Starred review from April 1, 2024
Dark Horse Books and creator Sakai celebrate four decades of Sakai's rabbit ronin character, Usagi Yojimbo, with a collection of the very best stories from across the history of the series. "A Mother's Love" finds an elderly woman beseeching Usagi's help in ridding her village of a gang led by her own son. In "The Artist," Usagi vows to defend a portrait artist marked for death by government officials who fear his approach to painting threatens to undermine centuries of Japanese artistic tradition. Old friends preparing to set out on disparate paths share a traditional tea ceremony in the genuinely heart wrenching "Chanoyu." The hero finds himself taking refuge from a storm alongside a warrior who believes he's been tasked by the Gods to eliminate evil in "Blade of the Gods." The plight of soldiers unable to move beyond past battles features in "The Way of the Samurai" and "Buntori," setting the stage for the tale of Usagi's return to the site of his greatest defeat in search of redemption in "Adachi." VERDICT An essential collection of intricately plotted, emotionally complex, wonderfully entertaining tales written and drawn by one of the greatest storytellers of our time.
Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
September 15, 2003
Sakai's rabbit samurai Usagi Yojimbo has been around since 1984, and this latest collection of the ongoing comic makes it easy to understand the character's longevity. Sakai has the ability to make stories instantly and universally accessible. Although the cartoony b&w art and the gimmick—anthropomorphic animal warriors adventuring in the legendary past of 17th-century Japan—would seem to be a set-up for saccharine or simplistic stories, the series has a grim edge. Death is always a possibility for Usagi. In the opening story, "Showdown," he and his rhinoceros bounty hunter friend Gen arrive in a town where two rival gangs are terrorizing the townsfolk. Of course, the pair sets out to fix things, in a sting that finds them playing each side against the other. Usagi is brave but hardly infallible—even though they defeat both bosses, Usagi and Gen end up as penniless as they started out. In "The Shrouded Moon," Usagi and Gen set out to aid a beautiful thief, a fox named Kitsune, in a dangerous mission. Despite the fantasy setting, the feudal world is scrupulously researched. Sakai's blending of words and pictures is utterly assured, and he uses his fun style to great effect. Like the best animated characters, Usagi and the rest of the cast is capable of a broad range of emotions. Blending classic storytelling, flawlessly designed art and lovingly researched period touches, Usagi Yojimbo is a true all-ages comics treat.
Starred review from December 7, 2009
The heroic but sweet-tempered samurai rabbit celebrates the 25th anniversary of his first appearance in comics with this fully painted hardcover. Yokai are the evil supernatural creatures who can invade this world on dark nights; Usagi is walking through a forest on such a night when a distraught mother begs him to find her daughter, who's been stolen by a shape-changing kitsune. He meets a variety of hostile spirits and demons as he undertakes that mission. He also encounters his enigmatic acquaintance Sasuke the Demon Queller, from whom he learns that the yokai are gathering to swarm into the human world and conquer it. It's up to the two anthropomorphized little animals to stop them. Sakai's art deftly demonstrates that comics can be simultaneously cartoony and scary, especially in a double-page spread of the Demon Queen and her hoard; moreover, the comic's design, linework, and coloring are simply lovely. Unlike the bleak cynicism of many contemporary comics, this beautifully produced little book shows how much love Sakai still has for his rabbit ronin. A 2009 Eisner Award nominee for Best Continuing Series, Usagi Yojimbo
is a genuine pleasure for readers of all ages. Ages 9–12.