The Thief and the Kunoichi (preview)
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coolray85
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Re: The Thief and the Kunoichi (preview)
I haven't gotten the opportunity to read part 2 of the new usagi story, but I immensely enjoyed the first issue!!I agree it is so wonderful to be reading brand new usagi stories again!!I am currently re-reading grasscutter in saga vol 2 right now.haven't done that in a few years and it is really catching me.what a great comic book.I mean usagi yojimbo as a whole.
Re: The Thief and the Kunoichi (preview)
After this story is wrapped up what is next? I don't see any announcements on the dark horse website about material coming out this year.
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Stan Sakai
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Re: The Thief and the Kunoichi (preview)
Mormegil wrote:After this story is wrapped up what is next? I don't see any announcements on the dark horse website about material coming out this year.
After The Thief and the Kunoichi part 3 in UY 147, Usagi meets The One-Armed Swordsman in 148 on sale September 16. That is about right after UY Saga 4 comes out.
I'm already working on UY 151 The Bride, and The UY Gallery Edition is on its way to the printer now.
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maichan
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Re: The Thief and the Kunoichi (preview)
148 and 149 are shown for pre-order on the Darkhorse Usagi Zone, listed under Comics - http://www.darkhorse.com/Usagi/ComicsMormegil wrote:After this story is wrapped up what is next? I don't see any announcements on the dark horse website about material coming out this year.
Scheduled release dates of September 16 & October 21.
Saga 4 & 5, and the Gallery Edition are listed under the Books heading - http://www.darkhorse.com/Usagi/Books
You can also see them under the Upcoming heading: http://www.darkhorse.com/Usagi/Upcoming
Re: The Thief and the Kunoichi (preview)
Oops I should have waited to post till I read 147. Thanks for answering an overly excited fan. I REALLY enjoyed these past 3 issues. This is the first time I've been caught up with usagi to actually buy the issues as they release.
On another note. It seems like all this time on the run has not been kind to Chizu. Her face looks a lot more angular now. She better do something about those ninja once and for all.
Especially after this issue, it's hard to decide who my favorite female character is. I think it's still Chizu.
On another note. It seems like all this time on the run has not been kind to Chizu. Her face looks a lot more angular now. She better do something about those ninja once and for all.
Especially after this issue, it's hard to decide who my favorite female character is. I think it's still Chizu.
Re: The Thief and the Kunoichi (preview)
Well I did a review on cxPulp. If you'd like to read it, click the link in my sig. 
Re: The Thief and the Kunoichi (preview)
I hope no-one minds this bit of threadomancy. There might be a few of these as I catch up on issues and books that everyone's already read. 
But, I've just re-read The Thief and the Kunoichi and I've a couple of things to say, with maybe a little more reflection after a year or so. Firstly, something that's been said already, but bears repeating: a triumphant return to and for Usagi Yojimbo! The story and art in this three-parter are among my favourite in the series. Some very 'juicy' inking here - the bolder contours and line variations in the close-ups really pop. And the characterisation: Merchant Inouye's sheer malevolent mass almost extends beyond the page. He's like a hutt - in more ways than one - transplanted from Star Wars to UY. It's a wonder he needed a sword to attempt to kill Kitsune; his fall might've done the job! And of course the clash between Chizu and Kitsune, and their respective personalities, with Usagi caught in the middle. And what a clash...
The letters page of #147... I find Charles J. Sperling's letters interesting. He really likes to get his teeth into the analysis, doesn't he? And I can't really blame him, with what I'm typing out here. I tend to agree with most of his thoughts, though there's often a point of disagreement, a 'but' moment. In his letters printed in #147 and #149, he takes issue with Kitsune's treatment of Usagi, and right after she and Kiyoko pilfered some essential items from Usagi and Chizu, it's difficult to disagree. Almost coldly taking the treaty away, after the latter two explained their enmity of Hikiji and how the treaty would help strike a blow against him... It was a 'waitaminnit' moment. It interested and troubled me more than the ethical dilemmas in Marvel's Civil Wars and DC's recent Superman movies - make of that what you will.
But leafing through the issues again, Kitsune has no real reason to help Chizu, beyond their mutual friendship with Usagi, and even that might not be enough when Chizu's reactions to her range from cold indifference to outright murderous intent. The latter more often than not. Both women acted according to their personalities in the situation, and while neither came off squeaky-clean, more power to Stan for letting it play out like that rather than pushing sudden out-of-character altruism into the feud - and what else would you expect from a thief and a kunoichi? In the end I think the conclusion follows Usagi's own, from long ago: Kitsune's actions aren't entirely (or easily) defensible, but I don't know if I'd want to see her essential character changed as a result - made to 'grow up', as Charles puts it.
But maybe she could leave poor ol' Usagi's purse where it is, from time to time.
Anyhow. Yes. I like the switch! I think it helps distinguish her from Tomoe, physically (not that I ever read a story and thought 'oooh, that was actually Chizu the whole time', but, you know what I mean. Right? Right...?) and as an outward representation of the difference in personality. Chizu looks hard, and fierce! Also, in some panels... let me see if I can find a review scan online. Here we go. First two panels, particularly the second. It's cartoon shorthand: a chevron for a jaw, with a couple of flattish S-curves inside; but with that, very deftly describes the shape - the three-dimensional shape, even - of Chizu's face. It's a little thing in the grand scheme, maybe, but I admire Stan's economy of line in this little thing.
But, I've just re-read The Thief and the Kunoichi and I've a couple of things to say, with maybe a little more reflection after a year or so. Firstly, something that's been said already, but bears repeating: a triumphant return to and for Usagi Yojimbo! The story and art in this three-parter are among my favourite in the series. Some very 'juicy' inking here - the bolder contours and line variations in the close-ups really pop. And the characterisation: Merchant Inouye's sheer malevolent mass almost extends beyond the page. He's like a hutt - in more ways than one - transplanted from Star Wars to UY.
It's a wonder he needed a sword to attempt to kill Kitsune; his fall might've done the job! And of course the clash between Chizu and Kitsune, and their respective personalities, with Usagi caught in the middle. And what a clash...The letters page of #147... I find Charles J. Sperling's letters interesting. He really likes to get his teeth into the analysis, doesn't he? And I can't really blame him, with what I'm typing out here. I tend to agree with most of his thoughts, though there's often a point of disagreement, a 'but' moment. In his letters printed in #147 and #149, he takes issue with Kitsune's treatment of Usagi, and right after she and Kiyoko pilfered some essential items from Usagi and Chizu, it's difficult to disagree. Almost coldly taking the treaty away, after the latter two explained their enmity of Hikiji and how the treaty would help strike a blow against him... It was a 'waitaminnit' moment. It interested and troubled me more than the ethical dilemmas in Marvel's Civil Wars and DC's recent Superman movies - make of that what you will.
But leafing through the issues again, Kitsune has no real reason to help Chizu, beyond their mutual friendship with Usagi, and even that might not be enough when Chizu's reactions to her range from cold indifference to outright murderous intent. The latter more often than not. Both women acted according to their personalities in the situation, and while neither came off squeaky-clean, more power to Stan for letting it play out like that rather than pushing sudden out-of-character altruism into the feud - and what else would you expect from a thief and a kunoichi?
In the end I think the conclusion follows Usagi's own, from long ago: Kitsune's actions aren't entirely (or easily) defensible, but I don't know if I'd want to see her essential character changed as a result - made to 'grow up', as Charles puts it.But maybe she could leave poor ol' Usagi's purse where it is, from time to time.
It looks like her appearance in Senso, and I can't fault Stan for carrying the look over to main-line UY. I guess. I'm still filling in gaps and I think the last Chizu story I read - in UY chronology - was Bats, the Cat, and the Rabbit. From what you say, I assume this is the first appearance of Chizu's 'angular face' in the main series?Mormegil wrote:On another note. It seems like all this time on the run has not been kind to Chizu. Her face looks a lot more angular now. She better do something about those ninja once and for all.
Anyhow. Yes. I like the switch! I think it helps distinguish her from Tomoe, physically (not that I ever read a story and thought 'oooh, that was actually Chizu the whole time', but, you know what I mean. Right? Right...?) and as an outward representation of the difference in personality. Chizu looks hard, and fierce! Also, in some panels... let me see if I can find a review scan online. Here we go. First two panels, particularly the second. It's cartoon shorthand: a chevron for a jaw, with a couple of flattish S-curves inside; but with that, very deftly describes the shape - the three-dimensional shape, even - of Chizu's face. It's a little thing in the grand scheme, maybe, but I admire Stan's economy of line in this little thing.
Re: The Thief and the Kunoichi (preview)
I meant to go back and look at the older drawings of her and see if i was just wasn't remembering right. I always confuse Chizu with Inazuma.
Maybe she's a little gaunt from being chased by ninjas all this time.
Maybe she's a little gaunt from being chased by ninjas all this time.