"Favorite Usagi Stories" Survey

[ratlas]

Netsuke. The answer is Netsuke.

[Lobster Johnson]

Netsuke. The answer is Netsuke.

Which one is that? I remember a netsuke being in Traitors of the Earth, but I don't recall a story called Netsuke.

[Steve Hubbell]

Netsuke. The answer is Netsuke.

Which one is that? I remember a netsuke being in Traitors of the Earth, but I don't recall a story called Netsuke.

Netsuke was the short 3 page story published in Wizard Magazine, in issue #97 (Sep/1999)

[Lobster Johnson]

Netsuke. The answer is Netsuke.

Which one is that? I remember a netsuke being in Traitors of the Earth, but I don't recall a story called Netsuke.

Netsuke was the short 3 page story published in Wizard Magazine, in issue #97 (Sep/1999)

Was that the one where Usagi visits his comrade's grave and returns the charm? I like that one.

[Eltanin]

I love all stories and have a hard time picking which ones I like most. Also, I don't remember them all, but I will try to give my thoughts about a few stories anyway.

I like a lot as well the Sumie storyline, pretty much for the reasons Lobster Johnson listed. But it's probably too long for the purpose here

I like Jizo a lot as well, for the fixed view. It's very original, but it's also very different from the other Usagi stories. I wonder if it wouldn't be better to pick something more representative of the Usagi series?

Finally, I'll mention a story which hasn't been mentioned in the thread yet, but had a strong impact on me: A mother's love. It was a really strong story which showed me that not everything is black and white for Usagi, and it's often hard to make a moral choice when there are no right one. It also showed me how important Usagi is bounded by his honor code.
I like this bitter-sweet story, and I think it would bring good balance to a more light hearted story.

[Lobster Johnson]

I love all stories and have a hard time picking which ones I like most. Also, I don't remember them all, but I will try to give my thoughts about a few stories anyway.

I like a lot as well the Sumie storyline, pretty much for the reasons Lobster Johnson listed. But it's probably too long for the purpose here

I like Jizo a lot as well, for the fixed view. It's very original, but it's also very different from the other Usagi stories. I wonder if it wouldn't be better to pick something more representative of the Usagi series?

Finally, I'll mention a story which hasn't been mentioned in the thread yet, but had a strong impact on me: A mother's love. It was a really strong story which showed me that not everything is black and white for Usagi, and it's often hard to make a moral choice when there are no right one. It also showed me how important Usagi is bounded by his honor code.
I like this bitter-sweet story, and I think it would bring good balance to a more light hearted story.

For a light-hearted story to balance the sampler's tone, the story where the pack of Tokage follow Usagi around and eventually save him could work.
Maybe the most recent issue, #151 (or one of the very recent ones), could be included as it shows the modern style of the book.
The one where Usagi tells the orphanage kids the story where he and his animal friends travel and fight a goblin (or ogre; I can't quite remember; I've really gotta re-read some of these stories!) might be a good choice. It's a really lighthearted overall story, but there's action and adventure, too.

[Robert Kassebaum]

Only three? Already many of the stories I like have been mentioned, so instead of sounding like a skipping record, I'm going to throw these out:

"Grasscutter" - Yes. A long story. Told over several issues. But it won Stan the Eisner for Best Serializes Story back in 1999.

"Noodles" (Parts 1&2) - A great story of friendship and loyalty.

"The One-armed Swordsman" - A well crafted tale. It's like Usagi is not part the story, even though he is.

I'm also adding:

"A Kite Story" - I believe one of Stan's favorites.

"Blade of the Gods" - The darkness comes, and its coming for you! *evil laugh*

[Lobster Johnson]

Only three? Already many of the stories I like have been mentioned, so instead of sounding like a skipping record, I'm going to throw these out:

"Grasscutter" - Yes. A long story. Told over several issues. But it won Stan the Eisner for Best Serializes Story back in 1999.

"Noodles" (Parts 1&2) - A great story of friendship and loyalty.

"The One-armed Swordsman" - A well crafted tale. It's like Usagi is not part the story, even though he is.

I'm also adding:

"A Kite Story" - I believe one of Stan's favorites.

"Blade of the Gods" - The darkness comes, and its coming for you! *evil laugh*

"Blade of the Gods" would be fun. What better way to introduce readers than introduce them to a terrifying, insane anthropomorphic wolf with a spear?
That actually would be a good fit, I think. It introduces one of the main arch-villains of the book, but it's not too long, either.

[Chopalong Slashity]

My single-story recommendations for a sampler volume:

1. "The Goblin of Adachigara(sp?) Plain" - It's aged very well, the visuals still have a haunting austerity to them (the black and white coloration fits the snow-covered backdrops perfectly!), and it's a nice introduction to Usagi's backstory---and also a conclusion to one of the loose ends said backstory has. It also showcases Usagi as a soul who's as honorable as he is skilled with a blade, and demonstrates why one of the earliest lessons he learned was knowing when to draw his sword *AND* when to sheathe it.

2. The issue of the Grasscutter saga where Usagi and Gen are trying to find the blade after Ryoko's familiar stole it, only to find that Jei has violently wrenched it from said familiar's hands---it's an introduction to both one of Usagi's best friends and one of his worst enemies.

3. Toad Oil - To lighten things up after the previous two stories, some wacky shenanigans involving one of Usagi's other most frequent friends (and understudy Kiyoko), along with a trio of Three Stooges lookalikes (in feudal Japan of all places!)

And now for my PERSONAL favorites (or at least three of them---why do I have to choose?! It's like asking me which fingers and toes I would like chopped off and which I would like to keep!):

1. "Nukenubi(sp?)" - Given how harrowing Usagi's encounters with the supernatural usually tend to be, this story is delightfully absurd---I think the wide panel where the titular monster narrowly missed Usagi and instead chomped on a reed mat and then starts spitting out the reeds complete with a goofy face and PTUI sound effects is emblematic of the sort of shenanigans that could only occur in Usagi Yojimbo. And then there's the last panel, which should get an award for "Most Bizarre and Unlikely Couple in Comics History".

2. "Taiko" - This is the story that really, REALLY roped me into the series. Besides being an interesting action story and a look into how taiko drums are made, the sequence where Usagi has to step up and do the drumming himself in the fading rain before it's too late is like nothing else I've seen in comics. (Related note: I swear, Stan does rain in black-and-white comics so beautifully, it's amazing.)

3. "The Confession" - It's one of the older stories, but it's high in my favorites just for the one-page sequence showing Tomoe barreling around the corner on horseback with her sword raised and a face promising swift, bloody murder for the Neko ninja surrounding Usagi. Is it any wonder they've been a couple through thick and thin since then?

@Lobster Johnson: I thought Jei was supposed to be a fox? Not that it matters too much as he's bad news in just about any shape. (Then again, along with brown and grey, I've seen art of him with fur colors like green and the blue of a drowning victim's corpse, so ultimately I just write off his species as "Jei". )

[Jubei]

Yikes, only three? That's a hard choice.

Myself, for something like this, I would choose some stories that would perhaps show the different genres that can be encompassed by the world of Usagi.

1) Space Usagi - my favorite Usagi story ever. Sounds strange, maybe it's because I'm a bit of a sci-fi geek at heart, but seeing how well Stan translated the usual elements of Usagi into a sci-fi environment while also intertwining the strong dramatic elements common with Usagi too. It makes for an amazing combination and shows the breadth that these characters and conflicts are capable of reaching.

2) UY (3rd series) #118-119 - ugh, I stink at remembering titles, but I loved this two-parter with Usagi, Kitsune, and Sasuke. The unknowns of wild magic coupled with fighting an army of zombie samurai warriors. What?! #119 has to be one of the best paced comics I've ever read. The tension, the fear, as Usagi tries to hold off the zombie foes, loved every part of it.

3) Noodles - yeah, maybe breaking my own rule here, but really this is the first UY story that I'd ever read. The themes showcased here were powerful and the ending still hurts.

[Trevis Woods]

This is like asking a parent to pick their favorite child...not possible but here we go:
1. Issue 93 "Chanoyu"
2. Yokai HC (Sasuke!)
3. Issues 145,146,147 "The Thief and the Kunoichi" (a fave because of Chizu and Usagi was back from his long hiatus!)
I would love to see a top three cover poll as well and those three could be represented...
(Issue 101, issue 93 and the Sakai Project cover piece would get my votes and I could also get behind any votes for covers with rain or tentacles )

[Lobster Johnson]

This is like asking a parent to pick their favorite child...not possible but here we go:
1. Issue 93 "Chanoyu"
2. Yokai HC (Sasuke!)
3. Issues 145,146,147 "The Thief and the Kunoichi" (a fave because of Chizu and Usagi was back from his long hiatus!)
I would love to see a top three cover poll as well and those three could be represented...
(Issue 101, issue 93 and the Sakai Project cover piece would get my votes and I could also get behind any votes for covers with rain or tentacles )

My favorite covers... hmmm. This is a tough question. I don't think I could pick three definite choices, but a few that I really like are:
1. #134 "Toad Oil".
2. #125. I'm not sure which story this is, but it's a really nice cover. I like how sunlight is rising over the hills in the background.
3. #45, at the end of Grasscutter II with the big stone steps, with Usagi, Gen, and Sanshobo fighting all the ninja. This is another one with sunlight rising over the background.
A few more of my favorites are #99, with the bridge reflecting in the water, #98, with Gen and Stray Dog vs Jei/Inazuma, #143 where Usagi has the soy sauce and the food container with a cartoony Usagi on it, and the cover to "The Death of Lord Hikiji". All the covers are great, though, so any of them would work. I keep thinking of more covers that I really like as I type this. Oh, and the cover to vol. 24, The Return of the Black Soul, is one of the creepiest covers I've ever seen. I guess my list is a little longer than 3 choices.
Unless I'm mistaken, I don't think Sasuke has ever appeared on a cover.

[dhfujii]

Wow, thanks for all the insight! Yes, it's really hard to narrow it down. I was having a really hard time myself, so I appreciate the help! I think mixing up genre's is a really good idea as well. That's one of the great things about Usagi, is that it transcends genre.

I'm also considering a full color special for the TMNT/Usagi Mirage crossover. It has the Turtles, Gen, Ninja, Chizu, and of course Usagi. It also has good background/fight areas. Cliff sequence, forest fights, and a water/river battle. Not to mention TONS of action. Pretty good intro for the world of Usagi, which is probably why Dark Horse selected it for their first book "Shades of Death", I'm presuming? Apparently the sizing of the book is recommended to be around 90 pages with the height the same as the Saga's. Thus, I think I can fit another one up story along with the TMNT arc.

Talking with a local comic book manager gave me some good insight as to the size and such. Apparently kids nowadays really like color. But, I remember hearing how there was quite a bit of backlash from switching Usagi over to color. Then again, it will be available in b/w by default anyway, and Yokai was in color, and I love it! I also really liked the Space Usagi color special as well as the Giant Red Spider story. So, I think it can be done, we just have to be careful.

Anyway, any other suggestions/thoughts?

[Steve Hubbell]

Hey Daniel, Any new updates on this project?

[BuckRogers]

Sasuke'!!! Man, I just love his character and everything about him. We need way more Sasuke' stories in my opinion!