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Post by stillpoint on Dec 10, 2016 2:32:29 GMT -5
Published: April 25, 2007 Synopsis: "The assassin Shizukiri is known throughout the land as a ruthless, unbeatable killer-a reputation that is about to be tested by his next target, Usagi Yojimbo! Having secretly hunted the rabbit ronin for some time, Shizukiri catches his prey off-guard with the last thing Usagi would expect and the worst thing he could imagine--a hostage! Sweet, innocent, devoted Mayumi has fallen into the clutches of one of Usagi's deadliest opponents. Usagi has given his word of honor to protect her, but he cannot save her and his own life. " Notes: - Collected in Usagi Yojimbo Volume 23: Bridge Of Tears and The Usagi Yojimbo Saga Book 6
- Death of Shizukiri
- Death of Mayumi
Discuss the issue and/or post full reviews below!
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Post by stillpoint on Dec 10, 2016 2:44:49 GMT -5
At first glance I assumed Shizukiri was the killer referred to in the title here--after all, he does kill Mayumi. But then I remembered that one of the reasons Usagi gave a couple of issues ago for abandoning Mayumi was that danger follows him and he didn't want her in harm's way. And he tells her in this issue that he brought her only death. So the killer could be Usagi, in his own guilty view. Or it could be the life he leads.
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shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,860
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Post by shaxper on Dec 14, 2016 19:15:13 GMT -5
Stan did an alternate ending to this issue as well.
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Post by stillpoint on Dec 15, 2016 17:17:44 GMT -5
Stan did an alternate ending to this issue as well. Whoa. Google tells me it was in sketchbook #4.
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Post by thwhtguardian on Aug 26, 2017 11:44:08 GMT -5
What was the alternate ending? I thought this one was pretty good, bitter sweet but good none the less.
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Post by usagigoya on Aug 26, 2017 11:56:09 GMT -5
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Post by lobsterjohnson on Aug 26, 2017 12:46:39 GMT -5
Wow. That alternate ending certainly is different.
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Post by thwhtguardian on Aug 28, 2017 20:40:42 GMT -5
Hmmm, tough to say which one I like more; both are pretty strong though I think the original is perhaps more emotionally charged.
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Post by richarddragon on Sept 15, 2017 22:26:01 GMT -5
I was mulling over this story, and though of something... Usagi never showed any further angst for Mayumi's death.
Not that he should do a "Peter Parker guilt trip"™, but I don't know... Some kind of recognition of this as a failure?
Eh, I think I just like them together too much.
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Post by thwhtguardian on Sept 16, 2017 17:17:40 GMT -5
I was mulling over this story, and though of something... Usagi never showed any further angst for Mayumi's death. Not that he should do a "Peter Parker guilt trip"™, but I don't know... Some kind of recognition of this as a failure? Eh, I think I just like them together too much. I think that if there is one flaw to Usagi it's that occasionally the consequences of the stories don't seem to have lasting effects. It's not a huge glaring fault, but I think it's an unintended consequence of highly episodic storytelling.
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shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,860
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Post by shaxper on Sept 17, 2017 0:12:32 GMT -5
I was mulling over this story, and though of something... Usagi never showed any further angst for Mayumi's death. Not that he should do a "Peter Parker guilt trip"™, but I don't know... Some kind of recognition of this as a failure? Eh, I think I just like them together too much. I think that if there is one flaw to Usagi it's that occasionally the consequences of the stories don't seem to have lasting effects. It's not a huge glaring fault, but I think it's an unintended consequence of highly episodic storytelling. I disagree. Much of the purpose of his wandering is to forget. First his lord, then his first love, first-born son, and the village of his youth -- Usagi has lost a lot and, for a long long while, this was clearly the source of his wandering.
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Post by thwhtguardian on Sept 17, 2017 20:17:24 GMT -5
I think that if there is one flaw to Usagi it's that occasionally the consequences of the stories don't seem to have lasting effects. It's not a huge glaring fault, but I think it's an unintended consequence of highly episodic storytelling. I disagree. Much of the purpose of his wandering is to forget. First his lord, then his first love, first-born son, and the village of his youth -- Usagi has lost a lot and, for a long long while, this was clearly the source of his wandering. The form definitely follows the purpose, which is pretty ingenious, but I still think it lessens the emotional punch a bit because although the losses are powerful when you're reading them that impact fades the further out you move from them. Part of that I think is due a lot to the simple reason that Stan's epic has been going on now for like thirty years now so the size alone is going to numb some of the consequences, but the extremely episodic nature compounds that size issue as rather than say twenty large, consecutive stories over those thirty years you have a hundred stories which while it really immerses you in that wandering feel it does make things feel a little small on occasion when viewed in hindsight. As I said, I don't think it's a huge flaw; but rather perhaps a small limitation of an otherwise ingenious form.
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Post by brutalis on Oct 5, 2020 18:52:18 GMT -5
A lesson in faith for all involved in this one. Usagi losing faith in himself, making poor choices, rash choices while burying his inner self deeper. Shizukiri has no faith in himself, preferring dishonor in all he does and how he treats people, even to having no faith in his own abilities as he cheats, lies and holds back in fear. As for poor Mayumi, even though she talks big of Usagi's skill, in the end she really has no faith or trust and causes her own death in ignoring what Usagi tells her do.
Faith works wonders, moves mountains and can be truly powerful. But only when you believe in, trust and listen to faith's guidance and wisdom. Misplaced faith in/of yourself or others only leads to despair and ruin as Mayumi's tale shows.
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