111--with spoilers.

Post by **Mayhem** » Fri May 09, 2008 12:59 -0700

My issue turned up today... I'm impressed, as usual, though also with Sakura. As for the tattoos, I'm sure the reason for those will become apparent but most often in Japan, only gangsters would wear them. But a female in those times...? There's more than meets the eye

estee · Post by **estee** » Fri May 09, 2008 16:11 -0700

oxthowe wrote:I picked this one up at the same time as 110. So even though I had to wait a while for the first one, I was able to get two new UYs in one day!

Another great story. I also like the new character Sakura. She's not samurai class and isn't allowed to carry swords, but gets around it with a whip. And wow does she brandish a whip!

I just have one question: What is the signficance of the tatoos? All the gamblers were imediately awestruck when she revealed her tatoos.

Body tattoos were called Irezumi.

Here's a Wiki link...

I've heard that in Korea at least kids are getting elaborate tattoos to avoid military service, as it's a crime to have such body modification. Or so I've heard.

Did some surfing...

Here's a link...

Space Wolf · Post by **Space Wolf** » Fri May 16, 2008 19:04 -0700

Great issue. I always enjoy the interaction between Usagi and Gen, very funny. Art was beautiful as always and this new story line sounds promising. Looking forward to issue 112.

Post by **Steve Hubbell** » Sat May 17, 2008 11:21 -0700

Here are some images which I initially posted in reply to estee's review over at the Comixtreme forum....

estee's panel of the month

In this issue, Stan seems to be bringing another Japanese film icon into Usagi's world, that being the revenge seeking female gamble with the Red Peony tattoos, which you can read more about here:
http://www.brns.com/japan/pages1/japan29.html

estee · Post by **estee** » Sat May 17, 2008 11:33 -0700

Goya...you are da man!

morna-san · Post by **morna-san** » Thu May 22, 2008 9:27 -0700

kool Steve, thanks for that!

sschroeder · Post by **sschroeder** » Sat May 24, 2008 16:51 -0700

Finally read this one during the week.

Good issue.

@Steve Hubbell: Nice information there. Thought Stan came up with all this stuff on his own though, so stop ruining it for me.

Post by **Steve Hubbell** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 22:17 -0700

I know, this is a little late, but it was just recently posted....

Comic Book Bin

Usagi Yojimbo #111
By Hervé St-Louis
Jun 29, 2008 - 6:04:18 PM

Dark Horse Comics
Writer(s): Stan Sakai
Penciller(s): Stan Sakai
Inker(s): Stan Sakai
Letterer(s): Stan Sakai
Cover Artist(s): Stan Sakai, Tom Luth
$2.99 US

Usagi and his friend Gen stumble upon Sakura, a gambler on a quest to find her long missing brother sold to an umbrella maker after her family was disgraced. Of course Usagi and Gen offer to help her. However, Sakura runs into more trouble and soon adopts a slave girl owned by the local gambling den’s patron. Can Usagi and Gen defend Sakura against the village’s gamblers and other goons who want the girl back?

Every comic book has the potential to be someone’s first and this was my first exposure to Usagi Yojimbo outside of the old Teenage Mutant ninja Turtles cartoon series from the 1980s. I was impressed by how juvenile and immature Usagi was. I expected him to be an old zen master, not someone who hasn’t reached greatness yet. And this is what is charming about this issue where he rushes in to save the girl without thinking. He's brash and young and not this untouchable fighter that no one can defeat. I like that. I also like the frankness of the characters and how he and Gen fight over food. I really enjoyed this comic book and it shows that even after years of knowing about a property, nothing beats firsthand experience.

I really like Sakai’s work. It’s got that Gil Kane vibe I love so much in comic books. It’s filled with somewhat irregular lines and strokes that have not been refined endlessly. I imagine him just lashing out at a blank page without nothing more but the guides in his mind about what he wants to include in his panels. Well that gives his work a lot of energy and brashness.

Rating: 8/10

http://www.comicbookbin.com/Usagi_Yojimbo_111.html

Andy · Post by **Andy** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 13:53 -0700

Steve Hubbell wrote:Like always, a great story. I thought it was pretty nice how Gen got in some great snipes.

Gen to Sakura: "Usagi can be iritating, but that's not reason enough to kill him!"

Gen to Usagi: "I have a life outside of you, you know!"

And his reply to Usagi's comment "A pecular person."

"Yeah. That's what people tell me about you."

And we now know Gen really likes pickles.....

As I said before, another great story (well, first half of the story).

This is why Gen is my favorite! He's awesome. I love his smart-alecky comments and they way he and Usagi banter back and forth.