Review: USAGI YOJIMBO: SENSO #1

usagi-yojimbo

USAGI YOJIMBO: SENSO #1
Written by Stan Sakai
Art by Stan Sakai
Published by Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: August 6, 2014

There is something magical that happens whenever Stan Sakai releases a new Usagi Yojimbo comic, and that magic is certainly present in Senso #1.

Sakai is taking readers to the future with this latest Usagi Yojimbo tale, introducing new elements to the continuity of his world that makes things quite interesting. Immediately, readers are thrown into a huge battle, with a warlord and conqueror on one side, and a noble emperor on the other. Sakai infuses every character with an immense amount of personality and showcases war in a serious manner that can also be read by younger readers. I’d be cautious to say all readers with this one, simply because of the amount of warfare occurring, but there is certainly nothing graphic that would be too much for most kids.

While the story would appeal to younger readers, Sakai weaves his magic and makes this one special for adults as well. Politics, strategy, honour, and some science fiction are all in play here, and all executed well. Sakai is a master storyteller and his artwork brings a lot of humour to the serious side of this conflict, while also evoking the solemn nature of what is occurring as well. Sakai is so in tune with this world and the characters of Usagi Yojimbo that he seemingly cannot tell a bad story, to the benefit of comicdom as a whole.

Usagi Yojimbo: Senso #1 features the same great artwork we all know Stan Sakai for, and an equally entertaining script that will delight anyone who has read Usagi Yojimbo before. He’s taking this series in an interesting direction, and I look forward to issue #2 and some more Sakai magic.

The Verdict: 8.0/10

 

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