Usagi Yojimbo Volume 22: Tomoe's Story

Another job well done by Sakai. Tomoe's been a very influential character in the series, but her story hasn't been delved into much until these last two installments. Her personality and rich history provide so much into the Usagi stories, and the parting pages are unforgettable (especially since Sakai goes into explaining a famous Japanese practice).

Usagi Yojimbo is the kind of quality work that transcends time, genres, demographics, and even age groups. It crafts a delicate and beautiful balance between honor and savagery, cute innocence and dark brutality, simple heart-warming stories and multi-part epics that shape a dense continuity. Whether or not you've ever been a fan of feudal Japanese culture, furry anthro characters, or independent, non-superhero comics, Usagi Yojimbo is a comic that can't help but impress even the harshest critic. For the whole of this volume, Usagi and Tomoe Ame spend time together in the Geishu province, getting to know each other better and taking on the occasional adventure when one comes their way. While there's no overarching storyline in this volume, it's a sincere pleasure to get to know Tomoe better and to watch the beginnings of a relationship brew between her and Usagi as they star in some highly enjoyable stand alone stories. A minor point of confusion about this volume that needs clarifying: "Tomoe's Story," "The Doors," and "Fox Fire" appear more crudely drawn and generally a bit inferior to the stories preceeding and following them because they are actually decade old stories originally published in the Usagi Yojimbo Color Specials and reprinted here for the first time. Creator Stan Sakai took great care to make them fit into the Usagi continuity at this point. This is most evident in "Doors," which would appear to bring back the magic drawing tablet from Fathers and Sons (vol. 19) as well as make reference to the Tengu that appeared in Travels with Jotaro (vol. 18). Of course, Sakai cleverly introduced those stories ahead of this volume in order to make these older adventures fit. "Tomoe's Story" reveals Tomoe's origin, and it's a very good one, even in spite of its cruder decade-old drawing and writing style. No real twists or turns here. It just helps to define Tomoe as a driven samurai and bodyguard. "The Doors" is not a particularly memorable Usagi and Tomoe adventure, but the continuity that Stan retroactively weaved into it is quite exciting. "Fox Fire" is a relatively forgettable old Usagi and Tomoe adventure. "The Ghost in the Well" is the only two part story in this volume, and it's an incredibly good one. Usagi and Tomoe must foil an assassination attempt while dealing with the complications of a corrupt adviser who is trying to stop them. The story seems to intentionally parallel the events of "Tomoe's Story," which I find fascinating. Throw an excellent ghost mystery into the mix, and this is one fine story. It also sets up a new and important complication for Tomoe at the end, though this problem won't take shape until a later, forthcoming volume. "The Thief and the Lotus Scroll" has Tomoe and Kitsune, both rivals for Usagi's affection, meet for the first time. The awkwardness is highly entertaining as the storyline becomes secondary to subtle character interactions. Highly enjoyable. "Chanoyu" might be the bes

Who can say how talented Stan Sakai really is? His creation, Usagi Yojimbo, is timeless in its' appeal, and the collections from Dark Horse Books a must read for those seeking good literature (not comic style adventure, although it is that too). Tomoe is a talented wielder of the sword in the samurai tradition, and protector of Lord Noriyuki. More importantly, she is friend to Usagi Yojimbo, and friend of the people. Mr Sakai gives us several fascinating stories of a friendship, and short adventures with Yojimbo. The Ghost In the Well, the Door, and Chanoyu are amazing. Probably the best story is the near wordless tale, Chanoyu. Between two friends, the tea ceremeony is a spiritual, heart felt, ritual pregnant with meaning. Mr Sakai's art and design on this story is powerful yet simple. With such skill, he is indeed the samurai of the comic industry, wielding pen and ink with precision and skill. Kudos on a marvelous collection. Tim Lasiuta

What can I say about UY? After 22 volumes, you would think that Stan Sakai would start to run a little dry, but it keeps coming on strong and good. I really liked this one because it does what Stan does best: character-driven story-lines mixing Japanese folklore with historical contexts. The artwork is as good as ever. The last chapter with the tea ceremony is sublime.