Usagi Yojimbo 4 Estaciones

Usagi Yojimbo [兎用心棒] #11

by Stan Sakai

Usagi Yojimbo es una serie creada en 1984 por Stan Sakai, ganador del premio Eisner, que narra las aventuras de Miyamoto Usagi, un conejo samurái que, tras la muerte de su señor, decide emprender un viaje de aprendizaje como ronin. . Está influenciada por obras como Lobo Solitario y su cachorro y el cine de samuráis de Akira Kurosawa. La obra nos sitúa en un medievo japonés (siglo XVII) poblado de animales antropomórficos. Gatos, perros, rinocerontes, conejos, cerdos, zorros o serpientes, son los protagonistas de esta serie donde la cultura japonesa medieval queda plasmada de manera impecable con precisión y sencillez.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Manga, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Japan

200 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Stan Sakai (Japanese: 坂井 スタンSakai Sutan; born May 25, 1953) is an artist who became known as an Eisner Award-winning comic book originator.

Born in Kyoto, Sakai grew up in Hawaii and studied fine arts at the University of Hawaii. He later attended the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. He and his wife, Sharon, presently reside and work in Pasadena.

He began his career by lettering comic books (notably Groo the Wanderer by Sergio Aragonés and Mark Evanier) and became famous with the production of Usagi Yojimbo, the epic saga of Miyamoto Usagi, a samurai rabbit living in late-sixteenth and early-seventeenth-century Japan. First published in 1984, the comic continues to this day, with Sakai as the lone author and nearly-sole artist (Tom Luth serves as the main colorist on the series, and Sergio Aragonés has made two small contributions to the series: the story "Broken Ritual" is based on an idea by Aragonés, and he served as a guest inker for the black and white version of the story "Return to Adachi Plain" that is featured in the Volume 11 trade paper-back edition of Usagi Yojimbo). He also made a futuristic spin-off series Space Usagi. His favorite movie is Satomi Hakkenden (1959).

Reviews

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Samurai Miyamoto Usagi wanders the Japanese countryside foiling bandits and thieves, getting embroiled in the local politics to right wrongs. Usagi Yojimbo is a master class on how to use anthropomorphic characters to tell a serious historical drama.

[Madhurabharatula Pranav Rohit Kasinath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Usagi Yojimbo, on the surface is a simple concept. Anthropomorphic animals in 16th century Edo Japan - with the narrative centering around a "Long Eared Samurai", a Rabbit - the eponymous Usagi of the title. Usagi,literally means Rabbit in Japanese and Yojimbo refers to "Bodyguard". Rabbit Bodyguard. It mixes several references to the Samurai films of Kurosawa with a deliberate homage to the great samurai swordsman Miyamoto Musashi while treading its own unique path. There really isn't another comic like it on the stands and Sakai has been writing, plotting and drawing this gem for the past twenty five years or more - sticking to what must seem like a cutthroat monthly schedule. He makes it all look so easy which just proves - it probably isn't.

Usagi is a Ronin - a masterless Samurai. He wanders the land on a Warriors Pilgrimage, honing his mind and his sword. A near master swordsman, Usagi practices a unique fighting style. His gentle demeanor, humble bearing and diminutive frame often leads his adversaries to underestimate him - to their detriment.

The Kill Bill films of Tarantino center around the bloodshed unleashed by Samurai swords in the hands of a skilled wielder. The aesthetization of violence is a common theme with Tarantino and he repeatedly uses Japanese samurai motifs over the course of the two Kill Bill films. I enjoyed those films but they led me to expect the same within the pages of Usagi Yojimbo. The animal characters are mostly cute. I expected decapitated bunny heads and chopped feline limbs. Stories of the seamier side of human nature and war. Sakai delivers none of this; at-least, not in the way you would expect. The violence in Usagi Yojimbo is always tinged with regret. Usagi takes no pleasure in it, tries to avoid killing and maiming as much as possible and always resorts to defense. However, once you see the click of the sword, with the picture of Usagi flicking the blade from the scabbard it is almost certain that blood will be shed.

The fight sequences are brilliant. Sakai takes his time, worrying less about space and more about the deliberate choreography of death. People are stabbed, decapitated and killed. Most of it is left up to your imagination with almost no blood. The graphics of the death continue to toe the line between humor and morbidity - the dead lie with their tongues lolling out and creative skulls paraphrasing the end of their appearance in the comic. It makes for excellent reading - the violence isn't cool, it isn't desirable and it almost always ends in tragedy for some character. This is age appropriate violence!

A centerpiece to the entire saga and one of the major plot motivators is Bushido - the unrelenting and unbending code of the Samurai. It is a harsh discipline, focusing more on the tenets laid down by it than any sense of morality. There are several instances in the story where a common question asked is if a samurai retainer who serves an evil/corrupt lord is justified in rebelling against him. The answer is invariably no. No matter how evil/corrupt and insane your lord may be, no matter what criminal activities he may indulge in, no matter how depraved his tastes it is the duty of the retainer to follow him and remain Honorable. The concept of good and evil and self righteousness is almost done away with. Usagi is our hero just because he has the good fortune to have served under Lord Mifune, a great man just prior to his death in the Battle of Adachigahara. He seems to recognize this fact and I think this influences his approach to almost all his antagonists. Those who serve an evil lord win more respect from him than the evil lords themselves.

Sakai, through his focus on the laws of Bushido manages to evoke an atmosphere of rigidity and sacrifice that makes the book quite unique at times. When Usagi's sweetheart is married off to someone else he fails to put an end to the wedding due to his loyalty to his lord - his duty forbids him from going away. The duty of a Samurai's wife is to her husband, this prevents his love Mariko from ever being with him. Honour and duty are cages within which our characters live their life. It is a harsh law that seems to hurt much more than helps but it is his adherence to this discipline that sees Usagi through his many encounters. He is unable to avoid direct challenges to a duel as a result - he must kill, albeit with regret, if he is to regain his honor. Usagi isn't a rebel. He doesn't seek to reform or buck the system. When a peasant begs to hold on to the swords of her lover, a samurai he is quite categorical about the right thing to do - the sword is the soul of a Samurai and doesn't belong with a peasant. In another episode he tells a peasant's son that there is no hope for him to ever become a Samurai. Any historical novel seeks to impose the character of a man of our times on someone dead years ago. Stan Sakai eschews this approach by depicting a man (rabbit??!) of his time in Usagi and making him a truly sympathetic character.

This focus on honour and Bushido is not the only layer to this comic. There are several more. History lessens on the culture of Japan are interwoven into the narrative - be it pot making, kite making or the fashioning of a Samurai blade. An entire episode dedicated to seaweed farming was a highlight of the series and the Grasscutter arc elaborates on the major dieties of Japanese culture. This is a meticulously researched comic that isnt heavy handed with the historical details. It mixes humor, history, culture and pathos to make a wonderfully enjoyable comic.

Rather than speaking about the artwork in the peripheral fashion I have employed so far I think I ought to come out and say it - the artwork is fascinating. It uses simple lines and expression to convey the message. At first glance it seems simplistic but as I trace my eyes over the artwork a wealth of detail leaps out. The grass bends gently with the breeze. The folds of Usagi's kimono float lazily around him as he jumps into the air. The Sword strokes are clear, easy to follow with the use of masterfully placed after images. Sakai is a master of the quiet panel. Several pages hold only movement, expression and silence, lending a wonderful quietude to the comic until a brutal explosion of action breaks the silence. Quiet panels fused with a silhouette are even more melancholy - it forms a space in which the contemplation of the character within the panel tends to wash over the reader himself. The artwork isn't simple. A lifetime of garish coloring and the bright but shallow palette of superhero comics seems to have robbed me of what little sense I possess. The black and white lines in Usagi are pieces of art I want to revisit forever.

Like most successful comics, Usagi Yojimbo doesn't succeed through the strengths of the main character alone. Usagi has a wealth of peripheral friends and enemies who recur throughout the various stories. These plot points keep diverging and melding together seamlessly over the course of the volumes I have read. I am still about halfway through the entire run but so far the side characters are vibrant, well sketched and interesting. Gen, the bounty hunter, the crime solving Inspecter Ishida, the ex samurai turned priest Sanshobo. The women in Usagi's life are a fun bunch - his lost loves Mariko and Kinuko, his comrade in arms Tomoe and his antagonist/friend Chizu. Add to this his lion sensei - Katsuichi, his frenemy Kenichi and a pet lizard Spot, not to mention the blind swordspig Zato Ino, Sakai has amassed a wealth of characters who ought to see him drawing Usagi comics well into hist nineties.

Usagi Yojimbo is to superhero comics what a glass of single malt is to spurious liquor. It is the very pinnacle of comic book art. I agree with an another reviewer who states that in the twenty five years he has been following Usagi, Sakai has yet to draw a single bad issue. I am not yet through the entire run and I must agree - the first issues are great though Sakai is still finding is feet. Seven issues in and you will be hooked till the end. This is an excellent comic, worth reading and proof that in the right hands the comic book has a significant advantage over the prose form. It should probably be the introduction to the world of comics - and I hope that those of you who havent yet started reading comics will avoid wading through a lot of garbage like i had to and start with Usagi Yojimbo.

Believe me, its worth it.

(5 on 5 stars)

[Václav · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4 z 5 za dvě stě stran dalších skvělých Usagiho dobrodružství)
Usagi Yojimbo, to je taková malá závislost. Vždycky když knížku odložím tak už průběžně myslím na to, až v ní zase budu pokračovat. Roční období subjektivně nebylo tak dobré jak předchozí Mezi životem a smrtí, ale i tak jsem si ho užil. Mám rád, když Stan řetězí krátké příběhy, které mají vazbu ideálně ještě v té samé knize. V případě Ročních období tomu tak moc není. Příběhů je dost, ale přímou návaznost (dějem , postavami či důsledky) jich má jen pár. Ostatní jsou vzpomínky nebo samostatné epizody, na které se možná naváže či odkáže někdy jindy. Proto snad jsem si to neužil tak jako předchozí knihu - nebyl tam konstantně silný drive. Ale i to není ke škodě. Kromě přímých inspirací v 47 Rónin či v Lone Wolf & Cub tu máme i několik krátkých příběhů, které jsou skoro jako zenové bajky, a to mám na Usagim také rád, když se Stanovi podaří propašovat do příběhů Japonskou poetiku a jistou meditativnost. Každopádně jako další mě čeká jedeno z nejoceňovanějších Usagiho dobrodružství, Grasscutter aneb "Ostří trav" (tak oceňované, že má i vlastní sebranou limited edici) a já už se zase nemůžu dočkat.

[Dustin (dragonarmybooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

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Miyamoto Usagi's story continues with Seasons, a collection of issues #7-12 of the Dark Horse Comics run. This entry is a lot of setup for what's to come. It's around here that Sakai is really laying the foundation for major narrative arcs. We have a lot of new character introductions, a new conspiracy that rivals the Dragon Bellow Conspiracy, and a few flashback stories. The highlight story, for me, was The Patience of a Spider which tells the story of a general turned farmer in order to hide from his enemies. When the day comes to enact his revenge, he has to decide between peace or retribution. Wonderful story.

There was one fully-colored story included in this volume. I hated it. I mean, the story was fine and all, but the coloring threw me off completely. It's odd, because when I first started reading Usagi Yojimbo, I wanted the comics to be colorized. But now, 11 volumes in, I am completely content with the black-and-white nature of the series. The high-level artwork that Sakai continues to put out issue and issue is truly remarkable and doesn't need coloring to make it any better.

If you are a fan of graphic novels and are sleeping on Usagi Yojimbo, I apologize. You are truly missing out.

[Cale · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume is a lot of setup, introducing characters and plotlines that will pay off in future volumes, while seeming fairly disconnected here. That's not a complaint - many are still strong stories (A Promise in the Snow is a favorite, using a familiar trope very well), and provide additional insights into Usagi and other characters. And some of the stories show of Usagi's creativity as well as his fighting abilities. I will say this book leans a bit more on the supernatural than much of the series has in the past. But all told, it's a good collection that helps build out further the world of Usagi. But most of its pay off is in the next volume, so if you're reading this, make sure to pick up the next one ASAP.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Top material once again, this time taking a 4* cause of the introduction of too many a character and equal loose ends. I know he'll implement them later but it got somewhat stuffy.

[Drew Canole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of really great stories here, but they all seem like repetitive side-quests and I'm losing the thread of what the series is about. I don't feel especially compelled to jump into the next story after finishing one.

[Bill Coffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a cumulative review of the 35 volumes of collected Usagi Yojimbo stories that have been published to date. They span a 37-year history, from the first published Usagi story in Albedo Anthropomorphic #2, across the first seven volumes published by Fantagraphics, across the next 24 volumes published by Dark Horse, and finally across the most recent three volumes published by IDW, bringing us to Usagi Yojimbo v35: Homecoming, published in 2021. This review does not include the volumes Space Usagi, Usagi Yojimbo: Yokai, Usagi Yojimbo: Senso, Usagi Yojimbo/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Complete Collection, or Chibi Usagi: Attack of the Heebie Chibis.

In a land very much like Japan, in a time very much like the early days of the Tokugawa Shogunate, when legions of samurai suddenly found themselves out of work in a war-torn land trying to get back to normal, a masterless samurai - a ronin - named Usagi Yojimbo walks the path of a student-warrior. He goes wherever fate takes him, living by his honor, his swordsmanship and by the grace of the friends he makes along the way. On his endless adventures, Usagi confronts wicked bandits, cruel tyrants, sinister assassins, and dire supernatural fiends. He often encounters humble folk plying their trade in an often cruel and harsh world (and along the way, learns a bit about their work, like brewing sake or weaving tatami mats).

Along his way, he builds a vast cast of friends, allies and rivals, including the bounty hunger Gen, fellow samurai )and love interest) Tomoe, the ninja Chizu, the third Kitsune, the noble lord Noriyuki, the stalwart Inspector Ishida, and of course, Usagi’s own son (and chip off the old block), Jotaro. And just as well, he builds no small list of enemies, including the dire Lord Hikiji (the power-hungry lord who is the very reason why Usagi no longer has a master), the Neko and Komori ninja clans, the Koroshi league of assassins, and the demonic ronin Jei. Amid all this, Usagi strives to uphold the warrior ideals of bushido and find a sense of enlightenment on his journey.

The stories are often funny, exciting, smart, sharp, tight, and occasionally touched with tragedy. They offer an informed look at medieval Japan, and pay no small number of homages to all kinds of cultural references both ancient and modern, as a reflect of Sakai’s own journey to connect with his personal heritage and honor it with his stories. They are simultaneously suitable for adults and kids alike - despite all of the carnage, Sakai never descends into gruesome detail, and yet, the many scenes of battle never seem so sanitized that they lost their gravity.

The artwork is distinct and excellent. Sakai’s is a master of sharp lifework (as well as lettering), and since he writes, pencils, inks and letters every issue solo, there is a uniformity and consistency to Usagi Yojimbo that you just don’t find in many other comics or cartoons. Until the last few volumes, it is all B&W, but Sakai’s sense of depth as well as his supremely skilled panel composition, pulls you in so deeply that you forget if it’s in color or not. You are under Usagi’s spell from the first page, and along for the ride, however long it goes.

To get an idea of the length, breadth and depth of how beloved an impactful Stan Sakai’s Usagi Yojimbo series has been, look no further than the introductions to each of the collected volumes published to date. There you will find a dazzling array of some of the finest talents in modern cartooning, who have a seemingly endless variety of ways to say how much they love Usagi Yojimbo, how impactful it has been on their own careers, and how great Stan Sakai has been himself as a goodwill ambassador for both cartooning as well as of the Japanese culture he so masterfully serves throughout his stories.

For those who have not yet enjoyed these stories for the first time, a wonderful journey awaits you. Usagi Yojimbo was created during those days in the 80s when anthropomorphic martial arts characters were all the rage. And yet, Usagi Yojimbo stood apart almost immediately. He might have been a rabbit ronin in a world of talking, walking animals, but he never seemed to be drafting the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles or trying to comment on the martial-art zoo comic trend. From the beginning, Usagi Yojimbo, like its titular character, was determined to walk its own path, to be the best it could be, and to celebrate the things in life that are worth celebrating: devotion to one’s craft, honoring one’s family, upholding one’s obligations, serving one’s highest aspirations, accepting one’s limitations, and acknowledging one’s flaws.

The stories are largely episodic varying in length from just a few pages, to an entire collection. They often are self-contained, but just as often reference slowly building meta plots, or serve an entire, novel-length story on their own. Everything is delicately interconnected, and yet, without such a heavy continuity that one can not simply pick up any of these volumes and begin reading without skipping a beat. Such is this series, endlessly accessible and friendly to beginners, and endlessly rewarding to long-time fans for whom earned narrative developments deliver terrific dividends.

As with any series of this length, some moments in it won’t land as well with the reader as others. But there just are not that many lows with this - if you appreciate what Sakai is doing here, you’re likely to enjoy pretty much all of it. There are some volumes that really stand out, largely because they tell the biggest and most epic stories (v04: The Dragon Bellows Conspiracy, v12: Grasscutter, v15: Grasscutter II - Journey to Astuta Shrine, v17: Duel at Kitanoji, v19: Fathers and Sons, v28: Red Scorpion, v32: The Hidden, and v35:Homecoming all come to mind), but really, the entire catalog of worth enjoying on equal terms. It’s saying something indeed that the most recent volume of Usagi Yojimbo tells one of the most compelling and moving stories of the entire series. Some edges dull over time, but as a storyteller, Stan Sakai’s edge never does.

Usagi Yojimbo has been hailed as one of the greatest independent comics ever. And it is. But it is more than that. It is one of the greatest comics, period. Read every volume. You will be glad that you did.

[Jeremy Hornik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great storytelling, and beautiful detail.

[Joseph R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another set of medieval adventure for the rabbit ronin...

The Withered Field--Usagi travels to a dojo to try his skill against another martial arts school. Nakamura Koji is already there and working his way through the best students. The master is absent on a trip but the guy left in charge does not want some wandering samurai (either Usagi or Koji) to show up the school. When Koji does, it sets some more conflicts in motion. The story is interesting and leaves on a cliffhanger that supposed to be resolved in a year when Koji faces the teacher who bested him years ago...Usagi's teacher. The story is exciting and has good twists and action.

A Promise in the Snow--Usagi takes a "shortcut" through a mountain pass in the winter recommended by his friend Gen (maybe friend should be in quotes too?). He comes upon a merchant being attacked by bandits. The merchant is injured in the fight. Usagi tries to heal him. The merchants daughter comes forward and begs him to get her father back to their town, half a day's walk away. Usagi is unsure if the old guy will survive but he promises, not knowing the hardships ahead. It's a touching story with an interesting twist at the end.

The Conspiracy of Eight--Usagi is sheltering in a temple when a samurai comes to the gate. He is wounded and fleeing from pursuers. They take him in and discover a message on him. A group of eight lords plan to overthrow the Shogun and restore the Emperor. Usagi and the temple priest debate what to do, especially since the samurai was from a different clan than any of the signatories. The messenger belongs to Lord Hikiji, an old enemy of Usagi's. They are unsure of their plan until the temple is attacked. Usagi and the priest (who was formerly in the military) work together to defeat seemingly overwhelming odds. The story is good and adds to future storylines.

Snakes and Blossoms--Usagi tells some tales to the temple priest. One tale is of Usagi and Gen using a mountain pass shortcut that turns out to be much more treacherous than either imagined. The other tale is from Usagi's childhood, training with his master, and learning about courage and other virtues from trees. Both tales are charming though they seem like filler.

Return to Adachi Plain--Usagi visits the battlefield where his lord was defeated in battle by treachery, forcing the rabbit to go ronin. It's a bitter memory but not much of a story.

The Crossing--A minstrel is entertaining the crew and passengers on a ship when he accidentally bumps into a samurai. The enraged samurai threatens to kill the clumsy minstrel. A defender rises up from the depths of the ship but it is Jei, an old foe of Usagi's who is traveling to get revenge. On the ship he deals out his own brand of justice in a haunting tale that does not bode well for Usagi.

The Patience of the Spider--A prestigious general has to flee when his lord is defeated in battle. He hides in a simple farm house and spends his time blending in to his surroundings while an underling goes to the capital to find out when the new lord will be vulnerable to overthrow. With the patience of the spider, the general does too good a job of blending in and realizes, when the time comes, that he has a hard to choice to make--going back to a warlord's life or staying with the new family he has built.

The Lord of the Owls--Usagi meets the eponymous Lord of Owls, a deadly samurai who can see death in other people's faces or eyes. He is quite willing to be the cause of those deaths though he leaves Usagi with a warning that one of them will kill the other. Usagi naturally does not want harm to come to either, but he is left pondering what will come in the future.

The First Tenet--Neko Ninja Clan lieutenant Kagemaru delivers the conspiracy letter to one of Lord Hikiji's underlings. The underling is persuaded to pass the info on to Hikiji and to denounce Chizu, the head of the clan who is plotting her own ends. Kagemaru ingratiates himself well with the underling, using betrayal at every turn to make himself look better.

The Obakeneko of the Geishu Clan--Usagi remembers a horrifying night he spent in a house haunted by an evil spirit. The tale is creepy enough but the light-hearted ending leaves things okay.

Green Persimmon--Usagi comes upon a messenger who is dying. He takes a porcelain green persimmon from him. The messenger insists that it be delivered to Lord Noriyuki of the Geishu Province. Usagi is honored-bound by the dying man's wish but there is a lot of fighting before he can make it to safety. The puzzle of the porcelain's importance is interesting and contributes to the ongoing political intrigues that are tangential to Usagi's adventures.

This is another fun volume of adventures. They seem to be building to something bigger in a future story.

Recommended, highly for Usagi fans.

[Ottery Chocolat · Rating 4 out of 5]

My rating is a 4.5.

Usagi Yojimbo is a modern classic of comic book literature. Sadly, its anthropomorphic animals, and black and white comic style prove to be a ridiculous hindrance to many readers who are prejudiced against these kinds of stories. It is, however, their loss and does nothing to diminish our pleasure of the brilliance of these stories and art.

To begin with, Seasons is much like any Usagi Yojimbo book. A series of self-contained stories about the wandering adventures of our masterless samurai rabbit. Fans of Usagi know you can pick up the books in any order and you are not likely to spoil yourself too much as to the adventures of the rabbit. Time is fluid in these books, sometimes the author focuses on Usagi's tales in the present of the story, other times we get glimpses into Usagi's youth training under his master, or in the battle that led to his becoming a ronin. Other times, you don't even get Usagi as a protagonist in the story, simply a guest in a panel or two of his own book, and sometimes not at all. You get immersed in the history and culture of Japan. Stan Sakai is renowned for his in-depth research into Japanese history and culture which adds a level of authenticity to his stories that is amazing. Some of the stories are supernatural in nature, dealing with the monsters and the stories of Japanese folklore. Others are straight up slice of life narratives of a wandering samurai's life.

The artwork is phenomenal. In a very stylized way, Stan Sakai draws in a style so uniquely his own his stories of a feudal "furry" Japan. No one in all of comicdom draws like Stan Sakai. This is either a blessing or a curse, again, depending on a reader's reaction to his art. For myself, I can't speak enough about it. It is uniquely his own, beautiful, and so eloquent. Reading UY in order, you can see the evolution of the artist, from a rather more stiff and rigid style to the more fluid cinematic approach that you find in the art in this book. Which brings us to the paneling and the stylization of the art. The way the stories are told are mostly simple. Nothing too dramatic in the way of paneling. It isn't often that Sakai employs full page spreads or odd looking panels. Something so ridiculously prevalent in superhero comics today. The panels are square or rectangular as needed and they follow a specific order that's easy for anyone to follow. Sakai divests himself of the gimmickry of attempting post-modernist paneling or storyflow for a more classical and straightforward approach to storytelling. In a very simple and tried and true way he tells his stories, saving the drama for the actual events happening in the panels. There within the four square lines around a panel can be found the masters true artistry. Sakai has a keen eye for showing you exactly what you need to see. Giving the viewer no more or less than they need to understand the action, and imbuing every line that creates his characters and backgrounds with such fluidity and movement that it's the closest comic that I have ever seen to a movie. Which is why it's so head-scratchingly obscene that UY has not been adapted into it's own feature animated film. We all know about the cameo in TMNT's cartoon, and the failure of Space Usagi, but this is UY.

I am a great fan of black and white comics, much as I am a fan of color comics. I believe the lack or abundance of color in a comic can irrevocably alter the story much the way words in a story do the same. In the adept hands of a master storyteller you can tell a tale brilliantly with or without color or words. Something Stan Sakai has done with Usagi stories in his long and varied career.

Included in this volume are stories about revenge, honor, conspiracies against the shogunate. There are ghosts stories, about both benevolent ghosts, and Obakeneko. Usagi remembers his childhood days with Katsuichi-sensei (yes, Usagi as a young bunny), and the life-changing battle at Adachi Plain. A lot happens in short simple stories, and you can learn a lot about Usagi, whether through his interaction with his friends the bounty hunter Gen, Tomoe the female samurai, or Lord Noriyuki. Likewise, his enemies the Neko Ninja Clan, Lord Hebi or the demon Jei. There is a lot here to learn, read and see, which will only whet your appetite for more adventures of Usagi. I cannot recommend this book enough. Don't just check it out of your library, buy it. It's a modern masterpiece suitable for an audience of any age.

[Unseen Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed as part of my Throwback Thursday series, where I republish old reviews, review books I have read before or review older books I have only just had a chance to read.

It has been a while since I have done a Usagi Yojimbo Throwback Thursday, but after doing a Waiting on Wednesday for the next upcoming volume in this epic series, Homecoming, I was in a Usagi mood and decided to write something extra. As a result, I check out the 11th Usagi Yojimbo volume by the legendary Stan Sakai, Seasons.

Seasons is a fantastic and spectacular entry in the series that presents the reader with a series of great Usagi Yojimbo adventures that follow the rabbit ronin Miyamoto Usagi as he traverses his version of feudal Japan during the various seasons of the year. This is a key entry in the series as it sets up a number of storylines for the next several volumes while also introducing some great new characters. Needless to say, I had an incredible time reading this volume of the series and I have a lot of love for a number of the stories contained within it. Seasons contains issues #7-12 of the Dark Horse Comics run on the Usagi Yojimbo series, as well as stories taken from the Usagi Yojimbo Colour Special. This results in 11 separate stories throughout the volume, made up of single-issue entries and a couple of shorter tales, all of which contain an impressive and deeply enjoyable story with beautiful artwork.

To see the full review, click on the link below:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2021/01/22/...

For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/

[Carlos B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gracias a la biblioteca pública me he acercado a la obra de Stan Sakai. Penśe que iba a ser parecido a Blacksad pero el universo de Usagi es algo más infantil, hay unos bichejos que parecen dinosaurios, y el dibujo no está tan cuidado. De hecho creo que las escenas de acción no están muy logradas.

Este tomo es una colección de mini relatos que me ha parecido una buena introducción al mundo de Usagi Yojimbo. Me han gustado muchos de los relatos, que tienen argumentos de las narraciones típicas del mundo japonés como los espíritus buenos, yokais y traiciones entres los daimyos.

[Timothy Pitkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice collection of stories with them all being ok and while their is not connecting theme or story they still do show some interesting parts of Usagi's life like him looking back at the battle where he lost his master, my favorite story is A Promise in the Snow as it is a very simple story with a twist I think most people can see but it is well done and manages to be both tragic but sweet at the same time.

[Doug Duncan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really solid outing for this series. I really enjoy the conspiracy of eight chapter both on its own, but also for the setup it does for the next book. This also introduces one of my favorite side characters though he has yet to interact with anyone from the main story. Solid enjoyable book on the whole.

[Storm Bookwyrm · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say about Usagi Yojimbo at this point but it's a fabulous comic? This volume does stand out however, in having an opponent that's actually Usagi's better in combat! You don't see that too often!

[Radynka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nebyl tu žádný extra silný příběh. Navíc tu byl Jei, kterýho nesnáším. 3,5*

[Stergios · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Every story is well written, meaningful with great flow. I was never that much into samurai and ninjas etc. but Stan Sakai is a great storyteller. Can't recommend it enough.

[Miquel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Se me olvido que las historias de Usagi van plantando semillas que germinan en tomos posteriores. Aqui tenemos el futuro duelo en kitanoji y personajes importantes de Segadora. En definitiva en esta relectura de verano empezaré por el principio.

Estaciones tiene una de las portadas más bonitas de la saga, en el encontramos muchas historias de fantasmas, conspiraciones, humor y los personajes carismáticos de siempre: Gen, Tomoe, Jei....

[David Wagner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perfectly average collection with only a few actualy exciting moments and twists. Delivers that unique Usagi feeling, but fails to produce any excitement.

[Rick Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Volume 11 of Usagi Yojimbo - "Seasons" - collects issues #7-12 of the Dark Horse series along with the color one-shot, "Green Persimmon".

The volume opens with "Return to Adachi Plain" which recaps the events of the infamous Battle of Adachigahara and shows off how Usagi got his distintive scar. The story is inked by the great Sergio Aragones which always makes for a special collaboration. The next story is "The Withered Field" which features legendary swordsman Nakamura Koji who seeks out a worthy challenger. Koji and Usagi bond over their shared "warrior pilgrimage" path in life. Koji reveals to Usagi that in his youth he had been bested by a warrior using an unorthodox fighting style, and seeks to face this opponent once again to test his developed skills.

"A Promise in the Snow" is a nifty little ghost story with a poignant touch to it. "The Conspiracy of Eight" is the return of Chizu who is implicated in a complex conspiracy involving several rebel lords and Lord Hikiji. The story unfolds simple enough, but Sakai does a nice job adding intricacy to the events unfolding.

"Snakes and Blossoms" and "The Courage of the Plum" features the return of characters like Gen and Sanshobo. "The Crossing" is a short little Jei focused story, which shows him inching ever closer to his next rematch with Usagi. "The Patience of the Spider" is a nice little non-Usagi centered story that looks into themes of nonviolence and the cost of vengeance, but does a cool job tying into the current events surrounding Lord Noriyuki's ascension.

"The Lord of Owls" introduces an intruiging new character to the Usagi mythos. "The First Tenet" features yet another mutiny brewing in the Neko ninja clan, with Chizu's chunin, Kagemaru, leading the treachery. Lord Hebi makes his long awaited return with this volume, and he shows off just how intimidating a villain he can be. "The Obakeneko of the Geishu Clan" is another spooky little tale that also features Tomoe Ame, though I personally found this to be the weakest story of the lot.

The one-shot "Green Persimmon" features the return of Tom Luth as colorist on interiors (who previously had colored the Mirage era issues) and the colors look sharper than ever. The story involves another conspiracy with Hikiji involved, and is only narrowly thwarted by Usagi.

Overall, this continues to be such a highly bingeable read and a masterful showcase of how storytelling should be done for a long serialized comic series.

[Brian DiMattia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good example of the series, and important to the mythology of Miyamoto Usagi's life and travels as it acts to set up several other stories or advance long running plots.

*Introduces the character of Nakamura Koji and the "Duel at Kitanoji" series.
*Introduces the character of General Ikeda, who will appear in multiple stories to come.
*Examines intrigues within the Neko Ninja clan under recurring character Chizu.
*Continues development of the characters and intrigues of Usagi's nemesis, Lord Hikiji, and the shadowy advisor Lord Hebi.

The book also features a few stand alone stories, including "A Promise In The Snow," an excellent example of the emotional nature of Sakai's storytelling.

Probably not the best book for a new reader to the series to start with, but very important if you wish to see the way many of the major stories in Usagi's life began.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lynn Johnson wrote the introduction mostly because she really admires Stan Sakai's drawing style. He does have a very living, moving style, especially in the fight scenes and there are a lot of fight scenes. I liked the rabbit ronin with his super long ears tied 'up' on his head. Interesting to note that the 'bad guys' all look as if they haven't shaved, which might have something to do with the fact that they are cat or bear like in their heads, but the good guys are all smooth men, especially the rabbit. This was a fun read.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collection is probably a good jumping on point for new readers since it contains short stories that summarize main events in Usagi's past, give us a sense of the Warrior's pilgrimage, and set up what is likely to be the next big events in Usagi's life (The Conspiracy of Eight, Lord of Owls). This collection is also a good example of how Sakai generally structures the series: self contained short stories with larger implications for the future. All-in-all, a good collection of stories, perfect for new readers and old fans, alike.

[Nicolas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quelques sympathiques histoies courtes.
La meilleure ? je ne sais pas.
J'hésite entre la première, montrant la rédemption d'un samouraï trop arrogant, ou celle mettant en scène ce chat monstre dans sa demeure abandonnée.
Bon, cela dit, ce ne sont "que" des histoires courtes. Bonnes, comme toutes les histoires d'Usagi Yojimbo, mais toujours trop courtes.

[Isaac Timm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unlike many comic collection I've read, Usagi Yojimbo's storyline and quality remains not only consistent but improves. Stan Sakai love of these characters and his setting are displayed in every panel. It's just great storytelling.

[Ryan Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

pretty good overall. i really like the story "Promises"

[DaViD´82 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Usagi si udržuje jednu a tutéž kvalitu napříč jednotlivými díly. Sice stále skvělé, ale přeci jen možná až moc stejné (a to jsem zatím četl jen čtyři díly).

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Constantly good and satisfying. The winter seasons come, but Usagi continues on. Never a dull moment and great single stories throughout.

[David H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Retroactive Review (12 Sep 2021): Please see my review of the series here under the first volume.