Usagi Yojimbo: Yokai [Hardcover]

Stan Sakai (Author, Artist)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 17, 2009

Yokai are the monsters, demons, and spirits of Japanese folklore, such as the shape-changing kitsune, the obakeneko demon cats, and the evil oni ogres. Usagi faces all these and more when a desperate woman begs for his help in finding her kidnapped daughter. Tracing the abducted girl deep into the forest, Usagi finds it haunted by creatures of Japanese legend and discovers that they are amassing for a great raid on the countryside! Fortunately, Usagi is joined by Sasuke the Demon Queller, who is also fighting to prevent the invasion, but things aren't always as they seem, especially when dealing with the supernatural!

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Simplicity has long been the hallmark of Sakai’s stories of a wandering rabbit samurai and his various trials throughout a flawlessly researched historical Japan. To help celebrate the comic-book series’ twenty-fifth year comes its first original graphic novel (and, unusually, in full color, too). The tale is a simple one: Usagi follows a tricky fox spirit into a demon-infested wood at the behest of a mother who has lost her child therein. Whereas Sakai’s narrative minimalism is deceptive over the course of the series—small events and intrigues form a much larger tapestry that produces an epic sweep—in this stand-alone tale, the simplicity makes for a story that is essentially one large fight scene. It’s a cool fight scene, to be sure, with the dogged samurai taking on a phantasmagoria of weird spirits and demons lifted from Japanese folklore and meeting up with an ancient demon hunter who holds the key to the story’s somewhat predictable twist. A light read elevated by Sakai’s gorgeous images and masterfully unfussy composition. Grades 4-7. --Jesse Karp

Product Details

• Hardcover: 64 pages
• Publisher: Dark Horse (November 17, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159582362X
• ISBN-13: 978-1595823625
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #410,499 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 Introduction to the World of Usagi Yojimbo, November 12, 2009

By 

shaxper (Lakewood, OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Usagi Yojimbo: Yokai (Hardcover)

Yokai is the Japanese word for spirits/ghouls, and that nicely summarizes this beautiful 58 page hardbound graphic novel in which our main character, Miyamoto Usagi, a samurai warrior bunny from an anthropomorphic version of Japan's 17th century, finds himself battling an odd lot of ghosts and goblins seeking to enslave the world.

The artwork and water colors are brilliant, the action is abundant, and the tone absolutely delivers in the fine Usagi Yojimbo tradition. It is, at times, absurdly silly, cute, exciting, dramatic, heroic and even tragic. Sakai blends all of this together seamlessly into only 58 pages. It's a rich adventure that puts you through enough powerful emotions to more than warrant the $14.95 price tag, plus it's one heck of a handsome volume.

Extras include an in-depth interview with Stan Sakai about the making of Yokai, including samples of artwork in their early stages, a brief summary of Stan's career thus far, and some very nice Usagi artwork inside the covers, on the title page, and a small piece on the last page. I particularly enjoy that last depiction of Usagi having a conniption fit. Quite cute.

All in all, this is a handsome volume containing one heck of a quintessential Usagi story that any beginner to the series could easily appreciate. Plus it features my all time favorite supporting character in Usagi's Universe, Sasuke The Demon Queller, Sakai's answer to Doctor Strange, only more bad-ass. Still, the volume is family friendly and will easily cater to people of all age groups and interests. Whether or not you're a fan of comics, furry animals, or Feudal Japanese culture, Yokai can't help but impress.

5.0 out of 5 stars Hours and hours of reading fun, February 26, 2011

By 

R. Renken (Reno, NV) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Usagi Yojimbo: Yokai (Hardcover)

As a fan of Albedo Anthropomorphics and anthropomorphized characters, the story of Usagi Yojimbo is just plain awesome. A version of feudal Japan as "critters" acting the plot out? Just plain sweet. The back up stories with the TMNT were decent, but, to me, too short. Other than that, I had no issues or complaints about this massive tome.

This was my first "pure" Usagi Yojimbo purchase. If you have never read any usagi Yojimbo before, make this your first purchase. You will not be disappointed.

4.0 out of 5 stars Great!, May 13, 2010

By 

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

This review is from: Usagi Yojimbo: Yokai (Hardcover)

This is the first time I read Stan Sakai's standalone graphic novels, and I enjoyed every page of it! His use of watercolors is absolutely brilliant, especially considering he never took any classes in that style of painting.

This novel follows the same Usagi we know and love, and he bumps into his queer comrade Sasuke (the demon hunter). For those familiar with Sakai's stories, you know you're in for a strange and entertaining ride whenever Usagi clashes ways with Sasuke. It's as if Stan brings out his craziest ideas whenever Sasuke shows his face!

The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because I felt it was rather short. Sure, the story was engrossing from start to finish, the watercolors were done really well, and it's a great introduction into the series, but I felt that it was as long as a single chapter from one of the main series' volumes, which are offered for the same price. I suppose they kept the price equal to a volume because it's a special hardcover edition that's fully in color, but I still felt that it could've been longer.
Nevertheless, given that it took Stan Sakai three months to complete this book, I'm sure he gave it all he had.

With that it mind, it's a must-have for those already familiar with the stories, or a must-read for a beginner (or even after reading the entire series to date).