- Title: Usagi Yojimbo #164
- Comic Vine: link
- Writer: Stan Sakai
- Artist: Stan Sakai
The middle chapter of “The Mouse Trap” picks up with Usagi‘s attacker delivering the rabbit ronnin to the Black Goblin Gang where the quick intervention of Inspector Ishida and the thief Nezumi prevent a groggy Usagi from meeting an inglorious end. Although Ishida is able to save his friend, Usagi is able to overhear a bit of the underlings talk about the hidden true head of the gang, and several members are killed by our heroes, Usagi and Ishida don’t learn about the next attack of the Black Goblin Gang until it is too late.
Usagi Yojimbo #164 deepens the mystery concerning who is leading the Black Goblin Gang and what they are ultimately after. Punctuated by two action scenes in which Ishida is able to save Usagi but he and the rabbit ronin are unable to save Hatamoto Asano, there’s plenty left to be uncovered. Leading into next month’s concluding issue, the death of Hatamoto Asano is likely to have major consequences for the entire town. There’s also a mystery to be solved involving the identity of the Black Goblins’ Master (which we may have gotten a clue to in this issue), the truth about what happened to all the stolen silver, and Ishida’s continued quest to bring the thief Nezumi to justice. Worth a look.
[Dark Horse, $3.99]