Customer Reviews

Grasscutter (Usagi Yojimbo, Book 12)

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I only just recently discovered the adventures of Usagi Yojimbo, and being a swashbuckler/samurai fan I started thumbing through issue number one at my local library. It looked interesting enough to pick up. The first couple of books were fun, you can see where artist Stan Sakai borrowed from Japanese mythology and other sources, and look a few homages to some of Kurosawa's greatest films. Light entertainment. And then I picked up Grasscutter. What a story!!! Starting of with the legend of the sacred sword Grasscutter, Sakai spins an amazing quest saga. All the elements are there, love, betrayal, friendship, loyalty, honor, magic, monsters, plots, ninjas .... A fast moving tale with surprises on almost every other page. To add even more depth to the story, Sakai cleverly weaves in characters and plot points from past adventures. You don't need to read previous Usagi Yojimbo novels to enjoy this tale, but trust me, it's well worth it!

Stan Sakai's long running series hits an all time high with this ambitious story mixing history, mythology, and his own unique universe of anthropomorphic characters.

The book begins delving in Japan's mythological past to tell story of the origin of "Grasscutter," one of the three sacred treasures given to the Emperor of Japan, and how it was lost in a battle that decided the fate of who should rule the nation. This trade paperback contains copious notes on Japanese history and mythology so it is much more than just reading a comic book.

This story includes other storylines that have appeared as loose threads in previous books and they all tie neatly together in a well thought out epic confrontation, including a climatic showdown between Usagi and long time nemisis, the demonic Jei.

I would recommend this series to more than just fans of comic books and graphic novels. It's just an excellent story. Period.

Stan Sakai gives us a glimpse of the mythos of the creation of Japan. A sword - Murakumo-nu-tsurugi - from this legend resurfaces in the age of Usagi Yojimbo. The sword was once in the possession of the Emperor but vanished beneath the ocean. Desperate samurai seek to reclaim the sword as Usagi stumbles upon it. Usagi slowly realizes the potential danger of this sword and wishes that he had never found it. When the sword is taken away from him he charges after it realizing that the sword could cause civil war in his beloved Japan. In this book Usagi again meets the bountyhunter Gen, the mad samurai Jei, priest Shobo and the lightning fast samurai-ko - Inazuma. Outstanding artistry from Sakai and awesome swordplay from Miyamoto Usagi. In the end of this book Stan Sakai writes about the myths that inspire him to write these stories and explain these myths. Really interesting if you want to know more about japanese mythology.

It's 2010, and I'm barely reading this for the first time.
Last year I got into Usagi Yojimbo for the first time, and, at first, I wanted to hate this series. The first few books had me pondering has to how in the world anyone can enjoy this franchise as much as they do. However, due to an Amazon.com reviewer's urges, I pressed on.

When I read Daisho, and then Grasscutter, I now understand why people look forward to reading Stan Sakai's masterful work.

Grasscutter tells the powerful story of a legendary sword (complete with a brief, introductory history recreation by Sakai) and Usagi's quest with the sword in his day. I won't tell you what happens to avoid spoilers, but, dear readers, you are all in for a treat!

The first four prologue chapters outlines the origins of Japanese history starting with the creation of the world by the gods. Then we fast forward to the time of the ruling Taira (Heike) family in 12th century Japan. They are overthrown by the Minamoto family faction. At that time, one of the symbols of the emperor, the ancient sword named Grasscutter was lost in the Inland Sea. The Heike crabs in the sea, have the appearance of the lost Heike warrior's faces (Google the image of these crabs, they are amazing!). Fast forward again to Usagi and the ongoing plot to restore the emperor to power and overthrow the shogun. In this volume, brilliantly as ever penned and written by incomparable Stan Sakai, Usagi stumbles literally upon Grasscutter. The conspirators had enlisted supernatural powers to secure the sword, and it is up to Usagi to prevent Grasscutter from falling into evil hands. Other highlights of this volume include Usagi's on-again, off-again bounty hunter sidekick Gen, and the supremely evil Jei, emissary of the gods. Sakai never fails to disappoint and is able to maintain an amazingly high standard for his graphic novels.

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.

By the time the Grasscutter storyline began publication, Usagi Yojimbo had already been in print for 13 years, constantly developing in complexity, depth, and scope to the constant delight of its fans. Still, in this volume, creator Stan Sakai kicked the series into a whole new gear that shook Usagi's world. Twelve years later, fans still feel the tremors.

Unexpectedly, Sakai begins the 10 part epic with a heavily researched crash course in Japanese mythology. 24 pages worth of masterfully drawn prologues tell the story of the creation of Japan and its deities, as well as the origin of Kusanagi, the legendary Grasscutter sword. He then spends another 24 pages on one final prologue, detailing the loss of the sword and the beginning of the ensuing power struggle over the throne that would continue into Usagi's day. The brilliant audacity of this undertaking is beyond description. It was one thing for Sakai to create a cute, furry anthropomorphic character and enmesh him in a rich and well researched world of brutal Feudal Japanese culture, but to now research and portray the mythological history of Japan and then connect it directly to Usagi's world...It simply awes the mind.

Once the story finally begins, Usagi discovers the lost Grasscutter sword and finds himself caught up in a world of intrigue, politics, black magic, intense combat, and potential anarchy as a result. This one has everything, from Lady Tomoe's finest moment to Gen and Lord Noriyuki both nearly dying, Inazuma undergoing an unforgettable transformation, and Usagi's final epic confrontation with Jei...or is it?

In Grasscutter, thoroughly researched mythology and political history take the center stage in a story featuring all of Usagi Yojimbo's best loved characters as they fight ferociously for the destiny of the entire nation. Ask any fan what the most memorable Usagi storyline was, and they will all tell you "Grasscutter." Though Usagi's is a constantly evolving story that continues to get better and better after this, his stories certainly never get bigger.

This is the one that rocked the boat, ladies and gentlemen. It's a great intro to Usagi as well as the quintessential read for anyone who already loves him.

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.

In this story , the future of Japan swirls on "Grasscutter" the losted Japan Emperor Sword in the bottom of the sea, wich was the gift of the sun goddess Amaterasu to the first Japan Emperor and the most important simbol of the emperor authority. With 4 prologue-shortstories that tells the old history of the sword, you can inmerse yourself in this tale without problems in this "1999 Will Eisner awarded Graphic Novel".

Basically, at this time the shogun is who have the power, but a conspirancy of 8 Lords, pretend to find the lost sword and use it in a plot to reinstaurated the full power of the emperor. Once again the journeys of Usagi Yogambi take him to the middle of the action and put the destiny of Japan in his hands.

Good story telling where the costumes, and historical facts will be mixed with magic and misterious forces in a fight between good and evil, among a good and detailed art, fullfill the expectations of the fans. You will find here a lot of the usual protagonists, but if you are not common to this serie this can be a good startpoint because is a self contained story, anyway, apparently there will be a "Grasscutter 2" for the beginning of the 2002.