I've held back from posting about issues I've adored so far since I'm so far behind and reading so many at one time, but I'm almost up to the present and these two REALLY wowed me, so I just wanted to thank Stan for such amazing work.
"The Rat" and "Samurai for Hire" are some highly impressive stand-alone issues. While I liked Inspector Ishida before, Nezumi is the perfect foil to his character. He brings out a conflict and a reaffirmation of principle in Ishida that astound me. While I realize Stan's basis for this character is historical, the comic book geek in me can't help but see a Batman/Commissioner Gordon resemblence here, only more intense since they're on polar opposite sides of the same justice coin.
In "Samurai for Hire," the characterization of the old woman is absolutely priceless - comical yet compassionate at the same time. She strikes me as being the most real of almost any character Usagi has met previously. At the end of the issue, I'm not sure whether to laugh, feel sorry for the son, or simply feel love for this seemingly unlovable individual with a profound heart deep inside. The revelation of what was in her bag near the end practically floored me.
Job well done, Stan-Sensai!
WOW (Usagi #77 and 78!)
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- Shugyosha<Student Warrior>
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"The Rat" was great. It was interesting to see a Robin Hood type character in UY.
"Samurai for Hire" was funny as well as sad because of the old woman's attitude. I also felt sorry for her son. She seemed to even consider him a "hireling".
Overall, these were just 2 fantastic comics out of...a lot.
"Samurai for Hire" was funny as well as sad because of the old woman's attitude. I also felt sorry for her son. She seemed to even consider him a "hireling".
Overall, these were just 2 fantastic comics out of...a lot.
EEP!