Summary: Usagi rescues a messenger of
Magistrate Oyaneko, once the famous General Oyaneko. The message was a communication from
Lord Hirone. Usagi is escorted to Oyaneko by his lifelong attendant,
Monshiro, and Oyaneko offers hospitality in exchange. Usagi has heard of the legendary Oyaneko and his famous deeds in the service of
Lord Higashi. But Higashi's son was foolish, and his best advisers were driven from the court.
The town is prosperous under Oyaneko and he is beloved. He has directed the building of a new canal, which will strengthen the town even further. But Oyaneko is dying.
As Usagi leaves town, he is confronted by Oyaneko, who desires an honorable death, rather than a bedridden succumbing to illness. A duel to the death with Usagi will provide this.
Thoughts: A powerful ending. We've had other powerful endings: some due to their tragedy; some due to their unexpected happiness. This is the latter type, my preferred (not that it's entirely happy; the general does die). And this is about as good as it gets.
The final tension, the desperate debate accompanying the steeling themselves for the duel, Usagi's brave decision.
"The way of the samurai is found in death."
"The word 'samurai' means 'one who serves'. If you cannot serve your lord, serve your people!"
Sakai has a delicate task, which he confronts often, and in many different ways. The samurai notion of honor is not always in keeping with modern-day ethics. But we relate best to characters who have an ethics we understand. Stan walks this line by having characters who subscribe to samurai ethics, but see also wisdom in more modern ideas.
The concept of
junshi an obvious example. My modern mindset doesn't see much honor/sense/anything in suicide. And Lord Higashi agreed with me. Usagi agreed Higashi was wise to forbid junshi, though he also understands and respects the concept far more than I do. By the same token, there is the question that plagues Oyaneko. Is it more honorable to die in battle or to live to serve one's people? By modern standards, this isn't even a question. Sakai chooses the modern moral to win out, but ties it well into the samurai ethic, the ethic of serving. Sakai will continue to walk this line well throughout the series.
It first became evident to me in the
Frost & Fire story, when Usagi let show that the class system separating samurai from peasants is ingrained in him.
While telling a compelling story, Sakai is setting up continuity and overarching plot points. We learned of Lord Hirone last issue, when the Komori ninja targeted his gold. We get a lot of backstory on Hirone in this issue, learning his connections to Higashi, Oyaneko, and
Yagi and
Gorogoro, but without it seeming like pure exposition, as older Marvel comics would often turn it into.
Many of the animal characters tend to blend together and look somewhat generic. Various dogs or bears. So I appreciate the occasional walrus.
Notes:- Lord Higashi died, leaving Lord Hirone as his heir.
- Oyaneko and Yagi were once vassals of Lord Higashi, who were both betrayed while serving Hirone.
- 1st Yagi and Gorogoro, known as Lone Goat and Kid
Grade: A+
