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Post by stillpoint on Jan 13, 2017 2:12:16 GMT -5
 Published: September 30, 2009 Synopsis: "Usagi meets some old comrades from his days as Mifune's retainer. The bereaved warriors have long been trying to avenge their lord by killing Hikiji, but over the years their numbers have dwindled. Now they have the perfect opportunity, and Usagi is pivotal to their plans." Notes: - Collected in Usagi Yojimbo Volume 26: Traitors of the Earth, The Usagi Yojimbo Saga Book 7, and Usagi Yojimbo Gallery Edition Volume 2
- This issue was nominated for a 2010 Eisner Award
Discuss the issue and/or post full reviews below! |
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Post by stillpoint on Jan 14, 2017 2:19:32 GMT -5
This is one of my favorite stories. I had wondered from time to time what had become of Mifune's other samurai, and here we have a partial answer. And we have another clash of ideals with Masaki still fighting the war, so to speak, while Usagi again represents the more modern view of "not throwing your life away".
I think Masaki and Usagi are both looking for peace. The former has driven himself so far down his path of vengeance that he can find peace only Hikiji's death or his own, while Usagi is looking for it on the road and probably doesn't even know what he's looking for. Usagi's last line in the story that it is not his time for happiness reflects this, although I don't actually like that phrasing. He's restless and he might be wondering what the next phase of his life will be, but he's not unhappy. He has said more than once that he enjoys his life as a ronin.
Anyway, it would be nice to catch up one day with Kenta, the other survivor of this story, and see if he settled down and found happiness.
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shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,353
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Post by shaxper on Jan 14, 2017 8:52:38 GMT -5
This was the story Stan needed to tell -- the solid proof that Usagi and the scope of the series surrounding him had fundamentally evolved into an entirely different entity from what it had been when it began in the 1980s. I still claim "Circles" is where we first began to see that.
It's a disappointing story in some respects. You read a title like that and, if you were there from the beginning, a certain excitement and anticipation is rekindled. You get through the story, and it's exactly what should have happened, but some small part of you is disappointed all the same. Stan pulls unexpected and complex emotions from us on so many occasions. I love it.
And how I love that cover!
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Post by usagigoya on Jan 15, 2017 15:28:02 GMT -5
This story was also collected in the Usagi Yojimbo Gallery Edition #2: The Artist Other Stories.
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Post by stillpoint on Jan 16, 2017 2:12:28 GMT -5
This story was also collected in the Usagi Yojimbo Gallery Edition #2: The Artist Other Stories. Updated! Thank you, usagigoya. |
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Post by stillpoint on Jan 16, 2017 2:27:20 GMT -5
It's a disappointing story in some respects. You read a title like that and, if you were there from the beginning, a certain excitement and anticipation is rekindled. You get through the story, and it's exactly what should have happened, but some small part of you is disappointed all the same. Stan pulls unexpected and complex emotions from us on so many occasions. I love it. When I first saw the title, my heart skipped a beat. Then I saw it was only one issue and not part 1 of x, which should have set off alarm bells. You're right that what happened should have happened, and, seen from Masaki's point-of-view (and maybe symbolically), the title is accurate. |
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Post by lobsterjohnson on Feb 22, 2017 16:25:10 GMT -5
This is one of my favorite Usagi stories as well. It has a very epic feeling while only being one issue long, which is pretty impressive! This was the story Stan needed to tell -- the solid proof that Usagi and the scope of the series surrounding him had fundamentally evolved into an entirely different entity from what it had been when it began in the 1980s. I still claim "Circles" is where we first began to see that. It's a disappointing story in some respects. You read a title like that and, if you were there from the beginning, a certain excitement and anticipation is rekindled. You get through the story, and it's exactly what should have happened, but some small part of you is disappointed all the same. Stan pulls unexpected and complex emotions from us on so many occasions. I love it. And how I love that cover! The cover is great! |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Aug 29, 2017 19:57:26 GMT -5
This was a fantastic story; I knew going into it that it wouldn't be the end of the Dark Lord but the character moments between Usagi, Masaki and Kenta were perfect. I wonder if this was the story that led to Stan wanting to adapt the story of the Forty Seven Samurai?
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shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,353
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Post by shaxper on Aug 29, 2017 21:45:00 GMT -5
I knew going into it that it wouldn't be the end of the Dark Lord In a way, it is though. Usagi is done with him. We'll never see him in the series again unless he decides to commit some terrible atrocity that somehow affects Usagi, and, if Usagi stays out in the rural communities and away from the centers of power and political intrigue, that isn't likely to happen. |
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Post by richarddragon on Aug 30, 2017 7:46:48 GMT -5
I knew going into it that it wouldn't be the end of the Dark Lord In a way, it is though. Usagi is done with him. We'll never see him in the series again unless he decides to commit some terrible atrocity that somehow affects Usagi, and, if Usagi stays out in the rural communities and away from the centers of power and political intrigue, that isn't likely to happen. I think Stan is doing more "episodic" plots, although he did mention in a letters' column he is planning a new multichapter story. |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Aug 30, 2017 18:18:20 GMT -5
I knew going into it that it wouldn't be the end of the Dark Lord In a way, it is though. Usagi is done with him. We'll never see him in the series again unless he decides to commit some terrible atrocity that somehow affects Usagi, and, if Usagi stays out in the rural communities and away from the centers of power and political intrigue, that isn't likely to happen. It certainly does read that way, though I'd like a more definitive ending for Hikiji. While it's true that the series has definitely moved beyond the need of a big bad and I do love how the plots mirror Usagi's wandering journey I wouldn't mind something more event based once in a while. |
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Post by Roquefort Raider on Oct 13, 2017 10:16:57 GMT -5
I hope that the book isn't closed on Lord Hikiji. While Usagi has moved on, I would welcome learning more about Hikiji's ongoing ascension, even if it is through hearsay or indirect contacts. Is he still employing ninjas? Does he intend to someday supplant the shogun? Just how big is his ambition?
I also want to learn more about Lord Hebi, whom Stan revealed to be a honourable character after all (in the pages of Senso).
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