- Title: Usagi Yojimbo #19
- Comic Vine: link
- Writer: Stan Sakai
- Artist: Stan Sakai
As his wanderings lead him further away from home, Miyamoto Usagi comes across a father and son catching tokage for a hermit. Curious to learn more, and helping when one of the two is injured, Usagi helps deliver their latest catch only to run into another ghost from his past.
“The Master of Hebishima” offers a creepy setting in the island of lizards and a hooded figure of mystery who invites the rabbit ronin in but soon reveals a connection between the pair (shown in flashback). He was the soldier who attempted to prevent Usagi from making off with Lord Mifune’s head. Living in shame at being unable to stop the samurai, and getting distracted by a snake, the warrior has dedicated his life to conquering his fear of snakes living on an entire island of them as fate has brought his nemesis to his door.
After some longer arcs it’s good to have another single issue tale of our hero still fighting demons obsessed with, and even driven mad by, events from the past.
[IDW, $3.99]