Issue #73 Out! Some Spoilers-Read First-Then Come Chat

[Akahige]

A good story. It seemed to gain poignancy each time I reread it. A sad story about Watanabe Ken and Ichirozuke, and one that must've been all too common at the beginning of the Tokugawa Era. What does a person who's been raised to follow bushido do when they become "superfluous"? There but for the grace of God goes Usagi himself. I think he's made that transition through his continual willingness to help others. He's embraced that change whereas Watanabe Ken has been unable to. His talk with
Tomoe at the beginning echoes the story's theme. Would telling Jotaro the truth prompt Usagi to change his life? Would he settle down as a retainer to Lord Noriyuki or some other daimyo, or pick up a trade? Being a wanderer in your late 20s is fine, but eventual I think Usagi will get tired of not having a home. I didn't expect the ending that Stan gave us, but I don't think it could've ended any other way. Sad.

[Tounian]

First off, I just want to make sure that Stan and everyone in the dojo knows that I love Usagi more than any other comic I buy, hands down. I love the comic, and I love Stan's work, and I have an enormous amount of respect for both. That is why it pains me to say that I did not like the way this new issue ended. At all. I almost wondered if a page was missing from the end. It just seemed so uncharacteristic of Usagi, and even Jotaro now, to just leave the boy crying over his dead father. No offer of assistance, no taking him with them, not even asking if he had any other family they could take him to. Is there a reason for this? Did I miss something? I mean, I can understand the principal or leaving someone to be at a time like that, but it still does not seem like something our hero would do. What do you guys think? Am I way off-base here?

Again, I hope everyone does not think I am being insulting in any way. Especially you, Stan, please don't take this disrespectfully, it is most certainly NOT a knock against your work. I was just stating something I noticed.

[Todd Shogun]

I didn't get the same impression. My take was that Usagi and Jotaro were leaving the site to allow the boy to be alone with his dead father. Actually, this was one of the most thoughtful stories I've read in awhile. It really touched on stuff that Akahige pointed out about unemployed samurai. Also picked up some new info...didn't know samurai could be "laid off" like employees being downsized in today's society.

Perhaps Usagi and Jotaro didn't actually leave the boy..who knows, maybe he'll show up in the next issue like Tomoe did in this one (I thought Usagi's and Tomoe's meeting was done after the last page of #72). If they did, I would have to agree that is would be uncharacteristic of Usagi, especially with Jotaro around...but somehow I don't think that's the case. Stan?

[Gaffey]

not even asking if he had any other family they could take him to

I assumed he would live with his sister and Saito.

[ziritrion]

I only had one complaint about this issue: too short!! Not enough pages!! This was a great story, tragic but outstanding. I just feel that 24 pages weren't enough to tell the story, like "too much content in too little space". I think that if the comic book had had 2 or 3 more pages the story would have been absolutely perfect, along with "Images from a winter's day" and "A mother's love", which I love as well. Sometimes life is hard and tragic, but by facing those situations you learn how to live and to appreciate what you have. Adaptation and evolution are two of the things you learn.

I'd like to know what happens to Ichi too. Will he go with his sister? Will Usagi and Jotaro help him to get a new home? Stan, can you help us out here?

As I said, a great story. Keep up the good work Stan!

[StanSakai]

I'd like to know what happens to Ichi too. Will he go with his sister? Will Usagi and Jotaro help him to get a new home? Stan, can you help us out here?

I tried to make it clear that Ichi would have preferred to live with his sister, but was staying with his father out of loyalty, as would a good samurai's son.

Anyway, he went on to live with his sister and Saito the lumber dealer, eventually gaining enough trust to run the entire dealership. He became something that his father definitely would not have approved of--a merchant. Still, he tried to live up to the samurai ideals even in business. He broke his right leg when he pulled an old woman out of the way of a load of falling lumber. As a result, he walked with the help of a cane for most of his adult life. He married, and had two boys named Oshiro and Hayate. They, along with Saito's son, founded one of the largest chain of home improvement stores, Oshiro, Saito, and Hayate. The chain is still around today, though it is more commonly known by just their first initials.

[Dustykat]

THATS why ther is always a knife case in the front of those OSH stores!!!

[ziritrion]

OSH? Didn't get it until I looked up what it was on the internet . Now it makes more sense .

I think that Ichirozuke, Ken, and perhaps two more names like Ebisumaru and Akane would have made a more known chain, at least for those of us who live at the other side of the ocean .

P.S.: isn't Watanabe Ken the actor who was nominated for the best supporting actor oscar for his role in "The Last Samurai"?

[Bienenoberst]

Very good story, great cover-art. The story could've been a few sides longer, but the strict limitation to a number of pages is a (necessary) curse of comic.
The end: I guess it's a sensful way of acting of Usagi, to let the boy be alone, but I doubt that Jotaro is old enaugh for such a thought. I certainly would've expected him to be next to Ichi.
A straight story without any unnecessary suprises. Once again the outstanding storytelling combines with brillant pictures.