Customer Reviews

Shades of Death (Usagi Yojimbo, Book 8)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

In "Shades of Death" (Book 8 of the series), the inevitable happens. After two minor encounters between Usagi and one of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Leonardo), a full scale crossover comes to fruition. Sakai and Eastman/Laird were mutual admirers so, after coming aboard to their Mirage Studios starting with this volume, there was no excuse left not to have Usagi team up with their Turtles for a big adventure.

Well, actually, there's the small matter of the many centuries difference between the characters, but oh well. Didn't they have time travel back in Shogunate Feudal Japan?

The team-up story is actually far more engaging and less self-indulgent than one might expect. The character interactions are priceless, the plot is compelling and action packed, and we see a significant evolution in the Neko Ninja Clan. This storyline first gives us an opportunity to take an interest in the development of Chizu, the conflicted and persecuted leader of the clan. She strikes me as one of Sakai's most fascinating female characters, second only to Tomoe Ame, as the intrigue surrounding her continually works to shape her identity and destiny.

In addition to the three part team-up, this volume contains a touching story about a murdered child who must be avenged, as well as two more young Usagi stories ("Usagi's Garden" is one of my all time favorites), and an incredibly cute story about the perils of feeding stray animals. The two part "Shi" storyline is the only aspect of this volume that doesn't impress me. Sakai seems to be making a supreme effort in this volume to introduce new compelling characters, but Shi just doesn't make the grade.

"Shades of Death" has a lot to offer avid fans of Usagi Yojimbo, from an intricate, heart-pumping three part adventure to numerous one shots that alternatively warm the heart or, in one circumstance, chill the soul. It 's not necessarily one of Usagi's greatest installments nor a good entry point to a new reader but, for those of you who already love the comic, this is not a volume to skip.

Don't get me wrong, I like Usagi just as much as the next fan, but the stories in here are not the best of the rabbit bodyguard's.

As a fan of the Ninja Turtles growing up, I have been close to admiring anything that sports a red bandanna (red, not multi-colored as in the cartoon versions), but I think that Stan may have been leaning a little too much with a stretch here. Inserting the Turtles was great from a fan's point of view, but it does take away from the "historical-fiction" account of samurai legends, anthropomorphic as they are, and seems a little too cutesy for my taste.
Usagi gets slightly divested of his dignity here--he's one skilled ronin--but the rest of the stories compensate for what the Turtles may detract.

However, do not let reviews disappoint your enjoyment. This review is but a simple and honest opinion from my reading experience, but I enjoyed having the Turtles here, despite them not fitting properly.
Have fun reading it--it's Usagi, after all!

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.

I had known about Usagi Yojimbo for some time, but I wasn't really a fan until I picked up this book. Sakai masterfully blends Japanese history and values with action and adventure. Even though the character are all animals, it takes nothing away from the Classic samurai feel of UY.

This book has one of the best storylines i have ever read. It has everything....from warring clans to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (they show up to help Usagi with a clan of ninja's) Also a look at Usagi's life as a little boy... Highly recommended.

For this book, Leonardo is back to meet Usagi but this time, Leo is back along with his brothers. Meanwhile, the Neko Ninjas are planning to kidnapped Kakera (a Splinter look alike). If you're a Usagi fan, you don't wanna miss any of his books.

The only bad thing about the Usagi books is the fact that few people on Amazon will ever read them.

Yet another fine mixture of the legends of Nippon intertwined with our favorite Yojimbo.

For Usagi fans standard fare, but for those who never have read one. A feast!

Turtles were a good joke in UY-Book3, but to continue their use in Shades of Death was a mistake. Still the book has good elements in it as well. Neko Ninja clan, etc. It is readable and purchaseable.