by Nick - 05.06.05
[Now Reading| Usagi Yojimbo]
There wasnt a lot to pick up this week, but the few titles I did get were all great. Matador is a new comic that I picked up because I saw that Brian Stelfreeze was doing the (beautiful) art. The story ended up being pretty cool too. Its a six part mini-series and Im looking forward to subsequent issues.
Lucifer, which unfortunately is coming to an end, is always a good read. Classic Vertigo. I also grabbed a free issue of the House Of M Sketchbook. Pretty nice stuff.
Finally, I got a new TPB of Usagi Yojimbo. Remember the Ninja Turtles? Maybe you saw the episode where a rabbit from fuedal Japan teleported in and helped the turtles. That was Usagi.
Usagi was already well established by then, but that was a nice cross over and my first introduction to Stan Sakai’s amazing world of a ronin rabbit. I know I say a lot of things are great…but this is GREAT.
This is one of the longest running and most consistently amazing comics out there. You may think that because its lead character is a rabbit the story would not be serious. You would be dead wrong. This comic is incredibly deep and mature. It also reads like a moral code book, following the do gooding Usagi and his journey spreading good will across the land. Not to mention Sakai’s amazing cartooning skills. Every issue is a joy to behold.
If youve never picked up a Usagi Yojimbo comic, or a comic at all, I urge you to check this out. The book has been going for over 75 issues and not one has been anything less than stellar.
Lucifer # 61 | House Of M Sketchbook | Matador | Usagi Yojimbo TPB # 16
Usagi Yojimbo! Woah! I’ve actually got some of the really old, gritty, violent Turtles comics form the 80’s, including the first issue. There’s only one well-known western comic book shop in all of Seoul… Your ‘comics of the week’ feature makes me miss my neighborhood comic shop in the Chicago suburbs so much. Great picks, as always.
namor7 - 05.06.05 3:27 am
Did you ever play Usagi Yojimbo on the C64?
http://www.c64unlimited.net/games/u/usagi_yojimbo/usagi_yoji mbo.htm
“I must atone.”
Ted - 05.06.05 12:08 pm
Usagi Yojimbo is fantastic stuff. I am the proud owner of the entire set of graphic novels. I set about collecting them shortly after finishing the first one. The writing is top notch and delves into Japanese history and fantasy in equal proportions. The stories often are followed by important morals but there is also enough action and suspense to keep anyone entertained. The characters are well developed and you will develop an attachment to them.
Definately a Must Read for fans of the genre and fans of sequential art as well.
Philosopher - 05.06.05 6:31 pm
Thanks for the link Ted. Getting a C64 emulator up and running was a project…but now Im playing some Usagi.
Nick - 05.06.05 8:01 pm