Review: Usagi Yojimbo #143

USAGI YOJIMBO #143
Written by Stan Sakai
Art by Stan Sakai
Release Date: January 25, 2012

Stan Sakai is a legend, I doubt many would fight me on that – and even 143 issues into Usagi Yojimbo the title is still going strong. In all my years of reading comics, never have I read a title that actually teaches readers something other than moral conflict, etc. Usagi Yojimbo is like opening an encyclopedia about Japanese history and what baffled me about this issue was how much I actually learned about something as common as soya sauce. Don’t go thinking this is some history lesson in visual form, though. Sakai masterfully weaves the discussion of the original means of creating soya sauce with a nice tale of industrial sabotage and honouring the past. This is an all-ages book, but one that falls into that wonderful column of being entertaining for children and adults. This is not a kids book, but it is kid-friendly – an accessible comic that all ages can truly enjoy. The story may be somewhat ‘simplistic’ for lack of a better term, but the lack of an overly convoluted story is part of what makes this issue so accessible and light.

Art-wise, Sakai is as steady as ever. The same quality is ever present and his characters are expressive and lively. My main complaint is the lack of colouring. I know Usagi Yojimbo is a black and white book, but when I look at the cover Sakai’s art just pops in a way that it can’t inside the issue. I know it’s never going to change, but I would love to see some colour in this book. I think it would really take it to the next level.

Pros: Accessible all-ages tale with some really interesting information in it.

Cons: The art is great, but I find myself wishing mightily for some colour to make Sakai’s art really shine.

Verdict: 7.5/10

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2 Comments

  1. steve hubbell said:

    Check out last month’s Dark Horse Presents #7 for a rare example of Usagi Yojimbo in full blown stunning color (by fellow Groo alumni Tom Luth) in the short ghost story “Buntori”

  2. Anonymous said:

    thanks! that’s good to know – I’ll try to get my hands on that. 

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