Usagi Yojimbo Book 7 [Paperback]

Stan Sakai (Author), Sergio Aragones (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 13, 1996

The novel-length title story relates the heretofore untold story of the mercenary swordsrhino Gennosuke. This volume also introduces a new romantic interest for Usagi, tells the final fate of the Blind Swordspig, and more!

The seventh volume in this legendary series about a wandering rabbit samurai in feudal Japan is now available in a newly redesigned edition! This dense tome collects issues 32 through 38 of the original Usagi series as well as the Usagi strip from Critters #38. In addition to the novel-length "Gen's Story," which forms the centerpiece of this volume, and which relates the heretofore untold story of the mercenary swordsrhino Gennosuke, Usagi Yojimbo Book 7 includes "Kitsune" (introducing a new romantic interest for Usagi), "The Last Ino Story" (the final fate of the Blind Swordspig Zato-Ino), "The Return of Kitsune," and "Broken Ritual," a tale of hara-kiri based on an idea by Sergio Aragonés, who also contributes this volume's introduction. This perennial favorite features dragons, ghosts, demons, bats and more, all in set in Sakai's warrior landscape. A classic! Black-and-white comics throughout

Editorial Reviews

Review

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 )

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

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: 192 pages
• Publisher: Fantagraphics Books (November 13, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560973048
• ISBN-13: 978-1560973041
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #335,524 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 satifying read, September 24, 2004

By 

Ian Fowler (Denver, CO United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Usagi Yojimbo Book 7 (Paperback)

It's hard to review "Usagi Yojimbo" books, which is why I've never done one before, even though I've read nearly all of the series. It's just because Stan Sakai produces some of the most consistently entertaining and satisfying reads in the comic book marketplace. So you can rave about one book, and in essence, rave about all.

Which isn't to say that no one book stands out. They do, for different reasons. But there is such a deceptively simple and straightforward quality to this series, that at some point, a reader just takes for granted that you're getting something good, because you always do.

For those unfamiliar, Myamoto Usagi is a masterless samurai, a ronin, who travels feudal Japan seeking adventure. And he's an anthropomorphic rabbit. Indeed, every character is a "funny" animal. But don't let that put you off. The funny animals are just a means of making the series more distinct. Sakai's stories are still very basic and recognizable stories of human beings living, and dying, in a precarious and decadent time and place.

The stories found in volume 7 are perfect examples of Sakai's gift. The centerpiece is "Gen", in which Sakai finally reveals the tragic origins of Usagi's fellow ronin and (mostly) friend, Gen (a rhino). Gen has been (and continues to be) a skilled fighter, who never let's anything stand between him and his pay-off. But when the two samurai have a chance encounter with a dishonored lady bent on revenge, we finally learn how Gen came to be such a great fighter and why he's taken such a cynical view of the world. The story proves touching and tragic, and makes Gen more sympathetic in the reader's eyes.

Other stories include "Kitsune", introducing a young (cat)woman who's street peformances aid her primary source of income: theft. Kitsune has appeared in subsequent volumes, sharing and amusing and frustrating relationship with Usagi. In her second story, "The Return of Kistune", Kistune inadvertently uses her fast fingers to obtain a letter incriminating the local magistrate. Naturally, the chase in on, and Usagi comes to her rescue.

There is a touch of the supernatural involved in these stories as well, as Usagi encounters vengeful ghosts in his childhood, battles a cannibal demon eating samurai on the run, and helps a ghost to his final rest.

This book provides a pretty good sample of your average Usgai volume. While you don't need to read them in order to appreciate them (I didn't) it does underline the bigger picture that Sakai is painting to do so. They're all back in print, so go get them.

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic, October 6, 2009

By 

romevi (Chicago) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Usagi Yojimbo Book 7 (Paperback)

I've been reading these books in their respective order, and I can say without a doubt that Stan Sakai's skill in writing and drawing improves with each book.

I was distraught about these tales after reading the first volume, but now I simply cannot put them down! Book 7, especially, grows deep with emotion and character with every flip of a page, and you learn so much about the diverse characters in Usagi's world, that you begin to grow attached to them without even knowing it.

Definitely a must read series, whether you're a comic junkie, samurai junkie, or history junkie (or, heck, whatever kind of junkie). Should you happen to find yourself upset after the first book or two--as I was--I implore you to keep reading the series.

This is the last volume, Book 7, is the last addition in the Fantagraphics series, and book 8 onward is now under Dark Horse Comics. But Stan Sakai's masterpiece is in no way tampered with publishing changes. His work only gets stronger.

5.0 out of 5 stars Stan Sakai goodness, May 15, 2009

By 

Ethan Cole (Richvale, CA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Usagi Yojimbo Book 7 (Paperback)

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, it isn't the point.