Usagi Yojimbo #106 - Line of Fire Review on SBC web-site

[Steve Hubbell]

Line of Fire
Usagi Yojimbo #106
Writer: Stan Sakai
Artist: Stan Sakai
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics

Damn, why are bullies so stupid in fiction? I guess that’s like asking why water is wet, but I had to blurt out my question at the beginning of this review. In the final pages of Usagi Yojimbo #106, we are graced once again with the presence of the mysterious samurai from last issue, whose face looks as mean as John Matuszak after a root canal (Hey, it’s football season, for crying out loud!). Looking upon this determined man as he enters a tavern, a group of good-for-nothing drunkards (the “Sparrows” of the story title, as relayed by Stray Dog) look upon him and remark, “That’s a bounty hunter if I ever saw one.” From my own prior experience, drunkards are not exactly in control of their sense of self-preservation, so one of the bullies says, “I’ll take care of him,” and marches over to this scary samurai. After some typical taunts by the bully and curt replies by the samurai, the aggressor finally lays his cards on the table, “If you don’t go, we’ll have to kill you!” Then, we have the entry of the stereotypical I-don’t-want-any-trouble-in-my-place shopkeeper. So, the fight is taken outside, which becomes the five-on-one scenario we have seen so often in popular entertainment to display the fighting prowess of the one. Well, you don’t have to be a brain surgeon to figure out what happens next. Yeah, the samurai’s powerful... Whoop de doo! So, if I’m pointing out an obvious cliché, why am I giving this issue such a high mark? Because, even with generic story elements such as this, Usagi Yojimbo always contains a good stock of continuing intrigues and unique surprises to keep the story fresh. In addition, Stan Sakai supplies something that is in short supply in modern popular comics; compelling characters that continually evolve issue after issue, year after year.

Sakai instills all of his various animal characters with a richness and believability that you can’t deny, much less help reading and enjoying. One of my favorite scenes in this issue features a dream by the priest Senzo and the resulting aftermath. Sakai’s ability to enrapture readers with even the smallest story detail never fails to amaze me.

What else amazes me most about Usagi Yojimbo is the seemingly effortless artwork that conveys so much facial emotion and action simply and effectively. Don’t believe me? Check out either of the scenes that I have mentioned in this review for an example. And while you’re checking out the artwork, notice the various subplots that fill these 24 slight pages. The return of Orphanmaker, the weird retreat of Inazuma/Jei and Keiko, the smelly fertilizer hauler who is about to turn in the retreating pair: This is all here as well as (oh yeah) our hero, Usagi. This is a comic book series done right, and everyone should be reading this.

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[Andy]

Sounds like a great issue. Can't wait to get it!

[estee]

Pff....check out a real reviewer of Usagi.

Just click on the link in my sig.


Just kidding of course...the more people who read this book and tell the world how fricken great it is the better.