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Post by thwhtguardian on Nov 26, 2014 11:11:03 GMT -5
I only recently, this summer in Boston, and I was very impressed by just how humble and genuinely caring Stan was. When I brought him my copy of the Sakai Project and told him the lengths I went to get it because I wanted to help him and his family in my own small way he reached across the table and touched my hand in thanks and it really stayed with me.
My heart truly goes out to him and those he loves.
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Post by coke & comics on Nov 27, 2014 11:03:52 GMT -5
"The music of heaven" Usagi Yojimbo #7 (April, 1994) Reprinted in Usagi Yojimbo Book 9: Daisho Colors by Tom Luth  Summary: Miyamoto Usagi encounters Omori Kazan, a Komuso priest of the Fuke sect of Zen Buddhism. Komuso are "the monks of emptiness". They wear a tengai over their head to symbolize their detachment from the world. The Komusu plays the shakuhachi, a wind instrument. Usagi is impressed by his playing, but the Komuso explains he can only play the music of mortals, which pales in comparison to the music of nature, which most men have forgotten how to hear, and to the music of heaven, which he himself has never heard. The two share a meal and camp together. In the morning, the last surviving member of Shi, and band of four assassins Usagi had recently fought kills the Komuso to steal his clothes and ambush Usagi. Usagi overcomes him and finds the dying Komusu. The Komusu dies with a smile on his face, finally hearing the music he has longed so hard to hear. Usagi bids farewell to his pack of lizards, who choose to remain at the Komusu's grave. Thoughts: This is one of the best single issues yet. It is an excellent example of one of my favorite things about this series, Stan's ability to tie a lesson about Japanese culture of the time seamlessly into the plot. Here we learn a bit about a religious sect, music, and the intersection of music and faith. It all flows naturally into a story that really no words can do justice to. The warmth of the friendship between the two wanderers, the tragedy of the senseless death, but the beauty Sakai is able to find in the death... the ending of this issue is high among the great moments of this series. Prior to this, I had expressed dissatisfaction with the new series, with the first 6 issues failing to satisfy as richly as the previous series had. This issue turns around the new series and assures us there are many great Usagi stories to come. |
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Post by coke & comics on Nov 27, 2014 11:05:14 GMT -5
While I always found this issue poignant, reading it today carried a particular weight in the wake of Sharon's passing on Tuesday.
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Post by coke & comics on Nov 29, 2014 20:25:24 GMT -5
"Blood money" Usagi Yojimbo #8 (June, 1994) Reprinted in Usagi Yojimbo Book 9: Daisho Also known as, "The gambler, the widow, and the ronin." Colors by Tom Luth  Summary: A gambler is partnered with the swordsman Kedamono, going town to town and winning money betting on Kedamono's duels; the gambler had been partnered with Shubo before Shubo was slain by Usagi. He finds Kedamono to be an inferior swordsman and less reputable partner, spending his winning on drink, whereas Shubo supported his family. After winning a duel, Kedamono and the gambler go to an inn to celebrate. Kuniyo, widow of Shubo, sees the gambler, whom she holds responsible for her husband's death. She now waits tables at the inn to provide for her son Etsuro. Miyamoto Usagi comes to town and ends up at the same inn. He sees Kedamono throw a guy out for not liking his looks. After accidentally bumping into Kedamono, Usagi apologizes. The gambler sees an opportunity to get rid of Kedamono and make a profit. He arranges a duel between Kedamono and Usagi, knowing Usagi will win and betting on Usagi. As expected, Usagi kills Kedamono, then leaves town. The gambler returns to the inn to celebrate, and is fatally poisoned by Kuniyo. Thoughts: "What fools we have in this world, to have mistaken honor for weakness." That theme is one Stan returns to frequently, that Usagi's politeness leads people to underestimate him. (Stan Sakai himself is a very polite person, so I won't be challenging him to any duels.) This issue is very unsubtle and repeats that lesson in several ways, as characters repeatedly and explicitly point to an apology Usagi made to decide he must be weak. (I wonder if this is a statement on modern politics...) This story is a follow-up to "The Duel", one of the greatest single issues stories of Usagi Yojimbo thus far. This story keeps the basic "intersecting stories" idea of The Duel (a format also seen in "Kite Story"). In the Duel, Usagi duels and kills a samurai named Shubo, who dueled for money to support his wife Kuniyo and their child. He was supported in this by an unnamed gambler, whose fate at the end of the story is uncertain, though we last saw him attacked by a mob. Shubo was a notable character in Usagi's history because he killed another student of Katsuichi's, which gave Usagi the first hints that Katsuichi was alive. Stan adds a small touch that the innkeeper for whom Kuniyo works is something of a pig (well a bear, but a metaphorical pig) who mistreats Kuniyo and makes inappropriate sexual demands of her. It is a small part of the comic. The inkeeper appears in only three panels and is not named, but as a touch it emphasizes how hard life has been for Kuniyo, and helps motivate her actions at the end of the story. In all this is a good story, simple and unsubtle in motif, but where the conflict springs from history and the characters. Each character has their own motivations, and everything is an outcome of those. As in the previous duel, Usagi is a minor character in the story, providing only a means to an end. Coincidence plays its role by bringing all the characters together, to the same inn at the same time. Neither Usagi nor Kuniyo know who the other is, so we are able to get an interesting scene where they discuss the tragedy of Shubo's death with neither knowing he died at Usagi's hands. The last two issues represent a return to form for the series, and Book 9 is off to a much better start than Book 8. These past few issues have been tightly bound continuity-wise. Mostly they are one-off stories that could go anywhere, but each has had details which bind it to previous issues. The previous issue featured the lizards from issue 6 and the last survivor of Shi from issue 5. This issue features Usagi mentioning heading to a temple to return the priest's flute. The gambler remains unnamed in this issue, his final appearance. Stan changed the name of the story from its original appearance to the trade. Does anybody know why? |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Nov 29, 2014 20:37:45 GMT -5
One of the few comics that has actually made me sad, which is pretty impressive as it involves a character that before this issue we didn't even know. |
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Nov 29, 2014 21:00:17 GMT -5
"What fools we have in this world, to have mistaken honor for weakness." A homemade poster of Usagi, walking off in silhouette, is displayed in my classroom with that very quote beneath it. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 30, 2014 21:47:18 GMT -5
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Post by coke & comics on Dec 6, 2014 11:02:09 GMT -5
"Slavers" Usagi Yojimbo #9-10 (August 1994) Reprinted in Usagi Yojimbo Book 9: Daisho Colors by Tom Luth  Summary: A group of bandits led by General Fuji has enslaved Higashi village in order to sell their harvest. Hiro, son of the village headman Noburo managed to escape. Pursued by four of the bandits, one a skilled archer, he comes across Miyamoto Usagi, who kills three of the bandits and ties the archer to a tree. Usagi agrees to help, telling Hiro to go and bring the authorities. Usagi pretends to join the gang to scope out the situation and make contact with Noburo. But his ploy is revealed when the escaped archer returns to reveal who he is. Surprised and outnumbered, Usagi is taken prisoner. General Fuji seeks to break Usagi's spirit before killing him. Usagi is dunked in water, then tied suspended from rope in the hot sun. Fuji steals Usagi's swords. After escaping, the archer thought he had killed Hiro, but he was mistaken. Hiro hurried back, without the authorities, to free Usagi. Usagi carries a lockpick in his sword, which he uses to free the villagers. He then leads the villagers in revolt to overcome the brigands. Usagi kills the archer in the melee, and the rest of the bandits surrender, but General Fuji escapes. Hiro tells Usagi he needs to rest and heal, but he will not; he intends to pursue Fuji. Because Fuji has his swords. Thoughts: The story bears similarity to the recent Shi story, a village in trouble, with Usagi coming into the rescue. The difference is that in Shi he fights the battle for the villagers. Here his role is to inspire and lead them. In that sense it has more in common with the Blood Wings story. The Blood Wing story is in general superior to this one, but this has much to recommend it. Stan makes repeated use of a few scene-setting panels, often closely zoomed in on a detail. The first is to create the mood of the opening chase scene. Then later to give a sense of the work going on under the hot sun. The first image of Usagi in this comic is well done, as he looks frightening and imposing. Although we know who he is, it makes sense that Hiro is at first scared and mistakes him for a bandit. Only when Usagi proves he is frightening, but directs his strength at the bad guys does Hiro appreciate that he has found a champion. A notable aspect of the issue is Usagi's initial defeat. It is easy to mistake him for being invincible. And here he is overcome not by skilled swordsmen, but by drunken brutes who basically pile on top of him. Surprise, numbers, and a precarious position at the edge of a step in closed quarters all work against him. In defeat, Stan shows us how tough Usagi truly is. Beaten and strung up in the hot sun, he should be greatly weakened. But such is his will that this does not show. When Hiro frees him, he seems as tough as ever. Even after the battle, it is clearly time to lie down, but Usagi remains fiercely determined. The final panel of this story is a favorite of mine. The intensity in Usagi's face as he yells, "He has my swords!" truly conveys their importance to him. This brilliantly sets up the next story arc, Daisho. |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Dec 6, 2014 11:33:26 GMT -5
Yeah, as brutal as it was to see Usagi get strung up like that his determination at the end is really powerful.
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Post by coke & comics on Dec 6, 2014 19:18:39 GMT -5
I am hoping shaxper will reply and we can discuss the story a bit. I know he hates it and partially understand why.
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Post by thwhtguardian on Dec 6, 2014 19:23:14 GMT -5
I know I don't hate this issue but I found the story that this one sets up, Daisho, a little hard to read at times.
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Crimebuster
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Post by Crimebuster on Dec 15, 2014 16:34:12 GMT -5
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Post by thwhtguardian on Dec 15, 2014 16:38:05 GMT -5
....wow...
I don't think I have the words to express just how awesome that was.
All I know is that I really hope this comes out on DVD.
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Post by coke & comics on Dec 26, 2014 23:28:33 GMT -5
"The Nature of the Viper"
Usagi Yojimbo #10 (August, 1994)
Reprinted in Usagi Yojimbo Book 9: Daisho
Colors by Tom Luth
Summary: A fisherman finds Jei lying near death along a river. He takes Jei home and nurses him back to health. Once healed, Jei kills his rescuer.
Thoughts: In general, I favor Sakai's tendency to explain things, opting for education over obtuseness. Here, it does come out a bit redundant. He has Jei recite the fable about the viper which is so identical to the plot of the story as to be repetitive. Perhaps a shorter version of the tale would have been in order. Just a sentence or two.
I quite like Sakai's fisherman. A scruffy look he's used before. With dirt (or perhaps flies) constantly surrounding him. A clearly kind-hearted man, evidence by the plot, as well as his fun song. The opening page of the fisherman singing his song is the main strength of this simple story.
The primary purpose of the story is in fact a simple message: Jei is back and we'll be seeing him soon.
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Post by coke & comics on Dec 27, 2014 19:03:44 GMT -5
"Daisho" Usagi Yojimbo #11-12 (December, 1994 - February, 1995) "Mongrels" Usagi Yojimbo #11 (December, 1994) Reprinted in Usagi Yojimbo Book 9: Daisho Colors by Tom Luth  Summary:Daisho, Part 1: It takes time, skill, and patience to craft the daisho (twin swords) which would 300 years later be wielded by Miyamoto Usagi. Now General Fuji has stolen Usagi's daisho and Usagi will get them back. In "Slavers", Usagi had rescued a village of Fuji, but Fuji escaped. Usagi is in close pursuit, pursuit cut off when Fuji cuts a bridge down, leaving a gorge between him and Usagi. The village headsman Noburo offers to continue the pursuit with Usagi, but Usagi decides to go alone. Usagi finds his way to a village recently terrorized by Fuji. He wants to continue the pursuit, but agrees to stay and help heal the village elder. One of the villagers, Hanako agrees to lead Usagi to Fuji's mountain hideout. Mongrels: At an inn, Gen meets the bounty hunter Stray Dog. They know each other by reputation. Gen had recently earned the bounty on Gon and Stray Dog had recently earned the bounty on Kuichi. Gen notes how money slips through his fingers like water and decides the same must be true of Stray Dog. A familiar informant tells Stray Dog of the target's location, and Gen overhears. Stray Dog tells Gen to leave, but Gen follows him in pursuit of the bounty. Along the way, they encounter Usagi, traveling with Hanako. Daisho, part 2 The four agree to hunt General Fuji together. Hanako leads them to the Moonrise Temple. At the temple, the gang wants to celebrate and get drunk, but Fuji insists on vigilance. Tired of his leadership, Takenokami challenges Fuji, and is quickly killed. The three companions easily dispatch of Fuji's men, and Usagi battles and slays Fuji, reclaiming his swords. But Stray Dog betrays them, taking Hanako hostage in order to keep the whole reward for himself. Usagi gives in and lets him walk away with Fuji's head. Usagi, Gen, and Hanako decide to split the reward on the bandits three ways. Gen is not pleased with the outcome. Stray Dog takes the bounty money and donates it to an orphanage, which subsists entirely on his bounties. Stray Dog's motto is that, "In this world, we all have to look out for each other." Thoughts: I decided to review these two stories together as they are inseparable plotwise, despite being billed separately. Mongrels has its own mini-narrative focused on the bounty hunters, but its finale is too intertwined with Daisho. The best part of this story is certainly the opening. I consider this one of the archetypal examples of Sakai seamlessly blending education with the narrative. The lesson in Japanese swordmaking is excellent, makes you appreciate just how precious the swords were, how carefully their wielder was chosen, and makes the perfect lead-in to Usagi's rampage, with us now able to appreciate just how these swords can mean so much to him. I consider the whole opening one of the best scenes of the series. Several interesting character moments dot this arc. Some work and perhaps some do not. We see Usagi's obsession with his swords almost outweigh his compassion. But his compassion wins out and he takes time from his quest to help a wounded village elder. Fuji is obsessed with respect and victory. He desperately wanted to "beat" Usagi in the Slavers story, and now thinks he has won because he has Usagi's swords. Clearly on the edge of defeat, he will settle for Usagi referring to him as "General Fuji" instead of Fuji, but Usagi will not give him this honorific. Fuji is ultimately pathetic. Stray Dog is introduced in this story and we see two hard-to-reconcile sides of his character. He is willing it seems to kill the innocent Hanako for money, pointing out, "a mongrel only looks out for himself." But this is all twisted on its head as he is laughing and playing with the orphan children he donates money to, remarking that we all need to look out for each other in this world. The final interesting characterizations come from Fuji's cowardly men, who are willing to talk tough about overthrowing the leader they don't like, but back down when faced with him, and yet continue to talk tough behind his back. I think Stan does a lot of interesting things with all the characters, showing the conflicting sides of many people, and correctly demonstrating that people don't always make sense. To my mind, this is one of the best stories of Usagi's new series, after perhaps Music of Heaven. Notes:- Introduces Stray Dog, also known as Inukai
- Origin of Usagi's swords
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