- Title: Usagi Yojimbo #23
- Comic Vine: link
- Writer: Stan Sakai
- Artist: Stan Sakai
“Ransom” continues with Kiyoko‘s kidnapping by Boss Hasegawa’s warriors as Miyamoto Usagi and his cousin Yukichi Yamamoto are given until sunrise to return Boss Hasegawa’s stolen ledger if they want to see Kiyoko again. The circumstances aren’t helped with the local thief, realizing how much the book is worth, steals it from Kitsune leaving our heroes with nothing to trade for Kiyoko’s life.
Usagi Yojimbo #23 is a solid middle issue of the arc adding some drama while drawing out the trouble for our characters to be resolved within the next issue. The comic foreshadows some hope for our heroes given the one honorable member of Boss Hasegawa’s soldiers who keeps Kiyoko safe from the others, and the Boss himself, after giving Usagi his word she would be safe until sunrise. Now, if they can just find that book…
[IDW, $3.99]