Usagi Yojimbo

• Title: Usagi Yojimbo #24
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Stan Sakai
• Artist: Stan Sakai

“Ransom” concludes as Miyamoto Usagi, Yukichi Yamamoto, and Kitsune look to rescue the kidnapped Kiyoko. The ransom trade is complicated by a few factors including Kiyoko freeing herself before her friends even arrive and the ledger that Boss Hasegawa wants in exchange for Kiyoko being stolen back by one of his own agents.

It doesn’t take long before all hell to break loose. Although our protagonists come out victorious, and Kistune and Kiyoko find a way to make a profit on the ordeal, Usagi has made a new enemy in Boss Hasegawa (but also a new friend in Aoki, the honorable samurai who accepts Usagi’s wisdom about not serving an dishonorable lord). The ronins hit the road once more, but where will their travels take them next and will Yukichi get to meet any more of Usagi’s friends?

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• Title: Usagi Yojimbo: The Dragon Bellow Conspiracy #6
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Stan Sakai
• Artist: Stan Sakai

The reprinting of the classic Usagi Yojimbo storyline “The Dragon Bellow Conspiracy” concludes here in the aftermath of the defeat of Lord Tamakuro and his planned uprising. Mostly an extended epilogue to the earlier events of the series, both Miyamoto Usagi and Gen separately say their farewells, declining service to Lord Noriyuki before returning to their lives as wandering ronin.

The rest of the issue deals with the fate of the wounded Zato-Ino who is rescued and taken to an isolated village. Although planning to move on when healed, he provides service by dispatching a gang of bandits troubling the town (in the issue’s one big action sequence) who become more violent after realizing the bounty on the town’s new resident. He loses his loyal companion in the process, but finds a new home to call his own and the chance to begin a different life.

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• Title: Usagi Yojimbo #23
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Stan Sakai
• Artist: Stan Sakai

“Ransom” continues with Kiyoko‘s kidnapping by Boss Hasegawa’s warriors as Miyamoto Usagi and his cousin Yukichi Yamamoto are given until sunrise to return Boss Hasegawa’s stolen ledger if they want to see Kiyoko again. The circumstances aren’t helped with the local thief, realizing how much the book is worth, steals it from Kitsune leaving our heroes with nothing to trade for Kiyoko’s life.

Usagi Yojimbo #23 is a solid middle issue of the arc adding some drama while drawing out the trouble for our characters to be resolved within the next issue. The comic foreshadows some hope for our heroes given the one honorable member of Boss Hasegawa’s soldiers who keeps Kiyoko safe from the others, and the Boss himself, after giving Usagi his word she would be safe until sunrise. Now, if they can just find that book…

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