Customer Reviews

Grasscutter II: Journey to Atsuta Shrine (Usagi Yojimbo, Book 15)

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Usagi Yojimbo is the kind of quality work that transcends time, genres, demographics, and even age groups. It crafts a delicate and beautiful balance between honor and savagery, cute innocence and dark brutality, simple heart-warming stories and multi-part epics that shape a dense continuity. Whether or not you've ever been a fan of feudal Japanese culture, furry anthro characters, or independent, non-superhero comics, Usagi Yojimbo is a comic that can't help but impress even the harshest critic.

If Grasscutter (vol. 12) was a masterpiece of complexity, then Grasscutter II (vol. 15) is its counterpart in simplicity. While the first Grasscutter story saw Usagi and his comrades unwittingly stumbling around in a maze of political intrigue and black magic, all threatening to plunge the nation into civil war, this sequel is far more straightforward. All they have to do is get the sword to Atsuta Shrine before anyone figures out what they're doing.

In this case, simple is definitely not worse. In fact, while the complexities of the first Grasscutter story often left Usagi and friends awash in the tides of events, they take a firmer and more active role in this story, fully understanding the parts they must play from the get go. Of course, achieving their goal is far from easy with two rival clans of ninja hired to stop them and an accomplice in their midst who might be working against them. Without all the twists and turns of the first Grasscutter volume, Grasscutter II is free to deliver the most action packed and emotionally charged Usagi storyline to date. It reminds me of Kurasawa's Seven Samurai in that attaining a simple objective takes on epic proportions and ends up coming at a tragic cost. This is one powerful storyline, perhaps Usagi's finest. Resist the urge to compare it to the original Grasscutter. It's an entirely different animal.

My only regret with this volume is that, for some odd reason, it doesn't start at the beginning. "Reunion," the final story in the previous volume (Demon Mask), is where Usagi, Sanshobo, and Gen first come up with the plan to take Grasscutter to Atsuta shrine. The story would be confusing to read without this explanation. Demon Mask is an excellent volume in and of itself, so it's not a bad idea to check it out in its entirety before beginning Grasscutter II.

I love Usagi Yojimbo the series provides a unique comic experience that is thoroughly enjoyable. Don't be turned off by the funny-animal ascetic, you will like it.

If you have ANY interest in Samurai tales, Shinto/Zen/Tao, or comics in general, you will be awestruck by Sakai's Usagi Yojimbo.... Stan Sakai creates whole moods with his art, even when not using words....

Journey to Atsuta Shrine pits two Ninja clans attempting to control the fate of Japan with Usagi and friends stuck in the middle.... Should one faction win, the ultimate villian will become Shogun... the other two can't agree on the best keeper of the sword and all three battle for their worldview.... The finale gives "Cliffhanger" a new meaning!

There are so many reasons that I love this book that I can't even list them all here. This was my introduction to Usagi that has shaped me into who I am now. I used to be such a manga fan, but now that I'm into Usagi, a lot of the manga seem like soap operas compared to what I'm reading right now. NOTE: Read Books 12, 13, and 14 before getting this.

First of all, I absolutely love the cover. It's possibly one of my favorites. My only question is...is that watercolor or acrylic paint? Not to mention that the introduction is awesome. Greg Rucka is such a talented writer that I could feel his voice talking to me. Also, the story is wonderful. When I first saw it I immediately thought "Oh. Funny animal comic. No big deal. Oh hey. A journey. Yawn." Now I'll always regret that I have thought that. Yes, it's a journey to return a sacred artifact. But Stan pulls it of with great finesse that you forget that you're reading a story, everything from the heartbreaking prologue to the thoughtful first epilogue. Sanshobo, the warrior priest, is now officially one of my favorite characters, as is Gennosuke "Gen" Murakami the bounty hunter...and of course the long eared ronin, Usagi!

Usagi is a graphic adventure that you'll never forget and you'll refuse to put it down. Obviously one of the masterpieces of our time. Bravo.

As the other reviewer stated it perfectly, this book is simply epic. It was probably the fastest time I took to read an Usagi book, and the stories definitely prove why.

Reflecting on previous installments that showed the Komori ("bat") ninja, it's easily distinguishable of how Sakai's artwork and storytelling has vastly improved over the years. Before, the bat ninja looked more comical than deadly, and surely didn't impose that fearful look Stan had hoped for. In Grasscutter II, however, the ninja appropriately induced an image of dread and death, and every time they showed up, a bloodbath was likely to pour out.

Grasscutter II is another fantastic installment in the Usagi stories, and an epic continuation of Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi, Japan's equivalent of Excalibur.

I really enjoy this graphic novel, the story telling, art work, and moral tales. The style is wonderful.