Customer Reviews

Usagi Yojimbo, Book 3: The Wanderer's Road

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Just a little clearifying in advance (because I was getting a bit confused myself seeing a title that says "Usagi Yojimbo book 3" and then a subscription that says "Usagi Yojimbo book 2" and THEN a review that says "Usagi Yojimbo book 6", this review is for volume THREE which collects #7-12 of the Fantagraphics volume).

Okay, let's get on with it: I think the strength in this book lies in the fact that it can be enjoyed by people in many different ages and points of interest. It has something for everyone. For some people it's a book filled with fun, easy to follow stories about a Samurai-bunny who wanders around the country and gets involved into all sorts of adventures. Some more seriously (see "A Mother's Love"), some more funny (See "The Tea Cup"). To others it's also a collection of stories with real good characterization. All the characters are portrayed as animals, but the sort of animal each character portrays is far from randomly chosen. The sort of animal is clearly chosen on the personality of that certain character, without using cliches to do so. And the interaction between the characters works really well. Both in dialogue as in 'screenfilling'. Next to that Stan Sakai has also worked in some really nice references, traditions and customs of the old eastern philosophy which will be appreciated by those who have eye for it. Stories about the honor of a clan, the tea ritual and sacred swords. Overall it's like I said a very nice read for many people. The only minor-point to it (for me at least) is that's it over before you know it. For $13 it's an awfully quick book to finish, which is partially due to it not being a very text-heavy book and also partially due to it being a little short (140 smaller-than-regular-comic-format pages. If you know the book "Maus" you know what format I mean). But about the story itself you're not likely to be disappointed.

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.

"The Wanderer's Road" (volume 3 of the series), is really where so much of this title's charm first begins to shine. We begin with "The Tower," a truly touching story in which Usagi risks everything to save the life of an innocent creature, gaining an unforgettable traveling companion in the process. In contrast, "A Mother's Love" was the first of many Usagi stories to paint a tragedy so rich that it brought me to tears. This is quickly surpassed by "Return of the Blind Swordspig," a story which not only brings back a fantastic character (you'll want to go back and consult volume 1 for the genesis of this conflict), but also concludes with an incredibly touching resolution. "Blade of the Gods" introduces "Jei," Usagi's greatest and most disturbing nemesis in a story that isn't easily forgotten. Finally, the Tea Cup is a fun and intriguing Usagi & Gen team-up (Gen also first appears in volume 1), and The Shogun's Gift brings back Lady Tomoe and Lord Noriyuki while also resurrecting and developing the threat of the Neko Ninja Clan.

All in all, Volume 3 brings back many early characters to help build and expand upon Usagi's world, all while painting rich, memorable stories that will pull on the heart strings as easily as they pump your adrenaline. This is the first of many times that Sakai really seems to outdo himself, taking his work to a whole new level of art and storytelling. Don't miss it!

In this collection we are introduced to Spot (the pet lizard), Jei (demon samurai), and Shingen (leader of the Neko Ninjas). We are also treated to the first meeting between Leonardo (of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) and Miayamoto Usagi.

Chapter One:
A lizard is chased up a tower by a cruel cook. Usagi climbs the tower to save the creature. He ends up naming him Spot and adopting him as a pet.

Chapter Two:
Usagi and Spot meet an old woman on their travels. After accompanying her back to her village it is revealed that her son is an evil money lender who rules the town with an iron fist. Usagi is shocked after the old woman asks him to kill her son.

Chapter Three:
Usagi vs. Ino 2

Chapter Four:
Usagi gets stuck in a storm. He shares a hut with a samurai who wields a black blade named Jei. The two end up in a duel with a shocking ending.

Chapter Five:
Usagi meets up once again with Gen. This time the pair set out to deliver a valuable tea cup to it's rightful owner...for a price of course.

Chapter Six:
Lord Noriyuki has had a sword specially crafted for the Shogun. A ninja named Shingen steals the blade but runs into Usagi along the way. After a series of mind games Usagi returns the blade to Noriyuki.

Bonus (not affiliated with a storyline):
Leonardo (TMNT) somehow ends up in Feudal Japan. He ends up in a battle against a horde of Samurai. At the same time Miyamoto Usagi runs into a horde of Ninjas. After dispatching the hordes Usagi and Leonardo mistake each other for enemies and prepare to do battle.

Like almost every Usagi novel this one is great for the whole family. I strongly recommend this for any Miyamoto fans or to anyone looking for a fun quick read.

(Note: The photo on amazon shows the cover of "Book 2: Samurai" but don't worry...This is indeed "Book 3: Wanderer's Road.")

It starts out pretty much the same as any other book in the series Usagi going on little adventures and righting small wrongs but this book also makes old rivalries establlished in the first volume continue. Usagi encounters Ino once again, who hasn't forgotten his vow to kill him and an even cooler new foe who takes the cliche, dead horse, completely predictable theme of deluded people thinking they can become(or are) God(s) and makes it entertaining again. Quite ann accommplishment. It kept me on the edge of my seat with excitement.

Before that there is a story I found to be both creepy and a tearjerker, (primarily the latter) called "A Mother's Love."
With an ending so tragic I had to set the book aside awhile just until I could get the nerve to finish it. I recommend this book although (as I failed to mention in my previous reviews) I don't believe this series to be appropriate for very small children although it is a comic book in black and white it's pretty clear what little pools of black ink flowing from an animal is supposed to represent.

The series also embraces japanese lore as well so be advised if you're sensitive about certain beliefs although they don't play an exactly large role in the story at all.

I'll keep this one simple, folks; READ THIS BOOK! READ ALL OF THEM!
Stan Sakai is a genius, pure and simple. The art is great, the characters compelling, and the action bloody and so hard-core a certain berserker mutant would stand back in awe. This is NOT a fuzzy animal book; there just happen to be mostly non-human people in it.

Once again, Stan Sakai delivers a mix of touching and funny adventures. With Spot, Gen and others all getting to share some page time, readers won't be disappointed. In this volume, Mr. Sakai continues to flesh out the characters and establish their personalities. His art, too, improves with every stroke.

I know that saying a book is good for all ages is something of a cliche, but I can't think of another book for which it is more true. In my family, we all fight over who gets to read the new Usagi first, from the children who are enjoying the bunnies to the adults enjoying the culture, stories and characterizations. This is an amazing series.

You'll see from my previous reviews that I was disappointed by the first installment of the Fantagraphics comics, but was slightly redeemed by the second. Well, this volume started to get me hooked.

Although I think Sakai's animation is slightly under-par, I think his storytelling is fantastic and uses the characters and ambiance extremely well. Usagi Yojimbo begins getting a solid personality with this issues' preceding volume, and continues well through this book.
The other main characters of the book (NB: no character stays with Usagi throughout every single strip, as he is a ronin ("masterless samurai"); the "main" characters are those that have a recurring appearance throughout the books) are memorable and do justice to add to the richness of the history of Usagi.

I don't know much about Japanese samurai history, so I'm not sure if these comics are meant to follow in parallel to true historical accounts, or just stories made up but set in Japanese environments. All in all, though, they are very compelling, despite the fact that they're short.

If you're disappointed by the first stories of Usagi Yojimbo--as I was--fear not: It gets better.