shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Feb 16, 2021 9:50:25 GMT -5
A few years back, this community generated The Best Usagi Stories of the 1980s. Now that we have so many new members joining us, I thought it might be time to assemble a Best Usagi Stories of the 1990s. So here's how it works: NOMINATE up to three Usagi stories published between 1990 and 1999 by listing them and offering some explanation for why you feel each deserves to be nominated. You can find a list of Usagi stories here . As Stan wanted "A Kite Story" included in the 1980s event, it is not eligible here (produced in 1989; published February 1990), so we are looking at stories published between Volume 1 #22 ("Blood Wings") and Volume 3 #33 ("The Missive"). SECOND up to three nominations that are not your own. This thread will lock next Tuesday, February 23rd, at 11:59pm EST. Any story that has been nominated AND has received a second by that time will be on the final voting ballot (which I will post soon after). From there we will vote on the BEST USAGI STORIES of the 1990s. Please note -- there is no voting in this thread. Once a story has received one nomination and one second, that is all that is needed. Confused? Need me to explain? Let me know. Otherwise, let the nominations begin! |
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shaxper
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Posts: 22,860
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Post by shaxper on Feb 17, 2021 9:14:18 GMT -5
All right, all right. I'll start. Nomination 1: "Circles" turns the early series on its heel, reexamining the simple origin story Usagi once related to Gen and complicating Usagi into a character who isn't always the hero and isn't always right. Prior to this storyline, Usagi was the perfect and seemingly infallible exemplar of the bushido code. After, he was a far more interesting and complex character, on a path of personal growth and evolution that still hasn't stopped three decades later. Nomination 2: "A Promise in the Snow" makes me tear up every darn time I read it. I distinctly recall re-reading this while my youngest daughter was in ballet class, and my older daughter asked to read it with me. She was probably five at the time, and it was her first Usagi story. She felt that ending with me. I'll never forget that. Nomination 3: Space Usagi: "White Star Rising" is just incredible. I was tempted to choose all three Space Usagi storylines, as each takes Stan's art and imagination and lifts from both the restrictions of historical accuracy and rigid continuity -- Stan gets to play more freely in this universe, and it's so fun to take in. But "White Star Rising" is truly the best of the three Space Usagi stories in my opinion, containing far richer/denser writing, some unforgettable characterizations, and an unexpected death that truly moved me. |
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Post by usagigoya on Feb 17, 2021 12:10:36 GMT -5
I will second "A Promise in the Snow"....
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Post by thwhtguardian on Feb 17, 2021 17:22:04 GMT -5
I had forgotten about the past poll, it was fun revisiting those choices; to this day I still think those early stories like Kite Story and the Tower are by far my all time favorites.
As for my favorites from the 90's? Well I'd go with...
1) "The Way of the Samurai" Usagi Yojimbo vol.1 #23, 1990.
I think that if I was going to write an Usagi Yojimbo movie I think the finale would include an adaptation of this story. The idea of the sword as a look into a samurai's soul and the dueling ideals of what it is to be a samurai between Usagi and the aging Magistrate Oyaneko pair well with Usagi's origin and thematically illustrates the evolution that Usagi has gone through from his wanderings as a ronin.
2) "Momo-Usagi-Taro" Usagi Yojimbo vol.3 #25, 1998.
I'm a huge fan of when Stan tackles other genres and this take on a traditional Japanese folktale was just beautiful. On top of the retelling of the fun fantasy story of a wondrous child making good I absolutely adored the framing narrative of Usagi telling the story to the foundlings that Stray Dog manages.
3)"The Wrath of the Tangled Skein" Usagi Yojimbo vol.3 #3, 1996.
This is another tale that I love because it's a case of Stan going outside his usual style, this time giving us a great supernatural horror story. On top of that, this is memorable for it's inclusion of one of the coolest monsters I've ever seen, and I'm a huge creature feature lover so that's saying something!
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shaxper
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Posts: 22,860
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Post by shaxper on Feb 17, 2021 17:58:43 GMT -5
I will definitely second Momo-Usagi-Taro, one that narrowly missed the cut for my own nominations!
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Post by thwhtguardian on Feb 17, 2021 18:05:45 GMT -5
I will definitely second Momo-Usagi-Taro, one that narrowly missed the cut for my own nominations! Ha, I'm glad I could elevate one of your just missed stories and I can't wait to see what everyone else nominates. |
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Post by maichan on Feb 17, 2021 22:02:54 GMT -5
Sadly, my memory isn't as good as all you guys. I'd have to re-read the entire decade, and even then I'm not really much for ranking stories as good, better, best. I'll live vicariously through your nominations.  |
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Post by usagigoya on Feb 17, 2021 23:33:28 GMT -5
Are we allowed to nominate a story that someone else has already nominated?
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Post by usagigoya on Feb 18, 2021 0:24:50 GMT -5
1. Usagi’s Ark (Usagi Yojimbo v1 #22, May 1990) I love the humor, and the story, and I especially love how well Stan Sakai and Ken Mitchroney’s artwork fits together so well. And ninja are awesome….  2. The Duel (Usagi Yojimbo v1 #26, January 1991) / The Gambler, the Widow, and the Ronin (Usagi Yojimbo v2 #8, June 1994) Stan Sakai has a way of telling stories with endings that really grab you by the heart, and the ending of The Duel is one of those stories. Kuniyo has a heart breaking role in The Duel, but she gets her revenge three and a half years later in The Gambler, the Widow, and the Ronin. 3. A Promise in the Snow (Usagi Yojimbo v3 #8, December1996) Over the years, Usagi has had a lot of encounters with yurei (ghosts) during his travels, but for first time readers, A Promise in the Snow does not reveal itself as a ghost story until the very end, and when it does, it seriously punches you with emotion….. (Sorry, I cheated and snuck in a two-part plot line) |
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shaxper
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Posts: 22,860
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Post by shaxper on Feb 18, 2021 6:36:55 GMT -5
I'd have to re-read the entire decade And this is a bad thing?  |
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shaxper
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Posts: 22,860
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Post by shaxper on Feb 18, 2021 6:37:25 GMT -5
Are we allowed to nominate a story that someone else has already nominated? No need to. You can second it and then vote for it during the voting round next week. And multi-parters are very much allowed. In fact, I'm amazed no one went with Grasscutter yet. |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Feb 18, 2021 7:17:35 GMT -5
2. The Duel (Usagi Yojimbo v1 #26, January 1991) / The Gambler, the Widow, and the Ronin (Usagi Yojimbo v2 #8, June 1994) Stan Sakai has a way of telling stories with endings that really grab you by the heart, and the ending of The Duel is one of those stories. Kuniyo has a heart breaking role in The Duel, but she gets her revenge three and a half years later in The Gambler, the Widow, and the Ronin. The Duel very nearly made my list, so I gladly second it's inclusion here! Are we allowed to nominate a story that someone else has already nominated? No need to. You can second it and then vote for it during the voting round next week. And multi-parters are very much allowed. In fact, I'm amazed no one went with Grasscutter yet. Not to derail the thread, but as much as I love the sweeping epics like Grasscutter for the depth they bring to Usagi's world I really find the more intimate nature of the one shots to be far more appealing, and I think they have a far greater impact on me and stick in my mind than any of the big stories ever did or probably ever will. |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Feb 19, 2021 18:43:49 GMT -5
Sadly, my memory isn't as good as all you guys. I'd have to re-read the entire decade, and even then I'm not really much for ranking stories as good, better, best. I'll live vicariously through your nominations. I couldn't remember exactly which stories were from the 90's either but the list that shaxper posted in the opening post is how I was able to make my list...and looking over all the mini reviews of these issues was fun too! |
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Post by usagigoya on Feb 20, 2021 2:19:49 GMT -5
Are we allowed to nominate a story that someone else has already nominated? No need to. You can second it and then vote for it during the voting round next week. And multi-parters are very much allowed. In fact, I'm amazed no one went with Grasscutter yet. Ah ha, that is why I was confused. There was no mention of a voting round in the original post, just something about no voting during this round..... |
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Post by brutalis on Feb 20, 2021 11:16:02 GMT -5
Egads. Are you a teacher or a member of the Spanish Inquisition Shaxper? Choose through an entire decade? What kind of assignment is that when you force us to choosing only 3?!? Difficulty level extreme if this were a video game! I will have to take the afternoon reviewing the threads & refresh my tired aging memories as RVERY time I read Usagi I feel like that particular story is the best yet.
Get back to you later today with my choices and seconds...
Nomination 1. Lightning Strike. Provides a more in depth origin of sorts providing insights into Inazuma the warrior woman. And I really like the concept of her sitting amidst the dead she has killed in telling them her story. Eerie and compelling.
Nomination 2. Black Soul. Keiko enters into the killer Jei's life. Is it good or bad and who is influencing who? Takes Jei to another level beyond simply being the bad evil blindly obeying orders. Is there a touch of light in the dark one or is he bringing out the inner darkness of the orphaned child? Where will this lead?
Nomination 3. Courtesan. A tale of sorrow, a tale of consequences, a tale of hope, a tale often told yet a tale with differences. Which Stan is great at, crafting well known stories of the ages and turning them inside out with exploration of different views.
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