- Usagi Yojimbo #149
- Comic Vine: link
- Writer: Stan Sakai
- Artist: Stan Sakai
In “The Distant Mountain” the wandering rabbit ronin comes across a samurai named Yoshi whose fellow warriors are all killed by bandits willing to kill and be killed over head-scratching prize. Even though it is obvious that Yoshi’s lord is vain, ridiculous, and not worthy of such loyalty, Usagi chooses to accompany Yoshi to make sure the samurai’s mission is completed… even if Yoshi won’t live to see its end.
At the heart of its story Usagi Yojimbo #149 is a parable about the collection of objects of questionable value by those who themselves can’t see the true value of the more precious parts of life. Miyamoto Usagi manages to complete the quest and give himself a bit of satisfaction in delivering to Lord Akagawa the rock he, and countless bandits, are willing to throw countless lives away to control and covet.
Although a somewhat sad and tragic single issue, the issue ends on an upbeat note with our hero finding some joy in keeping his promise to Yoshi even after the prize is destroyed by delivering a fraud to a pompous fool who won’t know any better. Worth a look.
[Dark Horse, $3.50]