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Usagi Yojimbo Saga #1
Usagi Yojimbo Saga, Vol. 1
Celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of Stan Sakai's beloved rabbit ronin, Dark Horse proudly presents Miyamoto Usagi's epic trek along the warrior's path in a new series of deluxe compilations, beginning with over 600 pages of Usagi's essential adventures. Collects Usagi Yojimbo Vol. 2#1-#16 and Vol. 3#1-#6! * Stan Sakai's series gets the deluxe treatment from Dark Horse! * Over 600 pages of samurai action and adventure! * Full-color cover gallery! * Usagi Yojimbo has won multiple awards and been published all over the world! * Also available in a limited hardcover of 900 signed copies.
616 pages, Paperback
First published October 28, 2014
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704 people want to read
About the author
Stan Sakai
924 books371 followersStan 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).
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).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 168 reviews
October 6, 2018
Miyamoto Usagi is a ronin, a masterless samurai, wandering feudal Japan in search of peace. He's also a rabbit in a world of anthropomorphic animals.
I first encountered Usagi on an episode of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon where he was yanked from his own time period and teamed up with the aforementioned turtles. I was vaguely aware there was a Usagi Yojimbo comic but I didn't imagine the rabbit could carry his own book. How wrong I was.
I have no idea why I enjoyed this as much as I did. The artwork isn't flashy. Galactus doesn't show up. There aren't any Jim Steranko panels. The violence is tame and there's no blood. Did I mention all the characters are animals?
The first story was a little rocky, a team-up with the Ninja Turtles to save a rat. After that, however, I was all in. The straight-forward, minimalist style grabbed my attention right away. Stan Sakai uses clean lines and great composition to put his stories together. It's amazing how much emotion he's able to convey with so little. His style reminds me of Moebius in some ways and of Miyazaki in others, minimalist yet simultaneously intricate.
The stories themselves draw from Japanese history, folklore, and cinema. Usagi goes up against bandits, ghosts, and assassins, all while wandering feudal Japan, looking for peace. Some of the stories are sweet, some are sad, and some of them are Usagi kicking ass.
I'm sorry I didn't pick up this series sooner but at least I have quite a few volumes in front of me. It's going to be a lot of fun catching up. Five out of five stars.
I first encountered Usagi on an episode of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon where he was yanked from his own time period and teamed up with the aforementioned turtles. I was vaguely aware there was a Usagi Yojimbo comic but I didn't imagine the rabbit could carry his own book. How wrong I was.
I have no idea why I enjoyed this as much as I did. The artwork isn't flashy. Galactus doesn't show up. There aren't any Jim Steranko panels. The violence is tame and there's no blood. Did I mention all the characters are animals?
The first story was a little rocky, a team-up with the Ninja Turtles to save a rat. After that, however, I was all in. The straight-forward, minimalist style grabbed my attention right away. Stan Sakai uses clean lines and great composition to put his stories together. It's amazing how much emotion he's able to convey with so little. His style reminds me of Moebius in some ways and of Miyazaki in others, minimalist yet simultaneously intricate.
The stories themselves draw from Japanese history, folklore, and cinema. Usagi goes up against bandits, ghosts, and assassins, all while wandering feudal Japan, looking for peace. Some of the stories are sweet, some are sad, and some of them are Usagi kicking ass.
I'm sorry I didn't pick up this series sooner but at least I have quite a few volumes in front of me. It's going to be a lot of fun catching up. Five out of five stars.
April 29, 2021
I never thought I'd enjoy a series about a wandering rabbit ronin, but I'm happy to be proved wrong. Even though the series follows anthropomorphic animals around, Sakai takes his work seriously. There are stories of villages threatened by marauders and assassins after princesses. Usagi is an honor bound samurai in a world of scoundrels out for themselves.
I love Sakai's panelwork. It's never flashy, laid out in a way that instantly conveys the story, especially the action. This actually collects volumes 8 through 10 of the ongoing collections. Saga begins with the first issues Dark Horse was allowed to collect beginning with the comic series published by Mirage before Sakai moved onto Dark Horse. It's an interesting place to begin as the opening story is a crossover with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. While this story works, the stories set afterwards are indeed better.
I love Sakai's panelwork. It's never flashy, laid out in a way that instantly conveys the story, especially the action. This actually collects volumes 8 through 10 of the ongoing collections. Saga begins with the first issues Dark Horse was allowed to collect beginning with the comic series published by Mirage before Sakai moved onto Dark Horse. It's an interesting place to begin as the opening story is a crossover with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. While this story works, the stories set afterwards are indeed better.
April 5, 2023
I waited far too long to read this, and Usagi Yojimbo is one of those books you should read right now. Stop reading this review, hop in the car, and drive to a bookstore. Or buy online like me if you live too far and are lazy.
Taking place in Edo Japan during the time of samurai and ninja, Usagi is a rabbit samurai, a ronin, who wanders from adventure to adventure. He’s kind, selfless, and a humble warrior. In this massive 600+ page volume (among 9 total volumes and 5000+ pages), we learn about his past and present, and the various conflicts among local warlords and villagers. It’s a fascinating page turner full of love, subtle violence, and wonder.
The illustrations are like a minimalistic Looney Tunes in the best way. In this edition they are black and white, which I think lends to the stark-and-spare vibe of Edo Japan, and makes the characters emote really well. It’s a simple style, like still images, but they pair beautifully with the story.
Taking place in Edo Japan during the time of samurai and ninja, Usagi is a rabbit samurai, a ronin, who wanders from adventure to adventure. He’s kind, selfless, and a humble warrior. In this massive 600+ page volume (among 9 total volumes and 5000+ pages), we learn about his past and present, and the various conflicts among local warlords and villagers. It’s a fascinating page turner full of love, subtle violence, and wonder.
The illustrations are like a minimalistic Looney Tunes in the best way. In this edition they are black and white, which I think lends to the stark-and-spare vibe of Edo Japan, and makes the characters emote really well. It’s a simple style, like still images, but they pair beautifully with the story.
September 22, 2025
A one-of-a-kind classic. Anthropomorphic samuri--say no more, right? Sakai really created something special with this warrior bunny. My number 1 highlight of this 600+ page volume is the dynamic bold visual story telling. This comic is in the black-and-white style of the 80s. There is no grayscale/shading. Later volumes get into coloring but there is something about the simplicity of the bold lines and how these scenes of dynamic battles take on a life of their own. The action takes on movement, which I think is an incredible feat in this art form and using only black line/fill. The boldness of the lines is reminiscent of Japanese art and lettering. I love the detailed fabric patterns on the gis robes which add to the visual spectacle.
The Saga comes chronologically after The Special edition, and it needs to be read in order from the beginning.
Really enjoying a family read along with watching the Ninja Turtles shows where he shows up.
The Saga comes chronologically after The Special edition, and it needs to be read in order from the beginning.
Really enjoying a family read along with watching the Ninja Turtles shows where he shows up.
April 24, 2017
Super fun stuff. After enjoying Lone Wolf and Cub, I wonder why it took me so long to finally check out this series. it's based in the same time period and stars a Ronin... so it seems like it should be perfect for me. And it is. I think I let my distaste of anthropomorphism throw me off. Usagi is certainly not a childish book... and I really shouldn't have that bias since I love other anthropomorphic comics like Blacksad and the work of Jason. I think this volume highlighted the growth of Sakai as a story teller. It starts off a bit goofy with a TMNT crossover but ends up telling really interesting stories about the human condition.
February 28, 2022
One of the great things about a world that has Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is that it's not unreasonable, in that world, to also have a samurai rabbit.
October 23, 2015
Stan Sakai is and always will be my favorite cartoonist, illustrator, comic book storyteller. Usagi is a masterclass in stunning modern, minimalist sequential storytelling. Anyone who aspires to work in the industry should study and analyse Usagi from every imaginable angle.
As a multi-ethnic American I sometimes feel like I'm not allowed to feel ownership of my Japanese culture, but Sakai's work makes Japanese history accessible to anyone and everyone, and distills complex ideas and traditions into a few deft and delicate penstrokes. I feel more connected to the culture of my grandmother through Usagi, without feeling embarassed at my own inquisitiveness. I'm so grateful there are many Usagi adventures still to read!
I'd consider this Usagi an essential for anyone, regardless of their familiarity or interest level in comics or Japan.
As a multi-ethnic American I sometimes feel like I'm not allowed to feel ownership of my Japanese culture, but Sakai's work makes Japanese history accessible to anyone and everyone, and distills complex ideas and traditions into a few deft and delicate penstrokes. I feel more connected to the culture of my grandmother through Usagi, without feeling embarassed at my own inquisitiveness. I'm so grateful there are many Usagi adventures still to read!
I'd consider this Usagi an essential for anyone, regardless of their familiarity or interest level in comics or Japan.
December 15, 2017
I wish I could explain what it is about Usagi Yojimbo stories that is both comforting and satisfying. I just really enjoy the way Sakai's art and storytelling unfold effortlessly. Some panels are incredibly detailed and you hardly notice. Others are very sparse, yet iconic. It's truly a classic character and series.
July 13, 2015
What can I say about Usagi Yojimbo that will do it Justice? When I was a teenager (back in the 90's) I tried to read this story of the "Ronin Rabbit" because there was a loose affiliation with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. However, I really didn't understand the complexity, history, and beauty of the story telling. At that age storytelling was lost on me; I wanted dark superheroes and vigilantes then. I just couldn't get into it then.
Now that I'm 37 I realize Sakai's work was just too sophisticated for my pubescent mind with its short attention span. I'm not some fan boy, nor am I an expert in such matters, I am a librarian and I know what I've read and liked. There are few comic/graphic novel works that I consider grand and epic. First I would be Bone (Jeff Smith), second Maus (Art Spiegelman), and third I would have to include the saga of Usagi Yojimbo.
In brief, Usagi is set in feudalistic Japan of the 16th century where various lords fight for land and power. These lords employ samurai, ninja, and various other soldier types to fight for them. When Usagi loses his master, instead of hiring himself out to the highest bidder he roams the country as a ronin looking for inner peace and harmony, and along the way protecting poor farmers and tradesman from thugs, corrupt officials, and greedy businessmen. Usagi isn't looking for trouble, but Sakai knows that it would be a slow story if it did not find him anyway.
This book could have been rendered using human characters, but like Spiegelman he decided on anthropomorphic characters. While Maus was non-fiction and biographical, and Usagi is fiction, the use of animal characters helps readers detach ever so slightly from the content so that they can handle the inherent violence in the time period while still understanding it.
For parents who may be interested, as it is set in feudal Japan there is violence, in addition you will find religious/spiritual notes that once again are inherent in the place and the time.
I really enjoyed this book.
April 6, 2017
There's a reason why people seem to rave endlessly about how good a read the Usagi Yojimbo comics are. The first chapter was a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle crossover, and I question its placement in a compilation otherwise dedicated entirely to Usagi. (Even if I like tmnt, why is it the FIRST chapter, guys?)
The rest of the volume was absolute GOLD. Its action isn't too in-your-face: rather, this is a deep story of a single rabbit's honor in a world where both villains and government officials can be trouble to a wandering samurai who, despite peaceful intentions, always seems to find trouble.
And if he finds trouble, Usagi Miyamoto isn't afraid to intervene.
The rest of the volume was absolute GOLD. Its action isn't too in-your-face: rather, this is a deep story of a single rabbit's honor in a world where both villains and government officials can be trouble to a wandering samurai who, despite peaceful intentions, always seems to find trouble.
And if he finds trouble, Usagi Miyamoto isn't afraid to intervene.
December 14, 2018
Massive book so many pages, love the style of using animals for the main characters, Usagi is a bunny without a master, enduring many journeys within the samaurai era of Japan, I love the black and white drawing style, it appeals to me, I have read many Usagi books over the years, and I regularly purchasr the monthly comic, I enjoy it so much, never get get tired of rading about Usagi.
October 5, 2017
This was cool. A rabbit samuari, a fox thief by the name of Kitsune. The Ninja Turtles show up. It's cool. Nice and fun.
August 30, 2025
I’d heard of this comic about a rabbit samurai a while back, so when I saw this in the library days after my partner’s brother (the resident comic expert) had hyped it up as something I’d probably like, I knew I had to pick it up.
The incongruity of cute animals taking part in Edo-period conflicts was what hooked me in. I was a little thrown off (but also entertained) when the teenage mutant ninja turtles got summoned into this timeline in the first story – since it seemed a bit at odds with the almost grim-dark tone – but nothing like that happens in any of the other tales collected here. Though I found myself kinda wishing Zoro from 'One Piece' would wander in (he DOES get severely lost all the time, after all), because certain references made me think of him and I kinda feel like the two swordsmen would vibe. Between the 5 or so pages each devoted to explaining katana forging and seaweed farming (I’d never realized how much making nori sheets was like making paper, but that totally makes sense), and the historical sources section at the back, this collection was also unexpectedly educational.
The structure of the comic is very episodic…which is good, because the publication history is confusing! This omnibus volume is listed as #1, but actually contains books 8-10 (according to Wikipedia). To get the actual earliest stories (books 1-7), apparently you’d need ‘Usagi Yojimbo: The Special Edition’. In part because of that…I’d be very open to reading more if I happen on the other volumes, but I also don’t feel a strong need to hunt them down because there isn’t a strong continuing central story where I NEED to find out what happens!
The incongruity of cute animals taking part in Edo-period conflicts was what hooked me in. I was a little thrown off (but also entertained) when the teenage mutant ninja turtles got summoned into this timeline in the first story – since it seemed a bit at odds with the almost grim-dark tone – but nothing like that happens in any of the other tales collected here. Though I found myself kinda wishing Zoro from 'One Piece' would wander in (he DOES get severely lost all the time, after all), because certain references made me think of him and I kinda feel like the two swordsmen would vibe. Between the 5 or so pages each devoted to explaining katana forging and seaweed farming (I’d never realized how much making nori sheets was like making paper, but that totally makes sense), and the historical sources section at the back, this collection was also unexpectedly educational.
The structure of the comic is very episodic…which is good, because the publication history is confusing! This omnibus volume is listed as #1, but actually contains books 8-10 (according to Wikipedia). To get the actual earliest stories (books 1-7), apparently you’d need ‘Usagi Yojimbo: The Special Edition’. In part because of that…I’d be very open to reading more if I happen on the other volumes, but I also don’t feel a strong need to hunt them down because there isn’t a strong continuing central story where I NEED to find out what happens!
January 5, 2022
I’ve only ever read single issues here and there of Usagi Yojimbo and somehow managed to encounter weaker installments over the years; this was the first time I’ve read entire stories. As a result, I always placed Usagi Yojimbo in the same category as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: cute idea but not really worth my time.
Part of the problem is that both the rabbit samurai and turtle ninjas debuted in 1984 when I was in college. I did enjoy the snarky aardvark Cerebus back in the day, and had a collection of Pogo as a kid, but by comparison UY and TMNT seemed like kiddie versions of those types of stories.
I’m happy to report that isn’t always the case for Usagi-san, whose tale becomes deeper and more involved the longer it goes. Unfortunately there are still some weak entries which feel hastily-written and in need of a polish. This book doesn’t present its best face at the beginning as it’s a weird mash-up of UY and TMNT, where a rat wizard pulls the spirits of the turtles from their universe and imbues them into turtles in Usagi’s medieval Japan. Even for comic books it feels like a stretch dictated by marketing rather than a fun, organic outgrowth of the stories, and since I have no affinity for the pizza addicts, it fell flat for me.
Fortunately that sort of thing is balanced out by better, more engaging tales which delve into both the various characters and the setting, as Usagi wanders through this version of Japan. And as Dave Sim did with Cerebus, drawing inspiration from Marx Brothers movies for the aardvark’s adventures, Sakai draws from Akira Kurosawa films. (Remix culture lives on.) Combining the cinematic source with his own research really helps set the tone and themes of the book. It shines best when the story moves from pastoral contemplation into savage samurai sword action, giving it a nice balance.
It’s a bit herky-jerky because the collection skips around, so it feels like we’re in the middle of many of these stories. All the background info is there, but it doesn’t flow. It’s not zen. Which is disappointing given the book’s title. Hence my 3-star rating.
I will say that the character is inspired. He feels utterly complete from the word go, from his name to his look. It’s kind of amazing. “Usagi Yojimbo” literally means “rabbit warrior”, and tying his ears into a queue deftly mimics the hairstyle from certain eras of feudal Japan. Genius, really. It’s even pleasant to say his name aloud: oo-soggy yo-jimbo. Perfect. It’s rare to find a character who seems to have come into being fully formed like UY. The only other ones which come to mind are Hobbes (but not Calvin), Wile E. Coyote (but not Road Runner), Atomic Robo, and Hello Kitty. Impressive company.
Original cover: https://usagiyojimbo.fandom.com/wiki/...
Interview with Stan Sakai: https://youtu.be/EbZUv_rSU7M
Part of the problem is that both the rabbit samurai and turtle ninjas debuted in 1984 when I was in college. I did enjoy the snarky aardvark Cerebus back in the day, and had a collection of Pogo as a kid, but by comparison UY and TMNT seemed like kiddie versions of those types of stories.
I’m happy to report that isn’t always the case for Usagi-san, whose tale becomes deeper and more involved the longer it goes. Unfortunately there are still some weak entries which feel hastily-written and in need of a polish. This book doesn’t present its best face at the beginning as it’s a weird mash-up of UY and TMNT, where a rat wizard pulls the spirits of the turtles from their universe and imbues them into turtles in Usagi’s medieval Japan. Even for comic books it feels like a stretch dictated by marketing rather than a fun, organic outgrowth of the stories, and since I have no affinity for the pizza addicts, it fell flat for me.
Fortunately that sort of thing is balanced out by better, more engaging tales which delve into both the various characters and the setting, as Usagi wanders through this version of Japan. And as Dave Sim did with Cerebus, drawing inspiration from Marx Brothers movies for the aardvark’s adventures, Sakai draws from Akira Kurosawa films. (Remix culture lives on.) Combining the cinematic source with his own research really helps set the tone and themes of the book. It shines best when the story moves from pastoral contemplation into savage samurai sword action, giving it a nice balance.
It’s a bit herky-jerky because the collection skips around, so it feels like we’re in the middle of many of these stories. All the background info is there, but it doesn’t flow. It’s not zen. Which is disappointing given the book’s title. Hence my 3-star rating.
I will say that the character is inspired. He feels utterly complete from the word go, from his name to his look. It’s kind of amazing. “Usagi Yojimbo” literally means “rabbit warrior”, and tying his ears into a queue deftly mimics the hairstyle from certain eras of feudal Japan. Genius, really. It’s even pleasant to say his name aloud: oo-soggy yo-jimbo. Perfect. It’s rare to find a character who seems to have come into being fully formed like UY. The only other ones which come to mind are Hobbes (but not Calvin), Wile E. Coyote (but not Road Runner), Atomic Robo, and Hello Kitty. Impressive company.
Original cover: https://usagiyojimbo.fandom.com/wiki/...
Interview with Stan Sakai: https://youtu.be/EbZUv_rSU7M
February 9, 2021
I have been a fan of Usagi Yojimbo ever since I was a young boy, first encountering him, as many my age did, in the TMNT cartoon and the Playmates action figure, which I treasured. I had not read many of the comics before, so I wanted to start with the beginning, as it were. This collection is called book one, but apparently does not include the first seven volumes of the series, which seems like a huuuuuge oversight. Still, while the stories themselves rarely surprise me and sometimes the dialogue is obvious, he art is very appealing, the characters lovable, and some of the stories are quite moving. I also love the attention to Japanese historical detail and the long explanatory notes in the back. Now if only I could get ahold of those first seven volumes...
Edit: Reread after reading the first seven volumes! This time I knew more about Gen, Kitsune, Chizu, and a few other characters that showed up (Rei, one of the members of Shi). The stories made more sense with that context, which added more emotional weight to some degree, but I think the stories in this volume also stand on their own pretty well. I still find myself getting a feeling of "was that it?" sometimes.
Edit: Reread after reading the first seven volumes! This time I knew more about Gen, Kitsune, Chizu, and a few other characters that showed up (Rei, one of the members of Shi). The stories made more sense with that context, which added more emotional weight to some degree, but I think the stories in this volume also stand on their own pretty well. I still find myself getting a feeling of "was that it?" sometimes.
February 26, 2015
It's been some years since I last read a Usagi Yojimbo book. When I restarted reading/collecting graphic novels it was on my wish-list, but the amount and (non)availability of books was putting me off somewhat. So I'm more than happy that dark horse is putting out it's saga-books, giving me a chance to catch on again.
Someone in one of the forewords described UY as "Carl Barks meets Akira Kurosawa" and that right to the point. The storytelling, the cast of characters and the art are of the best one can find in the graphic medium. On top of that, the backgrounds of the storys are thoroughly researched, so one can learn a lot about medivial japan. I won't go into story-details - I'm sure there are lots of them in other UY-reviews. I'm writing this only to give the highest possible recommendation. Treat yourself to this - if you have any love for very well crafted stories in graphic novels, this is very likely to make your favourites-shelf.
Someone in one of the forewords described UY as "Carl Barks meets Akira Kurosawa" and that right to the point. The storytelling, the cast of characters and the art are of the best one can find in the graphic medium. On top of that, the backgrounds of the storys are thoroughly researched, so one can learn a lot about medivial japan. I won't go into story-details - I'm sure there are lots of them in other UY-reviews. I'm writing this only to give the highest possible recommendation. Treat yourself to this - if you have any love for very well crafted stories in graphic novels, this is very likely to make your favourites-shelf.
November 26, 2014
This first volume of the Dark Horse series (but still not the first volume from before that era, so picking up after 1-8 collections I believe) is a well priced and huge gift for the UY consumer.
About three of the issues that went into this collection I once owned when a child, but to see that whole loosely connected series of events cascade at once was far more fun. Its a really great series that actively tries to overturn genre tropes and in particular experiments with perspective in comic panels the way a great film director might set up shots. The visual composition is simply elegant to levels one would hardly expect in something officially marketed to a young adult audience.
About three of the issues that went into this collection I once owned when a child, but to see that whole loosely connected series of events cascade at once was far more fun. Its a really great series that actively tries to overturn genre tropes and in particular experiments with perspective in comic panels the way a great film director might set up shots. The visual composition is simply elegant to levels one would hardly expect in something officially marketed to a young adult audience.
May 13, 2016
I first encountered Usagi Yojimbo in the early Nineties at my friendly local comics shop. I was struck by the simple, clean artwork and the strong storytelling. It wasn't until I bought this volume that I was able to read the Usagi Yojimbo story from it's earliest independent days.
Stan Sakai's skill and talent at sequential art and storytelling exceed those of Dave Sim ("Cerebus"), whose work was the previous standard I used.
This volume is filled with stories of Usagi and the times and culture he lived in. I have never read anything close to quality and richness of this work in twenty-nine years of reading comics and manga.
Stan Sakai's skill and talent at sequential art and storytelling exceed those of Dave Sim ("Cerebus"), whose work was the previous standard I used.
This volume is filled with stories of Usagi and the times and culture he lived in. I have never read anything close to quality and richness of this work in twenty-nine years of reading comics and manga.
March 17, 2017
I've heard about this series for some time with many people saying good things about it. I was able to find an inexpensive copy to check out. This collection has some early stories in it. Often it's not unusual for a series to get better in quality as the writing and story progresses. That is the case here as this book collects multiple story arcs, some rather short and some longer in length.
The art is all black pencils on white backgrounds. It does appear to get a bit more refined as it goes along but there isn't a huge change from the beginning to the end in this volume.
I'm interested in reading more.
The art is all black pencils on white backgrounds. It does appear to get a bit more refined as it goes along but there isn't a huge change from the beginning to the end in this volume.
I'm interested in reading more.
May 11, 2015
This is one of the best bound books I have read. I read all of these years ago from the Dark Horse Library at Portland State and their presentation here is amazing. For anyone who is a fan of graphic story telling should have this bound volume in their collection. It is an amazing package for the price and reading just makes you feel warm and fuzzy. I am stoked that Dark Horse is releasing more similarly packaged volumes.
January 26, 2016
Usagi Yojimbo was a total surprise knock-out. I loved every minute gushing through this book. I tore through this piece of art with a smile on my face the whole time. A fast pace, historically correct tale of a samurai ninja rabbit; what more do you want?
December 28, 2015
Being laid up in bed with a bad back I get to catch up on some reading. I'm cruising through this and enjoying every nostalgia filled page.
November 20, 2019
This was so much fun! I had a blast reading it, but wow... had no idea it was 600+ pages. Missed that it was a "Saga" and just saw "Volume 1". That being said, that just means there were more adventures to enjoy!
December 23, 2024
Lectura que me ha acompañado a lo largo de casi todo el año. Aunque en realidad he sentido más bien que era yo el que acompañaba a Usagi en su periplo; como un viajero cuyo camino convergía de vez en cuando con el del Ronin orejudo y se convertía, así, en testigo de sus aventuras. Una costumbre que, desde ya, pretendo repetir cada año.
July 25, 2016
I was confused by the title of this book, it is not a collection starting from the beginning of the Usagi Yojimbo series rather it contains books 8-10, and there are many returning characters who I've not read about before in the issues I'd previously picked up for this book.
However Stan Sakai is a master storyteller and I never felt I was at a loss for understanding because of these returning characters. The historical tidbits are interesting, and the book was very enjoyable.
However Stan Sakai is a master storyteller and I never felt I was at a loss for understanding because of these returning characters. The historical tidbits are interesting, and the book was very enjoyable.
August 28, 2015
Usagi, a ronin traveling around feudal Japan, has samurai adventures. Also, Usagi is a rabbit.
Much more fun than I was expecting. I've never cared much for samurai stories, but Stan Sakai's classic storytelling with fantastic fight scenes won me over. The bits of history sprinkled throughout are interesting, as well.
Recommended for: comic book fans, history buffs, samurai lovers
January 1, 2015
Amazing comic. It's got bright silly moments and very dark moments. It's exactly what I enjoy in traditional ronin tales.
December 1, 2016
Usagi is my new binge read. Can't wait to read the rest.
August 23, 2021
Much more dark/brutal than I was expecting. Loved it overall, some characters were easier to tell apart than others.
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