Usagi Yojimbo

• Title: Usagi Yojimbo #19
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Stan Sakai
• Artist: Stan Sakai

As his wanderings lead him further away from home, Miyamoto Usagi comes across a father and son catching tokage for a hermit. Curious to learn more, and helping when one of the two is injured, Usagi helps deliver their latest catch only to run into another ghost from his past.

“The Master of Hebishima” offers a creepy setting in the island of lizards and a hooded figure of mystery who invites the rabbit ronin in but soon reveals a connection between the pair (shown in flashback). He was the soldier who attempted to prevent Usagi from making off with Lord Mifune’s head. Living in shame at being unable to stop the samurai, and getting distracted by a snake, the warrior has dedicated his life to conquering his fear of snakes living on an entire island of them as fate has brought his nemesis to his door.

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• Title: Usagi Yojimbo #14
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Stan Sakai
• Artist: Stan Sakai

“The Return” concludes with Miyamoto Usagi and Kenichi fighting off a horde of misguided former Mifune supporters hoping to damage the honor of Lord Hikiji with an attack on the shogun’s agent. Usagi Yojimbo #14 offers a couple of more surprise guest-appearances as Mariko arrives with the help of her son Jotaro and Usagi’s old master Katsuichi.

There’s plenty of action in this final issue as the warriors hold off the assassination. However, discovery of the plot by Mifune supporters does Usagi no favors as he is forced to leave his home once more. Before exiting, however, he does get to spend a little time with the son no one knows is his and his former sensei, offering some joy to a trip home that was scarred in violence and death. And now, once again, the rabbit ronin’s travels continue.

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• Title: Usagi Yojimbo #13
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Stan Sakai
• Artist: Stan Sakai

Miyamoto Usagi and Kenichi‘s attempts to prevent the attack on the shogun’s agent on his way to the city runs into complications as after alarm is raised quickly after dispatching a pair of guards and neither samurai have an opportunity to free the hostages. Mariko‘s journey to find help also runs into obstacles with soldiers blocking her path.

While Mariko is able to fight through the soldiers in her path, thanks to her skill with a blade, Yayoi doesn’t have that training to fall back on and isn’t as lucky on her trek to deliver warning to the party of the shogun’s agents about the trap they are walking into which will doom the village. The best laid plans…

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