shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,860
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Post by shaxper on Jul 29, 2014 9:27:35 GMT -5
I think the forum is being buggy. I deleted and reinserted the image using the gui. And the post looked fine in the preview, image and all. You used html instead of UBB. I fixed it for you. |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Jul 29, 2014 13:15:58 GMT -5
I think I would have placed Kites as my number one so far as I loved the way it gave us a look at everyday life, but I think you nailed just about everything else coke. And I'm pretty excited that we're nearly at the same place in the reading, as I'm only a few issues ahead with the start of vol.2
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Post by coke & comics on Jul 31, 2014 0:10:25 GMT -5
I think the forum is being buggy. I deleted and reinserted the image using the gui. And the post looked fine in the preview, image and all. You used html instead of UBB. I fixed it for you. Thank you, but I assure you I did no such thing. I just clicked the "insert image" button. |
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Post by coke & comics on Jul 31, 2014 19:26:41 GMT -5
"Gaki"
Usagi Yojimbo #32 (February, 1992)
Reprinted in Usagi Yojimbo Book 7: Gen's Story
Summary: Tired of getting hit in the head by his master Katsuichi, young Usagi decides to turn the tables. But when he hits a sleeping Katsuichi with a stick, he kills him. Katsuichi's ghost then gives chase to Usagi.
It turns out Usagi had been dreaming after smashing a pumpkin he mistook for Katsuichi's head.
Thoughts: A fairly simple tale about a Gaki, which we are told means "hungry ghost". The interplay between young Usagi and Katsuichi is along the lines of what we've seen before. Usagi impatient to learn to fight, Katsuichi insisting on understanding a philosophical basis for fighting, and most of Katsuichi's lessons amounting to hitting Usagi with a stick.
Beyond that we get some potentially scary imagery, but Sakai chooses to play this short story mostly for the laughs. And of course the chance to draw Ghost Katsuichi.
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Post by thwhtguardian on Jul 31, 2014 20:24:09 GMT -5
I really love how well he balances the horror elements with the humor.
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shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,860
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Post by shaxper on Aug 21, 2014 21:38:25 GMT -5
With the release of the color special, the Sakai Project, and now Senso, I am on a massive Usagi binge and really need these reviews to resume!  |
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Post by coke & comics on Aug 24, 2014 9:38:58 GMT -5
"Broken Ritual" Usagi Yojimbo #33 (April, 1992) Reprinted in Usagi Yojimbo Book 7: Gen's Story  Summary: Usagi comes upon a town, where he hears an anguished wail, and finds all the people cowering inside doors. At an inn, he learns the story. The ghost of General Tadaoka, who Usagi once served with, haunts the town. After the battle at Adachi Plains, Tadaoka and a lieutenant had come to a town seeking food, water, and reinforcements. The peasants would not join the battle and hid in their homes. A rider came through to announce Mifune was dead. Tadaoka decided to commit Seppuku. But the ritual was broken when Hikiji's men came on them. The lieutenant was killed, and Tadaoka ended up beheaded by a foot soldier. Now, every full moon, the scene is reenacted in the town. The next night, Usagi greets the ghost, introduces himself, and offers to complete the ritual as it should have been completed. Thoughts: This is an excellent story. It gives a clear window into the very foreign notion of Seppuku and paints a picture of samurai honor. It creates a chilling atmosphere. We also get nice details, like Usagi observing that he has learned to get sleep when he can, whether or not he is about to confront a ghost. Tadaoka's renown in life had been great, but his death was an unworthy one, and brought him shame. Usagi gave him rest. A touching ending, punctuated by one last observation. "Now if all the men of war were so fortunate." Notes:- Plot credited to Sergio Aragones
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Post by thwhtguardian on Aug 24, 2014 17:29:56 GMT -5
This would definitely make my top ten list so far, I think it perfectly defines Usagi's sense of honor. I mean, this is a spirit that has literally terrorized a whole town, he has no idea if he's putting himself in mortal peril or not but still he goes out to face the ghost not in battle but in peace. The idea that he could potentially be laying down his life just to grant a spirit the final rest that he feels it deserves is beautiful.
I never knew Sergio was created with the plot though, was that in the book and I just skipped over it?
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Post by coke & comics on Aug 24, 2014 17:50:25 GMT -5
I only have the issue in trade. But my version lists the credit on page 1.
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Post by coke & comics on Aug 24, 2014 17:50:36 GMT -5
Let's pretend I put something meaningful in this space.
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shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,860
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Post by shaxper on Aug 24, 2014 17:56:06 GMT -5
"Broken Ritual" Usagi Yojimbo #33 (April, 1992) Reprinted in Usagi Yojimbo Book 7: Gen's Story Summary: Usagi comes upon a town, where he hears an anguished wail, and finds all the people cowering inside doors. At an inn, he learns the story. The ghost of General Tadaoka, who Usagi once served with, haunts the town. After the battle at Adachi Plains, Tadaoka and a lieutenant had come to a town seeking food, water, and reinforcements. The peasants would not join the battle and hid in their homes. A rider came through to announce Mifune was dead. Tadaoka decided to commit Seppuku. But the ritual was broken when Hikiji's men came on them. The lieutenant was killed, and Tadaoka ended up beheaded by a foot soldier. Now, every full moon, the scene is reenacted in the town. The next night, Usagi greets the ghost, introduces himself, and offers to complete the ritual as it should have been completed. Thoughts: This is an excellent story. It gives a clear window into the very foreign notion of Seppuku and paints a picture of samurai honor. It creates a chilling atmosphere. We also get nice details, like Usagi observing that he has learned to get sleep when he can, whether or not he is about to confront a ghost. Tadaoka's renown in life had been great, but his death was an unworthy one, and brought him shame. Usagi gave him rest. A touching ending, punctuated by one last observation. "Now if all the men of war were so fortunate." Notes:- Plot credited to Sergio Aragones
I always loved this story. Had we seen the flashback to Adichagahara yet where Usagi abandoned the battle in order to preserve Lord Mifune's head? This story's emphasis on dignity in death always feels reminiscent of that particularly moving moment. It's a rare skill to get a reader to emotionally connect to a ritual that comes from outside of his/her own value system. So glad to see you back on these reviews again |
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Post by coke & comics on Aug 27, 2014 22:27:40 GMT -5
"Hare today, hare tomorrow" Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #47 (May, 1992) Reprinted in Space Usagi Summary: In the far future, Dr. Takenoko has invented a time machine. He borrows Usagi's katana to use as a focus to bring an object from the past. He ends up bringing the Usagi of feudal Japan into the future. Usagi was transported from the past just as he seemed doomed to die in battle with Neko Ninja while on a mission for Lord Mifune. On the station, the past and future Usagi meet, and clash in initial confusion. When a nindroid attacks, they team up to fight him. It is then time to return Usagi. He unfortunately must return to the exact moment he was about to die. So he gets lent a death ray. Thoughts: The story seems to be fairly tongue-in-cheek and likely not in continuity. (Not sure Usagi having a death ray would fit in well with the tone of the series) Obviously from this simple gag story, a much more serious miniseries will spin off. Oddly, this is one of only a handful of glimpses we get of Usagi in service to Lord Mifune. Most flashbacks take place from Mifune's death forward or go back to Usagi's training with Katsuichi. Stan's design of the Nindroid is impeccable. His naming of it, less so. Notes:- Introduces Space Usagi, Dr. Takenoko, and the Nindroid
- First meeting of Usagi and Space Usagi
- Space Usagi is a descendent of Usagi and wields the same katana.
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Post by wildfire2099 on Aug 28, 2014 11:12:49 GMT -5
I haven't read any of the Space Usagi stuff, but I do find it odd about the katana... Usagi nevermakes a big deal about his sword... it doesn't seem particularly special to him (and, in fact, I feel like it swaps it for another a couple times)... am I mis-remembering?
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Post by coke & comics on Aug 28, 2014 16:48:38 GMT -5
I haven't read any of the Space Usagi stuff, but I do find it odd about the katana... Usagi nevermakes a big deal about his sword... it doesn't seem particularly special to him (and, in fact, I feel like it swaps it for another a couple times)... am I mis-remembering? You are. The sword is the "soul of the samurai" and it stands to reason Usagi would treat his sword as such. As of yet there has been no swapping. This is the first indication Usagi's sword is at all special (though likely not an in-continuity one). There is a story to come that will go into more detail about the significance of Usagi's swords. |
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Post by wildfire2099 on Aug 28, 2014 18:55:33 GMT -5
I could have sworn that when he and Ren were in jail he got new ones, and didn't care they were different. There was definitely a story where they talked about the importance of swords in general and their care, but I never had the feeling the particular sword in use was important... except Grasscutter, of course.
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