Usagi Yojimbo #129
- Posted by Johanna on July 5, 2010 at 5:05 pm
- Category: Indy Comic Reviews
- CREDITS: by Stan Sakai
- PUBLISHER: Dark Horse Comics; $3.50 US
It’s an unfortunate problem for a high-quality, long-running comic series — readers start taking it for granted. It’s always there, and it’s easy to overlook when chasing the latest buzz book or crazy crossover. For example, I’d forgotten how enjoyable — and well-done — these tales of a samurai rabbit are.
Usagi Yojimbo #129 opens with Usagi entering a town. His reputation clearly proceeds him, as villagers react to him, although he hadn’t been there before. It seems another samurai, already in place, bears a grudge and has been looking for Usagi.
The anticipation creates palpable suspense. I had to stop myself from reading too quickly to find out what was going to happen, when and how the two would finally encounter each other. I didn’t want to rush through, because I would deprive myself of enjoying the lovely art. Sakai makes all the animal heads invisible, turning the cast from cartoons into characters, with their own motivations and reactions. And the twists were unexpected — whenever I thought I knew what would happen, Sakai went a bit of a different way. It’s beautiful work, a simple, classic story told well. (The publisher provided an online review copy.)
July 5, 2010 at 6:47 PM
It’s very disappointing that Dark Horse is letting this series get *so* far behind on collections. The last one is v23 which collects through #102. That’s just agonizingly glacial.
July 5, 2010 at 7:40 PM
I have never read any of this, I want to though. Just did a google and see some of the older trades/collections are out of print. Do see that Fantagraphics has a sort of Omnibus coming out in October though. Hmm…
July 5, 2010 at 8:25 PM
I can see why this would be a difficult series to keep in collection — there aren’t a lot of distinct storyline points, I think, and it’s easy to mistake one for another.
July 6, 2010 at 11:43 AM
I believe all of the Usagi trades are now in print again. Darkhorse and Fantagraphics have both come out with new print runs of their books.
July 7, 2010 at 5:30 PM
BTW: what is the current word on how fixed that new October date is for the Fantagraphics Omnibus? After all, that thing was first solicited in June 2009 and has been delayed ever since, IIRC. Still have my preorder running, though.
July 8, 2010 at 1:38 PM
Amazon’s saying October 12.
July 8, 2010 at 11:23 PM
Is this a stand-alone issue?
July 9, 2010 at 6:35 AM
Yes, #129 is a single story, although I think the character in it has appeared before.
September 6, 2010 at 12:51 PM
[...] presentation, while well-deserved, doesn’t match the mood I want while reading it. I prefer the floppies. [...]
March 19, 2011 at 9:51 AM
[...] the literal translation, “Bunny” was cute, and “Usagi” reminds me of the sword-swinging [...]
August 23, 2011 at 7:38 AM
[...] and Stan Sakai. I have to confess I only know the two men by name. I’ve not read any Bone or Usagi Yojimbo. I will be rectifying that oversight. It was obvious they had known each other for several years. [...]