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Post by thwhtguardian on Sept 3, 2017 14:15:17 GMT -5
"Death of a Tea Master" November, 2015 Summary: Usagi meets a European swordsman for the first time, a sadistic traveler who takes pleasure from death. |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Sept 3, 2017 14:31:36 GMT -5
This is another issue I was greatly looking forward to based solely on what was on the cover, and this one didn't disappoint! Once again, this is a simple duel story, one of dozens that Stan has done but this one really stands out. I love the clash of cultures Stan presents us with here between Usagi's style and that of the Spanish fencer that made the fight more interesting than most; I mean it's still Usagi versus an unknown opponent so there was no real way he'd lose but visually it was interesting.
So far we've seen several mentions of the west, and we actually saw a westerner her but nothing in depth. I've spoken before about fantasy projects I'd love to see Stan tackle and I think this one may be my number one most wanted...I'd love to see Stan do a long form story on the history of the West's interactions with Japan.
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Post by richarddragon on Sept 4, 2017 13:57:48 GMT -5
Stan did mention in a letters' column that he is planning a multiparter which will feature European characters, but he added he wants to tackle some loose ends before that. Hope he means Tomoe's arranged marriage.
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Post by thwhtguardian on Sept 4, 2017 21:29:52 GMT -5
Stan did mention in a letters' column that he is planning a multiparter which will feature European characters, but he added he wants to tackle some loose ends before that. Hope he means Tomoe's arranged marriage. Yeah, Stan really left that marriage with Tomoe hanging in the air after Usagi left the province, though the tease in Senso hints at what could be. |
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Post by richarddragon on Sept 5, 2017 7:08:19 GMT -5
There are several loose ends, with Tomoe's possible arranged marriage chief among them. We also could see more Jotaro and Gen.
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Post by thwhtguardian on Sept 5, 2017 19:04:10 GMT -5
There are several loose ends, with Tomoe's possible arranged marriage chief among them. We also could see more Jotaro and Gen. I could go for a whole 'nother volume of Jotaro. |
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shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
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Post by shaxper on Sept 5, 2017 19:39:45 GMT -5
There are several loose ends, with Tomoe's possible arranged marriage chief among them. We also could see more Jotaro and Gen. I could go for a whole 'nother volume of Jotaro. Yes, that's the plot line I need to see resolved in my lifetime. I was so disappointed Usagi and Jotoro still hadn't had the big talk by the time of Senso until the end of the storyline opened up the possibilities again. With Tomoe, it will be interesting to see how that ends. While I'd always assumed Lord Noriyuki would ultimately understand and support her if she opted not to marry (even if she and Usagi somehow discredit this particular suitor, there will always be others), I now think it would be more powerful to have Noriyuki not understand at all. Though, as a child, he clung closest to his protector and default mother figure, he has grown older and is surrounded by other trusted advisers who are shaping him into their own image now. Noriyuki failing to understand and thus dismissing Tomoe would be a bitter tragedy, but it would also free Tomoe up to take on the life of a travelling ronin herself, and that would make for many more interesting stories. As for Gen, I just don't know where Stan has left to go with the character. We've seen small signs that Gen has the potential for deeper wisdom and for rethinking his life, but if he gets to that point, he ceases to be a viable character in Usagi's world. So that leaves him pretty one-note if allowing him to progress as a character would result in making him less fun. |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Sept 5, 2017 19:55:17 GMT -5
I could go for a whole 'nother volume of Jotaro. Yes, that's the plot line I need to see resolved in my lifetime. I was so disappointed Usagi and Jotoro still hadn't had the big talk by the time of Senso until the end of the storyline opened up the possibilities again. With Tomoe, it will be interesting to see how that ends. While I'd always assumed Lord Noriyuki would ultimately understand and support her if she opted not to marry (even if she and Usagi somehow discredit this particular suitor, there will always be others), I now think it would be more powerful to have Noriyuki not understand at all. Though, as a child, he clung closest to his protector and default mother figure, he has grown older and is surrounded by other trusted advisers who are shaping him into their own image now. Noriyuki failing to understand and thus dismissing Tomoe would be a bitter tragedy, but it would also free Tomoe up to take on the life of a travelling ronin herself, and that would make for many more interesting stories. As for Gen, I just don't know where Stan has left to go with the character. We've seen small signs that Gen has the potential for deeper wisdom and for rethinking his life, but if he gets to that point, he ceases to be a viable character in Usagi's world. So that leaves him pretty one-note if allowing him to progress as a character would result in making him less fun. I'd almost like Gen to follow Zato Ino; only he wouldn't have to die. I think the story of him hanging up his swords would be fantastic and then you could do follow ups of him learning to farm and dealing with village life that could be funny and touching. |
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shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,376
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Post by shaxper on Sept 6, 2017 5:14:01 GMT -5
Yes, that's the plot line I need to see resolved in my lifetime. I was so disappointed Usagi and Jotoro still hadn't had the big talk by the time of Senso until the end of the storyline opened up the possibilities again. With Tomoe, it will be interesting to see how that ends. While I'd always assumed Lord Noriyuki would ultimately understand and support her if she opted not to marry (even if she and Usagi somehow discredit this particular suitor, there will always be others), I now think it would be more powerful to have Noriyuki not understand at all. Though, as a child, he clung closest to his protector and default mother figure, he has grown older and is surrounded by other trusted advisers who are shaping him into their own image now. Noriyuki failing to understand and thus dismissing Tomoe would be a bitter tragedy, but it would also free Tomoe up to take on the life of a travelling ronin herself, and that would make for many more interesting stories. As for Gen, I just don't know where Stan has left to go with the character. We've seen small signs that Gen has the potential for deeper wisdom and for rethinking his life, but if he gets to that point, he ceases to be a viable character in Usagi's world. So that leaves him pretty one-note if allowing him to progress as a character would result in making him less fun. I'd almost like Gen to follow Zato Ino; only he wouldn't have to die. I think the story of him hanging up his swords would be fantastic and then you could do follow ups of him learning to farm and dealing with village life that could be funny and touching. but then we'd lose Gen as he currently is 🤐 |
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Post by richarddragon on Sept 6, 2017 5:45:41 GMT -5
Actually there's a lot he could do with Gen, even if we just stick to "Senso" and to Stan's comments.
He can make him find employment with the Geishu. He also mentioned Gen's romance with Kitsuné as something worth telling. He could do lone samurai stories that wouldn't quite fit Usagi. He could explore the apparent contradiction in Gen's past when he said he "became masterless".
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