I first discovered Usagi Yojimbo as an undergrad, and I have to admit that when I first read it I considered it something of a guilty pleasure. I mean, this is a comic about a rabbit. It felt ... so childish to be reading a comic about a rabbit. Except, of course, that the comic is "about a rabbit" to the same degree that Maus is "about mice." Which is to say: not at all.By now, everyone who reads comics should know about Sakai and his wonderful story of a wandering samurai who just happens to be a rabbit. The story is wonderful, and Sakai has a way of teaching us about Feudal Japan in a way that never feels heavy handed or boring. The art is so delightfully smooth, simple, and expressive, how can we not be touched by it?
No one but Stan Sakai could draw those panels. Usagi is bouncing on top of a giant drum, by the way.
The Beat is plugging Usagi today as part of their "30 days of previews" feature. You should check them out. But more importantly, check out Usagi Yojimbo. It's a treasure in 24 volumes (and counting!)
I started reading Usagi Yojimbo when it was in Steve Gallacci's Albedo Anthropomorphics comics (issue #2 IIRC) back in the 1980s. I think that it is the longest running independent comic that I have collected over the years. Stan does an incredible job on the comic and I always look to it for ideas and adventures when I play role playing games.
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