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Stan Sakai has, once again, created a wonderful,
imaginative story in which things are not as they
appear. In almost all Usagi stories, Usagi and the
reader are presented with a scene in which all the
pieces appear to be there, but the reality of the
situation is not what the precursory glances indicate.
Having read several issues of Usagi and having read
piles of mystery novels, the plot twist is
predictable.
In this issue, Usagi is on his way to Sanshobo's Temple
to escort the Grasshopper, a sacred blade, to Atsuta
Shrine,when he discovers the temple is under siege by
a massive group of untrained bandits. Usagi blends in
due to the numerous bandits. In the bandit's camp
Usagi discovers that the bandits are mercenaries
without a real reason for attacking the temple other
than the money. Quickly Usagi is discovered not to be
a member of the mercenary tribe. Usagi makes a run
for the temple and is fighting the mercenaries from
the steps, when the Priest Sanshobo pulls him through
the doors. Once inside the temple, Usagi is presented
with the rest of the faux picture.
There is a merchant inside the temple, who has been
attacked by "the bandits," and only he
and his retainers made it to the temple. The reason
that "the bandits" are attacking the
temple is for the chest of gold that the merchant has.
Does this sound off to anyone, besides me and Usagi?
Where is the merchant? He and the retainers are
"hiding". Ummm... you put two and two together
for yourself, or you could go buy the latest issue of
Usagi Yojimbo.
The plot, besides being obvious, is a time tested,
tried and true formula. In other words, the plot is
solid. The art is charming, as it always is. For
those of you who don't know and are thinking that
Usagi is some macho, muscle ladened guy, guess again.
Usagi is a rabbit. Yes, I said rabbit. All of the
characters in Usagi Yojimbo are animals, not humans.
It actually makes Usagi a unique martial arts comic.
I'd recommend you pick up Usagi Yojimbo if anything
I've said about it in this review has sparked your interest.
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