Usagi Yojimbo

• 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]

• Title: Usagi Yojimbo #139
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Stan Sakai
• Artist: Stan Sakai

Usagi‘s wanderings lead him to cross paths with an old friend when he comes upon Inspector Ishida fending off an attack by an entire band of ruffians.

After helping his old friend dispatch the last of the killers Uasgi learns Ishida is transporting a prisoner, one of two brothers who lead this nefarious band, to justice. Usagi agrees to accompany him and the two warriors and their prisoner set off for their destination only to be waylaid by the weather when they must make a stop at an inn.

It’s here Ishida and Usagi run into an assortment of characters including the inn keeper, who despite closing the establishment can’t turn a blind eye to weary travelers in bad weather, a pompous aristocrat who fancies himself a poet and his bodyguard, and a humble paper dealer and his family.

The storm outside, the prisoner, and the odd mix of personalities under one roof is a good set-up for a murder mystery. I won’t tell you who is killed, or why, but I will say I’m definitely looking forward to picking up the next issue.

[Dark Horse, $3.50]