Usagi Yojimbo

• Title: Usagi Yojimbo #26
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Stan Sakai
• Artist: Stan Sakai

The second-half of the two-part “Crossroads” finds Miyamoto Usagi catch up to the honor-less warriors who have been attacking and robbing those on the road, and decides to take all six of them on by himself. We’ve seen Usgai beat better odds before, but he underestimates the warriors and without the timely arrival of Yukichi things might have turned out differently for our hero.

We do get a longer segment between Yukichi and Jei which teases a confrontation that never arrives. However, Jei does manage to deal with the one samurai who manages to escape Usagi’s wrath. As for a confrontation between Usagi and Jei, we don’t get one here (which I’ll admit to being a bit disappointed), although the rabbit ronin is shocked to learn what held up his cousin from arriving earlier with his aid.

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• Title: Usagi Yojimbo: Lone Goat and Kid #1
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Stan Sakai
• Artist: Stan Sakai

Recollecting the classic Usagi Yojimbo stories from the character’s first series, Miyamoto Usagi is hired by Lady Koriko in Usagi Yojimbo: Lone Goat and Kid #1 to return her recently deceased husband’s swords home from the village in which he died. Things get more complicated when Usagi discovers the samurai was murdered and his mistress, who loved him far more than his wife, has no interest in parting with the swords.

The reprinted comic is a tragic tale for the heartbroken young woman who meets the same fate as her love when she’s killed by her greedy brother who can’t ignore the reward Usagi is offering for the swords. However, he’ll face the greed of his “friends” who want a little of that reward for themselves, eventually beating him to death for it in the woods.

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• Title: Usagi Yojimbo #25
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Stan Sakai
• Artist: Stan Sakai

Attempting to avoid crowds heading to local festivals, Usagi and Yukichi split off and take a less-traveled path in the first issue of the two-part “Crossroads.” First they pass a group of unsavory characters, but without conflict. Later, they find a group of slaughtered pilgrims and, realizing what has happened, the pair go after the killers. However, when the trail runs cold and the road splits the two warriors must split up as well.

Usagi finds more destruction in the warrior’s wake in their latest victims, but Yukichi finds something quite different, but no less dangerous, in a young girl whos draws him in with her flute playing, luring the young warrior into a trap for her uncle. On the trail of six remorseless killers, has Usagi actually taken the safer path?

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• Title: Usagi Yojimbo #24
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Stan Sakai
• Artist: Stan Sakai

“Ransom” concludes as Miyamoto Usagi, Yukichi Yamamoto, and Kitsune look to rescue the kidnapped Kiyoko. The ransom trade is complicated by a few factors including Kiyoko freeing herself before her friends even arrive and the ledger that Boss Hasegawa wants in exchange for Kiyoko being stolen back by one of his own agents.

It doesn’t take long before all hell to break loose. Although our protagonists come out victorious, and Kistune and Kiyoko find a way to make a profit on the ordeal, Usagi has made a new enemy in Boss Hasegawa (but also a new friend in Aoki, the honorable samurai who accepts Usagi’s wisdom about not serving an dishonorable lord). The ronins hit the road once more, but where will their travels take them next and will Yukichi get to meet any more of Usagi’s friends?

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• Title: Usagi Yojimbo: The Dragon Bellow Conspiracy #6
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Stan Sakai
• Artist: Stan Sakai

The reprinting of the classic Usagi Yojimbo storyline “The Dragon Bellow Conspiracy” concludes here in the aftermath of the defeat of Lord Tamakuro and his planned uprising. Mostly an extended epilogue to the earlier events of the series, both Miyamoto Usagi and Gen separately say their farewells, declining service to Lord Noriyuki before returning to their lives as wandering ronin.

The rest of the issue deals with the fate of the wounded Zato-Ino who is rescued and taken to an isolated village. Although planning to move on when healed, he provides service by dispatching a gang of bandits troubling the town (in the issue’s one big action sequence) who become more violent after realizing the bounty on the town’s new resident. He loses his loyal companion in the process, but finds a new home to call his own and the chance to begin a different life.

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