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Post by Roquefort Raider on Dec 19, 2020 11:40:33 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. I liked the fate that Hikiji met in Senso, and even more seeing how Hebi is a honourable individual (for all that he is on the other side). That really showed the nuance that Stan brings to his amazing universe. |
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Post by Calidore on Dec 19, 2020 12:14:15 GMT -5
Here's a question: Now that Usagi has convenient collections, it's moved up on my "read someday" list. I'm wondering, does Usagi hit the ground running where I should just begin at the beginning, or is there a good later starting point recommended for getting new readers invested before going back to the earlier, rougher stuff? (For example, like starting Cerebus with "High Society".)
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Post by thwhtguardian on Dec 20, 2020 13:00:03 GMT -5
Here's a question: Now that Usagi has convenient collections, it's moved up on my "read someday" list. I'm wondering, does Usagi hit the ground running where I should just begin at the beginning, or is there a good later starting point recommended for getting new readers invested before going back to the earlier, rougher stuff? (For example, like starting Cerebus with "High Society".) I'd say the beginning is a great place to start, those early stories are amazing |
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Dec 21, 2020 1:11:38 GMT -5
Here's a question: Now that Usagi has convenient collections, it's moved up on my "read someday" list. I'm wondering, does Usagi hit the ground running where I should just begin at the beginning, or is there a good later starting point recommended for getting new readers invested before going back to the earlier, rougher stuff? (For example, like starting Cerebus with "High Society".) I'd start with the "Samurai" storyline (book 2 of the standard tpbs) as that is the first of many massive leaps in excellence that Usagi takes. Everything before that is cute, but maybe doesn't suggest the level of skill and power the series will ultimately attain. My introduction was volume 1, #25: "The Bridge". It was a simple stand-alone story that showcased the range and power of the series and instantly left me needing more. |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Dec 21, 2020 9:54:18 GMT -5
Here's a question: Now that Usagi has convenient collections, it's moved up on my "read someday" list. I'm wondering, does Usagi hit the ground running where I should just begin at the beginning, or is there a good later starting point recommended for getting new readers invested before going back to the earlier, rougher stuff? (For example, like starting Cerebus with "High Society".) I'd start with the "Samurai" storyline (book 2 of the standard tpbs) as that is the first of many massive leaps in excellence that Usagi takes. Everything before that is cute, but maybe doesn't suggest the level of skill and power the series will ultimately attain. My introduction was volume 1, #25: "The Bridge". It was a simple stand-alone story that showcased the range and power of the series and instantly left me needing more. ,It doesn't come out until March, but if you don't mind the wait IDW is putting out a colorized collection that includes the "Samurai" storyline Shax mentioned, or you can get it in single issues now. I've been buying these colorized reprints right off the racks and they are a fun way to read them. |
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Post by Calidore on Dec 22, 2020 11:14:43 GMT -5
Thanks very much for the responses! Shaxper, I'm curious now where you think the other "leaps of excellence" happened. Thwhtguardian, I'll pass on the new collections for now, since I don't need more stuff or to spend the money, but thank you for the heads up.
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Dec 22, 2020 11:32:23 GMT -5
Thanks very much for the responses! Shaxper, I'm curious now where you think the other "leaps of excellence" happened. Book 3 takes Usagi into a ton of new directions, further pulling upon the heart strings with The Tower and A Mother's Love, introducing his darkest and greatest villain in Blade of the Gods", and complicating/humanizing Gen's character in The Tea Cup. The Dragon Bellow Conspiracy is simply epic. In A Kite Story, Stan begins to experiment with telling stories more interested in emphasizing the intricate details of history than in the standard conflicts and fight scenes. The Bridge is a masterpiece of tone. Stan writes and draws darker and more menacing than ever before. Circles utterly complicates Usagi as a protagonist, taking him off the path of perfectly disciplined samuarai and turning him into a more flawed and human character with whom we can better empathize. The Last Ino Story will break your heart. Stan's writing and plotting matures on a whole other level in A Promise In the Snow. The plot is remarkably similar to things Stan had already written, but the delivery...! Grasscutter takes the epic proportions Stan first unleashed in The Dragon Bellow Conspiracy and multiplies it by ten. In The Hairpin Murders, Stan learns to let other characters shine and take over the spotlight from time to time. In Grasscutter II, Stan learns how to scale down his epic storylines and tell a story that is both smaller and scale and yet exponentially larger in human drama. Usagi further develops as a complicated protagonist in Dual at Kitanoji. Chanoyu is simply the finest story Stan has ever done. The true apex of Usagi. The River Rising depicts a significantly transformed Usagi who truly values the preservation of human life above all else. I have not read any of the new IDW Usagi stories, so I cannot comment on whether Usagi has leapt forward once again, but I'll know as soon as IDW releases an omnibus edition! |
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Post by Calidore on Dec 23, 2020 20:40:11 GMT -5
Wow, much more detail than I was expecting. Many thanks again for taking the time!
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shaxper
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Posts: 22,860
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Post by shaxper on Dec 23, 2020 23:33:48 GMT -5
Wow, much more detail than I was expecting. Many thanks again for taking the time! It's too amazing a series to keep quiet about! |
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Post by brutalis on Jan 17, 2021 23:35:44 GMT -5
Wow, much more detail than I was expecting. Many thanks again for taking the time! It's too amazing a series to keep quiet about! Yes indeed. I buy the single issues new and then use them to pass along to others just for spreading the joy. Then I get to see others becoming interested as new readers. Most are just casual introductions and a few have become loyal followers steadily buying up the collected editions or new issues as they come out. |
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