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Post by brutalis on Apr 13, 2017 13:38:20 GMT -5
Have Saga volume 2 waiting to begin. Been rather hectic with work so have avoided beginning since the end of February since i know once i start the hunger to consume the entire volume in a few days or over a weekend takes over. Hoping for a slow down work wise so i can take my time to enjoy slowly Usagi's days of adventuring...
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Roquefort Raider
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Post by Roquefort Raider on May 11, 2017 11:38:16 GMT -5
Having just finished Usagi Saga vol. 5 and waiting to replenish my finances to get vol. 6, I restarted the Fantagraphics volume reprinting the early adventures. It's nice, now that I know more about the characters, to see all the foreshadowing that Stan had put in those early tales.
I was also surprised to see another human character apart from Lord Hikiji. (Well, she was a shape-changer so perhaps it doesn't count).
I had also forgotten that it was Hikiji himself who had killed Usagi's father, making our hero's grudge doubly personal.
Finally, trying to translate the Japanese symbols that Stan sometimes uses, I realize that it's a very good thing I didn't go to school in Japan. I'd still be in kindergarten, trying to learn my letters!!! The different scripts are lovely, but boy! That's a whole lot of symbols!!!
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Post by hondobrode on May 27, 2017 22:24:06 GMT -5
Just finished the original Fanta run. Had only ever seen the first issue ever available in a bargain bin once back in the old days.
Tried all day yesterday to download Usagi Yojimbo Saga volume 1 and it kept having issues.
Living with my parents temporarily out in the country. Part of it is the geography.
Taking my iPad into town when I run errands to stop by the library and use their wi-fi to download more YU.
Really loving it.
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Post by thwhtguardian on Aug 13, 2017 15:16:11 GMT -5
I just got the new Saga: Legends book and it was my first experience with Space Usagi and it was a blast.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2017 15:24:37 GMT -5
I read Saga Vol. 1 and 2 while I was recuperating from surgery. I need to start picking up the rest and fill in the Fantagraphics volumes I am missing (I have the first 2).
-M
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Post by richarddragon on Aug 13, 2017 21:36:29 GMT -5
I've just finished re-reading Sagas 1-6. Will buy and start on 7, then start my way up the Fantagraphics (although Gen's book - #7 - was the first one I read). Oh, I also bought and read Legends.
BTW, I might be wrong, seeing that the last story I read was released almost 9 years ago, but I've got the impression Stan hasn't done much with Gen or Stray Dog lately.
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Aug 13, 2017 21:50:38 GMT -5
Welcome to the community, Richard! We're very glad to have you. I've just finished re-reading Sagas 1-6. Will buy and start on 7, then start my way up the Fantagraphics (although Gen's book - #7 - was the first one I read). Oh, I also bought and read Legends. Just to be clear, The Fantagraphics volume was printed before the ones that appear in the Saga editions. You probably already know that, but your post left me unsure  You're correct. I think Stan has enjoyed discovering newer characters in Usagi's world and giving them a chance to play. While I miss Gen a lot, I haven't regretted the decision to explore other people and places. Plus, time away from friends gives Usagi opportunities to grow as well. |
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Post by richarddragon on Aug 14, 2017 8:04:43 GMT -5
Thank you! Hope to contribute to the discussions I've just finished re-reading Sagas 1-6. Will buy and start on 7, then start my way up the Fantagraphics (although Gen's book - #7 - was the first one I read). Oh, I also bought and read Legends. Oh I do know that, but I began with the Saga editions and I don't want to lose momentum. Besides, the good thing about UY is that you can jump in at any given point and follow the series thereafter. Thanks for pointing it out, anyway  I miss Gen a lot (can you tell?) and I love his dynamics with Stray Dog. But, barring a few exceptions here and there, I think all UY characters are fun, which is why I love the series so much in the first place. Another thing that I dislike is killing off promising characters, such as Koji and Mayumi. Stan's got good story reasons for that, of course, but I'd have loved to see more of them (I think in the first case a flashback story might be done). |
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Aug 14, 2017 11:37:22 GMT -5
Another thing that I dislike is killing off promising characters, such as Koji and Mayumi. Stan's got good story reasons for that, of course, but I'd have loved to see more of them (I think in the first case a flashback story might be done). I truly respect when Stan does this, as it shows he has enough respect for his characters to allow their stories to end. In my personal opinion, he did this best with Zato Ino, the Blind Swordspig. Inazuma's also haunted me precisely because the character had so much potential and such a rich backstory yet to explore. Her death was more meaningful and poignant because it felt like her life had been cut short far too early -- and isn't that how death should feel? I think the same could be said of Mayumi. Koji, on the other hand, was at the end of his story. He'd decided that the rest of his life hinged on the outcome of that dual. There was no going forward for him without resolution. And he has the opportunity to live on in Jotoro if and when Stan decides to return to that character again. At least that's my take |
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Post by richarddragon on Aug 14, 2017 12:34:08 GMT -5
Another thing that I dislike is killing off promising characters, such as Koji and Mayumi. Stan's got good story reasons for that, of course, but I'd have loved to see more of them (I think in the first case a flashback story might be done). Hmm... Never thought of it that way (the 'respecting the characters' part). You're also spot on regarding Inazuma and the "death is life cut short far too early". As for Koji, yes, I agree - that's what he was there for. |
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Post by lobsterjohnson on Oct 1, 2017 21:12:36 GMT -5
I've been reading UY Saga Volume 3 lately. I think I'm going to re-read the whole series this winter.
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Post by lobsterjohnson on Jan 30, 2018 21:35:08 GMT -5
Tonight I'm going to begin my re-read of the entire series. It's been quite a while since I've read some of these stories.
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Post by lobsterjohnson on Mar 11, 2018 15:10:52 GMT -5
Catching up some today with #162, Mouse Trap Part 1. Good stuff! Nezumi is a fun opponent for Inspector Ishida. I've really been enjoying the dialogue between Usagi and Ishida, it does a great job of portraying them as good friends.
On to part 2...
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Roquefort Raider
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Post by Roquefort Raider on Dec 18, 2020 9:43:46 GMT -5
I've started the whole thing again!!! I'm almost through the two red-spined phonebooks published by Fantagraphics, which as I understand reprint most of the pre-Dark Horse Usagi.
What an astonishing creation. One thing I regret is that I did not discover the series earlier, and so I am less "imprinted" on it, so to speak, as on other series from my youth.
Accordingly, there are a lot of details that I forget. To wit: Usagi has apparently made his peace with the defeat of Lord Mifune at the hand of Lord Hikiji, and does not seek revenge for his erstwhile lord or anything... However, we were shown early on that Usagi's father was personally murdered by Hikiji; has that point been addressed later in the series? It sounds like the sort of misdeed one does not forgive.
That being said, I'd rather forget about the whole thing; a heroic samurai looking for revenge is not an idea original enough for such a brilliant book.
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Dec 19, 2020 11:10:41 GMT -5
I've started the whole thing again!!! I'm almost through the two red-spined phonebooks published by Fantagraphics, which as I understand reprint most of the pre-Dark Horse Usagi. Everything from the Fantagraph volume. The subsequent Saga volumes include both the Mirage and Dark Horse output. I have to agree. No, I'm not aware of this ever coming back, though I do know Usagi returned to his village in the more recent issues that I've not yet read. But he certainly seemed to get over this pretty quickly. Maybe he just accepted that as being the risk a Samurai must take? His father died defending his village, and that is at least highly honorable. I believe Stan has said before that the original intent was to have the series conclude with Usagi enacting his revenge on Hikiji and dying in the process. Somewhere along the line, Stan decided the same thing you did. |
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