Usagi Yojimbo

Usagi Yojimbo: Senso #4

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Usagi Yojimbo: Senso #4Trapped in the wreckage underneath the latest alien spacecraft to crash land in the area, Usagi Yojimbo: Senso #4 offers a few stolen moments between Usagi and Tomoe filling in some of the lonely future for the rabbit ronin should his path follow the template of events this version of events suggests.

Once again the mini-series delivers its share of action pitting Usagi and Tomoe against an entire spaceship of the octopus-like alien invaders. Thankfully the pair are able to hold their own until help arrives. However, on a larger scale their may be no help coming that can save the land from the alien technology (as I continue to wonder just how far Stan Sakai may take his War of the Worlds story arc).

In the middle of what appears to be a hopeless situation the issue offers a rather bleak picture of what’s to come. However, those with faith in Miyamoto Usagi know that the rabbit ronin has a knack for always finding a way. Worth a look.

[Dark Horse, $3.99]

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Usagi Yojimbo: Senso #3

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Usagi Yojimbo: Senso #3The six-issue mini-series continues with the battle stalled and the surviving battlefield warriors dealing with the alien squid invaders whose high-tech weapons and giant tripod robots prove nearly impossible to stop.

With Usagi warning the closest village of the oncoming danger it falls to Jotaro and Gen to lead the remaining forces in hopes of slowing down the aliens’ destruction and stopping the creation of more giant robots whose path of destruction have already begun to claim several lives.

The third issue of Usagi Yojimbo: Senso is heavy on action and features the death of a well-known character. It’s the second alien rocket, however, which crash lands right the middle of the village Usagi is attempting to evacuate that is the more immediate problem for the rabbit ronin if he has any hopes to surviving. I can’t wait to see where the future adventures of Usagi Yojimbo go from here. Worth a look.

[Dark Horse, $3.99]

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Usagi Yojimbo: Senso #2

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Usagi Yojimbo: Senso #2In the second issue of the mini-series set 20 years into the future of Usagi Yojimbo, the pair of wary warring armies attempt to deal with the unexpected arrival of an alien spaceship crash landing in the middle of the battlefield. It’s obvious from their actions, attacking both sides indiscriminately, that the squid-like aliens don’t come in peace.

The invaders’ hidden motives, technical superiority, and odd tripod constructed machines pay homage to H.G. Wells’ War of the Worlds and we see Usagi’s life has gotten no less complicated over the years as writer/artist Stan Sakai continues to tease us with hints of our hero’s past and regrets regarding his son.

We still don’t know what the aliens ultimately want, but Usagi Yojimbo: Senso #2 certainly sells them as a legitimate threat which only someone like our own rabbit ronin might be able to handle. Worth a look.

[Dark Horse, $3.99]

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Usagi Yojimbo: Senso #1

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Usagi Yojimbo: Senso #1Finally the wait is over. After a two-year absence Stan Sakai returns with a new Usagi Yojimbo story. Released in time to help celebrate the 30th anniversary of the rabbit ronin, the first issue of Usagi Yojimbo: Senso jumps 20 years into the future of the character with Usagi now serving the fully grown Lord Noriyuki whose armies battle those of the treacherous Lord Hikiji.

Filled with plenty of battlefield action, as well as the introduction of Usagi Yojimbo’s grown son Jotaro, Usagi Yojimbo: Senso #1 plays on themes of the changing warfare of the times as military inventions begin to creep onto the battlefield. It’s in the comic’s final panels, however, where things get really interesting as a rocket of unknown origin crashes in the middle of the battlefield.

I’m not sure exactly where creator Stan Sakai is taking the character with the new six-issue mini-series, but I’m thrilled that my favorite fluffy samurai is back in action once more and look forward to see where this future tale may lead him. Worth a look.

[Dark Horse, $3.99]

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Usagi Yojimbo #144

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usagi-yojimbo-144-coverUsagi Yojimbo #144 concludes the two-part storyline that began last month as the rabbit ronin helps out a soy sauce from a ruthless competitor. The second issue gives us a little more action than last month as well as a few more snippets of information for anyone who has ever been curious about the (far more complex than I had expected) process of making soy sauce.

Even the the vandalism of old man’s factory and the murder of his assistant isn’t enough to get the lazy local sheriff involved. Usagi Yojimbo takes matters into his own hands by throwing the local law in the middle of the gang determined to drive the old soy sauce maker out of business.

A good conclusion to the tale, which include some terrific panels of Usagi in action. Worth a look.

[Dark Horse, $3.50]

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