Usagi Yojimbo

• Title: Usagi Yojimbo #164
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Stan Sakai
• Artist: Stan Sakai

The middle chapter of “The Mouse Trap” picks up with Usagi‘s attacker delivering the rabbit ronnin to the Black Goblin Gang where the quick intervention of Inspector Ishida and the thief Nezumi prevent a groggy Usagi from meeting an inglorious end. Although Ishida is able to save his friend, Usagi is able to overhear a bit of the underlings talk about the hidden true head of the gang, and several members are killed by our heroes, Usagi and Ishida don’t learn about the next attack of the Black Goblin Gang until it is too late.

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• Title: Usagi Yojimbo #163
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Stan Sakai
• Artist: Stan Sakai

Part 1 of “The Mouse Trap” begins with the robbery of Hatamoto Asano’s home by a popular thief who drops some of his ill-gotten gains to the crowd and hops a series of rooftops to make good his escape. Escaping Miyamoto Usagi is no small feat, but an unexpected confrontation with the Black Goblin Gang leaves the Nezumi framed for murder (and forces him to give up more of his treasure to try and prove his innocence).

The start of the three-part story has several moving pieces including the introduction of another thief to give Usagi and Inspector Ishida trouble, an unknown street urchin keenly eyeing the investigation, and rumblings inside the Black Goblin Gang which are likely to cause trouble for everyone in the town. With Usagi getting himself in over his head as the comic comes to a close, I’ll be curious to see where the story takes him. Once he regains consciousness, that is.

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• Title: Usagi Yojimbo #162
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Stan Sakai
• Artist: Stan Sakai

Opening with Kitsune in jail for a murder she did not commit, a situation that doesn’t agree with the thief, the concluding half of “The Body in the Library” offers Miyamoto Usagi and Inspector Ishida‘s investigation into the the second of two recent murders and the theft of precious foreign medicine.

Escaping from prison, Kitsune actually becomes a help to the investigation allowing Usagi to discover the true motives for the crime. It also allows for a meal with Usagi and Kitsune in which the rabbit ronin offers a good reason (actually 54 of them) as to why he’s unable to trust the thief. Despite his bluster, Usagi can’t help but like the mischievous pair of Kitsune and Kiyoko, even with the trouble they bring into the rabbit ronin’s path when their paths cross.

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• Title: Usagi Yojimbo #161
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Stan Sakai
• Artist: Stan Sakai

After several months Usagi Yojimbo returns with the first issue in a new two-part story. Opening with Kitsune breaking into a wealthy doctor’s house only to discover the man dead, and temporarily being accused of his murder, Usagi Yojimbo #161 offers up a double-homicide for Miyamoto Usagi and Inspector Ishida to solve when their primary suspect in the first murder turns up poisoned in the same manner as the doctor.

While Kitsune isn’t a suspect in the murder, she will have to serve some time for her attempted robbery. However, a bigger problem for Usagi and Ishida to solve is the mystery surrounding the deaths of the two poisoned victims. The issue may be a little light in terms of action, but there are plenty of enjoyable touches including Kitsune and Usagi’s various reaction shots to the discovery of murder.

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