Usagi Yojimbo, Book 2: Samurai [Paperback]

Stan Sakai (Author)

Book Description

This volume features Usagi's origins as a wandering rabbit warrior in feudal Japan, and introduces many members of the supporting cast.

The bunny's back! Originally printed in the long out-of-print Usagi Yojimbo #1 through 4, this volume features Usagi's origins as a wandering rabbit warrior in feudal Japan, and introduces many members of the cast of characters. Brimming with exciting swordfights, authentic locales and costumes, drama and humor, this is some of Stan Sakai's finest work. If you're unfamiliar with this multiple Harvey and Eisner winning comic for all ages, then what rock have you been living under?! Get your history lesson right here. Black-and-white comics throughout

Editorial Reviews

Review

“One of the most original, innovative, well-executed comic books anywhere to be found.” (Stan Lee )

“I’ve just finished the fourth Usagi Yojimbo trade and the fifth is sitting next to me... If you’re like me, throw away your preconceptions about anthropomorphic comics and get on board. As a fan of samurai fiction (to the point of having a Seven Samurai tattoo) and comics, I can’t recommend Stan Sakai’s beautifully drawn, note-perfect reinvention of the genre highly enough.” (Kevin Church - BeaucoupKevin.com )

“These bittersweet adventure stories offer entertaining reading, especially for young Asian-Americans who feel excluded from mainstream juvenile literature.” (Los Angeles Times )

About the Author

Stan Sakai is a third-generation Japanese American and multiple Eisner-Award-winning cartoonist, creator of the popular and long-running Usagi Yojimbo comic book. Born in Japan, he grew up in Hawaii and lives in Pasadena, CA.

Product Details

• Paperback: 152 pages
• Publisher: Fantagraphics Books (October 15, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0930193881
• ISBN-13: 978-0930193881
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 5.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #331,623 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great introduction to Usagi's world, August 17, 2006

By 

Naomi (Storm) (Texas) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Usagi Yojimbo, Book 2: Samurai (Paperback)

This was the first Usagi Yojimbo book that I had ever picked up, and I was glad I did. During the initial 80-90's TMNT boom, I first "discovered" Usagi through the TMNT cartoon. I happened by a local comic book store and saw the graphic novel on the shelves. I picked it up for around $20 (which was a large investment for me at the time!) and never regretted it.

Coming from a Japanese heritage, but with parents who never really shared their experiences, Stan Sakai's incredibly detailed and superbly researched world was like a look into a world which fascinated me, but one that I had never really gotten to know.

Usagi Yojimbo Book Two is sort of like a "Zero" issue in the way of comic book numbering. It tells the back-story of how Usagi came to be both a samurai and ended up being a masterless ronin. If you like Japanese history, are a buff for great storytelling, incredibly detailed art, and just a plain good read, Usagi and Stan Sakai will not let you down.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Back story for the bunny, January 8, 2003

By 

Othniel - See all my reviews

This review is from: Usagi Yojimbo, Book 2: Samurai (Paperback)

An essential, and hard to find, addition for the Usagi fan. I myself discovered this wonderful comic only recently. I promptly purchased all the TPBs as quickly as I could, and this particular book eluded me for about 8 months longer than the rest.

It is well worth finding, however, as it fills in a significant amount of information about Usagi's origins and early life. Much that is in later books will make much more sense once one has read this book. Unless Fantagraphics reprints this (and at last check, they hadn't and have no plans to do so) be prepared to buy a used copy for more than the original list price.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sakai's legendary ronin begins to find his way, June 14, 2008

By 

shaxper (Lakewood, OH) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Usagi Yojimbo, Book 2: Samurai (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.

Though this is volume 2 in the Usagi series, this is really the volume where Sakai's masterpiece begins to take shape. "Samurai," which begins with Usagi's classic four part origin story, weaves an almost mythological tale of a young, reckless child growing into a serious adult and becoming burdened by the weight of his honor. We see young Usagi dream, struggle, succeed, fail, love, lose, achieve his greatest honor, face his darkest day, and gradually come to terms with the cards that fate has dealt him. This is a powerful, character-building tale that makes you truly care for the character of Miyamoto Usagi with far more emotional investment than you might care for the more serious looking characters found in those other, non-furry comics.

The volume also includes several other stories from the two issues that followed the four part "Samurai" epic. "The Test" is a truly disappointing story, written by Peter Laird as an attempt to help promote Usagi by including a beloved Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, but the story is largely self-serving and makes Usagi look like an utter chump. The rest of the stories are stand-alone adventures that do little to further any sense of continuity or character development, but they are quite fun, action-packed, and often heart-warming. I particularly enjoyed "The Silk Fair" as a story in which Usagi's heroics truly make a difference in the lives of an entire community.

In short, this is a great starting point for anyone new to Usagi. It provides a great entrypoint in the form of Usagi's four part origin story, does much to develop the character from how he appeared in Volume 1, and provides a few classic stand-alone stories as well. I highly suggest beginning here with volume 2. It will definitely leave you hungering for the next installment.