Usagi Yojimbo #130
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Writer/Art/Cover: Stan Sakai
Pages: 24
Price: US $3.50
Release Date: July 28, 2010
***CAUTION: This Review Contains Spoilers!***
“Return to Hell, Part 1”
Having realized, last issue, that they had both been tricked by Higa, Usagi and Kato set out to get their revenge. Donning disguises, the angry pair stroll into town and are met with a group of samurai that are getting drunk on sake they do not intend to pay for. They work for Higa and have the run of the land. One of the men speaks up and notes that the traveling strangers look like they might be seeking out Higa for employment, because he is hiring up samurai left and right these days. Usagi asks why. He is told that Higa is wanting to scare away rivals that infringe on his territory, but the real reason is that Higa is afraid of only two men. This group of samurai have been paid to be on the lookout for them.
The most awesome scene of the issue happens when they start to remove their costumes as Usagi asks, “Do you know what these guys look like?” Freaking cool, people! I’m telling you! A fight breaks out and Usagi and Kato are able to best the group of drunken, sword-wielding samurai without ever unsheathing their own blades. That’s how badass these dudes are. The rabbit ronin then tells the samurai to pay for their sake. Since they have no money, he makes them all leave their swords behind and then kicks them out of town.
Usagi and Kato get further into town, and come to an inn where another large group of samurai are harassing the innkeeper and not paying for their sake. These two badasses run them off, too, just by talking tough. Are you getting the picture yet that Usagi and Kato aren’t ones to be messed with? Any how, this group of samurai go running back to Higa and inform him that the men he is looking for are finally in town. Higa comes up with a plan. He and his group of, what seems like sixty, samurai return to the inn and have Usagi and Kato completely surrounded….
Check out their disguises from the beginning of the story:
The funniest line of the book is when Usagi punches a dude in the stomach with his hat and says, “You ruined my hat!” That’s what this issue is made of. Usagi Yojimbo #130 is a bowl full of action flavored ice cream garnished with comedy sprinkles. Stan Sakai amazes yet again with his uncanny ability to be violent without being violent, and have tough dialog without being foul. The whole family can gather ’round the living room after dinner together and read this comic for a zany good time.
Aron White
aron@comicattack.net
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I had a pet rabbit that was nowhere NEAR as cool as Usagi!
Thosed “disguises” are about 2 steps ahead of Clark Kents. lol
Speech, if I had a pet rabbit I would teach it to sword fight.
Billy, they are even one up on Green Arrow’s domino mask!
You know what…I think I saw a Usagi Yojimbo plush in August’s Previews catalog. If I was a fan of the comic, I’d definitely get it. It looks great.
Sweet! There’s one at my LCS that is pretty cool, but it’s like 25 bucks! Ouch!
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