IDW PUBLISHING – @IDWPublishing
[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]
CARTOONIST: Stan Sakai
COLORS: Tom Luth
LETTERS: Stan Sakai
EDITOR: Bobby Curnow
COVER: Stan Sakai
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Daniel Warren Johnson with Mike Spicer; Walter Simonson with Laura Martin; Kevin Eastman with Tomi Varga; Maria Caligari; Chris Johnson; Mike Choi; J. Scott Campbell with Nei Ruffino; J. Scott Campbell; Alex Kotkin with Ivan Nunes; Mike Vasquez; Charles Vess; Tessa Rose; Buzz with Brittany Peer; Ian Nichols; Stan Sakai and Tom Luth; Stan Sakai with Tom Luth; Stan Sakai and Tom Luth with Emi Fujii and Matt Enterline; Linh Nguyen
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (June 2019)
Usagi Yojimbo created by Stan Sakai
“Bunraku” Part One
Usagi Yojimbo, which means “rabbit bodyguard,” is an anthropomorphic rabbit ronin who is sometimes hired as a bodyguard. His adventures take place in Edo-era Japan (specifically the 17th century). Created by Stan Sakai, Miyamoto Usagi first appeared in the small press comic book, Albedo Anthropomorphics #2. He is the star of a long-running comic book series, Usagi Yojimbo, which has previously been published by Fantagraphics Books (1987-1993), by Mirage Publishing (1993-1995), and by Dark Horse Comics (1996-2018).
Now, Usagi Yojimbo has a new publisher, IDW Publishing. This 2019 iteration of the venerable creator-owned comic book title is also the first ongoing Usagi Yojimbo comic book series to be published in full-color. Once again the series is written, drawn, and lettered by creator Stan Sakai, and is colored by Tom Luth.
Usagi Yojimbo #1 opens with Sasuke, the fox who is a demon hunter, swordsman, and archer. He is in the middle of a battle against “the demons of Mount Funai.” Then, Lord Shoki the Demon Queller (the ghost who is also Sasuke's mentor) appears and sends Sasuke to the town of Kuroyama Mura. Meanwhile, Usagi (“Usagi Yojimbo”) is already in town and is enjoying a “Bunraku” (a classical form of Japanese puppet theater), unaware of how close he is to the evil that Sasuke seeks.
Every single time I have read a Usagi Yojimbo comic book or story, I have enjoyed it – sometimes immensely. Yet I cannot explain why I have read Usagi Yojimbo so little over the past three decades. So I thought that this series relaunch at IDW was the perfect time to reengage this beloved samurai rabbit. So how is the new comic book?
It's good, of course. I am quite intrigued by this opening chapter in what will be an introductory three-issue arc, apparently before a longer story arc begins. I don't think I'm telling people who have previously read Usagi Yojimbo something they don't already know. Stan Sakai is an accomplished comic book creator, artist, and illustrator, and his comic books have always shown that. Tom Luth, himself and accomplished comic book illustrator and colorist, also does good work here, of course.
What I can say is that readers unfamiliar with Usagi Yojimbo will find, in this new series, high-quality and delightful comic book storytelling. Usagi Yojimbo often has the timeless quality that classic fantasy literature has. If you are only interested in superhero comic books, dear reader, you may find that Stan Sakai and his samurai rabbit can still capture your imagination.
8 out of 10
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
The text is copyright © 2019 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.
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