Issue 101 - Spoilers

MikeM · Post by **MikeM** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 18:15 -0700

morna-san wrote:Well! that was fun! I had to buy two as I am officially in love with the cover - very nice that they let it stand without a lot of text clutter. I agree about that overhead panel too - just stunning. It was unusual and a bit excruciating to see Usagi so vulnerable for so long. Very enjoyable issue and that last page - ulp!

Thanks Stan- you rock!

Out of curiosity morna-san, why did you have to buy two?

Oh, as of issue 101, my local comic shop is now getting Usagi for the comic rack. Normally they were only getting 2 copies in. One for myself and one for another customer. Well, we (myself and the other Usagi customer) talk about Usagi all the time that we run into each other that some other people had their interest piqued. I ordered 12 copies of Usagi 100, and the comic shop wanted to keep some just in case someone else wanted to pick them up. I guess they sold well, so they upped their order!
Now that there will be copies of Usagi available at my local comic shop Im going to be pimping it huge!

MikeM

morna-san · Post by **morna-san** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 18:41 -0700

that was it Mike - just 'cause I love the cover so much. I wanted one to keep pristine and one to read freely.

Great that your lcs is now stocking Usagi - good pimping!

shaxper · Post by **shaxper** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 22:56 -0700

I'll second the opinion that I liked not having the logo on the cover of this issue. After all, the issue was all about Usagi being highly un-Usagi. I don't know if the logo should always be removed, but I certainly agree with removing it whenever Stan's background art is highly detailed and worth seeing in its entirety.

I adored this issue. I sincerely hope this wasn't just a "what-if" sort of dream. In my mind, this was a major turning point for Usagi. He has glimpsed a possible future for himself which will eventually need to be averted. This has the potential to be the subtle beginning of a very long and dark chapter in Usagi's life that will take on epic proportions so as to make Grasscutter look like a minor story arc. Seriously, Stan Sensai. Please don't toss away what you've begun here. I want more!

And, I must say, I love how Usagi and Tomoe died in this scenario. Though potential lovers, they are warriors first and foremost. Dying by each other's hands in battle seemed quite beautiful and fitting, even though the circumstances where horrific and tragic. Well done, Sensai! Well done!

Thomas Froehling · Post by **Thomas Froehling** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 4:12 -0700

I have as yet to pic up my copy at my local comic shop (I hope it's there already, otherwise I'd have to wait till next Saturday

), but I thought I'll just add to the discussion:
It seems that the presence of the Jei-being is felt when a character is close to death; maybe that was Jei's way to enter Inazumas body to take her over. But I really doubt that Usagi will ever be possessed by Jei: He wants to kill Usagi, destroy him, and watch him from the outside in the process. Maybe it would be all too esay for Jei in his bodyless form to enter Usagi's body. So easy, in fact, that Jei would see it as cheating.
(Like in "Demon", a film starring Danzel Washington as a police officer facing an ancient dark soul who could jump from body to body just by touching; the film was quite good...)

But we should keep in mind that Usagi was wounded by Jei (Grasscutter I); so it may very well be that a tiny portion of Jei's essence still lurks in Usagi, which Usagi occasionally has to fight off. That portion would be too small to be recognised as something completely alien; so Inazuma's and Usagi's inner torments have a different quality: Inazuma can fight something she identifies as "hostile", while Usagi has to fight seemingly his own hidden feelings/emotions/dark soul/essence, what ever...

Sounds a little lunatic? Well, maybe I should keep from posting while working the night shift....

wamu · Post by **wamu** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 16:13 -0700

hello all. I am new to the world of Usagi. I just started reading with this issue, and I impressed. I will start getting the trades shortly.

I thought the cover was well designed. It managed to convey horror and carnage without being over the top.

I have question about page 2. In both the 2nd, and 4th panel, there seems to be a dark cloud following Usagi. at first, I thought it was shading for the foliage, but it seems to be reaching for Usagi. Could this be Jei following him. or was his sense of being followed caused by the the bounty hunter that shows up at the end? or perhaps both?

Uncle_Kage · Post by **Uncle_Kage** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 4:50 -0700

I only managed to get to the comic store on Saturday. I was very happy to find that they still had a copy of issue #101 left. My lone thought when I caught sight of the cover was...

CREEPY!

And until folks mentioned it here, I did not even realize that the logo was missing. I concur, it would have been sinful to cover up this ghastly scene.

Post by **Steve Hubbell** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 10:07 -0700

wamu wrote:hello all. I am new to the world of Usagi. I just started reading with this issue, and I impressed. I will start getting the trades shortly.

Welcome to the Usagi Yojimbo Dojo! I really envy you for all the great stories you have yet to look forward to reading and enjoying.

wamu wrote:I thought the cover was well designed. It managed to convey horror and carnage without being over the top.

I have question about page 2. In both the 2nd, and 4th panel, there seems to be a dark cloud following Usagi. at first, I thought it was shading for the foliage, but it seems to be reaching for Usagi. Could this be Jei following him. or was his sense of being followed caused by the the bounty hunter that shows up at the end? or perhaps both?

Very good question! I had to go take a look and it looks like it could be just the shading for the foliage, OR as you suggested, it could very easily be attributed to an "Evil Jei-like essence" following Usagi.

The fact that it appears immediately behind Usagi in the panels which proceeds his "feeling" a presence of danger or malicous intent in his immediate area, gives that cloudy spot an ominous potential.

Of course, Usagi could just be feeling the presence of Shizukiri. If so, I don't understand why it would take Shizukiri so long to finally confront Usagi if he was already so close.

Again, welcome to the Dojo, wamu!

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 10:17 -0700

wamu wrote:
I have question about page 2. In both the 2nd, and 4th panel, there seems to be a dark cloud following Usagi. at first, I thought it was shading for the foliage, but it seems to be reaching for Usagi. Could this be Jei following him. or was his sense of being followed caused by the the bounty hunter that shows up at the end? or perhaps both?

Or it could be that night is falling. Some things will be explained next issue.

By the way, Welcome.

estee · Post by **estee** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 16:50 -0700

wamu wrote:hello all. I am new to the world of Usagi. I just started reading with this issue, and I impressed. I will start getting the trades shortly.

I thought the cover was well designed. It managed to convey horror and carnage without being over the top.

I have question about page 2. In both the 2nd, and 4th panel, there seems to be a dark cloud following Usagi. at first, I thought it was shading for the foliage, but it seems to be reaching for Usagi. Could this be Jei following him. or was his sense of being followed caused by the the bounty hunter that shows up at the end? or perhaps both?

Well in my experience reading this book I've found that nothing should be taken for granted. Even the most minute detail has some relevance in the story, even leaves. So, with that being said I hope it doesn't foreshadow something terrible in Usagi's future.

Ben · Post by **Ben** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 7:19 -0700

I've just been informed by my local comics store that it'll take another week or two for issue 101 to arrive.

The worst part is, by the time I've had a chance to even read the darn thing, everybody would have already moved on to the next topic (mainly ish 102).

hayabusa · Post by **hayabusa** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 20:40 -0700

Hello, everyone! New Usagi fan coming through.

After winning #100 and buying several back issues at a flea market, #101 was the first new Usagi comic that I bought.

Overall, I rather enjoyed it. The opening with the assassination attempt on the former Ninja leader and Usagi stepping in to save her was very good. The fight scene was drawn very well.

As to the evil Usagi dream... I loved it! Ever since reading the first Jei story in vol. 1 (Flea market find!) the character has fascinated me. The scene of Evil Usagi fighting Tomoe was excellent and kind of heartbreaking.

Thomas Froehling · Post by **Thomas Froehling** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 8:28 -0700

Hello Hayabusa,
and congratulations. You've not only won # 100, but stepped into the world of Usagi Yojimbo, which is filled with mystery, honor, samurai, obakémono, humour, thrill....

Which is, to put it in a nut shell, what keeps us reading and discussing it over and over again

And welcome to the Dojo; I know you'll going to like it here.

I agree, the end of the fight Usagi vs. Tomoe was heart-breakingly tragic, Usagi realising with his dying breath what he had done...

<Shudder>

Tim · Post by **Tim** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 6:31 -0700

hi, hayabusa.

good luck with the flea market searches...it took me fifteen years of scouring back-issue bins, flea markets and indie book stores before i finally gave in and started scouring the internet for back issues (i now have all UY issues, but my search continues for some critters and albedo).

i can only imagine you're going to enjoy usagi more the more you get to know about the characters and the world. i can't wait to see what you think of dragon bellow conspiracy, the first appearance of chizu.

Ben · Post by **Ben** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 13:37 -0700

Ever heard of the term "worst-case scenario"? I think we've just seen it.

Mind control has never been a theme applied imaginatively in most creative media. Whether the trigger is demonic possession, hypnosis, alien infection, magic spell, zombie bite, werewolf bite, vampire bite, ad nauseum, mind control often tends to be a shallow, irrelevant plot device used by the writer, with no lasting impact.

Not here. Usagi's dream has obviously shaken him badly, and will continue to haunt him right up to his next confrontation with Jei - and this time, he'll have something much worse than death to be afraid of. Tomoe is also in great character here, defying Jei's god-approved righteousness right down to the very last second (gotta love how she lopped off his ear...damn, girl!), and if Jei and Tomoe were to ever fight to the death, this is the most likely outcome.

Would I be twisted if I admitted I'm actually hoping Usagi's "premonition" comes true, at least partially? Jeisagi is a deliciously diabolical character, and I for one would love to see Stan return to the concept someday soon.

Speaking of which...did anyone else notice how strong Chizu was?! A woman carrying a man is an ultra-rare sight, even to this day.

morna-san · Post by **morna-san** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 19:30 -0700

I have to admit the demon-Usagi is pretty compelling! Maybe it's a RECURRING dream... that haunts him in times of... I dunno... stress or illness or uncertainty... ooooo! That'd be kool and you wouldn't have to disrupt too many storylines to insert it. um, just a thought

yes, Chizu is an extremely competent person physically and mentally and a leader. I'm now glad she didn't get killed off. Saru and Chizu must have had an amazing sensei.