prologues that sparked my interest in Japanese history and mythology.
My final choice is the most difficult...
3. Yokai - simply because it's a cool story, and in color.
This is an exercise in randomness. You will get a different answer from me tomorrow because they are just too many good issues out there.
But here you go for today (in no particular order):
1) Kitsune Gari (110?): Introduce new readers to the fantasy / Japanese fox trickers and two main characters: Usagi & Gen. I still laugh when Gen said, "I through with shortcuts!"
2) Chanoyu (93?) - One of my favorite aspects of Stan's storytelling is his introduction to Japanese culture without it seeming like it is a historical textbook article. The story always plays the lead character but Stan adds culture to give it an authentic flavor. Stan could also includes the Chanoyu notes in the collections to show new readers the amount of research that goes into each issue. A Kite Story could replace Chanoyu if this feels like "too-little-action" for those who are not familiar with Usagi and Tomoe. But I like this issue because it almost is wordless. I've always appreciated the mastery of storytelling without words: Show them, don't tell them.
3) Teru Teru Bozu (127?)- I always like Usagi's interactions with children. The story seems so hopeful unti Jei showing up in the last panel. That should peek some new readers' interest.
I tried to go with self-contained stories since it has a beginning, middle, and end. Stan is already thinking of having a cliffhanger with a Grasscutter issue, so that can draw new readers in for wanting more.
Peace, maka
Last edited by Maka on Sun Jan 24, 2016 23:56 -0700, edited 1 time in total.
Just off the top of my head one of my favorite stories was the one with the magical paint set that brought to life whatever the artist drew. What I remember the most was the ending where the little kid finds the paint set and the terror that I felt that the paint set would turn the kid evil like Jei or something. Instead the kid used the paint set to draw a butterfly (if my memory is correct). Great stuff!!! It's been a while since I've read that story. If some one could please post what trade the story is from I would really appreciate it. Thanks.
Spam Musubi #7 wrote:Just off the top of my head one of my favorite stories was the one with the magical paint set that brought to life whatever the artist drew. What I remember the most was the ending where the little kid finds the paint set and the terror that I felt that the paint set would turn the kid evil like Jei or something. Instead the kid used the paint set to draw a butterfly (if my memory is correct). Great stuff!!! It's been a while since I've read that story. If some one could please post what trade the story is from I would really appreciate it. Thanks.
- Spam
That was the story The Doors from the Usagi Yojimbo Color Special #2 (Fantagraphics, Sep/1991)
It was reprinted in Tomoe's Story (Book 22)
maichan wrote:
3. Yokai - simply because it's a cool story, and in color.
Good one! That one has it all; action, humor, awesome monsters, goofy monsters (I love the foot monster that Usagi chases around)...
Spam Musubi #7 wrote:Just off the top of my head one of my favorite stories was the one with the magical paint set that brought to life whatever the artist drew. What I remember the most was the ending where the little kid finds the paint set and the terror that I felt that the paint set would turn the kid evil like Jei or something. Instead the kid used the paint set to draw a butterfly (if my memory is correct). Great stuff!!! It's been a while since I've read that story. If some one could please post what trade the story is from I would really appreciate it. Thanks.
- Spam
Both stories with the magic paint set are great. I just re-read the one in Fathers and Sons, and that is one of my favorites. Sasuke is in it, there are giant monster fights, and a lot of the story cracks me up:
Sasuke: "Go Usagi. Go find your son."
Usagi: "How do you-?!"
Sasuke: "You must have told me earlier."
And, these panels are great:
I could never come up with a list of favorites, as I love the comic so damn much the list of favorites would be enough for four or five books!
... but, for an anthology of this type two stories did immediately come to mind: Return to Adachi Plain (for the important backstory) and Jizo (which is an fun little visual experiment). They're both short stories only a few pages long, so they don't take up much room.
- I'd say you'd need a story apiece to showcase Gen, Tomoe, and Kitsune, as they're the most essential supporting characters. I adore Sanshobo, Chizu, and Sasuke, but they're not as frequently used or prominent.
- A flashback story showing Katsuichi training young Usagi. These stories are a lot of fun and, for me, a key element of loving the Usagi character. A few of these are also short tales only a few pages long.
- An issue that's a great example of a typical Usagi adventure: he's traveling, gets involved in someone's problems, and then leaves - with no other continuing characters aside from Usagi. I think My Father's Sword would be a good sample. Another good one is... I can't remember the title: it's where Usagi ends up unwillingly chaperoning a village's tax payment through danger. I love it because of the ending where Usagi storms off in frustration unaware of what he's accomplished while the villagers are rather pleased with themselves for tricking this tough samurai into assisting them. I just love the irony of the thing, as we know Usagi's a grade-A hero who'd have helped willingly had they told him they needed his help.
- Maybe anchor the anthology with a slightly longer story, something about two issues long? Noodles would be great, and that would check the box for a Kitsune story. Oh, the first Ishida mystery would be a great one! That would also demonstrate the range of the series.
Angilasman wrote:I could never come up with a list of favorites, as I love the comic so damn much the list of favorites would be enough for four or five books!
... but, for an anthology of this type two stories did immediately come to mind: Return to Adachi Plain (for the important backstory) and Jizo (which is an fun little visual experiment). They're both short stories only a few pages long, so they don't take up much room.
Jizo would be a good choice. Short enough to leave room for other stories, but a good introduction to Usagi's world. That was one of the very first stories I read (in color, too!).
With the exception of have grasscutter cliffhanger i think its important to collect some of the shorter stories that have and ending. I've read through the series twice now and i have a hard time remembering specific names of stories.
1.) There's a Lone Goat and Kid story, collected in Saga volume 4, where the ends with Usagi on one side of a bridge and the Long Goat on the other with bandits stuck on the bridge. That scene where he and Usagi fight their way across is one of my favorites in the whole series.
2.) I think the most recent Usagi #150 would be a good starter issue. You have the european character not understanding Japanese rituals and a villain that's very easy to hate. Usagi #148 could also fit this role with the twist ending of the dagger in the guys fake arm.
3.) and i think the story where the monsters come to life with the ink would be great as well. Its a story that shows off how much Jotaro is like his father.
