Usagi Yojimbo

• Title: Usagi Yojimbo #144
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Stan Sakai
• Artist: Stan Sakai

Usagi 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]

• Title: Usagi Yojimbo #143
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Stan Sakai
• Artist: Stan Sakai

The rabbit ronin’s wanderings lead Usagi Yojimbo to a village where a local soy sauce maker is under attack by his ruthless competitors.

Usagi stops the arson set to destroy the factory but soon realizes the town’s local authorities have no interest in stopping the violence. Given that the brewer has no one else to turn to Usagi decides to stay in the town for a few days.

Sakai is known for using issues of Usagi to describe and educate young readers on various aspects of Japanese life. Here we get quite a few pages of Usagi learning the lengthy process of how soy sauce is made.

The issue may be a little light on action but there’s plenty of foreshadowing to next issue’s conclusion of this two-part tale that tells us there’s a big battle or two coming if Usagi is to save the brewer from his enemies. Worth a look.

[Dark Horse, $3.50]

• Title: Usagi Yojimbo #142
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Stan Sakai
• Artist: Stan Sakai

The rabbit ronin’s wanderings lead him to cross paths with a quartet of ice runners who he finds under attack by a gang of bandits.

After lending his help Usagi Yojimbo learns the from the remaining ice runners that they are carrying ice from the frozen mountains (in the middle of summer) for their Lord Ito who will present the ice as his gift to Lord Hijiki who will be visiting the province the following day.

Not only is the honor of the their lord at stake, but the Lord Ito has made a wager with Lord Motooka on his clan’s ability to deliver the ice, and, as Usagi knows far too well, Motooka doesn’t mind playing dirty.

Usagi offers his assistance to the remaining runners. Although he isn’t able to save their lives when they are attacked again, he is able to deliver the ice and save their clan’s honor.

Another great tale by artist and writer Stan Sakai. Worth a look.

[Dark Horse, $3.50]

• Title: Usagi Yojimbo #140
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Stan Sakai
• Artist: Stan Sakai

The latest issue of Usagi Yojimbo wraps up the two-issue murder mystery arc as Miyamoto Usagi and Inspector Ishida attempt to solve not one but two murders that occurred in the inn on the same rainy night.

The comic begins with a panel of the list of suspects for the murder of the paper merchant and the gang leader being held captive in the inn. Our pair of heroes will whittle down the list of suspects over the course of the comic. I’m not going to give away the ending for either crime, but rest assured Usagi and Ishida uncover the culprits for both crimes.

It may be light on action, but writer and artist Stan Sakai gives us yet another strong issue surrounding the travels of the rabbit ronin. But I wouldn’t expect anything less. It also includes a great stare down between Usagi and the poet Saburo’s bodyguard Benki. Best of the week.

[Dark Horse, $3.50]