Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #76647 in Books
• Published on: 2002-10-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 152 pages

Customer Reviews

Back story for the bunny
An essential, and hard to find, addition for the Usagi fan. I myself discovered this wonderful comic only recently. I promptly purchased all the TPBs as quickly as I could, and this particular book eluded me for about 8 months longer than the rest.

It is well worth finding, however, as it fills in a significant amount of information about Usagi's origins and early life. Much that is in later books will make much more sense once one has read this book. Unless Fantagraphics reprints this (and at last check, they hadn't and have no plans to do so) be prepared to buy a used copy for more than the original list price.

Great introduction to Usagi's world
This was the first Usagi Yojimbo book that I had ever picked up, and I was glad I did. During the initial 80-90's TMNT boom, I first "discovered" Usagi through the TMNT cartoon. I happened by a local comic book store and saw the graphic novel on the shelves. I picked it up for around $20 (which was a large investment for me at the time!) and never regretted it.

Coming from a Japanese heritage, but with parents who never really shared their experiences, Stan Sakai's incredibly detailed and superbly researched world was like a look into a world which fascinated me, but one that I had never really gotten to know.

Usagi Yojimbo Book Two is sort of like a "Zero" issue in the way of comic book numbering. It tells the back-story of how Usagi came to be both a samurai and ended up being a masterless ronin. If you like Japanese history, are a buff for great storytelling, incredibly detailed art, and just a plain good read, Usagi and Stan Sakai will not let you down.

another great buy
This is the novel where you really get to know Miyamoto Usagi. The tale beings when Usagi slays a Samurai. He soon meets up with Gen and begins to share the story of his Samurai training. We are treated to the full backstory of Usagi's life including the rivalry with Kenichi and the death of his lord. There are also three bonus stories in which Usagi confronts a Kappa (turtle demon), runs into baby Godzilla, and saves a village from oppression.