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Usagi Yojimbo [兎用心棒] #31
Usagi Yojimbo 31 El mural infernal
En este apasionante volumen, el conejo ronin forma equipo con… y se enfrenta a… una multitud de inesperados personajes. Primero, los bandidos saquean un pueblo amenazado por inundaciones… pero sus razones para el expolio sorprenderán incluso al más inalterable.
Luego, Usagi debe trabajar junto a su enemigo natural… un kappa… para expulsar a un violento renegado de la misma especie. Más adelante, una ninja Komori debe saldar sus deudas cuando Usagi y ella terminan en bandos enfrentados de un acuerdo comercial que se va al garete.
También regresa el inspector Ishida para investigar una horrenda pintura conocida únicamente como el Mural Infernal, y recluta a Usagi para que le ayude a resolver sus misterios. Finalmente, Usagi se embarca en un peligroso viaje para cruzar las montañas que tiene un final inesperado.
Luego, Usagi debe trabajar junto a su enemigo natural… un kappa… para expulsar a un violento renegado de la misma especie. Más adelante, una ninja Komori debe saldar sus deudas cuando Usagi y ella terminan en bandos enfrentados de un acuerdo comercial que se va al garete.
También regresa el inspector Ishida para investigar una horrenda pintura conocida únicamente como el Mural Infernal, y recluta a Usagi para que le ayude a resolver sus misterios. Finalmente, Usagi se embarca en un peligroso viaje para cruzar las montañas que tiene un final inesperado.
192 pages, Paperback
First published July 18, 2017
3 people are currently reading
112 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 31 reviews
September 14, 2017
I'm giving this book 4 stars because only a handful of people rate the Usagi Yojimbo volumes on here and I want to keep it's score up, but honestly it's been kinda hard to get excited about this series for a while.
The art is still top notch as always, Stan Sakai is really a master craftsman when it comes to his simple, cartoonish, yet beautiful black-and-white linework. But in terms of the stories contained here I feel like the days of the big grand epic tales are gone for Usagi Yojimbo. I would honestly love to see this series finally end in a massive finale, involving a final showdown with Lord Hikiji, and some sort of resolution for the wandering long-eared samurai.
I know Stan Sakai, and many readers, see this series more as an exploration of Japanese folklore, which it still is very good for, but for stories that really set this series apart, it's been years since I've seen anything like that.
The art is still top notch as always, Stan Sakai is really a master craftsman when it comes to his simple, cartoonish, yet beautiful black-and-white linework. But in terms of the stories contained here I feel like the days of the big grand epic tales are gone for Usagi Yojimbo. I would honestly love to see this series finally end in a massive finale, involving a final showdown with Lord Hikiji, and some sort of resolution for the wandering long-eared samurai.
I know Stan Sakai, and many readers, see this series more as an exploration of Japanese folklore, which it still is very good for, but for stories that really set this series apart, it's been years since I've seen anything like that.
December 19, 2023
This book collects issues #152-158 of Usagi Yojimbo, volume 3. The main story in this volume is the three-part arc, "The Secret of the Hell Screen", which reunites Usagi with Inspector Ishida and the pair take on a murder mystery before the nightmarish hell screen that adorns the Golden Buddha temple. The hell screen in the temple is a work of art depicting the underworld, but it is also rumored to be a gateway to hell itself. The mystery untangles itself in an enjoyable fashion, and the partnership between Ishida and Usagi continues to be a blast.
Other stories include, "The River Rising" and "Kyuri", a two part adventure involving a flooded village, starving peasants and a bloodthirsty kappa. These two stories serve as the opening to this volume which leads to Usagi sustaining a significant injury that carries forward into the following issues.
"Kazehime" is a tale that depicts the tragic friendship that arises after Usagi saves a Komori ninja. The story has a gut punch to it quite unlike Sakai's other stories, making this a fairly memorable one-off story. The book ends with "The Fate of the Elders" where Sakai explores the concept of ubasute, a mythical Japanese practice of senicide. It's quite the melancholic way to end this volume as Usagi muses on the shared principles of honor between the samurai and worker classes.
Other stories include, "The River Rising" and "Kyuri", a two part adventure involving a flooded village, starving peasants and a bloodthirsty kappa. These two stories serve as the opening to this volume which leads to Usagi sustaining a significant injury that carries forward into the following issues.
"Kazehime" is a tale that depicts the tragic friendship that arises after Usagi saves a Komori ninja. The story has a gut punch to it quite unlike Sakai's other stories, making this a fairly memorable one-off story. The book ends with "The Fate of the Elders" where Sakai explores the concept of ubasute, a mythical Japanese practice of senicide. It's quite the melancholic way to end this volume as Usagi muses on the shared principles of honor between the samurai and worker classes.
March 5, 2018
When this comic ends, we will have lost something special. I want to appreciate it while it’s here.
September 4, 2021
(4,3 z 5 za další skvělý soubor Usagiho dobrodružství)
Krásná souhra náhod - sotva jsem dočetl komplet Sixth Gun, což je opus Cullena Bunna a první Usagi, který na mě čeká, má od něj předmluvu.
Pekelná malba je klasická kompozice - Usagi putuje, prožije si několik menších příběhů, které jsou avšak kvalitně zasazené do jeho putování. Pak následuje větší příběh a nakonec zase pár menších. Tuto skladbu mám rád - první příběhy člověka vtáhnou do světa, velký příběh proletí s očima přilepenými na stránkách a další krátké příběhy (často s "doslovem") ho "uklidní" a zase přesunou do většího rámce Usagiho putování před koncem knihy.
První sada je Řeka se zvedá - velmi dobrý příběh s nečekaným druhým finále v dalším příběhu - Kyuri. Na ten pak zase navazuje další příběh Kazehime, který má opět tradiční "nosítkovou" část.
Pak následuje ústřední příběh - Pekelná malba, kde se opět setkáme s oblíbeným inspektorem Ishidou a opět se bude rozplétat nějaká kriminalita. Zápletka je velmi klasická. Ale musím ocenit, jak i klasickou zápletku dokáže Stan vyšperkovat tak, že má člověk problém ji, byť na chvíli, odložit.
Následné krátké příběhy jsou tady pouze jeden, a ani to není tradičnější doslov. Ale o to je hezčí a melancholičtější (a víc říkat už nebudu).
Celkově opět velmi pěkná a dobře vyvážená kniha, kvalitní po stránce vyprávění i kresby.
Krásná souhra náhod - sotva jsem dočetl komplet Sixth Gun, což je opus Cullena Bunna a první Usagi, který na mě čeká, má od něj předmluvu.
Pekelná malba je klasická kompozice - Usagi putuje, prožije si několik menších příběhů, které jsou avšak kvalitně zasazené do jeho putování. Pak následuje větší příběh a nakonec zase pár menších. Tuto skladbu mám rád - první příběhy člověka vtáhnou do světa, velký příběh proletí s očima přilepenými na stránkách a další krátké příběhy (často s "doslovem") ho "uklidní" a zase přesunou do většího rámce Usagiho putování před koncem knihy.
První sada je Řeka se zvedá - velmi dobrý příběh s nečekaným druhým finále v dalším příběhu - Kyuri. Na ten pak zase navazuje další příběh Kazehime, který má opět tradiční "nosítkovou" část.
Pak následuje ústřední příběh - Pekelná malba, kde se opět setkáme s oblíbeným inspektorem Ishidou a opět se bude rozplétat nějaká kriminalita. Zápletka je velmi klasická. Ale musím ocenit, jak i klasickou zápletku dokáže Stan vyšperkovat tak, že má člověk problém ji, byť na chvíli, odložit.
Následné krátké příběhy jsou tady pouze jeden, a ani to není tradičnější doslov. Ale o to je hezčí a melancholičtější (a víc říkat už nebudu).
Celkově opět velmi pěkná a dobře vyvážená kniha, kvalitní po stránce vyprávění i kresby.
November 14, 2018
Another lovely compilation of stories and artwork.
This collection is bookended by two classic Usagi Yojimbo tales exploring interesting facets of Japanese folklore: the intro focused on the cucumber-loving yōkai called kappa and the conclusion looking into the mythical practice of ubasute in a story reminiscent of The Ballad of Narayama. The chapter “Kazehime” is a short but solid adventure that ties together a number of compelling characters from the Usagi Yojimbo back catalogues: the Komori Ninja, Lord Hikiji, and Yamaguchi Kyosai.
That said, the bulk of this book revolves around the enigmatic Hell Screen and its role in an Inspector Ishida murder mystery at the rain-soaked Temple of the Golden Buddha. Though contained, this arc is a wonderful, haunting addition and a thoroughly gripping read.
This collection is bookended by two classic Usagi Yojimbo tales exploring interesting facets of Japanese folklore: the intro focused on the cucumber-loving yōkai called kappa and the conclusion looking into the mythical practice of ubasute in a story reminiscent of The Ballad of Narayama. The chapter “Kazehime” is a short but solid adventure that ties together a number of compelling characters from the Usagi Yojimbo back catalogues: the Komori Ninja, Lord Hikiji, and Yamaguchi Kyosai.
That said, the bulk of this book revolves around the enigmatic Hell Screen and its role in an Inspector Ishida murder mystery at the rain-soaked Temple of the Golden Buddha. Though contained, this arc is a wonderful, haunting addition and a thoroughly gripping read.
August 13, 2018
Sé que no es su mejor tomo, pero volver a las historias de Usagi después de tanto tiempo ha sido un autentico placer.
February 8, 2023
Výtečné! Titulní příběh fackuje velmi a má tentokrát silné Jméno Růže vibes, všechno ostatní je slušné, Osud Starešinu vynikajici
July 16, 2019
Exaggerated highs and lows, but still very good.
Review: https://derailmentsofthought.com/2017...
Review: https://derailmentsofthought.com/2017...
January 22, 2018
Another fine collection. Stan's art and stories are so good.
October 5, 2021
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, 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.
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.
July 24, 2017
Every time I review an Usagi Yojimbo book, I say the same things: strong storytelling; bold artwork; vivid characters. The Hell Screen is no different, since Sakai is still a natural at all of those things. His established characters ring true and honest, and his newly-introduced ones, while less developed, are drawn well enough to serve their purpose in the stories.
The theme of this volume seems to be rain, as the stories all take place during thunderstorms. The first two stories have an overlap I haven't seen in Sakai's stories before, where they diverge in the midpoint of the first one. The second story begins at that divergence, which felt odd (as near as I can recall, Sakai has never gone back in his timeline, though he's used flashbacks before), but it made sense once I understood what he was doing.
I say this every time I review an Usagi Yojimbo book, but if you haven't yet read these books, you should. They have appeal for all readers of all ages, and the storytelling is so good that it's a shame not to experience it. You have a long way to go to catch up (this is volume 31!), but it's worth it.
The theme of this volume seems to be rain, as the stories all take place during thunderstorms. The first two stories have an overlap I haven't seen in Sakai's stories before, where they diverge in the midpoint of the first one. The second story begins at that divergence, which felt odd (as near as I can recall, Sakai has never gone back in his timeline, though he's used flashbacks before), but it made sense once I understood what he was doing.
I say this every time I review an Usagi Yojimbo book, but if you haven't yet read these books, you should. They have appeal for all readers of all ages, and the storytelling is so good that it's a shame not to experience it. You have a long way to go to catch up (this is volume 31!), but it's worth it.
April 25, 2019
Stan Sakai je pro mě jako přítel, i když jsem ho samozřejmě nikdy neznal. Ale přemýšlím o něm jako o Stanovi, po všech knížkách, které jsem od něj přečetl, což jsou všechny, které vyšly česky, je to prostě starý známý, u kterého vím, že mě každou svou knihou dostane, že mě ohromí, že mě oslní. A nejinak je tomu v případě knihy "Usagi Yojimbo 31: Pekelná malba". Jasně, byl bych rád, kdyby před námi dál rostl hlavní příběh, kdyby se posouval, vyvíjel. Ale je jasné, že ten by nemohl růst donekonečna. A tak Stan volí raději kratší epizody, které posouvají Usagiho spíše v prostoru než v ději samotném. Ale i ty krátké epizody vás dovedou rozebrat, protože Stan skvěle pracuje jak s postavami, tak s vyprávěním a jeho formami nebo s emocemi. Pokud byste si měli vybrat jedinou komiksovou sérii, kterou číst, asi bych vám doporučil právě sérii "Usagi Yojimbo". Ani jednou mě nezklamala.
August 18, 2017
Inspector Ishida is back, trying to solve the mystery of the Hell Screen! Wonderful story full of clashing personalities and motives, with a side of spookiness. The "Fate of the Elders" story was beautiful and moved me to tears.
Very thankful that this collection moved away from stories of Usagi fighting a bandit horde/robber baron to save a village or town. I feel like that kind of story has happened a lot across the Usagi books and it was a relief to see something new. There are bandits but their story is much different.
Very thankful that this collection moved away from stories of Usagi fighting a bandit horde/robber baron to save a village or town. I feel like that kind of story has happened a lot across the Usagi books and it was a relief to see something new. There are bandits but their story is much different.
September 29, 2019
The art and storytelling in this volume is amazing as always - the scenes of working to build a dyke to stop a flooding river from destroying a village are particularly good - but I prefer a bit more lightness and humour in my stories so it's not my favourite Usagi book. The main story in this volume is a 3-part Inspector Ishida mystery centred around a Buddhist temple's Hell Screen. It's a dark and sinister tale. The other stories are just heartbreakingly sad. It's interesting to see Stan Sakai flex his storytelling skills and I will recommend this book, but maybe not to younger kids.
July 26, 2019
Loved the stories collected in this volume including the three part title story. It's always fun when Stan Sakai blends both Usagi and Inspector Ishida into stories. You get the action packed samurai story combined with the mysteries that Ishida has to solve.
The stories are full of history, but not overwhelmed by those historical facts. Instead they are seamlessly told inside of the story.
This is one of the best comic series I've ever read.
The stories are full of history, but not overwhelmed by those historical facts. Instead they are seamlessly told inside of the story.
This is one of the best comic series I've ever read.
November 15, 2023
Another volume of Usagi Yojimbo, a series too good to explain why.
First 2 stories about a flooded river were my favorites of the book. They were separate adventures despite overlapping a bit time-wise. Also the supernatural element added some tension to the next story, Hell Screen, where you are led to believe it might be another supernatural fueled danger. Last story about an old woman making a sacrifice for her new granddaughter was excellent too.
First 2 stories about a flooded river were my favorites of the book. They were separate adventures despite overlapping a bit time-wise. Also the supernatural element added some tension to the next story, Hell Screen, where you are led to believe it might be another supernatural fueled danger. Last story about an old woman making a sacrifice for her new granddaughter was excellent too.
July 8, 2017
31 volumes in, and Usagi continues to impress. The most eye-catching aspect of this volume is the way Stan Sakai captures the storms of the rainy season. There are several full-page cloud scenes, and much of this book is dark and wet. Everything drips and thunders, and the stories match the art perfectly, and vice versa.
May 18, 2018
I love samurai movies. I love graphic novels. Is it any wonder that I love Stan Sakai's Usagi Yojimbo series?
Usagi Yojimbo is a rabbit ronin (masterless samurai), and The Hell Screen is the 31st installment of his adventures in pre-industrial Japan. Like every other book in the series, Mr. Sakai tells exciting and often intricate stories in a most engaging way.
Usagi Yojimbo is a rabbit ronin (masterless samurai), and The Hell Screen is the 31st installment of his adventures in pre-industrial Japan. Like every other book in the series, Mr. Sakai tells exciting and often intricate stories in a most engaging way.
October 5, 2018
I binges 31 books in these collections in a year, followed it from 1984 with Godzilla puns to rain and the nature of life's purpose in 2017. Stan Sakai creates a mosaic of wonderful characters to tell the stories he loves and allows us along for the ride. A true master and great storyteller that leaves the reader with a warmth of the telling and longing to know what's next.
October 18, 2017
via NYPL - Another excellent installment, featuring an Inspector Ishida mystery, folklore (including a kappa vs kappa confrontation), and insightful peeks into feudal Japanese life. Always recommended.
December 7, 2017
Once again, more fantastic art and storytelling by Stan Sakai. Inspector Ishida returns to solve another mystery in The Hell Screen and Kazehime and The Fate of Elders were very moving. I enjoyed this installment immensely.
December 31, 2017
Usagi Yojimbo's adventures continue to be fun and exciting. This volume has a great story involving the return of the Komori Ninja and a 3-part murder mystery involving Inspector Ishida. Stan Sakai still has it folks!
July 28, 2017
Stan Sakai is a living treasure. Every volume of Usagi Yojimbo is magnificent (and a five star read)!
January 15, 2018
Excellent once again, of course. Great job Sakai San, keep it up!
July 20, 2019
What a great story. The art is outstanding as always.
October 10, 2019
Como siempre, Sakai no decepciona. Historias cortas y una un poco más larga, mantiene el nivel esperado. Especialmente interesante la última de ellas, con un giro tan Sakai que no te lo ves venir.
March 13, 2024
A good Ishida Mystery but the real gut punch is the story "Fate of the Elders".
September 15, 2025
really solid storytelling here overall, the titular story was good but the story about the man leaving his elderly mom on the cliff was my favorite.
May 6, 2024
Como siempre inspirado en distintas fuentes, desde los 7 samurais hasta la clásica historia del mural pintado que parece tener vida propia, son tres narraciones distintas que muestran diferentes formas de enfrentar la justicia, primero el delito es producto de la desesperación ante la hambruna; luego maldad pura (empleando para esto a un kappa del folklore japonés) y luego resultado de la ambición y la avaricia, donde interviene el inspector Ishida, quien pide ayuda a Usagi para solucionar un misterioso asesinato relacionado con el mural infernal. El estudio de personajes de Sakai es siempre excelente.
January 29, 2017
I love Stan Sakai and Usagi Yojimbo. So it's not a surprise that I would like this volume. However, I was really impressed by Stan's drawing of nature in this volume. Opening story involved a flood and heavy rain --- Stan drew the hell out of that. Following stories involve lots of forests that were also drawn very well. I am very happy to still be surprised by Stan and his masterwork.
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