shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,871
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Post by shaxper on Feb 21, 2016 9:22:57 GMT -5
 Published: July 1997 Synopsis: "Usagi is given a mysterious ceramic persimmon by a dying man, and the ronin promises to deliver the artifact to the man's lord. But the simple promise becomes more complicated when Usagi's life is threatened over the bauble! He must run a gauntlet of assassins and unravel the secret of the green persimmon in time to stop a civil war!" Notes: Origin of Inazuma Discuss the issue and/or post full reviews below! |
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Post by usagiguy on Feb 24, 2016 1:09:18 GMT -5
This story was first serialized in 2-page installments in Diamond's Preview catalogue. I had to tell a story in 24 pages, where every other page would have to end in a cliff hanger. Each two page installment would have to recap what had gone on before and advance the plot, but not be redundant so that it would read smoothly when reprinted in a comic and in the trade paperback collections. I think it worked out fine.
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Post by thwhtguardian on Mar 31, 2016 10:05:16 GMT -5
This story was first serialized in 2-page installments in Diamond's Preview catalogue. I had to tell a story in 24 pages, where every other page would have to end in a cliff hanger. Each two page installment would have to recap what had gone on before and advance the plot, but not be redundant so that it would read smoothly when reprinted in a comic and in the trade paperback collections. I think it worked out fine. I love these kinds of stories Mike Mignola did a similar one with Hellboy in "The Corpse" to a similarly stunning result as you yourself accomplished here. That two page pacing creates a constant feeling of true excitement and adventure that was once common in golden age comics but is often lacking in modern ones. As for the plot of this story itself, I loved the intrigue of the persimmon; it kind of reminded me of an Agatha Christie novel with the way a mystery surrounding an other wise innocuous item draws the hero into a grand adventure. I think my favorite part though was how Usagi slew the first group of bandits in the time it took him o toss the persimmon into the air and still catch it. |
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Post by lobsterjohnson on Mar 31, 2016 12:03:26 GMT -5
This story was first serialized in 2-page installments in Diamond's Preview catalogue. I had to tell a story in 24 pages, where every other page would have to end in a cliff hanger. Each two page installment would have to recap what had gone on before and advance the plot, but not be redundant so that it would read smoothly when reprinted in a comic and in the trade paperback collections. I think it worked out fine. I love these kinds of stories Mike Mignola did a similar one with Hellboy in "The Corpse" to a similarly stunning result as you yourself accomplished here. That two page pacing creates a constant feeling of true excitement and adventure that was once common in golden age comics but is often lacking in modern ones. As for the plot of this story itself, I loved the intrigue of the persimmon; it kind of reminded me of an Agatha Christie novel with the way a mystery surrounding an other wise innocuous item draws the hero into a grand adventure. I think my favorite part though was how Usagi slew the first group of bandits in the time it took him o toss the persimmon into the air and still catch it. I forgot about that. A similar thing happens in The Artist, when the artist drops his drawing utensil and Usagi defeats all the assassins before it hits the floor. That was so cool! |
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Post by usagigoya on Mar 31, 2016 13:26:46 GMT -5
This story was first serialized in 2-page installments in Diamond's Preview catalogue. I had to tell a story in 24 pages, where every other page would have to end in a cliff hanger. Each two page installment would have to recap what had gone on before and advance the plot, but not be redundant so that it would read smoothly when reprinted in a comic and in the trade paperback collections. I think it worked out fine. Part one of "The Green Persimmon" from Previews v.6, issue #9 (Sep/1996)   |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Mar 31, 2016 13:56:16 GMT -5
This story was first serialized in 2-page installments in Diamond's Preview catalogue. I had to tell a story in 24 pages, where every other page would have to end in a cliff hanger. Each two page installment would have to recap what had gone on before and advance the plot, but not be redundant so that it would read smoothly when reprinted in a comic and in the trade paperback collections. I think it worked out fine. Part one of "The Green Persimmon" from Previews v.6, issue #9 (Sep/1996) Nice find, I rally like the parchment look of the border! |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Mar 31, 2016 13:59:20 GMT -5
I love these kinds of stories Mike Mignola did a similar one with Hellboy in "The Corpse" to a similarly stunning result as you yourself accomplished here. That two page pacing creates a constant feeling of true excitement and adventure that was once common in golden age comics but is often lacking in modern ones. As for the plot of this story itself, I loved the intrigue of the persimmon; it kind of reminded me of an Agatha Christie novel with the way a mystery surrounding an other wise innocuous item draws the hero into a grand adventure. I think my favorite part though was how Usagi slew the first group of bandits in the time it took him o toss the persimmon into the air and still catch it. I forgot about that. A similar thing happens in The Artist, when the artist drops his drawing utensil and Usagi defeats all the assassins before it hits the floor. That was so cool! Yup, and I love that kind of move. It's a classic samurai/ kung fu movie trope that never fails to make me smile. There was an episode of Samurai Jack that reminded me of this story, where Jack defeated a bunch of bounty hunters before a single drop of water hit the floor; it's just a great visual that really expresses just how fast and powerful the protagonist is. |
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Post by brutalis on Feb 12, 2018 8:57:27 GMT -5
Really enjoyed this one as a whole. Wouold be quite interesting to have seen these as the 2 page to be continued adventure it was originally presented as. Yet it works as a complete story. Usagi tossing the ceramic persimmon into the air and striking everyone down then catching it highlighting his speed and skill is pure cinematic artistry. That it only dawns upon Usagi at the end that the persimmon is a map would never have likely happened if he had not physically traversed the trail in delivering the persimmon shows how much thought Stan is putting into what he is creating and not just using art to tell the story.
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