- Title: Usagi Yojimbo: Ice and Snow #5 (of 5)
- Comic Vine: link
- Writer: Stan Sakai
- Artist: Stan Sakai
Wrapping up the five-issue mini-series, Usagi Yojimbo: Ice and Snow #5 offers this single-issue epilogue in which weary Miyamoto Usagi and Yukichi, and later some of the bandits who worked for Jei, find shelter in an isolated village. At first it appears the trouble the ronin may have to deal with is the bandits who swear they have changed their ways, but plan to stick around to rob the village after the ronin leave the area. However, the real trouble lies elsewhere.
The second night the warriors sleep, a night of the full moon, the starving villagers are revealed to all be Nekomata (mountain cat demons) who transform and go after all their guests learning far too late they have underestimated the ronin (although they do make short work of the bandits). Including Jei’s bandits ties the story loosely to the rest of the series, and exploring challenges after a big victory proves to be an interesting way to end out the series. Leaving the village deserted, the ronin wander on.
[Dark Horse, $4.99]