Thoughts on Book 23: Bridge of Tears (Spoilers Ahead)

[Ben]

I love this book, and not only because it's a good, thick volume. There's plenty of rich characters in here, among them Kin and Shizukiri. You get the feeling that these two might have turned out for the better in another life, but a lifetime of desperate circumstances and harsh choices turned them into monsters - a fate that could have easily befallen Usagi as well, if it wasn't for his circle of friends.

Vol. 23 contains one of the funniest scenes in UY history (Usagi's blank expression at the end of "Boss Hamanaka's Fortune" kills me every time) and also one of the most depressing (Shizukiri's story is probably the gloomiest tale Stan has ever written). And in terms of pure action, Sakai-san also delivers with a knock-down drag-out duel between the Gen/Stray Dog tag-team and Jeizuma.

Now, about Mayumi. I honestly prefer the ending Stan ultimately chose for her. After so many unhappy goings-on in this book, at least Mayumi caught a break - relatively speaking.

[Deathstroke]

I liked the stories of course, but like I wrote about when the story was first published, I can't see how after giving his word to Mayumi that Usagi would leave her.

He may have come back, but his original intention was to leave her AFTER giving his word.