Usagi Yojimbo Volume 16: The Shrouded Moon (Usagi Yojimbo (Dark Horse)) (v. 16) [Paperback]

Stan Sakai (Author, Artist)

Book Description

Series: Usagi Yojimbo (Dark Horse) | Publication Date: January 13, 2003

Throughout his journeys across feudal Japan, rabbit ronin Usagi has faced many dangers, crossed paths with some who have become his sworn enemies, and forged bonds of friendship stronger than any threat that might cross his path. Collected here are six tales featuring those companions Usagi holds dear. "Showdown" finds Usagi traveling with master swordsman Gen, as the two disrupt the dueling influences of a pair of corrupt families. Neko ninja clan leader Chizu finds herself betrayed and on the run in "Escape!" In "Three Seasons," Usagi is forced to defend himself with the most unlikely of weapons. The beautiful thief Kitsune's tragic history is revealed in "The Shrouded Moon" and "Kitsune's Tale." And in "Lesson in Courtesy," a hot-headed young Usagi incurs a debt that takes nearly a lifetime to repay! Once again, Stan Sakai masterfully weaves together the many threads of intrigue, adventure, humor, and heart in another endearing Usagi Yojimbo collection.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Sakai's rabbit samurai Usagi Yojimbo has been around since 1984, and this latest collection of the ongoing comic makes it easy to understand the character's longevity. Sakai has the ability to make stories instantly and universally accessible. Although the cartoony b&w art and the gimmick anthropomorphic animal warriors adventuring in the legendary past of 17th-century Japan would seem to be a set-up for saccharine or simplistic stories, the series has a grim edge. Death is always a possibility for Usagi. In the opening story, "Showdown," he and his rhinoceros bounty hunter friend Gen arrive in a town where two rival gangs are terrorizing the townsfolk. Of course, the pair sets out to fix things, in a sting that finds them playing each side against the other. Usagi is brave but hardly infallible even though they defeat both bosses, Usagi and Gen end up as penniless as they started out. In "The Shrouded Moon," Usagi and Gen set out to aid a beautiful thief, a fox named Kitsune, in a dangerous mission. Despite the fantasy setting, the feudal world is scrupulously researched. Sakai's blending of words and pictures is utterly assured, and he uses his fun style to great effect. Like the best animated characters, Usagi and the rest of the cast is capable of a broad range of emotions. Blending classic storytelling, flawlessly designed art and lovingly researched period touches, Usagi Yojimbo is a true all-ages comics treat.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Adult/High School-Moon continues the adventures of the rabbit samurai and his belligerent friend Gen after they helped return the sacred sword Grasscutter to Atsuta Shrine in Grasscutter II (Dark Horse, 2002). In "Showdown," Usagi and Gen free a town from two rival gangs. In "The Shrouded Moon," they assist Kitsune, an entertainer and pickpocket who was hired to steal the good-luck talisman of a powerful gang leader. "Seasons" views Usagi through the eyes of a man he was hired to protect, a fishmonger he defended, and a would-be bandit scared onto the right path. The other two stories focus on two of the women in the series, Kitsune and Chizu. Sakai has created a unique world, based on the culture and history of Japan under shoguns, but visually filled with anthropomorphic animals of many types. His stories are well plotted and beautifully drawn. Usagi uses his brain as well as his sword to solve problems, and he is an honorable, admirable character. Grumpy, greedy Gen makes for good comic relief. This title stands on its own, but readers will probably want more in the series.
Susan Salpini, Fairfax County Public Schools, VA
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 184 pages
• Publisher: Dark Horse (January 13, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1569718830
• ISBN-13: 978-1569718834
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #494,307 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent addition to the series., February 3, 2003

By 

Othniel - See all my reviews

This review is from: Usagi Yojimbo Volume 16: The Shrouded Moon (Usagi Yojimbo (Dark Horse)) (v. 16) (Paperback)

Shrouded Moon is another wonderful collection of Usagi tales. There are several tales that stand alone well and Stan Sakai shows that he is picking up several of the threads that were laid aside temporarily to wrap up the Grasscutter saga.
***MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD***

Chizu meets with Lord Hebi to "discuss" some of her recent failures and Kagemaru attempts to use this opportunity to assert control over the Neko Ninja. Who will the Ninja follow?

Inazuma reappears with the innocent that accompanied Jei before Usagi killed him Grasscutter I. And it seems Inazuma is similarly fixated on Usagi.

Most of the rest of the book concerns the adventure Usagi and Gen become caught up in when they encounter Kitsune again.

On the whole, while this volume would be a decent introduction to the characters, anyone seriously interested would be better off starting at the beginning or reading volume 6: Circles to get to know the characters. For any devoted fan, well, you'll probably buy it no matter what I say. And you won't be disappointed.

4.0 out of 5 stars Usagi rocks, but this volume falls a bit short., August 10, 2009

By 

shaxper (Lakewood, OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Usagi Yojimbo Volume 16: The Shrouded Moon (Usagi Yojimbo (Dark Horse)) (v. 16) (Paperback)

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.

That being said, The Shrouded Moon (vol. 16) qualifies as one of creator Stan Sakai's few weaker installments. The volume begins with the two part "Showdown," which, inspired by Kurasawa's Yojimbo, is probably the most entertaining team-up between Usagi and Gen to date. After that, though, nothing of particular interest seems to happen. We see Chizu's inevitable fall from favor with her clan, get a decent filler story that foretells the imminent return of Jei (though not in this volume), and spend the rest of the volume (more than 70 pages) on Kitsune, a secondary character in Usagi's world that I have never personally liked, as Usagi and Gen must rescue her from trouble that she has willingly wandered into yet again. As a follow up to this, we get Kitsune's origin story which, while moving, feels a bit generic and fails to attain the level of emotional depth we've seen in so many other back stories throughout this series. I'm not sure if Kitsune has any hardcore fans out there, but if she does, then they might appreciate these stories more than I did.

All in all, the volume begins strong but ultimately spends too much time on a character that doesn't seem to earn such treatment. As I've said in previous reviews, there is no such thing as a bad Usagi installment, but this one isn't particularly indispensable either.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent UY Book!, March 9, 2006

By 

T. Dornik (Rijeka, Croatia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Usagi Yojimbo Volume 16: The Shrouded Moon (Usagi Yojimbo (Dark Horse)) (v. 16) (Paperback)

A 'must' for all long-eared samurai fans! Very good stories, especially story about Kitsune roots. And art, of course, is Sakai's norm: very, very good!